Iowans are being encouraged to “wear purple with a purpose” tomorrow (Thursday) in order to raise awareness about what’s considered the world’s toughest form of cancer. Pancreatic cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer-death in Iowa and in the U-S. Melinda Thach, a volunteer for the Des Moines Affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, says she strives to teach more people about the disease and how to spot it. “People need to be aware of their bodies and pay attention to the symptoms that are sometimes really vague,” Thach says. “It can be a tummy ache in the front, it can be a back ache, it can be changes in stool, it can be things that can be attributed to lots of other things, but if somebody is having all of those together, please call their doctor.”

Other symptoms may include: yellowing skin, weight loss, appetite loss, and a feeling of being full after only eating a little food. Pancreatic cancer is typically seen as a death sentence as 70-percent of those who are diagnosed die within a year. Still, Thach says improved awareness may be helping to improve the odds. “The five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer rose this year to 9%,” Thach says. “That is amazing that it is rising after being steady for a long, long time, but it’s still the only major cancer in the single digits and we need to do something to improve that.”

The five-year survival rate has increased by one-percentage point in each of the last three years. Thach, who lives in Ames, got involved as a volunteer after losing her mother to pancreatic cancer 13 days after she was diagnosed. Thursday is World Pancreatic Cancer Day and purple is the designated color for awareness of the disease. “We have people all across Iowa who are doing things to raise awareness and wearing purple is just one of them,” Thach says. “We have a girl at the Carlisle Middle School who lost her father to pancreatic cancer. She’s organizing a Wear Purple Day and is having a photo booth with purple props so people can have some fun with it, too.”

An estimated 580 Iowans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year and 430 of them will die from it.
https://www.pancan.org/

(Radio Iowa)

Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson reports three people were arrested earlier this week, and two accidents were investigated. Arrested Monday, was 55-year old Jon Misner, of Atlantic. Misner was taken into custody for Public Intoxication. On Tuesday, 42-year old Theresa Corbell, of Lincoln, NE., was arrested for Public Intox., and interference with official acts. And, 44-year old Dwyane Rollins, of Atlantic, was arrested Tuesday in Atlantic. Rollins was taken into custody on a Mills County warrant for Disorderly Conduct. All three subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

Chief Erickson says No injuries were reported following accidents that took place Tuesday. At around 12:15-p.m., a vehicle driven by Savannah Sorensen, of Walnut, struck a legally parked vehicle registered to R/T Motors, of Atlantic. The accident happened at 10th and Olive Streets as Sorensen was traveling west on 10th. After the impact, the parked vehicle rolled forward across Olive Street and hit a tree. Damage amounted to $15,000.

The second accident happened at 10th and Linn Streets at around 3:25-p.m., Tuesday. Erickson says a vehicle driven by Christina Simonton, of Atlantic, was traveling north on Linn and had stopped at the posted intersection. Her vehicle was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by Jayne Knight, of Atlantic. Damage from the collision amounted to $1,700.

No citations were issued as the result of those accidents.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — The trial for a mother accused of giving her 8-year-old daughter a fatal amount of an antidepressant drug has been postponed. The Daily Nonpareil reports that trial for 34-year-old Misty Frazier had been set for Dec. 12. It has now been pushed back to April 24th.

Frazier has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, child endangerment and giving prescription drugs to a minor without a prescription. Prosecutors say an autopsy shows the girl died in October 2016 of an overdose of the antidepressant amitriptyline, commonly sold under the brand name Elavil.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety reports some changes have been made regarding Fireworks, including information related to Consumer Fireworks Annual Retail Seller Licensing and Wholesaler Registration. For more information, see the following link: http://www.dps.state.ia.us/fm/building/licensing/consumerfireworksindex.shtml?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

The State of Iowa does not regulate display fireworks.   Please check with the local jurisdiction(s) regarding any permit requirements or to determine if the use of display fireworks is restricted or prohibited.

The Annual Grand Lighting Ceremony, sponsored by CornerStone Landscaping and Precision Concrete Services, will be tomorrow, (Thursday) November 16th at 5 PM at the Historic Rock Island Depot, in Downtown Atlantic. More than 200,000 lights are strung throughout the trees on Chestnut Street and in the City Park, to create a magical scene.

Grand Lighting kicks off at 5 PM with a free hot dog meal, provided by Hy-Vee and complimentary water, provided by Atlantic Bottling Company. There will be free hot cocoa as well. Santa will make his special helicopter arrival, weather pending, at 5:30 PM to turn on the lights and see children in his cabin from 6 – 7:30 PM.

Shop before and after Grand Lighting and earn double stamps on your Shop Local Passport card, presented by First Whitney Bank. Find a list of participating locations at www.atlanticiowa.com. Pick up your Christmas Brochure from area retail businesses, “like” the Chamber on Facebook, or follow on Twitter to find dates and details to celebrate Christmas in Atlantic. You can find a complete list of activities at www.christmasinatlantic.com.

MILFORD, Iowa (AP) — Police have identified the man whose body was discovered in a burned down northern Iowa storage unit. Milford police tell television station KTIV that the victim was 53-year old Francis Petska, of Spirit Lake, Iowa. Petska’s body was found Nov. 7 after firefighters put out a blaze at the unit. No other details of the investigation have been released.

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

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Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports a Missouri man was arrested following an investigation into a personal injury, hit-and-run accident, late Tuesday morning. 40-year old Warren Frank Davis, Jr., of Grant City, MO., was arrested after he fled the scene of the accident at the intersection of 16th and Garfield Streets, in Clarinda. Brothers says at around 11:30-a.m. Tuesday, Davis’ vehicle struck a Chevrolet Sonic driven by 39-year old Renee Dawn Pulliam, of Clarinda.

Pulliam was traveling north into the intersection of 16th and Garfield, when Davis Jr., who was traveling west on East Garfield Street, ran a red light, causing the Pulliam vehicle to broadside the Davis Jr. vehicle. Pulliam’s Chevrolet Sonic sustained significant front-end damage and is believed to be a total loss. Davis Jr. was apprehended after his 1993 Honda Civic broke down due to mechanical failure at the intersection of U.S. Highway 71 and 230th St. approximately two miles south of Clarinda. Davis was taken into custody without incident by members of the Clarinda Police Department and Iowa State Patrol. The Patrol is in charge of the accident investigation.

A motorist who had been following Davis Jr. after he fled the accident scene alerted law enforcement to Davis Jr’s. location. Davis is charged with leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, fail to obey a solid red traffic signal and possession of drug paraphernalia. Davis is currently being held in the Page County Jail on $1,562 bail.

Police reports have been submitted to the offices of Page County Attorney Carl M. Sonksen for review regarding the filing of formal charges.

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

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The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office K9 unit stopped a vehicle at around 11-p.m. Tuesday, and arrested a Missouri man on weapon and drug charges. 29-year old Jordan Michael Nielsen, of Rockport, MO., was pulled over outside of Hamburg, near Highway 275 and 310th Street. During the investigation, Nielsen was found to be in possession of two pistols, meth, marijuana, brass knuckles and drug paraphernalia. He was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, carrying weapons, and possession of paraphernalia. His bond at the Fremont County Jail was set at $4,300.

Jordan Nielsen

Fremont County Deputies were assisted by the Atchison County, MO., Sheriff’s Office.