A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report finds the immunization rates for Iowa teens rose from 2017 to 2018 and exceed both the regional (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska) and national averages. The 2018 National Immunization Survey measures coverage for the Tdap (diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough), meningococcal and HPV vaccines among teens aged 13 to 17. In 2018, Iowa’s Tdap vaccination rate was 94.0%, up from 93.4% in 2017 and higher than the national (88.9%) and regional (86.6%) rates. Similarly, vaccination for meningitis rose in Iowa from 83.6% in 2017 to 89.2% in 2018 and was higher than the national (86.6%) and regional (80.9%) rates.

Finally, 2018 HPV vaccination rates for males and females combined were 73.4% for the first dose and 55.1% for the completed series. In both cases, these rates were higher than 2017 and higher than the national (68.1%, 51.1%) and regional (66.4%, 47.6%) rates.

Officials say while the report is welcome news, vaccination is an ongoing effort that begins with every infant born and continues through its life. Recent disease outbreaks across the country illustrate that while vaccines are essential in preventing disease, many Americans do not utilize these life-saving tools to protect themselves, their families and their communities from vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccines have the ability to protect Iowans of all ages from serious and sometimes deadly infectious diseases.

The Cass County Auditor’s Office reports three people filed nomination papers for the Nov. 5^th City Elections in Atlantic:

Pat McCurdy, of Atlantic, is running for the 3rd Ward Council seat he was appointed to earlier this year, following the resignation of Ashley Hayes.

Linda Hartkopf has filed for re-election to her 4^th Ward seat on the Atlantic City Council, and Grace N. Garrett has filed for an Atlantic City Council At Large position currently held by Dana Halder.

The last day for candidates to file nomination papers, is September 19th.

Multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in a search Saturday, for two people, on a property that Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater said was difficult to navigate in the dark of night. The Madison County K9 “Orozco” was instrumental, the Sheriff said, in locating Matthew Jones, of Indianola, and Shannon Keeney, of Des Moines. The pair were found hiding under one of the hundreds of vehicles on the property.

Further investigation revealed that Jones and Keeney were not simply “Star-gazing the big dipper,” as they told authorities. Both were charged with Possession of Burglary Tools, Burglary in the 3rd Degree (Vehicle-related), and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine. On Sunday, a search warrant was executed on Jones’ vehicle, which led to charge of Burglary in the 3rd Degree, and Theft in the 2nd Degree, with regard to a separate property.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Department was assisted by the Cass and Madison County Sheriff’s Offices, Stuart and Greenfield Police Departments, and the Iowa State Patrol.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Meyer & Gross Real Estate and the Atlantic Community Promotions Commission, will be hosting a Drive-In Movie experience Saturday, September 7th. Bailey Smith, Executive Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said “Last year was the first time we tried this idea out and had 350 people attend the movie, so we knew it would be a welcomed idea again this year.” She says “The Drive-In is a fun, nostalgic experience for community members and those in the surrounding area to enjoy. This also gives us the opportunity to show off our town and encourage people to shop and eat before coming to the movie.”

The Drive-In Movie will be at the Cass County Fair Grounds in the grandstand area beginning around 8-p.m. Sept. 7th, with a showing of “Grease”. Cars may begin parking at 6-p.m. The screen is 60 feet long with a high definition projector. Speakers will be available next to the screen for people to utilize. A transmitter will be provided for those enjoying the movie from their car. Attendees will turn their radio to a certain station and the transmitter will play the audio through their car speakers.

Entry is $5 per car or $2 per person for car-less entry. People are welcome to bring lawn chairs and blankets to sit on. Parking will be available on the other side of the Fair Grounds for car-less entry attendees. Inside parking for the Drive-In is limited, so pack a chair or blanket as precaution. Each attendee will receive a free bag of popcorn and one free drink. Additional beverages will be $2. Popcorn refills and candy will be available for $1.

For more information, visit www.atlanticiowa.com, call the Chamber at 712.243.3017 or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com. The Drive-In is sponsored by Meyer & Gross Real Estate, Hy-Vee, Family Crisis Support Network, Nishna Valley Family YMCA and the Atlantic Community Promotions Commission.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Another Iowa Democrat has entered the primary race to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst. Mike Franken said in an introductory video Monday that he’s “not afraid to stand up for the proud progressive principles that Iowa Democrats share.” Franken retired from the U.S. Navy as a three-star admiral in October 2017. His career included ship commands and years in senior policymaking, strategy, and planning roles for the Defense Department.

