(Radio Iowa) – Hospitals in the Des Moines metro are encouraging people to avoid emergency rooms, if possible, this summer and go to an urgent care clinic for less severe illnesses and injuries. The message comes as hospitals throughout the country deal with a critical shortage of nurses and expect to see the typical summertime increase in trauma cases. Jennifer Olson is the president of MercyOne Medical Group.

“If you have a finger that is possibly broken, then urgent care can definitely take care of something like that,” she says. “If you have a cough, but you’re not short of breath, urgent care is very much appropriate for that.”

Olson says if you have a serious break in a bone or are experiencing serious life threatening symptoms – like chest pains or shortness of breath – then go immediately to the E-R. According to a recent insurance industry analysis, the average wait time in an Iowa hospital emergency room is 123 minutes.

(Radio Iowa) – Three more clinics in rural Iowa are being reclassified as “Federally Qualified Health Centers” — making them eligible for higher government reimbursement rates when treating Medicare and Medicaid patients. The Spencer Hospital operates clinics in Hartley, Milford and Sioux Rapids. The hospital’s board of trustees has voted to rebrand the clinics as “Access Health” and convert them to Federally Qualified Health Centers, also known as Community Health Centers. The move is expected to save the hospital 200-thousand dollars annually.

Not only will the three northwest Iowa clinics get higher reimbursement rates for treating patients enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid, there are federal grants available as well. The program, created in 1990, is meant to ensure health care services are available for uninsured and underserved residents in urban and rural areas.

Government records indicate there are 86 Community Health Centers in Iowa. Officials expect to complete the process of converting the clinics in Hartley, Milford and Sioux Rapids to Community Health Centers in August.

(Radio Iowa) – Davenport’s Fire Chief says one more person was rescued from the rubble of the apartment building that collapsed Sunday evening. Chief Mark Carlsten held a briefing this morning (Monday), and says that person was taken to the hospital, but he did not have a condition report. He says there is some good news. “I have no confirmed deaths at all at this time,” Carlsten says.

There were seven people who were rescued from the building shorting after firefighters arrived on scene Sunday. There were some injuries, but no information on them has been released. Carlsten says they believe there were 84 residents in the building — and are still working to determine if there are any who are still unaccounted. They have brought in specialized dogs who are searching the rubble. Mayor Mike Matson credited the quick response in saving people.

Davenport Mayor Matson (R-I Photo)

“A lot of people were escorted out, assisted by our wonderful first responders, immediately,” he says. Matson says the first responders entered the building knowing it was unstable without thinking about their own safety so they could help others. “Because of that, they saved lives. They saved the lives,” Matson says. He says they are hoping and praying that the search efforts will wrap up without anyone ending up dead.

There are a lot of questions about the safety of the building and what may have caused the collapse. The mayor and fire chief say it is too early to determine that and they will know more once they are sure there is no one left in the building.

(Radio Iowa) – The search continues this (Monday) morning in Davenport after an apartment building collapsed Sunday. The city held a briefing where Fire Chief Mark Carlsten described the situation. “Crews arrived on scene and found a six-story apartment complex with a portion of the rear building and actually collapsed and separated from the building,” he says. The apartment complex collapsed just before 5 p-m. “Fire crews were able to rescue seven individuals on their initial response and escort more than a dozen individuals out as they were self-evacuating from the building, Carlsten says.

Mayor Mike Matson says crews are continuing to search the rubble for survivors. “We will continue to work, continue to evaluate and with the whole purpose of trying to find people and trying to get them out,” Matson says. Chief Carlsten says the building is very unstable and they have to be cautious in their search.

This is Memorial Day, a time we set aside to pay tribute to our nation’s honored veterans who died in service to our county. Look for a video provided by the Iowa National Guard, showing the names and faces of those Iowan’s who sacrificed themselves so that we may be free. Here are some of the area events in observance of Memorial Day….

Memorial Day Services will be held at the Atlantic Cemetery.  The service will begin at 10:00 am. with a cannon fire.  Alan Cranston deliver the keynote address.   The Atlantic High School Band will play several selections.  The service will be live-streamed on KJANTV.

