The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced the first confirmed human case of West Nile virus disease in Iowa of 2012. The case is a female older adult (61 to 80 years of age) from Lyon County, who is recovering. “The extreme drought conditions in Iowa have dramatically reduced the mosquito population here,” said IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk. “This West Nile case, however, is a reminder that the virus is still out there and Iowans should take precautions.”

West Nile virus is transmitted through mosquitoes. The best way to prevent the virus is to eliminate mosquito breeding areas and to use insect repellent when outdoors. Iowans should take the following steps to reduce the risk of exposure to West Nile virus:

• Use insect repellent with DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Always read the repellent label and consult with a health care provider if you have questions when using these types of products for children. For example, DEET should not be used on infants less than 2 months old and oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under 3 years old.
• Avoid outdoor activities at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, shoes, and socks whenever possible outdoors.
• Eliminate standing water around the home because that’s where mosquitoes lay eggs. Empty water from buckets, cans, pool covers and pet water dishes. Change water in bird baths every three to four days.

Approximately 20 percent of people infected with West Nile virus will have mild to moderate symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches and vomiting. Less than one percent of people infected become seriously ill and rarely someone dies.

Since West Nile first appeared in Iowa in 2002, it has been found in every county in Iowa, either in humans, horses, or birds. In 2011, there were nine human cases of West Nile virus and two deaths. 

For more information about West Nile virus, visit www.idph.state.ia.us/Cade/DiseaseIndex.aspx?disease=West Nile Virus.

Iowa teachers might have to accept larger class sizes if they expect increased salaries, under one model presented to a state task force on teacher pay. The task force heard Friday from officials at a Colorado school district where teachers get paid based on their evaluations and student performance, and for taking on new leadership rolls. The officials report a small increase in class size as master teachers leave the classroom to mentor other teachers. Iowa Department of Education Director Jason Glass agrees that lower class sizes do lead to student achievement: “But the question is, are we willing to invest the hundreds of millions of dollars necessary to get the class size low enough that it has an impact, and what do we give up in exchange for that large expenditure. Everything’s a tradeoff,” according to Glass. 

Glass says high performing schools around the world have accepted larger classes in order to pay teachers more. “ I think we have to have that conversation. The United States is among the top spenders around the world and we have some of the lowest class sizes in the world, but our results are mediocre, “ Glass said. Task force member , Tammy Wawro is president of the Iowa State Education Association,-the state’s largest teacher’s union. She is skeptical about the idea of increasing class sizes.“ Class size does matter and class size tradeoff does concern me,” Wawro said. The Colorado officials say student performance has improved But they admit there was strong opposition at first and many teachers left. The Iowa task force will make its recommendations for changing Iowa’s teacher compensation system later this fall.

(Radio Iowa)

One person was transported by Essex EMS to the hospital in Shenandoah following a two-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon in Page County. Sheriff’s officials say 61-year old Phyllis Jean Carlson, of Clarinda, suffered “non-incapacitating” injuries during the crash between her 2002 Chevy Blazer and a full-size pickup. The accident happened at around 4:35-p.m., at the intersection of 130th Street and N Avenue, about six-miles northwest of Hepburn.

Carlson’s SUV was traveling south on N Avenue as a 2006 Ford F-250 pickup driven by 58-year old Gary Michael Erickson, of Clarinda, was traveling west on 130th. Sheriff’ Lyle Palmer says Erickson ran the stop sign and hit the SUV on the passenger’s side. The Blazer was totaled in the crash. And, even though the pickup sustained $15,000 damage, Erickson was able to drive it to his residence. The sheriff’s report did not indicate if any citations were issued.

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency announced this (Monday) morning, that the Fire Danger rating in the County will remain in the “High” category through this Thursday, August 1st. Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert said that’s because no rain fell over the county this past weekend.

There is the potential for thunderstorms through Thursday, and Seivert says if they do develop, those storms will provide only minimal relief, from the extensive dry conditions. He says one phenomenon they rarely experience in the area is “dry” lightening.

Dry lightening is created when the thunderstorm complex develops, and minimal rain is dropped but the cloud to ground lightening is very intense. Seivert says with the very dry conditions, a lightening strike may start a fire, in  unexpected and or remote locations. 

He encourages the public to report fires, and smoke plumes  promptly, to 9-1-1. Seivert says a quick response may prevent a catastrophic event from developing.

Police in Atlantic report the arrest on Saturday of 32-year old Marty Atkinson. Atkinson was taken into custody on a charge of Public Intoxication. He was booked into the Cass County Jail.

And, officials report an accident Sunday afternoon in the Wal-Mart parking lot caused a total of $2,700 damage, but no one was injured. The accident happened at around 1-p.m., when vehicles driven by Iris Green, of Atlantic, and Barbara Hughes, of Lewis, collided, as Green was traveling west in the north end of the parking lot, and Hughes was headed south down an aisle in the lot. No citations were issued.

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Firefighters from Massena have been called to the scene of a barn fire located about 4-miles north of Massena. The call about the blaze at 62655 740th Street came in at around 7:40-a.m., no other details are currently available.

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The Iowa State Patrol has launched a special “Ride Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement campaign aimed at motorcyclists. Sergeant Scott Bright says the effort is in response to the things they’re seeing happen on state roadways. “Recently we’ve seen an increase in the fatality rate with motorcycles. In 2010 we had 55 motorcyclists killed in the state and 25-percent of those were alcohol related, so we’re trying to decrease that,” Bright explains. “As they get out and ride their motorcycles, hopefully they don’t get out there and drink while they ride them.”

Trooper Bright says they hope the special effort will raise the profile of the issue.  He says troopers will be working the interstates and highways and be around motorcycle rallies, so if they find a motorcyclist who has been drinking, they’ll be arrested. Trooper Bright says drinking alcohol, more than any other single factor, can rob motorcyclists of the ability to think clearly and ride safely. “If they’ve had a lot to drink, its’ very hard to keep their stability. And especially when they come to a stop, the bike starts to sway a little bit,” Bright says. The advice for drivers is no different for those on two wheels as it is for those on four when drivers are told not to drink and get behind the wheel of their car.

“If they start to drink, don’t get on your bike and ride…and if you’re going to ride, don’t drink. That’s kind of the slogan we like to get out there to keep everybody safe,” Bright says. According to the U-S D-O-T’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists accounted for 14-percent of total traffic fatalities in 2010. Yet, motorcycles made up only three percent of all registered vehicles in the United States in 2010 and accounted for less than one-percent of all vehicle miles traveled.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office is investigating separate incidents of burglary and vandalism, which were reported Sunday in Villisca and Stanton. A Villisca resident reported to authorities Sunday afternoon, that someone entered his garage in the 500 block of East 3rd Street, and stole numerous tools. The loss was estimated at $2,000. The incident occurred sometime between July 14th and 19th.

And, a Stanton couple reported to authorities Sunday night, that the south window of their shop located in the 2400 block of 225th Street had been broken sometime between 8:50 and 9:05-p.m., Sunday. When deputies arrived, they determined a rock had penetrated the window, causing $100 damage.

Anyone with information about either of the incidents is asked to call the Montgomery County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-432-1001, or the Sheriff’s Office at 712-623-5107.