He was born and raised in rural northwest Iowa and moved back to Sioux City shortly after his retirement. Des Moines commercial real estate business president Theresa Greenfield, Des Moines businessman Eddie Mauro and Indianola lawyer Kimberly Clark are already in the Democratic race. Ernst is seeking her second six-year term.

(Radio Iowa) — Captain Al Haynes, the pilot of United Airlines flight 232 — which crashed in Sioux City in 1989, has died at the age of 87. Larry Finley, director of Sioux City’s Mid-American Air Museum, became friends with Haynes. Finley says Haynes loved Sioux City and the response he and the crew were given in the aftermath of the deadly crash. “He made that comment many times in our conversations,” Finley says. “He said, ‘You know, I’ve been to a lot of communities but I really feel at home with the friendliness and the compassion of the people in Sioux City. I never knew anything about Sioux City until we made this unannounced approach to your airport.'”

The D-C-10 had suffered complete hydraulic failure enroute from Denver to Chicago with 296 people on board. Haynes managed to guide the crippled airliner to Sioux Gateway Airport, where it crash landed as a fleet of ambulances and fire trucks waited at the scene. While 111 died in the fiery crash, 185 survived. Finley says Haynes never considered himself a hero and deeply regretted the loss of life in the crash. “That’s one of the reasons that every year, subsequent to the crash, the crew had its own reunion,” Finley says. “Captain Haynes explained to me that it was therapeutic for all of them because they all felt that somewhere in the back of their mind, they were all responsible.”

Without the perseverance of the crew, the outcome could have ended in greater loss of life, as no domestic airliner had ever experienced that type of catastrophe before. “Captain Haynes said that was the reason they made it to Sioux City and it was as successful as it was because individually, the four people in the cockpit had never experienced total hydraulic failure on an aircraft like that,” Finley says. “He says it was everybody having input into the final solution.”

With all hydraulics out, Haynes steered the plane by using the thrusters on the two remaining engines, one on each wing. Haynes died Sunday at a Seattle hospital. Funeral services are pending.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Officials with Scooter’s Coffee say concerns of the Atlantic Planning and Zoning Commission, with regard to a drive through/coffee kiosk site on east 7th Street, are without merit. In a letter to the Commission last week, Mike Michaelis, Scooter’s Vice President of Development, asks the Commission to unanimously approve a previously discussed site plan, which calls for the triangular entrance/exit to the U-S Cellar/Verizon & McDonald’s entrance, to be the access and exit routes for motor vehicle traffic. The P&Z will further review the site plan during their meeting 5:30-p.m. Tuesday (Aug. 27), in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall.

During their meeting August 13th, the Commission expressed concerns about traffic congestion to the access drive, as well as vehicle “queuing” (backup), in the drive. At that time, Scooter’s Construction Manager Dan Forsland said he would contact the Iowa DOT about having the turning lane be both east and westbound from the site, instead of the current westbound only.

Michaelis said in his letter, that the site, as proposed, is similar to their coffee kiosk site in Holdredge, Nebraska, and that vehicle stacking at that location averages 3-to 4 vehicles during peak traffic conditions. They estimate the peak traffic times for the Atlantic Scooter’s (If approved), would be between 7:45-to 8-a.m.

Michaelis said their landlord (East Atlantic Holdings, LLC., based in Urbandale), was not able to reach an agreement with neighboring property owners Oinker’s Lounge and Noddles Development Co., with regard to access from those properties.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque man has pleaded guilty to taking estate money without permission and giving it to charities. The Telegraph Herald reports that 45-year-old Robert Young Jr. is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 21. He’d pleaded guilty after making a deal with prosecutors. Court documents say Young had been appointed personal administrator of the estate of Thomas Palmer, who died March 3, 2017, at the age of 58. The documents say Young paid off Palmer’s bills and then donated more than $31,500 to charities without a court’s permission.

Both the defense and prosecutors recommend in the plea agreement that Young be put on probation for two to five years and be given a deferred judgment. Under a deferred judgment, the theft conviction can be removed from his record if he successfully completes probation.