Memorial Day Services will be held at the Brayton Town Hall beginning at 10am.  Sponsored by Brayton Legion Post 350. Everyone is welcome.

Morning Hike at Prairie Rose State Park will take place at 9:00 a.m.  Meet at the park office and hike around the east side of the lake.  This hike is about two miles and relatively easy.

Kimballton/Jacksonville Memorial Services will be held beginning at 9:30am at the Jacksonville Cemetery; at 10:15am at the Bethany Cemetery and at 11am at the Kimballton Cemetery.

Memorial Day Services will be held in the Elk Horn are…at 9:30am at the Clay Township Cemetery; Monroe Cemetery at 10am and at 11am at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church followed by freewill offering lunch.

Memorial Day Services will take place oat the Grave of the Unknown Soldier at Sunnyhill Cemetery in Adair beginning at 10:00am. Services will be held at the Adair Fire Station in case of rain. Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #8877, American Legion, V.F.W Firing Squad and Color Guard will be attending.

Memorial Services will be held at the Exira Cemetery beginning at 10:30am. Following the service, they will travel to St. john’s Cemetery and Holy Trinity cemetery, then a service at the river will be held.

First Baptist Church in Cumberland will host a Memorial Day Service beginning at 10:30am at the Cumberland Community Building.

Griswold Cemetery Circle of Flags will take place at 10:30am. Dr. Robert Peterson will be the speaker. Lunch, served by Legion Auxiliary, will following service at the Griswold Community Building. In case of rain, services will be held at the community bldg. Sponsored by American Legion Post #508

Anita American Legion Post #210 will hold their Memorial Day Services at the Anita Evergreen Cemetery beginning at 10:30am. Legion members of the community are invited to a meeting at the Legion Hall on Saturday, May 27 and after  services on Monday, May 29 at 4:00pm to help with flags.In the event of rain, the service will be held in the CAM High School commons.

Anita Congregational Church will host their annual Memorial Day dinner beginning at 11:00am at 501 Locust in Anita. Ham balls, cheesy potatoes, green beans, salad, roll, pies and drinks will be served. Cost is $13 for adults, $7 for kids. Carry out is available. Call 712-249-2392… 712-250-0307 …or 712-250-0121

Grant United Methodist Church will hold their Memorial Day Dinner from 11:30-1:00. Sloppy Joes or Ham Sandwiches, Baked Beans, Assorted Salads, Pies and Desserts. Coffee, Tea or Lemonade will be served along with the meal. All for a free will donation. Proceeds go to supports the Grant Church and the Grant United Women in Faith and their mission work.

Massena Memorial Day Services will be held online on facebook or youtube. No in person, live services.

The Iowa National Guard (Which has provided the video above), invites you to join them today (Monday, May 29th, 2023) for two special Memorial Day events:

– The Iowa Gold Star Military Museum ⭐️ is hosting a FREE observance with complimentary breakfast from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Live music and vendors will be present as well.

– The Adjutant General of Iowa, Maj. Gen. Steve Osborn, will be giving keynote remarks during a ceremony at the Van Meter Veterans Cemetery at 8:30 a.m.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisor’s weekly meeting takes place beginning at 9-a.m. Tuesday (May 30), in their courthouse Board Room. During their session, the Board will act on approving Iowa Retail Permit Applications for Cigarette/Tobacco/Nicotine/Vapor products for: Dollar General, in Griswold, and 21st Century Co-Op, in Massena.

The Board will also discuss, and possibly act on approving, funding for the Cass County Wellness Plan, effective July 1, 2023 through Dec. 31st, 2023, due to changing health insurance plans on July 1st.

They’re expected to then receive a regular weekly report, from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken.

Join Electronically:
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Meeting ID: 289 919 5216
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(Red Oak, Iowa) – A public hearing will be held during Tuesday’s (May 30th) regular meeting of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, with regard to a proposed (FY22-23 Budget Amendment). The Board meeting starts at 8:30-a.m., with the hearing at 8:45-a.m.   The hearing will be followed by action on approving an Appropriations Resolution for the Budget Amendment, and an Interfund Transfer for Capital Projects to the Debt Service Fund.

