(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.

MASON CITY, Iowa – Mason City’s last bowling alley was engulfed in flames following a reported explosion that occurred at around 9:15-p.m., Sunday. Mystic Lanes, on the city’s east side just off Highway 122, was a total loss. There is no word on what caused the fire, and no reports of injuries. Fire departments from Clear Lake and Nora Springs responded with mutual aid to the Mason City Fire Department.

It was the second major fire in Mason City in a matter of weeks. The Kirk Apartments were destroyed by fire and displaced dozens earlier this month. Mason City previously had two bowling alleys before the Rose Bowl burned down in 2014. According to Mystic Lanes Facebook page, the bowling alley posted an update around 2 a.m. Saturday morning saying that they were closed for business and not re-opening until June 14th.

(Radio Iowa) – The population of the eastern Iowa community of Tiffin jumped 11 percent last year — making it Iowa’s fastest growing town. Tiffin is about a 15 minute drive from Iowa City. The latest estimates from the U-S Census Bureau indicate Tiffin’s population topped 58-hundred last July.

The population of the Des Moines suburb of Waukee grew 10 percent from mid-2021 to July of last year. Population growth in Des Moines was one-point-two percent. Sioux Falls, South Dakota was the only other Midwest metro that saw higher growth.

The U-S Census Bureau estimates Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Davenport, Council Bluffs and Sioux City have all lost population since the 2020 Census — while Iowa City and Ankeny saw population growth. In general, the U.S. Census found population decline in small towns in the Midwest and the overall population of the Midwest dropped one percent.

(Marion County, Iowa) – The body of a swimmer who went missing Saturday evening at Lake Red Rock was recovered late Sunday morning. The Marion County Sheriff’s office says the body of 21-year-old Irias Gbarjolo, of Johnston, was located using sonar, around 10:21 a.m. Sunday. His body was brought to shore, where he was pronounced dead.

Law enforcement received a 9-1-1 call at around 7:27 p.m. Saturday, informing them about a young man who went underwater at Lake Red Rock and didn’t resurface. Law enforcement from multiple agencies were involved in the search, which was suspended shortly after midnight on Sunday. The search resumed around 6 a.m. Sunday morning.

Gbarjolo’s was transported to the State Medical Examiner’s office for an autopsy. In a news release, Marion County Sheriff Jason Sandholdt said “My heart goes out to the family of this young man. It is always sad when an individual with such a promising future is taken from us at such a young age. Please keep his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.”

(Iowa City, Iowa) [Updated 5:54-p.m.]  – A crash Saturday night in eastern Iowa’s Johnson County, claimed the life of a 22-year-old woman. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2008 Saturn Vue driven by 17-year-old Keasean Ford, and a 2012 GMC Acadia driven by 17-year-old Elijah Seals, both of Iowa City, were traveling westbound on Court Street in Iowa City, when they failed to stop at the intersection with S. 7th Avenue. A 2017 Chevy Malibu was struck in the intersection. The car was driven by Jennifer Russell, of Waterloo. Russell, who was wearing her seat belt, died at the University of Iowa Hospitals (UIHC) in Iowa City.

Both drivers, and a passenger in one of the vehicles, 17-year-old Michel Mbokolo, of Iowa City, were injured and transported by Johnson County Ambulance to the UIHC. The crash happened at around 10:54-p.m., Saturday. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Iowa City Police and Fire Departments, and Johnson County Ambulance.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston said Sunday, no injuries were reported Saturday, following an accident at an uncontrolled intersection. Authorities say a 2019 Mazda CX5 driven by 73-year-old Diane Lynn Lydon-Poore, of Creston, was traveling north on Maple Street at around 10:19-a.m. When she failed to yield to a 2007 Chevy Equinox that was traveling west on Page Street, and driven by 33-year-old Cornelio Rodriguez, of Lenox.

The Mazda struck the Chevy in the intersection, causing a total of $7,000 damage. Rodriguez was cited for having no valid driver’s license. No other citations were issued.

(Iowa DNR News) – The calls have been coming in to Iowa DNR field offices and conservation officers for the past few weeks and deer fawning season. Officials say those called are expected to increase, as the first few weeks of June marks the peak of the deer fawning season. Callers report finding an “abandoned” fawn in an unusual place, like a flowerbed or small patch of cover. Rest assured this is normal deer behavior. Jim Coffey, forest wildlife research biologist with the Iowa DNR, says “The doe searches out an isolated location where she feels safe and on occasion those places are not what we may think of as ideal. She chose that location because it made sense to her. The worst thing someone can do is to ‘rescue’ the fawn. Mom is likely nearby and watching you. Leave it be or if you did handle the fawn, return it to where you found it and walk away.”

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will not be rehabbing or co-mingling fawns with other deer to avoid the potential of spreading chronic wasting disease – or other disease – to new areas. The spindly legged newborn fawn is designed with a few survival tools built in –its spots are cryptic camouflage that emulates the sunlight spots on the leaf litter on the forest floor and its lack of movement the first two weeks helps to reduce scent patterns. This combination is its best chance at survival until it is able to follow the doe. After the fawns are born, the doe will return to fairly normal behavior – sleeping, feeding – but returning to nurse and care for the fawn.

The fawning season also coincides with an increase in deer vehicle collisions. “There is a lot of movement this time of year that is part of the social structure of deer. The doe is on the move looking for the safe isolated place to have the fawns.  In addition last year’s fawns – teenagers now – are starting to venture out to find new space. These yearlings have to make their own decisions for the first time, encounter other adult deer and build new social structures,” Coffey said. “This movement behavior can occur during all times of the day. Once it settles out, the active time will return to dawn and dusk.”

Drivers are reminded to drive defensively, avoid distractions, and slow down and not to veer for deer. If they hit a deer, drivers can get a salvage tag by calling either the local conservation officer or local law enforcement. There is no fee for a salvage tag it does require that the entire deer is taken.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak, Saturday, arrested a man wanted on a Montgomery County warrant for Failure To Appear on an original charge of Theft in the 5th Degree. 22-year-old Sebastian Kage Meek, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 6:24-p.m. in the 100 block of W. Coolbaugh Street, and transported to the Montgomery County Jail. His cash-only bond was set at  $1,000.