(Press Release from Cass & Page County Public Health Systems) — According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 1.5 million more current youth e-cigarette users in 2018 than 2017. E-cigarette use increased from 11.7% to 20.8% among high school students and 3.3% to 4.9% among middle school students. Local Tobacco Prevention Coordinator, Brandy Powers, reminds residents e-cigarettes, electronic smoking devices, JUULs, vapes, whatever you call them – are not harmless.

According to the CDC, 99% of e-cigarettes contain nicotine and many youth are unaware of this – they think they’re a safe alternative to “regular” cigarettes. They are not. Nicotine is highly addictive and young people can become addicted to e-cigarettes as easily as traditional cigarettes. Nicotine has been shown to harm adolescent brain development, which continues until the early to mid-20s. “Parents need to talk to their kids about e-cigarettes and make it clear they are not safe,” said Powers, Tobacco Prevention Coordinator serving Southern Iowa. “The ‘fun’ flavors and availability of electronic smoking devices leaves the impression they are safe for kids. They are not.”

Quitline Iowa is a free resource for all Iowans aged 13 and older. A tailored quit plan can be created for users of any type of nicotine – from chewing tobacco to cigarettes to e-cigarettes. Benefits of Quitline include:

• Free and confidential
• Users may be eligible for free Nicotine Replacement Therapy
• Trained Quit Coaches

Iowa residents can take advantage of the program by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669), or visiting www.quitlineiowa.org to enroll. Registration specialists and Quit Coaches® are available 24 hours a day. Iowa youth can help educate their peers about the dangers of tobacco and e-cigarettes by joining their local chapter of Iowa Students for Tobacco Education (ISTEP) or creating a chapter of their own. Learn more about ISTEP at https://IowaSTEP.org.

About 90 homes and/or businesses were affected by a power outage this (Tuesday) morning. Atlantic Municipal Utilities General Manager Steve Tjepkes told KJAN News the outage was first noticed at around 6:20-a.m. It affected customers located in the area of Redwood Drive, between 14th and 22nd Streets. Tjepkes said an underground wire went bad. Some customers noticed a sporadic blinking of their power, due to the fact crews were trying to isolate the bad section of wire.

As of 9:45-a.m., about five customers still were without power, but Tjepkes said crews were laying a temporary cable to compensate until the cable can be repaired or replaced.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a Pottawattamie County man was arrested today (Tuesday), at around 3:20-a.m.  32-year old Seth Allen Simmons, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in the area of Highway 34 & 360th Street, on charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $1,300.

Three people were arrested on drug and/or burglary charges Monday, in Pottawattamie County. The Sheriff’s Office reports deputies responded at around 11:15-a.m., to a call about suspicious activity at 25600 Road L-34. The first deputy to arrive on the scene called for a rapid backup from the other deputies, as he had two men and a woman detained, and had discovered numerous knives.

Another deputy who arrived on the scene found a hypodermic needle containing a clear/opaque liquid. In all, numerous knives, an open container, the needle and a set of brass knuckles were recovered at the scene. The vehicle the suspects were in possession of, had been reported stolen out of Omaha. The suspects had gone to multiple houses, knocking on the door or ringing the door bell, claiming they were trying to locate a lost dog. In one such attempt, the resident was occupied and unable to come to the door. One of the suspects then allegedly tried to gain entry into the home, apparently thinking no one was there.

Those arrested include: 38-year old John Joseph Bowen, of Council Bluffs, 24-year old Nathan K. Burgard, and 28-year old Michaela Ann Christensen, of Omaha. All three suspects were charged with Theft in the 2nd degree (Motor vehicle related), Attempted Burglary in the 2nd Degree, and Possession of Burglary Tools. Bowen and Christensen were additionally charged with Possession of Meth/1st offense, with Christensen facing a paraphernalia charge, as well. Burgard was also charged with Open Container. His bond was set at $12,000. Bowen’s bond was set at $13,000, and bond for Christensen was set at $13,300.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports two arrests last week. Late Thursday night, 58-year old Dennis Jay Wentland, of Altoona, was arrested on an Adair County warrant for Violation of Probation. Wentland was picked-up from the Polk County Jail in Des Moines and brought to the jail in Greenfield. He was released the next day on a $2,000 cash/surety bond. And, Friday night, 30-year old Timothy Denton Coyne, of West Des Moines, was arrested by an Iowa State Patrol Trooper. Coyne was pulled over on I-80 westbound near mile marker 73, for a registration violation. The vehicle, a 2013 Mazda, was subsequently determined to have been stolen out of Nebraska.

Coyne was arrested for Theft in the 2nd Degree (motor vehicle-related). He was released Saturday on a $5,000 cash/surety bond.

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

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AMES, Iowa (AP) _ NewLink Genetics Corp. (NLNK) on Tuesday reported a loss of $10.1 million in its second quarter. On a per-share basis, the Ames, Iowa-based company said it had a loss of 27 cents. The biopharmaceutical company posted revenue of $151,000 in the period. The company’s shares closed at $1.58. A year ago, they were trading at $3.90.

The Creston Police Department reports a man from Lorimor was arrested Monday evening, in Creston. John Lee was taken into custody at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County warrant charging him with Theft in the 4th Degree. Lee was being held in the Union County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

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

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The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office reports three additional suspects have been charged in connection with an ongoing narcotics distribution investigation. 55-year old Richard Grace and 49-year old Pamela Grace, both of Diagonal, appeared before the Taylor County Magistrate on charges stemming from a traffic stop on May 7, 2019. Richard and Pamela Grace were each charged with multiple counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Controlled Substance- Methamphetamine. Pamela Grace was also charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance- Marijuana.