DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Another Iowa farm has tested positive for bird flu.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture says an egg-laying farm with 238,000 chickens brings the total number of infected farms to 50 in the state.

The farm is in Sioux County, which now has 11 cases of bird flu. Once the disease is confirmed by a U.S. Department of Agriculture laboratory in Ames, all the chickens will be euthanized.

Iowa has bird flu cases in 13 counties. Nearly 25 million chickens and 970,000 turkeys will die.

Minnesota, where 4 million turkeys have been affected by the flu, reported no new cases Wednesday.

The USDA reports more than 150 confirmed cases nationwide which will lead to the death of more than 32 million birds.

LAKE CITY, Iowa (AP) – Students at South Central Calhoun High School will attend classes at various locations throughout Lake City after a tornado damaged the structure. The Fort Dodge Messenger reports an EF-1 tornado on Sunday tore off the roof of the school’s auditorium, where more than 100 people were gathered for an awards ceremony. No one was hurt. A temporary roof will be installed until the damaged roof can permanently be replaced. May 28th will be the last day for all high school students.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The University of Iowa says longtime senior athletics administrator Fred Mims is set to retire. Mims, who played basketball and baseball at Iowa, has spent more than 30 years working for the Hawkeyes. The athletic department announced Wednesday that Mims will leave his post on June 30th.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A virus known for attacking a horse’s nervous system has been confirmed at a stable in Iowa’s Warren County. The Iowa Department of Agriculture said yesterday that the stable has several confirmed cases of a neurological disease associated with Equine Herpesvirus infections. Officials say the disease poses no threat to humans.

MANCHESTER, Iowa (AP) – An eastern Iowa man previously convicted of sexual assault has pleaded not guilty to charges in a separate case involving a 14-year-old girl. The Telegraph Herald reports 29-year-old Michael Cole of Manchester, Iowa entered his plea Tuesday to three counts of third-degree sexual abuse. He was arrested in April.

Cass County Health System is reminding residents that they provide free sharps disposal service for Cass County residents. Sharps containers are used by individuals who use needles, lancets or other sharp objects for medical care, such as insulin injections for diabetes. The red, rigid containers are sealed and are puncture and leak resistant. The disposal of sharps and sharps containers is regulated as medical waste. Other types of containers, milk jugs, detergent bottles, or other plastic containers or boxes are not allowed when disposing of needles.

The CCMH disposal program ensures that sharps and sharps containers are disposed of properly and safely, in accordance with regulations. Cindy Petty, CCHS Materials Management Director, says “We are pleased to provide this service. This is just one small way we can help to protect the health and safety of our community.”

Full sharps containers can be brought to the CCHS Materials Management Department from 8:00 am -4:30 pm, Monday-Friday. There is no fee to drop off a full container. At the time of disposal, a new container can be purchased for only $3.00. Sharps containers must be returned to an employee in Materials Management – they should not be left unattended or disposed of in trash or other containers in the facility.
The red sharps containers should be used only to dispose of sharps (needles, lancets, or other sharp objects) and any item a sharp is attached to that cannot be safely removed. They should not be used to dispose of cotton balls, strips, or bandages, or medications of any kind.

For more information about the CCMH sharps disposal service, including how to participate if the $3.00 fee is a problem, please contact Cindy Petty at 712-243-7480.

The Iowa Transportation Commission will hold a public input meeting in Council Bluffs Tuesday, June 9, to hear about transportation matters from representatives of local government, interest groups, and individuals. Items that may be discussed at the meeting include the Iowa Transportation Improvement Program; transportation policies; and highway, aviation, rail, river, bicycle, pedestrian, and public transit issues. A brief business meeting will begin at 8 a.m. with the public input meeting to immediately follow.

A robbery at the Irwin Country Store at 305 Cora Street in Irwin was reported Tuesday to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.  On Tuesday night at approximately 9:45pm employees of the store called the Shelby County Communications Center to report an armed robbery and provide a description of the suspect and his vehicle.

