The Union County Sheriff’s Office says an Afton man reported Nov. 13th, that someone had entered his work trailer parked at his residence. During the incident, an Air compressor, Milwaukee tool set & 5 batteries, DeWalt trim nailer, Big Speed square, siding tabbers, Stiletto hammer, snips, air hose, and shop vac, were taken. The loss was estimated at $2,490.

The incident, which took place sometime after 8-p.m., remains under investigation.

An investigation into a rollover accident Wednesday afternoon southwest of Red Oak resulted in the driver of a pickup being arrested for operating while intoxicated. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says 23-year old Dylan J. Hambright, of Red Oak, was traveling south on G Avenue at around 12:30-p.m., and had just exited the railroad underpass, when he lost control of the 2000 Chevy Silverado pickup he was driving.

When Hambright over-corrected, the vehicle went into the east ditch and landed on its side, sustaining $5,000 damage. Hambright was arrested on a charge of OWI/1st offense. He was being held in the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on $2,000 cash bond.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Red Oak Police and Red Oak Fire and Rescue.

If you’ve been sick and get up ready to head out to a family Thanksgiving celebration, you might want to think about staying home. Iowa Department of Health State Medical Director, Patricia Quinlisk, says you could be taking more than your favorite pie to relatives. Quinlisk says if you have the flu you could spread it to family members, especially if you are inside with them all day.

“When it is cold out we tend shut our windows — therefore the ventilation factor just goes down — and our air is more stagnant. So if somebody coughs in the air, it sticks around longer, and you are more likely to breathe it in,” Quinlisk says. Doctor Quinlisk says the cold weather adds another factor that may help the spread of the flu.
She says the amount of humidity in the air goes down when it is cold and our nasal membranes and throats get dry. “And the drier they are, the more susceptible they are for the influenza virus invading into our body,” Quinlisk explains. You may love the closeness of family during the holiday, but the closeness can put you at a greater risk.

“Once you are closer to people, well then you are more likely to be within three to five feet of somebody when they’ve got the flu,” Quinlisk says. Being that close means you are in the perfect range of a flu laden cough. Quinlisk says the best advice is to stay home if you are sick. You might miss out on the holiday, but you will keep your friends and relatives from picking up your sickness. If you got a flu shot early this week, you may still not be safe from getting the flu.

“Basically you start getting immunity as soon as you get vaccinated, but it could take up to two weeks to have full immunity,” Quinlisk says. If you got the flu shot beyond that two-week window, Quinlisk says this year’s shot should do a good job of protecting you. And she says continued good personal hygiene that includes washing your hands will help you keep from attracting or spreading the flu.

(Radio Iowa)

A traffic stop Tuesday night in Clarinda resulted in charges filed against the driver, with additional charges pending against a passenger in the vehicle. Police Chief Keith Brothers reported Wednesday, that around around 10-p.m. Tuesday, his officers arrested 19-year old Kai Jacob Ballinger-Knoke, of Clarinda, for 1st offense OWI/drug-related.

Plant material believed to be marijuana and paraphernalia used for ingesting marijuana were found in the vehicle. Ballinger-Knoke was processed and released on recognizance with a promise to appear in court at a later date. A passenger in the vehicle, 19-year old Rodney Joe Baldwin, also of Clarinda, is also facing pending charges for possession of a substance believed to be marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.