Following closure of the Public Hearing, and under New Business on the Board’s Agenda, the Supervisors in Montgomery County will act on approving:

• An Iowa Dept. of Transportation (IDOT) Budget Amendment for FY2023
• SWIPCO – Rural Transit System Joint Participation Agreement.
• An EBS transfer in the amount of $9,000 from the PSF Claims Account balance, to create a cushion in the IGHCP Trust bank account.
• and, they will act to approve a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) from the Dept. of Management (DOM) OCIO (Iowa Offices of the Chief Information Officer), to implement Endpoint Detection and Response Software (Crowdstrike) on county computers, servers, and other devices, which will replace Webroot, provided by Solutions.

*Please note, this is a public meeting; however, it may be conducted via ZOOM
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(Radio Iowa) – Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer, and Iowans who spend any time enjoying the outdoors need to be on-guard for ticks, as Lyme disease cases are on the rise in the state. Dr. Greg DeMuri, an infectious disease physician, says you can cut your chances of an infection by taking a few simple precautions anytime you’re heading into the woods for a hike. “Looks a little nerdy, but if you put a rubber band at the base of your pant legs to keep the ticks from crawling up, that’s number one,” DeMuri says. “Number two, doing tick checks after you’re done.” There are also a wide variety of tick repellents on the market which can be highly effective at keeping the pests away.

“Ticks are out with a vengeance. Some of the immature forms of the tick, the nymphs, are out and the ticks are reproducing right now,” DeMuri says. “Those forms of tick can highly transmit Lyme disease, they’re smaller and more difficult to see. So this is, unfortunately, a very high risk time for acquiring Lyme disease.” If you find and remove a tick from yourself or someone else, pay attention to its coloring before you dispose of it. A deer tick’s lower back is red in color, while a wood tick has a black lower back section.

“If you can identify whether it’s a deer tick versus a wood tick, it’s important to distinguish the two,” DeMuri says. “If you have a wood tick, there’s no risk of Lyme disease. If it’s a deer tick and it’s been attached for 72 hours or more, then you should contact your doctor. You might want to take a preventative antibiotic.” Scientists say our planet is gradually warming and DeMuri says climate change may be contributing to the number ticks in Iowa and across the region.

“When we don’t get those really, really deep freezes, that are below 20-below, the ticks can survive more,” he says, “but more importantly, their hosts can survive.” If you do get infected, Lyme disease can typically be cured with a course of antibiotics that runs two to four weeks, though some patients may have symptoms six months later. Those symptoms can include things like pain, fatigue and difficulty concentrating.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Goldstar Military Museum at Camp Dodge is open today (Monday) and providing a free breakfast to continues what has become a tradition on Memorial Day. Museum curator Mike Vogt says several other things are planned. “Throughout the day, we’ll have re-enactors in period uniforms representing different periods. We’ll have veteran volunteers in the galleries and helping with the with the event. We will have ice cream available, we’ll have a wreath laying,” he says. He says there will also be representatives of various veteran organizations there as well. Vogt says the Goldstar Museum highlights Iowan who served and the conflicts.

“We have a gallery containing a timeline of exhibits from the military on the frontier, the Dragoons, the forts of Iowa, as you walk through the into the gallery progress forward through time,” Vogt says. “A couple of years ago, we finished up an exhibit on Desert Shield, Desert Storm. 30 year old conflict already 31. And the war on terror.” Some of the exhibits are interactive. “One of our most popular exhibits is an F-16 cockpit simulator. We have it set up where you’re on the runway at the Des Moines airport and you can sit in and roar down the runway and fly over Saylorville Lake and see the Ruan Building,” he says. Vogt says it’s especially important to remember those who served on this day.

“Memorial Day is a is an observance that has its origins at the conclusion of the U-S Civil War — used to call it Decoration Day — and cemeteries north and south are decorated with flowers and wreaths honoring those dead from the Civil War. And over time that has evolved into what we know today is Memorial Day,” Vogt says. The Goldstar Military Museum is open today (Monday) until 1 p-m. Admission is free.