This time of year it is not uncommon to see deer running beside Iowa’s highways. Field and Stream.com (http://www.fieldandstream.com/rut-report) shows deer in many parts of Iowa are currently in the “seeking and chasing” phase of the annual rut. That means more animals on the move and more danger to motorists, especially at dusk and dawn when it is more difficult to see animals along the roadsides.

There is little a driver can do about deer movement, but to reach the goal of zero fatalities on Iowa highways drivers need to be more aware of deer habits to reduce the risk of coming in contact with deer. As of Oct. 15, 2013, Iowa Department of Transportation data shows, 3,279 drivers reported collisions with deer so far in 2013. The crashes resulted in four motorist deaths and an estimated 172 injuries.

Since 2003, 70 people have died in Iowa as a result of motor vehicle crashes involving animals. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, each year nearly 200 fatalities nationwide are caused by deer-vehicle collisions.

If a deer runs into the path of your vehicle, not veering to avoid the animal greatly increases the chances of maintaining control of your vehicle. Most deer crash injuries and deaths result when drivers attempt to avoid the animal. This action often results in drivers losing control and colliding with other vehicles or running off the road. When a deer is in the path of your vehicle, the driver of a vehicle (other than a motorcycle) should: Brake firmly•Steer to maintain control.•Stop safely within the lane or along the shoulder of the highway.•Use a safety belt to reduce the chance of personal injury.

The following motor vehicle driver tips will reduce the risk of deer crashes...

•Slow down when you see a deer warning sign – pay greater attention.•Be especially careful driving at dawn and dusk.•Remember deer rutting season occurs in November and December, and deer are more mobile and less cautious.•Deer are more mobile during harvest and the hunting season.

Be most alert for the presence of deer at locations where three factors converge: •Food (corn fields or recently harvested corn fields).•Shelter (woods). •Water (streams, culverts and river crossings).

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

CARSON, Iowa (AP) — A western Iowa highway bridge is set to reopen to traffic this week after extensive repairs. State transportation officials say the U.S. Highway 59 bridge over Iowa Highway 92 in Carson will open with the completion of work necessary after the span was struck last fall by a truck hauling construction equipment. The crash damaged four bridge beams and required the closure of the bridge.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Tourism Office says people can vote on the department’s Facebook page for the photos to be on the cover of the state’s next travel guide. The photos were chosen from more than 600 submitted images. The guide is Iowa’s trip-planning publication. It lists more than 700 attractions, 750 hotels, 200 bed and breakfasts and 350 campgrounds.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Farmers finally caught up this week as favorable weather for harvest put them ahead of the normal for the first time this growing season. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says 75 percent of corn in Iowa is now harvested, 4 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. Some corn has higher moisture content than desirable for storage and farmers are leaving it in the field to allow it to further dry.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Public Radio has named a new executive director several months after its last CEO was fired. The Board of Directors says Johnson will begin the job on Jan. 27 of next year. She was recently the executive director of the Boston Schoolyard Initiative in Massachusetts.

The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston Construction Office reports the U.S. 59 bridge over Iowa 92 in Carson will be reopened to traffic this week, weather permitting. The U.S. 59 bridge in Carson was struck last fall by a semi-truck hauling construction equipment. The bridge sustained damage on four beams and U.S. 59 was closed. An on-site detour was in place utilizing ramps to reroute traffic. Once the bridge is reopened, the roadway will be restored to the original operation which prohibits left-hand turns on Iowa 92.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles and wear seat belts.

For traveler information anytime, visit www.511ia.org; call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide); stay connected with 511 on Facebook or Twitter (find links at www.iowadot.com/511/socialmedia.html); or download the free app to your mobile device.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Farmers finally caught up this week as favorable weather for harvest put them ahead of the normal for the first time this growing season. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says 75 percent of corn in Iowa is now harvested, 4 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. Some corn has higher moisture content than desirable for storage and farmers are leaving it in the field to allow it to further dry. Drying corn with propane-powered dryers increases cost and cuts into profits.

Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey says limited propane supply also is creating challenges. The soybean harvest is 95 percent complete, four days ahead of normal. Nationally, 73 percent of corn is harvested, better than 71 percent average and soybeans are at 86 percent, which is near the average.

STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say high winds caused a trailer full of turkeys to overturn on the side of a highway in northwest Iowa. The Sac County Sheriff’s Office says 760 turkeys were in the trailer when it was blown over Sunday night on Highway 20.

A semitrailer helping to carry the turkeys was headed to a processing plant in Storm Lake when the driver pulled over due to a mechanical malfunction. The trailer was unhooked from the power unit and dollied. The accident happened as the trailer was dollied.

Officials say 70 percent of the birds died. Emergency responders cut holes in the trailer to help remove turkeys that were dead and alive.

AMES, Iowa (AP) – Gunshots were reported on the Iowa State University campus in Ames, and officials say a suspect is in custody.  Iowa State University police say the incident happened Monday morning on central campus as part of a vehicle chase by Ames police. One person was sent to the hospital, but no students were injured. The university posted on its website there is no threat to the community. Police say people should avoid an area that is cordoned off.

