The Atlantic Police Department reports three arrests on Tuesday. 19-year old Jason Porter, of Stuart, was arrested on a charge of OWI/1st Offense. 49-year old Larry Will, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication. And, 23-year old Kasandra Mesa, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Theft in the 5th Degree. All three of the individuals were booked into the Cass County Jail and held pending an appearance before the magistrate.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office has issued an alert about a possible text messaging scam. Sheriff Lyle Palmer said his office received information of a possible text messaging scam that occurred to a resident in Page County.  The resident received a text message from a number they didn’t recognize, 1-617-671-5276.  The text message stated that they were Iowa’s winner of the day and directed them to go to a website, http://www.wallmart.com.totalgiveawaymadness.com to claim their $1,000.00 prize.  It also stated that they must claim their prize within 24 hrs. 

The resident called1800walmart (1-800-925-6278), selected the customer (2) service, and the prompt advised that there had been a recent rash of text messages. The Wal-Mart phone service also advised that Wal-Mart doesn’t send text messages.  It also advised to call the Federal Trade Commission (F.T.C.) and gave the phone number of the F.T.C.  The resident did not fall for the message, but looked into it and found that it was most than likely a scam to get information from them that could be used to compromise their identity and or financial holdings. 

Sheriff Palmer warned no information should ever be given to someone that contacts you with regard to personal or financial information.  With today’s technology he says, it is a lot easier to be “scammed” than ever before.  Palmer added that “More than ever, the old phrase ‘if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is’ should be taken to heart.”

High temperatures are expected to settle in over Iowa today and stick around for several days. Afternoon temperatures are forecast to reach the high 90s and low 100s. The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) reminds Iowans even young and healthy individuals can have a heat-related illness if they are very active during hot weather or the heat index is very high.

“People suffer heat-related illness when the temperature and humidity are high. The body normally cools itself by sweating. But under some conditions, sweating just isn’t enough,” said IPDH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk. “In such cases, a person’s body temperature rises rapidly. Especially when the humidity is high, sweat will not evaporate as quickly, preventing the body from releasing heat quickly.”

Although anyone at any time can suffer from heat-related illness, the people at greatest risk include:

• People age 65 or older.
• Infants and young children.
• Overweight individuals.
• People who are performing manual labor or exercising outdoors.
• People who have chronic health conditions, especially those with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as those for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation.

To protect your health when temperatures and humidity are high, remember to keep cool and use common sense. The following tips are important:

• Increase fluid intake, regardless of your activity level. The best way to tell you are well-hydrated is if your urine is light yellow. If it gets dark, stop and rehydrate by drinking water immediately.
• If experiencing a lot of sweating, especially over several hours, replace salt and minerals by eating foods like bananas and salty crackers, or drink rehydrating beverages that contain salts, such as sports drinks and special rehydration fluids.
• Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing and wear sunscreen.
• Wear hats that shade your face, such as sun hats, visors, etc.
• Keep in the shade or air conditioned areas as much as possible.
• Work slowly if you are not used to working or exercising in heat and humidity. Stop immediately if you get dizzy, nauseated, or feel weak. Go into an air conditioned space and drink cool liquids.
• Use a buddy system. Watch others for heat-induced illness, since some people may not realize they are suffering heat-related illnesses and can become confused or lose consciousness.

For more information about preventing heat-related illness, visit http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/heat_guide.asp.

Police in Clarinda continue to investigate the theft Tuesday, of a pickup truck from a residential driveway on East Nodaway Street. The theft of a 1992 Chevy C-15 pickup was reported Tuesday morning. The vehicle was located a short time later, abandoned in the parking lot of the Clarinda West Apartments on South 27^th Street. Police Chief Keith Brothers says there are no suspects at this time.

Brothers says also, that theft of a grill propane tank was under investigation. The tank was reported stolen Tuesday evening, from a residence on West Lincoln Street. The owner reported two bungee cords that were used to secure the propane tank to the grill were cut and damaged during the theft. The tank was valued at $55.00.

w/ Ric Hanson

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w/ Ric Hanson

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Travel during the upcoming July 4 holiday may be slowed by road construction, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation. Officials say several projects on Iowa’s interstate and state roadways may warrant advance planning on the part of drivers. Among them….

In Northwest and western Iowa:

• Iowa Highway 3 is closed for widening and resurfacing from U.S. 75 to Iowa 404 west of Le Mars. Traffic is detoured.
• Pavement reconstruction of southbound I-29 from I-129 to Sergeant Bluff has traffic placed in a two-lane, two-way pattern in the northbound lanes between mileposts 141 and 144.
• Pavement reconstruction of I-29 in Sioux City near the Iowa 12 (Riverside Boulevard) interchange has restricted traffic to two lanes in each direction for the 2 miles adjacent to the South Dakota border.
• Bridge reconstruction on U.S. 77 in Sioux City has restricted traffic to a two-lane, two-way traffic pattern in the northbound lanes of U.S. 77 over I-29.
• Bridge reconstruction on U.S. 59 south of Denison in Crawford County has restricted the roadway to one lane. Traffic is being maintained with temporary traffic signals.

