Hundreds of thousands of computer users in Iowa will see pop-ups on their screens soon, as Microsoft is releasing a free version of Windows 10 this week. Thor Schrock, a computer repair store owner in Omaha/Council Bluffs, says it you reserve a copy by Wednesday, the new operating system will be delivered automatically.

“Anybody who has a Windows 7 or a Windows 8 computer might be eligible for a free, as in no cost at all, update from Windows 7 or 8 up to Windows 10,” Schrock says. “Now, your computer’s hardware will have to be compatible. Almost every computer running Windows 8 will be compatible. Most computers running Windows 7 are also compatible.”

Computers that are compatible will get a pop-up window asking them if they want to upgrade. Having seen the new O-S, Schrock says it has several impressive features. “If you’re excited to get Windows 10, you should reserve the copy because you’ll be ‘among the first,'” he says. “They’ll release this in waves. The last time this happened, between Windows 8 to 8.1, some 20% of the computers that attempted to install 8.1 automatically ended up failing, they ended up crashing.”

According to Microsoft, those not wanting to upgrade now can purchase Windows 10 upgrades later at prices that range from $120 to $200, depending on the version. Also, there are a few wrinkles in the red carpet rollout. “You won’t get a pop-up if your computer is not compatible or if any device on your computer, like an old printer, is not compatible,” Schrock says. “Another thing to be aware of, if you’re using Office 2003 or Office 2007, neither one of those are compatible with Windows 10. You’ll have to buy a new copies of Office if you upgrade.”

One of the new features of Windows 10 is a personal digital assistant, called Cortana. It aims to rival “Siri” on iPhones. “Microsoft’s voice recognition blows Siri out of the water,” Schrock says. “When you figure, they’re going to leverage Cortana on over a billion devices next month, it’s going to have the opportunity to learn so much. It’s going to be Skynet before it’s done.”

That’s a reference to the popular “Terminator” movies, where Skynet was an artificial intelligence-driven computer system which eventually took over the world and tried to wipe out all of humankind. He’s kidding. Relax.

(Radio Iowa)

Cass County Fair Board members report that a pair of chainsaw carvings were stolen sometime Sunday night or Monday morning from the fairgrounds in Atlantic.  The piglets and goat head carvings were created over the last couple of days by Doyle Chainsaw Artist and are to be auctioned off tonight (Monday) at the fair as part of a fund raising effort for the fair.

A reward is being offered for information leading to the return of the carvings. Anyone who might have any information about the theft is asked to contact the Atlantic Police Department, the Cass County Extension Office, or any Fair Board member.

MONTICELLO, Iowa (AP) – Hundreds of people volunteered to have their heads shaved this weekend in an effort to set a world record and show their support for a 5-year-old boy who lost his own hair during treatment for cancer. The boy, Austin Smith, is the son of Monticello police chief Britt Smith. KCRG-TV reports that Austin’s grandfather was the first person in line among the more than 400 people who had their heads shaved within one hour on Sunday.

Organizers say they needed at least 372 people to have their heads shaved. They will present the figures, along with videos and photos of the event to the Guinness Book of World Records.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) today (Monday), said 10 Iowa communities have been awarded fluoride certificates by the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors on behalf of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American Dental Association (ADA). Fluoridation is the adjustment of fluoride in the water to an optimal level for preventing tooth decay.

Denison and Winterset were among the communities receiving a 50-year award for maintaining continuous community water fluoridation from 1964-2014.

Today, approximately 75 percent of Americans served by public water systems drink optimally-fluoridated water. Fluoridated water safely and inexpensively reduces tooth decay by 25 percent in children and adults. The CDC has recognized community water fluoridation as one of the ten great public health achievements of the 20th Century and recommends water fluoridation as a safe, effective, and inexpensive method of preventing tooth decay.

To see the fluoridation status of Iowa counties and towns, visit https://nccd.cdc.gov/DOH_MWF/Default/Default.aspx.

