Health officials around the country are trying to track down patients who may have received a deadly dose of steroids used to treat back pain — but not here — as state epidemiologist Patricia Quinlisk says none of the material reached Iowa. “What the C-D-C is recommending at this time is to contact the people providers, health care, clinics who received one of those three lots and working with them contact all the patients who may have received one of the three lots. Since we never received any of the three lots we have not had to do that,” Quinlisk explains.

Dr. Quinlisk says the Massachusetts company has recalled not just the contaminated steroid, but every product on its shelves just to be safe. “There may be some of the things on that list that did make it to Iowa but its being recalled out of a total abundance of caution. It’s not even been something that’s been forced upon them, this pharmacy just doesn’t want to take any chances and is recalling everything,” she explains. At least seven people have died and dozens more are became ill from a rare form of meningitis linked to the steroids.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

U-S Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stood on a portion of a roughly 200-acre plot of land located near the Cass/Pottawattamie County line Monday afternoon, to announce a plan to extend the Conservation Reserve Program, in an effort to continue to conserve and restore wildlife and their habitats, especially the pheasant population.

US Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack speaks with property manager Gary Matters, Monday afternoon, near the Cass/Pottawattamie County line. (Ric Hanson photo)

The move comes in cooperation with Pheasants Forever, the Nature Conservancy, and other, similar groups and is being developed under the SAFE, or State Acres for wildlife Enhancement, Program. In March, Vilsack announced the USDA’s goal of enrolling One-million acres in a new CRP grasslands and wetlands initiative, through continuous signups.

Vilsack said Monday, the USDA is committed to adding 400,000 CRP state acres across the country, with a number of states having additional acres allocated under SAFE. About 20 states he says, will be able to add up to 280-thousand acres for all projects. In Iowa, 50,000 additional acres will be added to SAFE, that are directly related to pheasants’ habitat initiative, to try and increase significantly, the pheasant population.  He says in Nebraska, they’ll be adding acres to existing programs, instead of new acres, under SAFE.

That includes 74-hundred acres to the Prairie Chicken effort, which will add to the 21-thousand acres currently enrolled in the program in eastern Nebraska, and another 22-thousand acres will be added to the 31-thousand allocated acres for the Upland Bird Habitat Initiative. SAFE is currently capped at 1.25-million acres, nationally. Acres are allocated across 97 SAFE projects in 36 states and Puerto Rico. The Ag Secretary said sign-up for the additional CRP acreages won’t be possible, however, until after Congress, and more specifically, House of Representatives, has finished its work on the Farm Bill.

He says by connecting and educating people about the “economic driver” that conservation and outdoor recreation is, officials hope once Congress returns after the election, that they finish the work they started. Vilsack was asked if it was “Fair,” to hold a press conference in a swing state like Iowa, less than a month before the election, in a contested location for the Iowa House of Representatives. Vilsack was also asked if this was a role for the USDA, or an attempt to sway voters. He said Iowa is number one in the country in filter strips, number one in grassland reserve areas, and one of the leading conservation and CRP states, as well as wetland reserve states. Therefore, he said, it is “Appropriate and necessary, at the beginning of hunting season, to talk about habitat, to educate people about the link between habitat and conservation, and economic development and jobs.

Vilsack his stop was all about the SAFE Program, something he’s been working on all year long, and for the past four-years. He said in Iowa, about $3-billion dollars worth of sales and economic activity is associated with conservation and outdoor recreation. He says that generates $700-million for state and local governments, and helps to employ nearly 31-thousand people. The land Vilsack spoke on Monday, is managed by Gary Matters, of Council Bluffs. It’s owned by his father, Fred Matters, who is retired, and lives in Urbandale.

A traffic accident in Atlantic Saturday caused over $5,000 damage.

At about 1 PM, the Atlantic Police Department reports a vesicle driven by Joshua Tye of Creston was coming northbound out of the Atlantic Walmart entrance onto 7th street.  A vehicle driven by Gregory Riggleman of Wooster, OH was eastbound and stopped at the traffic light of the Walmart/7th Street intersection.  Tye lost control of his vehicle and struck Riggleman’s vehicle.  Damage to Tye’s vehicle was about $5,000.  Damage to Riggleman’s vehicle was about $200.  No citations or injuries were reported.

October 7th through the 13th is National 4-H Week. Cass County is celebrating the 4-H youth who have made an impact on the community, and are stepping up to the challenges of a complex and changing world. On Wednesday, October 10th, from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., 4-H youth along with their family, friends and extension staff will host a 4-H Open House for anyone in the community, at the Cass County Community Center.

The planned activities will allow 4-H members and staff to showcase some of their project areas with hands-on activities designed to encourage new membership.  County Youth Coordinator (CYC) Susan Oliver says the events will include participation areas where anyone interested in 4-H can experience firsthand what it might be like to become a 4-H member.  Cookie decorating, hands-on science projects, craft areas as well as the “Clover Corner” for younger siblings are just a few of the events planned for the afternoon.  If you have ever considered joining 4-H, if you are a 4-H member, or you would just like to know more about the program we encourage you to stop by the open house.

Also during National 4-H Week, hundreds of thousands of youth from all around the nation will complete a single, innovative experiment on 4-H National Youth Science Day, which is on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012. Here in Cass County you can come work first hand on science with our Regional Youth Specialist Jane Hayes-Johnk.

