Many Iowans have fun at Halloween by creating scary haunted attractions in their front yards, often involving an impromptu cemetery, headstones and skeletons to frighten trick-or-treaters. Liz Dorland, spokeswoman for the American Red Cross chapter in Council Bluffs, suggests you keep your scary display age-appropriate. “With Halloween, there are always some added dangers we’re not necessarily used to and things that could spook a child to run into a street,” Dorland says. “Make sure you are paying attention to what may be overly frightening.”

Dorland offers a few tips for those who will be staying at home, manning the candy dish and waiting for the doorbell to ring. “Make sure the outdoor lights are on, sweep all the leaves from the sidewalks and the steps, clear the front porch of any obstacles the trick-or-treaters might get hung up on,” Dorland says. “Don’t forget to restrain your pets. Sometimes dogs may rush the door. That might scare some of the children and frighten them to run into the street.”

Parents need to take a few minutes to talk to their kids about safety before heading out the door to trick-or-treat. Dorland says it’s especially important for older children who won’t be accompanied by an adult.  “Plan the route with the children so they know it, they know the safe areas and the homes that should be visited,” she says. “They also know how to get back home so we don’t have any lost trick-or-treaters.” A few other tips: Make sure kids only trick-or-treat at homes where the porch light is on, and tell them to accept treats only at the door, never go inside. Take along a flashlight. Only use battery-operated candles inside jack-o-lanterns instead of real candles where the flame could be a hazard. And if you’ll be on the road, take it slow as there will be plenty of pedestrians.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

NEVADA, Iowa (AP) — DuPont is announcing the opening of an ethanol plant that will make the fuel additive from cornstalks, leaves and cobs instead of the grain itself. The $225 million refinery in central Iowa is touted as the world’s largest cellulosic ethanol plant, which is designed to make 30 million gallons annually once it’s in full production next year.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Davenport police have arrested a man in connection with a Waterloo incident that resulted in officers shooting him as he drove away from a bar. Officers arrested 28-year-old Jovan Webb on Thursday, charging him with several offenses, including assault on a police officer and using a dangerous weapon.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A judge has postponed the trial of a Pittsburgh man charged with robbing and killing two sisters of an Iowa state lawmaker last year. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports Allegheny County Judge Edward Borkowski criticized prosecutors and defense attorneys for not being prepared to try the case of 44-year-old Allen Wade starting Monday. Instead, jury selection will begin in late February. The women were the sisters of Democratic Iowa state Representative Mary Wolfe.

CHICAGO (AP) — By every measure, Marco Rubio’s bid for the Republican nomination has grown more robust in October. It was boosted again by his strong showing in Wednesday night’s debate. The campaign’s fundraising just finished its best month yet. In the hours around the debate, Rubio raised $750,000 online.

Children with heart conditions in southwest Iowa will soon be able to receive high-quality pediatric specialty care closer to home. Officials with the Cass County Health System say Children’s Hospital & Medical Center will offer a pediatric cardiology clinic quarterly at Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, beginning Friday, Nov. 13th.

The new cardiac outreach clinic will be Children’s first in Iowa. Children’s cardiology team also provides outreach clinics in Rapid City and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and in the following Nebraska communities: Columbus, Grand Island, Hastings, Kearney, Lincoln, Norfolk and North Platte. Pediatric cardiologist Robert Spicer, M.D., Children’s clinical service chief of Cardiology, will travel to Atlantic to see patients, along with a cardiology nurse and cardiac sonographer. The partnership between Children’s in Omaha and Cass County Health in Atlantic was designed to make care more convenient and accessible for area families.

Beyond the convenience and familiarity the visiting specialists provide families, outreach clinics allow Children’s the opportunity to foster better working relationships with referring doctors and hospitals. Children’s Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Heart Center offers the region’s largest and most comprehensive pediatric and adult congenital cardiac and cardiac surgical care, including expertise in pediatric heart transplantation and adult congenital heart disease (ACHD). Children’s could potentially see adults with ACHD at its Atlantic clinic, as well.

To make an appointment in Atlantic, please call 712-243-7590.

Adair County Emergency Management Coordinator Robert Kempf reports the Adair & Guthrie County Emergency Management Agencies have added a Polaris Ranger UTV to the resources available to local responders and jurisdictions in Adair & Guthrie Counties. The Ranger is equipped with a Kimtek MedBed for the transport of injured or sick medical patients and a radio for communications with other responders and both dispatch centers in the counties. The equipment is transported on a 14-foot equipment trailer. The equipment has been used by local responders at least 10 days each month since it arrived in middle July.

Each year, local responders and government officials have times that they are in need of an off road vehicle, smaller vehicle. They need it for searches for missing individuals, inspection of crime scene, monitoring crowds and responding to medical issues at local events to name just a few.

Kempf said “Several of the Law Enforcement, Fire and EMS Departments have considered purchasing this type of equipment over the years. The cost for the equipment was too much for most departments. Having one set of equipment available to all department was a much more fiscal solution.”

The cost of the equipment totaled approximately $28,000.00. Many local entities helped in the financing of the equipment. Contributions to the cost were received from the Schildberg Foundation ($15,000.00), Guthrie County Community Foundation ($5,000.00) and West Central Coop (1,500.00). Guthrie County Emergency Management provided the radio valued at $2,000.00. The remaining $4,500.00 was paid for out of the Adair & Guthrie County Emergency Management budgets that are supported by the 14 towns and 2 counties.

Jeremy Cooper, Chairman of the Guthrie County Emergency Management Commission, said “This project would not have been possible without the cooperation of both the private and public sector’s working together in our counties” said, “That is what emergency management is about, everyone working together to plan for, respond to and recover from disasters and emergencies.”

Kempf added “The jurisdictions and local responder departments can contact my office to reserve to equipment for use at community events. The equipment is always available 24/7/365 for use in emergency situation through the county dispatch centers.”