The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors will hold a special meeting Wednesday evening at the Parks and Rec Building at Sunnyside Park (1200 Sunnyside Lane). During the session, which begins at 5:15, the Board will discuss, but take no action, on a 5-year plan for the Parks and Rec Department.

Every year during September and October, first grade students from the Atlantic, Griswold, and CAM school districts visit the hospital and clinics to learn more about healthcare careers, as well as what it’s like to be a patient. With the assistance of the Cass County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the first graders are taken on a tour that highlights areas such as the Atlantic Medical Center, Emergency Department, cafeteria, laboratory, and the nursery.

During the tour, the students also participate in a mock tonsillectomy. Jena Waters, R.N. and Quality Specialist, guides them through the steps of preparing for surgery and recovery. She shows the students x-rays, and explains what kinds of medical equipment they might see as a patient. During the mock tonsillectomy, the kids get involved by playing different roles including admissions clerk, doctor, nurse, patient, parents, or lab technician.

First-graders from CAM North participated in a play that walks the students through a mock tonsillectomy. (Photo courtesy CCMH)

Sheriff’s officials in Union County say an Atlantic man, 35-year old Harold James Shoemaker,was arrested Monday night at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. Shoemaker was wanted on a Union County warrant for failure to appear in court on a child support matter. He was being held in the Union County Jail on $2000 bond.

The Harlan Police Department reports the arrest on Saturday, of 18-year old Brett Keane, of Panama. Keane was taken into custody following a traffic stop and brought to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, prohibited acts penalties, possession of an open container by person under legal age, and was cited for insufficient number of headlamps. A passenger in the vehicle, 17-year old Lucas Keiner, of Westphalia, was referred to juvenile court for minor in possession of alcohol.

That same day (Oct. 3rd), Harlan Police were dispatched to an attempted break-in, in the 1700 block of Lincoln Avenue. As a result of the investigation, 23-year old Zane Hytrek, and 18-year old Shaun McCarthy, both of Avoca, were arrested and transported to the Shelby County Jail, where McCarthy was charged with possession of a controlled substance and prohibited acts penalties. Hytrek was charged with possession of a controlled substance and open container, passenger.

Also on Oct. 3rd, Police Officers in Harlan were called investigate an incident where a juvenile, Logan Klaassen, of Harlan, had been bitten by a dog causing injury. As a result of the investigation, 57-year old Mark Rasmussen, of Harlan, was cited for allowing a dog to run at large.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday morning, are expected to act on the appointment of an Assistant County Attorney. The move follows the sudden resignation in August, of former Assistant County Attorney Jamie Arnold, who also served as Attorney for the City of Atlantic.

In other business, the Board will receive the initial bargaining proposal from AFSCME Union Local #1414 (Representing the Sheriff’s Deputies and Jailors), and present the County’s proposal, for Fiscal Year 2017-through 2019.

The Board of Supervisor’s meeting begins at 8:30-a.m., in their Board Room at the Cass County Courthouse.

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

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Halloween kicks off the beginning of the fall and winter holidays, but treats and cheer aren’t the only things being spread this time of year. It’s also the start of flu season, and UnityPoint at Home and Cass County Public Health are offering six community flu clinics beginning Monday, October 19 and continuing through Thursday, October 29.

Flu vaccines are designed to protect against the main flu viruses that research suggests will be the most common during this season. The viruses in the vaccine change each year based on international surveillance and scientists’ estimations about which types and strains of viruses will circulate in a given year. The 2015-2016 influenza vaccine is quadravalent, meaning it covers four types of strains; H1N1, H2N3, and two types of Influenza B.

Groups at a higher risk for flu complications include the elderly and people with health conditions like asthma, diabetes, and heart disease. Those in the high risk group are encouraged to get vaccinated early.

Flu shots will be billed for those presenting Medicare Part B and Medicaid documentation. No other insurance companies will be billed. The cost is $30 for the Fluzone shot or $40 for the FluMist vaccine, which is a nasal spray. Officials note that there is a limited supply of the high-dose flu vaccination, which is $35. Payment is accepted in cash or check. All children present with a parent or guardian may receive the vaccination. No physician’s order is required. For more information, call UnityPoint at Home at 712-243-7551.

The schedule for the community flu clinics are:

Monday, October 19, 9 a.m. – noon

Anita Health and Wellness Center – 900 Victory Park Road, Anita

Tuesday, October 20, 2:30 – 5 p.m.

Rex Pharmacy – 507 Chestnut Street, Atlantic

Monday, October 26, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

First United Methodist Church of Atlantic – 800 Poplar Street, Atlantic

Wednesday, October 28, 9 – 11 a.m.

Massena Medical Center – 92 Main Street, Massena

Wednesday, October 28, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Griswold Medical Center – 1109 Morningside Drive, Griswold

Thursday, October 29, 3 – 5 p.m.

UnityPoint at Home – 1408 E. 10th Street, Atlantic

Police in Creston report a local man was arrested on a drug charge late Monday night. 56-year old Michael Fry, of Creston, was taken into custody at around 11:05-p.m. for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine. Fry was later released from the Union County Jail on $5,000 bond.

Also arrested Monday, was 31-year old Jason Dames, of Creston. Dames, and 17-year old Nicole Arfman, also of Creston, were charged with two counts of Theft in the 5th Degree, following an incident at the Creston Wal-Mart. Dames was subsequently cited and released on a promise to appear later in court, while Arfman was referred to Juvenile Authorities and then released to a family member.

Creston Police said also, a resident in the 600 block of Maple Street reported Monday morning, that someone had been stealing firewood from a stack in an alley behind the residents’ home. About a truckload of Walnut Firewood was taken, with the loss estimated at $100.

Iowans are paying a few cents more a gallon for gasoline lately, but market analysts say prices should be falling within a few weeks toward two-dollars a gallon. Gail Weinholzer, spokeswoman for Triple-A Iowa, says this slight boost in pump prices is temporary. Weinholzer says, “Currently, the average across the state of Iowa is $2.33 and that’s up about 2-cents from a week ago but still down about 14-cents from a month ago.”

Refineries are in the process of switching from the summer grade of fuel to the winter blend. “As we go through it, prices tick upwards just a little bit, but once we’re through it, by the end of October, we’ll see price relief in the form of about 20 to 25 cents,” Weinholzer says. “Iowa could approach $2 sometime between Halloween and Thanksgiving.”

With summer vacation season well behind us now, she says gas prices often fall toward the holiday season.  “Demand declines during this time of the year and when the switchover is complete, after the 1st of November, typically prices will continue to decline right through the end of the year,” she says. “We should be near $2 for much of the last month or two of this year.”

While Iowa’s current statewide average is two-33 a gallon, that’s down from two-47 a month ago and down from three-15 a year ago. The cheapest gas in the state right now is selling in Davenport at two-21 a gallon while the most expensive gas is in Des Moines, averaging at two-42.

(Radio Iowa)

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