In Cass County, approximately 250 4-H members and 115 volunteers are involved in 4‑H. To learn more about how you can be a part of 4-H as a member or a volunteer, please contact Susan Oliver, CYC, at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Cass County, at 712-243-1132 or smmck@iastate.edu .

A state task force trying to boost teaching of science, technology, engineering and math — the so-called STEM disciplines — has identified more than 800 programs around the state that could be expanded or copied elsewhere. Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds is leading the initiative and she says these 800-plus programs are not only in schools, but led by community organizations and businesses as well.  “That’s where we start to inspire them to take science and math, and so they can start to see the relevance of taking those courses and the impact that that that has on their life, on their quality of life, and really on the great jobs that they can have in the future,” Reynolds says. “So this is going to help us inspire them, get them engage and it’s also going to help us make sure that when they graduate from high school that they are career- or college-ready.”

Reynolds says Iowa students will be tested, to see if the programs work.  “The Iowa Assessment, which used to be the Iowa Test of Basic Skills I believe, has allowed us this year to add questions…of all students taking the test so we can start to get a baseline of where they’re at,” Reynolds says. “It monitors interest in science and math, if they have any intention of going into that discipline, so that will be a baseline and that was not on the test before.” The task force will measure student competence and interest in science, technology, engineering and math by monitoring the National Assessment of Education Skills, too.

(Radio Iowa)

Cass County Extension 4-H and Nishna Valley YMCA are partnering to create learning opportunities for young people in grades 4-8 to gain knowledge and skills in the science, technology, engineering and math fields with a new program.  The group “whY Science” begins October 15 from 3:45-4:45 PM in the Nishna Valley YMCA.

Young people in grades 4-8 are invited to be a part of “whY Science” that will begin meeting after school on Monday, October 15 in the youth room of the Nishna Valley YMCA.  Science sessions will be from 3:45-4:45.   Youth need to pre-register so resources, materials and staff are available for all youth. Adult partners include Lynn Barnes, Denny Stuetelberg, Tamara Gibson, Nishna Valley YMCA-Kids Fun Fitness Program coordinator, and Lee Havemeier plus other adult volunteers from the YMCA and Susan Oliver, Extension Youth Coordinator and Kate Olson, Extension Program Coordinator.  The first of a series of science sessions will be Funtivities, a hands-on exploration of electricity, magnetism, and air pressure.

Pre-registration for the collaborative program is due by October 11th.  You can register at the Y or enroll online at ia.4honline.com.  Create a new account and add “whY Science” as your club.  There is no fee for registration and the group is open to all youth in Cass County in grades 4-8.

Officials say in school, science classes need to cover a broad range of topics in a limited amount of time. “whY Science” will allow more time for youth to explore science.  The goal of the Cass County 4-H and YMCA partnership, according to the extension, is to offer additional science, technology, engineering and math opportunities on a regular basis.  In addition, science find-out days, workshops and guest speakers and tours may be incorporated into the program from now until May 2013.

The National Weather Service in Omaha has extended the Red Flag Warning to cover Harrison, Shelby and Pottawattamie Counties in southwest Iowa. The warning is in effect until 6-p.m.  Previously, the warning covered those counties along and north of Highway 30. In addition, the Grassland Fire Danger Index will be in the EXTREME category today for the counties mentioned.

Officials say low humidity, winds gusting out of the southwest from 15-to 30-miles per hour will combine to create explosive fire growth if a fire should develop. Fires are especially possible in extremely dry fields and grassy areas. Outdoor burning is not recommended, and most counties in the area have a burn ban in place.

A Red Flag Warning mean that critical fire weather conditions are occurring or will shortly.

This week (October 7^th through the 13^th), is National Fire Prevention Week. Locally, activities began Sunday, in Atlantic, with the Fireman’s Breakfast at the fire station. Atlantic volunteer Fire Fighter, Capt. Tom Cappel, says the goal is to promote fire safety and prevention, in the schools, and at home. The campaign designed for everyone, but especially young people.  Cappel says the kids they speak with are encouraged to go home, and talk with adults about checking smoke detectors.

Another part of fire safety week, is a reminder to farmers about safety while they’re out in the fields, and the importance of checking their equipment for faulty parts that might start a fire (such as bearings), and keeping combines and other implements free of debris. Those issues have caused some field fires recently, but they were brought under control quickly, due to the preventative action by farmers, and quick response by fire fighters.

A big part of Fire Prevention Week though, is the annual Atlantic Fireman’s Parade, which takes place this Saturday, October 13^th. Cappel says two Drill and Drum Corps teams will be featured in the parade, including the Isiserettes, from Des Moines, and the Salem Stepping Saints, from Omaha. The performances begin in front of the Rock Island Depot at 5-p.m. The Parade lineup starts at 4-pm on Third and Olive St. Parade lineup is first come first serve. Parade starts at 6 pm.

For more information about all of this weekend’s activities in Atlantic, including the Rib Fest on Friday, and Harvest Fest on Saturday, along with the Fireman’s Parade and related activities, go to www.atlanticiowa.com.

w/ Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (3.9MB)

Subscribe: RSS