The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday morning, are expected to act on the appointment of an Assistant County Attorney. The move follows the sudden resignation in August, of former Assistant County Attorney Jamie Arnold, who also served as Attorney for the City of Atlantic.

In other business, the Board will receive the initial bargaining proposal from AFSCME Union Local #1414 (Representing the Sheriff’s Deputies and Jailors), and present the County’s proposal, for Fiscal Year 2017-through 2019.

The Board of Supervisor’s meeting begins at 8:30-a.m., in their Board Room at the Cass County Courthouse.

Halloween kicks off the beginning of the fall and winter holidays, but treats and cheer aren’t the only things being spread this time of year. It’s also the start of flu season, and UnityPoint at Home and Cass County Public Health are offering six community flu clinics beginning Monday, October 19 and continuing through Thursday, October 29.

Flu vaccines are designed to protect against the main flu viruses that research suggests will be the most common during this season. The viruses in the vaccine change each year based on international surveillance and scientists’ estimations about which types and strains of viruses will circulate in a given year. The 2015-2016 influenza vaccine is quadravalent, meaning it covers four types of strains; H1N1, H2N3, and two types of Influenza B.

Groups at a higher risk for flu complications include the elderly and people with health conditions like asthma, diabetes, and heart disease. Those in the high risk group are encouraged to get vaccinated early.

Flu shots will be billed for those presenting Medicare Part B and Medicaid documentation. No other insurance companies will be billed. The cost is $30 for the Fluzone shot or $40 for the FluMist vaccine, which is a nasal spray. Officials note that there is a limited supply of the high-dose flu vaccination, which is $35. Payment is accepted in cash or check. All children present with a parent or guardian may receive the vaccination. No physician’s order is required. For more information, call UnityPoint at Home at 712-243-7551.

The schedule for the community flu clinics are:

Monday, October 19, 9 a.m. – noon

Anita Health and Wellness Center – 900 Victory Park Road, Anita

Tuesday, October 20, 2:30 – 5 p.m.

Rex Pharmacy – 507 Chestnut Street, Atlantic

Monday, October 26, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

First United Methodist Church of Atlantic – 800 Poplar Street, Atlantic

Wednesday, October 28, 9 – 11 a.m.

Massena Medical Center – 92 Main Street, Massena

Wednesday, October 28, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Griswold Medical Center – 1109 Morningside Drive, Griswold

Thursday, October 29, 3 – 5 p.m.

UnityPoint at Home – 1408 E. 10th Street, Atlantic

Police in Creston report a local man was arrested on a drug charge late Monday night. 56-year old Michael Fry, of Creston, was taken into custody at around 11:05-p.m. for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine. Fry was later released from the Union County Jail on $5,000 bond.

Also arrested Monday, was 31-year old Jason Dames, of Creston. Dames, and 17-year old Nicole Arfman, also of Creston, were charged with two counts of Theft in the 5th Degree, following an incident at the Creston Wal-Mart. Dames was subsequently cited and released on a promise to appear later in court, while Arfman was referred to Juvenile Authorities and then released to a family member.

Creston Police said also, a resident in the 600 block of Maple Street reported Monday morning, that someone had been stealing firewood from a stack in an alley behind the residents’ home. About a truckload of Walnut Firewood was taken, with the loss estimated at $100.

Iowans are paying a few cents more a gallon for gasoline lately, but market analysts say prices should be falling within a few weeks toward two-dollars a gallon. Gail Weinholzer, spokeswoman for Triple-A Iowa, says this slight boost in pump prices is temporary. Weinholzer says, “Currently, the average across the state of Iowa is $2.33 and that’s up about 2-cents from a week ago but still down about 14-cents from a month ago.”

Refineries are in the process of switching from the summer grade of fuel to the winter blend. “As we go through it, prices tick upwards just a little bit, but once we’re through it, by the end of October, we’ll see price relief in the form of about 20 to 25 cents,” Weinholzer says. “Iowa could approach $2 sometime between Halloween and Thanksgiving.”

With summer vacation season well behind us now, she says gas prices often fall toward the holiday season.  “Demand declines during this time of the year and when the switchover is complete, after the 1st of November, typically prices will continue to decline right through the end of the year,” she says. “We should be near $2 for much of the last month or two of this year.”

While Iowa’s current statewide average is two-33 a gallon, that’s down from two-47 a month ago and down from three-15 a year ago. The cheapest gas in the state right now is selling in Davenport at two-21 a gallon while the most expensive gas is in Des Moines, averaging at two-42.

(Radio Iowa)