In Southwest Iowa:

• A bridge deck overlay on U.S. 30 west of Missouri Valley in Harrison County has reduced the roadway to one lane. Traffic is being maintained with temporary traffic signals. The open lane has an 11-foot width restriction.
• Staged bridge construction on U.S. 30 northeast of Woodbine in Harrison County has reduced the roadway to one lane. Traffic is being maintained with temporary traffic signals.
• Bridge construction on I-80 over the West Nishnabotna River near Avoca in Pottawattamie County has closed the westbound lanes between mileposts 34 and 40. Traffic has been shifted to a two-lane, two-way pattern in the eastbound lanes.
• Bridge construction has closed northbound I-29 in Fremont County between mileposts 21 and 25. Traffic has been shifted to a two-lane, two-way traffic pattern in the southbound lanes.
• Asphalt resurfacing in the northbound lanes of I-29 in Fremont County between mileposts 10 and 17 has traffic shifted to a two-lane, two-way traffic pattern in the southbound lanes. Bridge deck overlays at two locations on U.S. 71 south of Atlantic in Cass County have reduced the roadway to one lane. Traffic is being maintained with temporary traffic signals.
• A new bridge deck is being placed on the eastbound I-80 Wiota interchange bridge at milepost 64; and a new bridge over Crooked Creek is being built at milepost 69 in Cass County. Traffic is shifted to a two-lane, two-way traffic pattern in the westbound lanes between mileposts 60 and 70. The eastbound ramps at Wiota are closed and a detour is in place for Cass County Road N-28.
• Iowa 148 between Massena and Anita in Cass County is closed for highway repair work. Traffic should follow the marked detour.

Some tips for driving safely in work zones:

Expect the unexpected. Normal speed limits may be reduced, traffic lanes may be changed, and people may be working on or near the road. Slow down and do not tailgate. Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and road workers and their equipment. Pay attention to the signs. Observe the posted signs until you see the one that reads “End Road Work.” Obey flaggers. The flagger knows what is best for moving traffic safely in the work zone. A flagger has the same authority as a regulatory sign, so you can be cited for disobeying his or her directions. Stay alert and minimize distractions. Keep up with the traffic flow. Motorists can help maintain traffic flow and posted speeds by merging as soon as possible. Do not drive right up to the lane closure and then try to merge. Be patient and stay calm.Watch for persons wearing high visibility (HiViz) apparel. All persons are required by federal law to wear HiViz apparel when in highway work zones.

Expect delays and leave early so you can reach your destination on time. Be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. Buckle up. Iowa law requires all persons to be buckled up in the front seat and all persons under age 18 to be buckled up, regardless of vehicle seating position.

The big heat wave is expected today (Wednesday), all across the Midwest. Temperatures forecast to reach near 100-degrees, but the heat index — or, what it feels like when the humidity is factored in — will make it feel like 105-to 110-degrees. A Heat Advisory goes into effect today beginning at 1-p.m. The Advisory runs through 9-p.m. for the far west and southwest counties, and until 8-p.m. for the rest of the area. The heat wave is expected to continue into the weekend.

Officials with Cass County Home Care in Atlantic remind you that elderly relatives, friends and neighbors are at a higher risk for heat-related illnesses during these extreme conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heat stroke, the most serious heat-related illness, occurs when the body’s temperature rises rapidly, loses its ability to sweat and is unable to cool down. Body temperatures can rise to 106 degrees Fahrenheit in as little as 10 to 15 minutes. If left untreated, heat stroke may lead to permanent disability or even death. While less serious than heat stroke, heat exhaustion can also occur after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate hydration.

Rhonda Duvall, registered nurse and clinical manager at Cass County Home Care, says “Older adults are especially at risk of heat stress because with age the body does not adjust as well to extreme changes in temperature. Chronic medical conditions and prescription medicines common to elderly patients also affect the body’s ability to regulate its temperature.”  Important precautions include remaining inside in cool, air-conditioned areas, restricting strenuous activity, wearing lightweight clothing, and bathing in cool water. Staying hydrated is also critical during extreme heat; however, it is not uncommon for some elderly patients with certain medical conditions to be limited in the amount of fluids they can drink.

In such cases, a physician should be consulted before drinking more fluids than typically recommended. Older adults at risk, especially those living alone, should be visited twice a day by family, friends or care providers during periods of elevated heat and checked for signs of heat stress. Symptoms of heat-related illnesses include rapid pulse, shallow breathing, and lack of perspiration and body temperatures exceeding 103 degrees. If a person exhibits any of these signs and heat stress is suspected, dial 9-1-1 immediately. Also, remember to keep an eye on children and pets. Make sure pets have adequate shade and plenty of fresh, cold water if they must remain outside.

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will meet Wednesday evening at the High School, for a Work Session. The meeting in the Media Center begins at 7:30-p.m.   During their session, the Board will act on approving the hire of a Vocal Music Teacher for the High School, and hold discussion with regard to Board’s 2012-2013 Goals, and Development Activity.