Cass County Public Health staff will be holding influenza vaccine clinics to start in October. Nancy Gibson, Public Health Supervisor, reports that public clinics will begin as soon as the vaccine arrives.  The influenza (flu) vaccine injection as well as the Flu Mist given by the Public Health/UnityPoint will be the quadravalent type this year, meaning that it protects against 4 strains of influenza virus. The Flu Mist can be given to persons ages 49 and under. The will also have a limited supply of high dose flu vaccine this year.

Public Health will accept Medicare and Medicaid payment for vaccines. All other patients who receive vaccines must pay privately at a cost of $30 for the regular flu injection, $35 for the high dose vaccine and $40 for the Flu Mist. Vaccine is also available for children including those who qualify for the Vaccine for Children (VFC) for those children who do not have insurance or have insurance that doesn’t pay for vaccines.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) notes that Influenza (flu) usually occurs in late fall and winter in the US and is spread from an ill person to other people by coughing and sneezing. Therefore, October- November is not too late to receive your vaccination. According to Dr Patricia Quinlisk, Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) Medical Director, it takes about two weeks after the vaccination for the body to receive the full protection from the flu protection from the flu virus, being vaccinated now will mean you’ll be protected before the flu starts spreading in your community.

Cass County Public Health Staff encourages residents to practice good health habits including eating right, getting lots of sleep, and washing hands thoroughly and often. Other precautions include covering your mouth by coughing into your elbow of the upper arm instead of your hand and stay home when you don’t feel well.

Listen to KJAN or follow us on Facebook, for more, future information about public flu clinics in Cass County or call Public Health Office at 712-243-7475 or 712-243-7551.

Authorities in Mills County say a man from Kansas suffered “road rash” injuries Sunday afternoon, when the motorcycle he was riding On Highway 34 near 380th Street, went out of control and skidded off the road. Milton Carlin, of Osborne, KS was transported to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs by Glenwood Rescue, after the rear wheel of the 1985 Honda he was driving locked up when a dufflebag strapped to the rear fender came loose and became caught in the rear wheel. The motorcycle went into a skid and toppled over, just off the north side of the road.

The Mills County Sheriff’s office reports four recent arrests. Three people were arrested on drug charges. Officials say 35-year old Matthew Joseph Tyson, of Pacific Junction, was arrested Saturday night for Possession of drug paraphernalia, and, 24-year old Aleasha Anne Vohs, also of Pacific Junction, was arrested at the same time and location, for Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs. A K9 unit was used to locate the drugs. Tyson was being held in the Mills County Jail on $300 bond, while Vohs’ bond was set at $1,000.

Arrested earlier that evening, was 23-year old Ciera Lynn Henke, of Council Bluffs, for Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $1,300. Sheriff’s officials say the k9 also played a role in locating the drugs.

And, on Friday, 76-year old Ronald Walter Klinker, of Hastings, was arrested in Mills County for Driving While Barred. His bond was set at $2,000.

Deputies in Cass County arrested a Pottawattamie County man Monday, on a charge of Simple Assault. 21-year old Gunnar Michael Blum,  of Walnut, was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on $300 bond.

And, on September 3rd, deputies with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested 52-year old Henry Lewis Degraw, of Bridgewater, on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Degraw was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $20,000 bond.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has released additional information about a pursuit that took place early Saturday morning, and a separate pursuit that took place later that day. As we mentioned during our newscasts Saturday, the pursuit began at around 2-a.m. during a traffic stop, in Atlantic. Officials say deputies arrested 43-year old Daniel Dale Laws, of Atlantic, on felony charges that include OWI 4th Offense and Eluding, and three simple misdemeanor counts of Driving Under Suspension. Laws was also cited for Failure to Maintain Control, Reckless Driving, and six counts of Failure to Obey a Stop Sign. He remains in the Cass County Jail on $10,000 bond.

And, as the result of an attempted traffic stop Saturday which ended with a vehicle leaving the roadway and driving through a fence on Fairview Road near Marne, deputies in Cass County arrested 30-year old Joshua Danial Weihs, of Panama, on a charge of OWI 1st Offense (Serious misdemeanor). Weihs was also cited for Failure to Maintain Control. He was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance.

A public hearing will be held during the Cass County Board of Supervisor’s meeting Wednesday morning in Atlantic, with regard to a change of zoning classification from General Agricultural District to Light Industrial, for a parcel located in rural Griswold, in Pleasant Township (Kyle Kirchhoff property). The parcel contains around three acres of land. The hearing begins at 8:30-a.m. Following a public hearing on the matter, the Board will act on approving the zoning change.

In other business, the Supervisors will hear regularly scheduled reports from the County Engineer and Mental Health/General Assistance Director.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports two weekend arrests. On Sunday, 24-year old Tasia Leigh Merrick, of Shenandoah, was arrested for OWI/1st offense following a single vehicle accident. The woman was taken into custody after deputies were dispatched following a report of a reckless driver traveling east on Highway 2 from B Avenue, at around 2:15-p.m.  The vehicle, a 2004 Chrysler van, was located in the ditch in the 1700 block of Highway 2. Merrick was uninjured during the accident. She was transported to the Page County Sheriff’s Office for testing and later posted bond, pending further court proceedings.

And, Saturday afternoon, 59-year old Randy Lee Archer, of Clarinda, was arrested in Page County on a charge of OWI/3rd or subsequent offense. The man was arrested after deputies responded to a vehicle in the ditch in the 1500 block of 300th Street at around 7:35-p.m. During their investigation, authorities determined Archer drove a 1999 Plymouth minivan into the north ditch. The man was not hurt during the incident. Archer was brought to the Page County Sheriff’s Office for testing and later released on bond, pending additional court proceedings.