(Radio Iowa) – The guidelines are changing for the age at which people should begin getting screened for colon cancer, which is the third most common cancer in Iowa and the second leading cause of cancer death. March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month, and Dr. Samir Shah, president of the American College of Gastroenterology, says screenings should now start at age 45, not 50. “Colon cancer remains the second-leading cause of cancer death in both men and women and the third-most common cancer in both groups,” Shah says. “It’s so important to screen for it because, of all the major cancers, it’s the most preventable. It can be prevented in 90% of patients with proper screening.”

Beginning the screenings five years earlier raises the chances of survival if cancer is found. He says studies are finding that late-stage colon and rectal cancers are increasing dangerously among younger people. “If you’re 45 and older, call your primary care provider and say ‘It’s time for my colonoscopy,’ and they’ll say, ‘Yep, we’ve been meaning to call you, the guidelines just changed,’ and then they’ll give you a menu of options,” Shah says. “The option that’s the best is the colonoscopy because it’s a one-stop shop. If they find polyps, they will remove them and you’re all set.”

For Iowans who would prefer not to start with the colonoscopy, there are other options to screen for the disease. “You can get a stool-based test to look for either blood in the stool or DNA in the stool that would predict the presence of a polyp or cancer,” he says, “and if that test is positive, then you go for the colonoscopy.”

Research shows people younger than 40 experienced the steepest rise in advanced cases of late-stage colon and rectal cancers between 2000 and 2016. Shah says starting screening at age 45 improves the chances of finding polyps and cancers sooner and hopefully preventing late-stage disease and death.

On the Web at:    gi.org/ColonCancer

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say there were two, non-injury accidents Friday morning. Authorities report the first happened at around 6:20-a.m. at Mulberry and Harsh Streets. =Vehicles driven by 30-year-old Liberty Ahrens and 41-year-old Angelina Herrera, both of Creston, approached the uncontrolled intersection. Neither driver saw the other vehicle, resulted in a collision that caused a total of $5,500 damage. No citations were issued.

And, about an hour later, a collision involving vehicles driven by 48-year-old Christina Flores, and 27-year-old Valeria Villagomez, of Mission, TX, occurred at the intersection of Spruce and Devoe Streets. Police say the crash happened when Villagomez failed to yield. The damage amounted to $6,000. No citations were issued.

(Creston, Iowa) – A man from Creston was arrested at around 1:40-a.m. Monday (Today) (3/6/23). Creston Police report 38-year-old Jared James Wilmeth was arrested at his residence. He was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault, Obstruct to call E911, and False Imprisonment. Wilmeth was taken to the Union County Jail where he was being held without bond.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Friday marked the end of funnel week for the Iowa Legislature. House District 23 Republican Representative Ray “Bubba” Sorensen, from Greenfield, said in his weekly summary of activity at the Statehouse, one of the bills that squeaked by on a thin bi-partisan margin in the Education committee (12 to 11), was a bill he drafted for the Iowa Youth Congress (but was simultaneously drafted by Rep. Steckman, who ultimately ran the bill), granting a student a non-voting seat on their school board. The school boards didn’t like it, Sorensen says, because it has the word “shall” instead of “may”, but I think an amendment that states a student must satisfy the board’s application process first, is a middle ground between shall and may, by still allowing the boards to decide if a student is worthy to sit on the board.

“We also ran a teacher empowerment bill out of Education Committee,” Sorensen said, “after receiving feedback from teachers about their experiences in the classroom. Teachers are not necessarily getting the support they need from their administration, and in many ways, they are hindered in their ability to discipline students that are disruptive and protect themselves against students who are violent.

Rep Steckman and Soresnsen with some of the Iowa Youth Congress in the Speaker’s Chair.

“HSB 206 is likely not in its final form and we are continuing to work with folks in education to make it the best bill possible, but right now it allows teachers to make a complaint directly to the ombudsman’s office regarding violence in the classroom and requires the ombudsman to investigate, the school district must ensure their teachers know their rights regarding teacher immunity when coming in physical contact with a violent student. Requires teachers to notify the parent/guardian within 24 hours if they witness student injury, including teacher whistleblower protections. Lays out a 3-strike system for student discipline. First offense – meet with school counselor and one day of in-school suspension. Second offense – meet with school counselor and 5 days of in-school suspension. Third offense – student is removed from that class and if in high school, will not receive credit for that class.”

He said Sorensen, along with Representatives Matson and Siegrist, had a bipartisan bill that would direct the Dept. of Ed to establish a work group to examine various topics related to Iowa’s current methodology for determining levels of student poverty and funding related to students from low-income households. It fell prey to late drafting by LSA and just not enough time to get through committee, but there may still be hope.

Also, last week, Soresensen said the House Veterans Affairs committee passed House Study Bill 205 to provide veterans injured in military service certain discounts on hunting licenses and allow the use of a crossbow while hunting with a tag during archery season.

House District 23 includes parts of Adair, Madison, Dallas, Union, and Clarke Counties.  You can reach Rep. Sorsensen at Ray.Sorensen@legis.Iowa.gov.

(Red Oak, Iowa) –  The Board of Supervisors in Montgomery County are expected to act on approving a Resolution approving the Final Plat of the Stanton Technology Park Subdivision, in Montgomery County, Iowa. The Resolution is one of five items under New Business on the Board agenda for their regular weekly meeting. The meeting takes place in the Supervisor’s Board Room at the Courthouse in Red Oak, beginning at 8:30-a.m., Tuesday.