The Iowa State Daily, the university’s student newspaper, reports an alert was sent to ISU students at 10:55 a.m. saying the threat was over. The Iowa State Daily reports Warren Madden, the university’s senior vice president, says police told him the pickup truck involved in the incident was stolen.

The Iowa Department of Public Health reports the Iowa Influenza Surveillance Network has identified three strains of flu currently circulating in Iowa – H1N1 (2009 pandemic strain), H3N2 (regular seasonal flu strain), and Influenza B. While influenza activity remains at a low level, the identification of three circulating strains means that without a flu vaccination, an individual could become ill with the flu three different times. The flu vaccine, which is plentifully available, covers all three strains of flu that have been detected.

IDPH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend annual influenza vaccinations for everyone 6 months of age and older. A person’s decision to receive the vaccination or not impacts their entire community, as a yearly flu vaccine not only protects the individual from illness, but also those around them. It’s especially important to be vaccinated if you have regular contact with people more vulnerable to the complications of flu, including babies, children with asthma, and the elderly. IDPH also recommends pregnant women be vaccinated to protect themselves, and to pass on some immunity to their baby.

The flu is a serious respiratory illness caused by viruses. The flu comes on suddenly and symptoms may include fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, and body aches. Illness typically lasts two to seven days, and often puts healthy people in bed for days. Influenza may cause severe illness or even death in people such as the very young or very old, or those who have underlying health conditions.

Influenza is not a ‘reportable disease’ in Iowa, which means doctors are not required to notify IDPH each time a patient tests positive for influenza; however, IDPH conducts year-round influenza surveillance through the Iowa Influenza Surveillance Network. This surveillance indicates what types of influenza viruses are circulating and how widespread influenza illness is. For more information about where and what kind of influenza is in Iowa, go to www.idph.state.ia.us/Cade/Influenza.aspx?pg=FluHome.

Contact your health care provider or local health department to find out where the vaccine is available in your community or use the Flu Vaccine Finder at www.flu.gov/.

Dealing with the time change that took place this weekend and getting all your clocks reset is just one of the issues you’ll face as the season changes. Dr. Steve Zorn with Iowa Sleep says you now will be coming home from work in the dark, and that can cause problems. “There’s data that accident rates are worse in the evening — people aren’t used to driving in the dark as much at that time of day,” Zorn says. He says drivers will eventually adjust.

“It usually seems to last a couple of weeks, and then it disappears,” Zorn says. The doctor also treats sleep disorders that are a more longer term problem at this time of year. One of them is Season Affective Disorder or SAD. “Season Affective Disorder is a condition where some people are more sensitive to the lack of light and as a result, when it is dark in the winter months and the earth is rotated, you just don’t get the same amount of sunlight in a 24-hour period,” according the Zorn. He says one of the symptoms of SAD is insomnia.

“It is a depression, and you just don’t feel as good as you normally would like to feel,” Zorn explains. “Some people say that they feel they are in a hole looking up.” The doctor says one treatment is simply getting more light into your life. “There are what’s called light boxes, and they have a higher intensity light. I would think about 10-thousand lux. You can get these now in many places,” Zorn says. Zorn says people with more severe problems may need to be treated with medication.

(Radio Iowa)

The Atlantic Police Department reports the arrest on Sunday of an Atlantic resident on an assault charge. 43-year old Darren Towne was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault by Strangulation, and Domestic Abuse Assault causing injury. Towne was booked into the Cass County Jail.

The Atlantic Area Chamber’s 13th Annual Scrooge Contest, sponsored by Hockenberry Family Care and Great Western Bank, is underway during the month of November. Eleanor Hoover organized the contest back in 2002 just one year after the inaugural Lighted Parade.

The competition has candidates raising money and collecting non-perishable food items for the Atlantic Food Pantry.

Jeff Christensen

Hans Kringel

Rachel Johnson

Heather McKay

David Miller

Vickie Retallic

The 2013 candidates include: Vickie Ratallic, HyVee; Rachel Johnson, Villa Dance and Aunt B’s; Jeff Christensen (donations delivered to Fareway, Pizza Ranch and Cass County Farm Bureau); Heather McKay, Atlantic Community School District; David Miller, Boy Scouts Troop 54 (donations can be delivered to Meyer and Gross Real Estate); and Hans Krengel, Howard’s Clothing.

The Scrooge Candidate who raises the most points serves as the Grand Marshal in the Lighted Parade Dec. 7th at 6 p.m. in Downtown Atlantic. Cash donations are worth two points on the dollar and non-perishable items are worth one point.

Past Scrooge’s have included Devin Ferguson 2002, Eleanor Hoover 2003, Rex McDermott 2004, Tonia Goft 2005, Rick Harlan 2006, Mary Ann Moorman 2007, Dana Halder 2008, Tammy Wise & Janet Huey 2009, Ritchie Anderson 2010, Janet Cappel 2011 and Melanie Petty 2012.

Donations to a candidate can be made by delivering food or funds to their drop off locations or the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information please call the Chamber at 712.243.3017 or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com