We all forget our keys or phone occasionally, and many of us have wondered if our frequent forgetfulness could be a sign of a bigger problem. “When Should I Worry?” is the topic of Cass County Health System’s next Healthy U session. The program will be presented on Thursday, July 30th at noon in CCHS Conference Room 2.

Stacey Bean, PA-C

Stacey Bean, Physician Assistant at the Atlantic Medical Center, will present information about dementia with a focus on Alzheimer’s. Stacey Bean has been a Physician Assistant at Atlantic Medical Center since 2006. She provides a broad range of family medicine services, and is board certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.

Dementia is a broad category of brain diseases that cause a decrease in the ability to think and remember to the point that a person’s daily functioning is affected. Dementia will affect 1 in 8 people—up to 35 million people worldwide. Approximately 50-70% of dementia patients have Alzheimer’s.

Healthy U is a free educational series that focuses on a different health topic each month. Attendees receive a healthy sack lunch in addition to an educational program presented by medical professionals. Future topics will include joint health, mental illness, and diabetes.

For more information, or to make a reservation for the July 30th Healthy U, call 712-243-7479.

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

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Police in Creston say a man who was arrested early Sunday morning was arrested again late Sunday night, on drug and other charges. 19-year old Adam Drake, of Creston, was arrested at around 2:30-a.m. Sunday for Public Intoxication/3rd offense, and Interference with Officials Acts. Drake was released from the Union County Jail on $2,000 bond, but arrested again at around 11:35-p.m. on charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 3rd offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Disorderly Conduct, and Public Intoxication. He was being held in the Union County Jail, on $2,000 bond.

Also arrested Sunday, was 19-year old Audreyanna Marks, of Creston. Marks, who resides in the same home as Adam Drake, was arrested on charge of Disorderly Conduct at around 6:15-a.m.  She was later released from the Ringgold County Jail on $300 bond.

And on Friday, 38-year old Roger Straw, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center for allegedly Violating a Protection Order. Straw was later released on $300 bond.

The 7:06-a.m. report w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Women can work on developing their wild side by registering for the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) workshop coming up Sept. 18-20. The weekend workshop is held at the Springbrook Conservation Education Center in Guthrie County. Julie Sparks, DNR Becoming an Outdoors-Woman coordinator, says “This workshop is an excellent opportunity for women 18 years or older to try a wide variety of activities they may never have had the chance to experience. We have top-notch instructors, our class sizes are kept small and the setting at Springbrook is beautiful, particularly in the fall.”

Workshop topics include basic fishing, fly fishing, birdwatching, archery, beginning shooting, basic motor boat skills, kayaking, survival skills, stand up paddling, Dutch oven cooking, basic camping and much more. The $150 registration fee covers food, lodging and materials for the workshop.

Women thinking about participating are encouraged to sign up soon, as many classes fill quickly. Brochures and registration forms are available online at www.iowadnr.gov/bow or by contacting Julie Sparks, at 515-725-8285 or julie.sparks@dnr.iowa.gov.

The Cass County Fair wraps up the last, full day of activities in Atlantic, today. Tomorrow, breakfast will be served at the Foodstand from 6:30-to 10-a.m., and the livestock sale will take place beginning at 8-a.m. On tap for this morning, is the Best of Show in the Outdoor Show Ring, Best of Iowa show at 9:30 in the Community Center, and at 11-a.m., the Watermelon Feed in the Outdoor Show Ring. As always, the commercial exhibit building will open at 10-a.m. for you to check out the various vendors and artisans.

Today’s Noon Special at the Foodstand is Roast Beef, with hot beef being sold this evening at 5.  The Foodstand is open until 10-p.m.

This afternoon, the Style Show will be held in the Community Center, beginning at 4-p.m., with Building Awards being presented at that time, as well. At 6-p.m. is the Parade of Champions in the Outdoor Arena. The Grand Champion Beef Selection in front of the Grandstand starts at 7-p.m., and Mud Volleyball in the Horse Arena gets underway at 8-p.m.