Responding deputies spotted the white Pontiac matching the suspect vehicle on their way to the scene in the 1000 block of 2200th Street west of Defiance.  There was then a short pursuit before the driver yielded to Deputies and was taken into custody.  The suspect was identified as 36-year-old Chad Meek of Defiance and stolen items were recovered in his vehicle.

Meek was taken to the Shelby County Jail and charged with 1st Degree Armed Robbery, armed with a dangerous weapon, which is a Class B felony.  Meek was being held on $100,000 bond.

Harlan Police and the Iowa State Patrol assisted with the investigation.

The Atlantic Police Department reports the arrest Tuesday of 23-year-old Joshua Chapalonis for Interference with Official Acts.  He was taken to the Cass County Jail and booked in.

The Glenwood Police Department reports one arrest on Tuesday. 30-year-old Bradley Fink of Glenwood was arrested for Driving While revoked.  He was booked into the Mills County Jail and held on $1,000 bond.

The Creston Police Department reports the arrest on Wednesday of 14-year-old Sheldon Jones on charges of Disorderly Conduct.  He was referred to Juvenile Services and released to the custody of his parents.

The Red Oak Police Department report the arrest of 54-year-old Mark Alan Siekman of Red Oak for Driving While License Suspended early Wednesday morning.  Siekman was arrested at 12:15am and booked into the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on $300 bond.

w/ Chris Parks

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The Women’s Health Services Committee at Cass County Health System is hosting the event, “Staying Strong in the Fight Against Osteoporosis” on Tuesday, May 19th at 5:30 p.m. in CCHS Conference Room 2.

Osteoporosis is a condition that causes bones to become weak and brittle. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, about one in two women and up to one in four men over the age of 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis.

“We often mistakenly think of osteoporosis as being something that only affects older women,” says Kim Kopp, RN, WOCN, and co-chair of the CCHS Women’s Health Services Committee. “But that’s just not the case, and there are many things that we can do when we are young to help prevent the onset of this disease.”

During the event, Dr. Tressa Wilcox will talk about the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis. Dr. Edward Fisher will talk about osteoporosis complications, and Ryan Legg, DPT will discuss prevention as well as demonstrate exercises using an exercise band.

Women of all ages are encouraged to attend, and the program is free and open to the public. No pre-registration is necessary. For more information, contact CCHS Public Relations Department at 712-243-7408. All attendees will be able to take home their own exercise band, and a small snack will be served.

Officers with the Council Bluffs Police Department responded to a report of a robbery at 1:24pm on Tuesday in the 200 block of S. 21st Street in Council Bluffs.

The victim reported that he was walking out of his home with a friend when they were approached by two black females and one black male.  The male drew a black semi-automatic handgun and forced the victim back into his home and demanded money.  After taking an undisclosed amount of money and property the three suspects fled on foot until getting into a white car parked on 2nd Avenue.  The victim followed the suspects for a while and the vehicle was last seen traveling westbound on I-480.

No shots were fired and nobody was injured during the robbery which remains under investigation by the Council Bluffs Police Department Criminal Investigation Division.  The black male suspect is described as being approximately 6’4″ 200lbs 25-30-years-old with shoulder length braided hair with beads.  He was wearing a black shirt with white lettering and black shorts.  The black female suspects were described as being 25-30 years old and 5’8″ or 5’9″ 150-175lbs. One of the females was wearing a brown shirt with jeans.

If you have any information on the crime you are urged to contact Council Bluffs Police at 328-STOP.  You can remain anonymous and could receive a cash reward for your tip.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s transportation department has rejected requests by officials in four cities to keep operating some speed cameras in their areas.

The state Department of Transportation issued the denials in letters dated Monday to officials in Cedar Rapids, Des Moines and Muscatine. A letter to Council Bluffs was dated May 6.

DOT Director Paul Trombino says in the letters the cameras are not making interstate highways or nearby intersections safer.

The DOT decided in late 2013 that speed cameras on or adjacent to state highways should not be used as long-term enforcement tools and required more justification for their use. The agency later ordered several cities to turn off some cameras. Many communities appealed those orders.

City officials can appeal the decision in district court.