The Stanton Area Industrial Foundation owns the property located on the north side of the community, near the intersection of Highway 34 and Halland Avenue. The Stanton Child Resource Center would be the first business located at the Technology Park. The Technology Park will be served with full fiber optic service through FMTC to accommodate businesses heavily reliant on technology and connectivity. Bids will be going out this spring, with construction scheduled to begin this summer. Officials say the project has a timeline of three-to-five years.

In other business, the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors will discuss and/or act on:

• Claims payable for Wednesday March 8, 2023
• Approve to vote in favor of IPEP merger with IGHCP Wellmark BC/BS
• Recorders Report of Fees in the amount of $12,112.21 for the month of February
• Sheriff’s Report of Fees in the amount of $9,928.86 for the month of February.
• Budget Discussion.

(Area) – A handful of school districts in the area are holding special elections, Tuesday. The Polls will be open from 7-a.m. until 8-p.m.  Locally, patrons in the Exira-EHK School District Special Election are being asked to renew a Revenue Purpose Statement (RPS) [Public Measure A], and a 10-year Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) [Public Measure B],  both of which are already in place. District officials say neither measure will result in a property tax increase. The polling places include the Exira Event Center for eligible voters in Audubon, Casss and Guthrie Counties, and the Elk Horn Town Hall for eligible voters in Shelby County.

Patrons in the IKM-Manning School District are being asked to vote on the use of $7.9-million in school infrastructure sales service and use tax revenue bonds towards a series of construction and renovation projects at the Manning campus. The 20-year revenue bond would allow the district to borrow up to 78% of SAVE money.

Southwest Valley School District patrons will vote Tuesday on a $19.2 million bond referendum. Schools Superintendent Chris Fenster says if approved, the bond will be used to fund new learning classrooms for the district’s elementary students, and remodel other areas of the elementary to house the Early Childhood Education Center.  Additionally, the plan consists of upgrading the baseball and softball fields, and replacing the wooden playground equipment with an ADA-compliant facility. All voting will take place at the Corning Community Center for those eligible of the Corning Community School District who reside in Adams and Taylor County.

If you have any questions about where to vote, Tuesday, please contact your County Auditor’s Office or visit their website.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds, Friday, announced a list of persons she has appointed to various State Boards and Commissions. The appointments are subject to Senate confirmation. In the KJAN listening area, the following individuals were appointed:

Board of Mortuary Science: Martin Rieken – Pottawattamie County

Commission of Veterans Affairs: Darlene McMartin – Pott. County

County Finance Committee: Melvyn Houser – Pott. County

Iowa Law Enforcement Academy Council: Timothy Carmody – Pott. County

(Radio Iowa) – Today (Monday) is Jeremy Parsons’ first day as the Iowa State Fair’s C-E-O and general manager. Parsons says most of the plans for the 2023 Iowa State Fair in August have been made well in advance.  “The best thing I can do is go to the Iowa State Fair as their new CEO and really watch and learn from their very talented staff and look to see what I can do to help and support them,” he says.

Parsons worked as a seasonal employee at the Iowa State Fair when he was 17. A former English teacher and coach, Parsons was in charge of fundraising for the Missouri State Fair when he was hired in 2011 to be C-E-O of the Clay County Fair in Spencer. He was in Spencer last week for the announcement of his successor at the Clay County Fair.

“The Clay County Fair is such a special place and it’s hard to leave here,” Parsons says, “but I’m just excited about the opportunity to move on to the Iowa State Fair.” In a news release announcing his new position, Parsons has called the Iowa State Fair one of Iowa’s most beloved institutions. Parsons, who is 45, is replacing Gary Slater, who retired after serving two decades as C-E-O of the Iowa State Fair.

(Radio Iowa) – Nurses are in short supply and high demand in Iowa, and a new study from the University of Iowa looks at ways nurses can overcome some of the things that cause them stress. Study co-author Amy Colbert, a U-I professor of management and entrepreneurship, says nurses are under mounting pressure from patients and others who treat them poorly, especially since the outbreak of COVID-19.

Colbert says difficult interactions with patients or patients’ families sometimes made them feel as though they weren’t good at their job. Through the study, Colbert surveyed hundreds of nurses and asked how they managed to cope with uncivil behavior from patients — coincidentally, the ones who benefit from the nurses’ work. Those who were able to focus on the ultimate purpose of their work could more positively reframe the interactions.

Colbert says some nurses were able to boost their own confidence after bad experiences, while others encountered greater success at rebounding when they turned to other nurses.

(Radio Iowa) – A large crowd gathered at the Iowa Capitol Sunday afternoon for what organizers called a “rally to resist” bills in the legislature on L-G-T-B-Q issues. Organizers like Keenan Crow of One Iowa urged rally-goers to call, email and visit with their legislators and tell them to vote no. Several students addressed the crowd. Bekah Schurz, a junior at Carlisle high school, said the bills Republicans are advancing send a message that trans and queer Iowans do not belong here.

Republican lawmakers say they’re responding to parents’ concerns by proposing a ban on elementary classroom discussions about sexual orientation and requiring students use the bathroom that matches the gender on their birth certificate. Bills that would ban puberty blockers and gender reassignment surgery for minors are also eligible for debate in the Iowa House and Senate.