Vaccination rates among Iowa school children are dropping. More than four-and-a-half percent of Iowa students had not been immunized against major diseases like polio by last fall. Don Callaghan is the immunizations bureau chief for the Iowa Department of Public Health. “The risk of not immunizing is very real,” Callaghan says. “Diseases are still present, but I think one of the concerns parents have is they don’t see the diseases that we’re vaccinating for today and that’s because vaccines have done a good job at preventing those.”

Iowa law requires students enrolled in school to be vaccinated against polio, measles and other diseases, like hepatitis B. Iowa law allows parents to get an exemption for their children because of their religion or for medical reasons. Twenty-seven Iowa schools had fewer than 80 percent of students vaccinated last school year. Five schools had vaccination rates of 50 percent or lower. State officials will be checking immunization records this year, too.

“The audit’s conducted annually to assure children are compliant with school law,” Callaghan says. “For school law, they have to have the required immunizations or they can have a medical or religious exemption or they also they have can a provisional exemption which means they’ve had some of the shots, but they’ve not had time to complete the remaining doses in the series.” Measles outbreaks are rare in the U.S. because of the vaccination program started in 1963, but Callaghan says the disease is “easily imported.”

“If your child is unvaccinated, we like to say that a disease is a plane ride away,” Callaghan says. “So if you have an individual coming from another country, you could be exposing your child to a potential infectious disease.” The measles can cause swelling of the brain and death. Officials in the U.S. and Iowa have seen an increase in the number of parents seeking exemptions from required childhood vaccinations after a fraudulent 1998 report suggested a link between immunizations and autism.

“Vaccines have done a good job at preventing vaccine-preventable diseases,” Callaghan says, “so out of sight, out of mind and people just don’t realize that these diseases do exist and it is important to receive the vaccines.” Go to http://www.idph.iowa.gov/immtb/immunization/audits to find the latest state report on immunization rates in Iowa schools.

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Glenwood report the arrest on Monday, of 41-year old Thomas Smith, of Glenwood. Smith was taken into custody for Assault While displaying a dangerous weapon. His bond was set at $2000 cash or surety.

Iowans are complaining that a device used for emergency treatment during life-threatening allergic reactions is skyrocketing in price. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s hearing from dozens of constituents about the rising cost of the EpiPen. “The cost of the device has increased more than 400% in recent years,” Grassley says. The Republican says he’s gotten nearly 50 letters in the past few weeks from Iowans who need these devices in case they have a severe reaction, by accidentally eating nuts for example, that threatens to cut off their ability to breathe.

“One Iowa father wrote that he had to pay more than $500 just for one EpiPen for his daughter,” Grassley says. “Iowans also wrote that since the pens expire after about a year, the cost is recurring.” One report says the devices sold in two-packs in 2009 for about $100. EpiPens resemble an ink pen and auto-inject epinephrine, a chemical that narrows blood vessels and opens airways in the lungs. Grassley says he’s concerned the substantial price increase could limit access to a much-needed medication.

“The effects of the cost increase on patients is a concern from a couple of points of view,” Grassley says, “not only to the family, but there’s also concern that school budgets might be effected because a lot of schools keep the product on hand.” Grassley has written a letter to the C-E-O of Mylan, the Pennsylvania-based company that makes EpiPens, inquiring about the price hikes.

“I’ve asked other questions about other pharmaceuticals and sometimes that has caused the company to wake up and see reality,” Grassley says, “in particular, the bad public relations they have when they have these sort of increases that are unjustified.” Another fear, Grassley says, is that the bounding expense of the devices could create an unsafe situation for patients as people try to make their own EpiPen kits from raw materials.

(Radio Iowa)

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A 29-year-old Council Bluffs woman has been given two years of probation for a fatal hit-and-run accident. The Daily Nonpareil reports  Stephanie Kenealy was sentenced Monday. She’d pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of a fatality accident. The judge also granted her a deferred judgment. Under a deferred judgment, the conviction can be wiped from Kenealy’s record if she successfully completes the terms of her probation.

Authorities say 54-year-old David Ryder was riding his bike in the same direction as Kenealy’s sport utility vehicle when she hit the bicyclist during a downpour of rain on Sept. 8, 2015.  Ryder was declared dead at the scene. Authorities say Kenealy had left the scene and returned nearly an hour later.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly meeting 8:30-a.m. Wednesday, in their Boardroom at the Courthouse in Atlantic. On their agenda is action on approving an agreement authorizing Snyder and Associates Engineers to assist in the coordination and plan review of the various improvements that may impact the Glacier and Echo Road roadway project (Including proposed railway improvements at the proposed ethanol plant site).

The Board is also expected to receive regular reports from County Department Heads and act on a Class C Beer & Sunday sales permit for the 21st Century Co-op C Store, in Massena.

The Board of Supervisors in Adair County will meet 9-a.m. Wednesday, at the courthouse in Greenfield. On their agenda, is a Fiscal Year 2016 Financial Report from Auditor Mindy Schaefer, and FY 2016 Urban Renewal Report. The Board will also hear from Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater with regard to a longevity increase and Jailer/Dispatcher vacancy.

Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman will report on the resignation of Weed Commissioner Jesse Decker, and job re-classification for Tyson Sickles from Engineering Tech to Engineering Tech/Safety Coordinator. The Board will then act on approving four Right-of-Way contracts. Kauffman will also present a report on his department’s regular maintenance and activities.

A man from Sidney was injured during an accident involving his bicycle and a pickup Monday afternoon, in Fremont County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 27-year old Brett Kissel, of Sidney, was transported by LifeNet Helicopter to Creighton University Hospital in Omaha, following a collision that happened at around 4:10-p.m., Monday.

Authorities say a 2004 Chevy pickup driven by 55-year old Arlene Smith, of Hamburg, was traveling east on Fillmore Street, in Sidney, when Kissel, who was riding a mountain bike northbound on Walnut Street, failed to stop at the posted intersection. His bike hit Smith’s pickup on the right front passenger fender and passenger door.

The accident remains under investigation. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Sidney Fire and Rescue, and LifeNet Medical Helicopter.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a Hancock man was arrested Monday evening on Domestic Assault with Injury, Obstruction of Emergency Communications, and Public Intoxication, charges. 36-year old Eric John Rehfeldt was taken into custody at around 8:20-p.m., following an incident involving his girlfriend, that occurred at a residence in the 100 block of N. Scott Street, in Hancock. The victim suffered minor injuries during the altercation.

The Sheriff’s Office reports also, 63-year old Bradley Robert Hunt, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Monday afternoon, following a traffic stop near the intersection of Garner Avenue and Railroad. Hunt was arrested on a valid felony warrant issued by Council Bluffs Police, for Ongoing Criminal Conduct and Theft in the 1st degree.

And, a Nebraska man was arrested Monday morning in Pottawattamie County, on charges of Theft in the 2nd Degree and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana. A Deputy found 28-year old John C. Thirtle the 3rd, of Omaha, passed out in a pickup with a camper, near River Road and 130th Street. A check of the camper indicated it had been stolen from Omaha.

The Creston Police Department reports an Adair County man was arrested on a Theft charge Monday afternoon. 27-year old Larry Warrior, of Fontanelle, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on the charge of Theft in the 3rd Degree. Warrior was later released from the Union County Jail on a $2000 bond.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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