Many Iowans have allergies or hearing problems but farmers may be more susceptible to both. Dr. Dwight Jones, an ear, nose and throat specialist in Omaha/Council Bluffs, says some of the most common ailments among rural residents, particularly farmers, are chronic sinus disease and late summer and fall allergies. “People can have chronic runny noses and chronic stuffy noses from chronic sinus disease,” Dr. Jones says. “Chronic sinus disease often times plagues farmers and ranchers and people in the rural community heavily from nasal allergies. If you clear the allergies up, often times the sinus disease will clear up.”

If it doesn’t clear up, he says it can be treated in the office through sinus therapy. During dry seasons, dust from multiple sources is common on farms, whether it’s stirred up by tractors working in the fields or from the gravel road in front of the farmhouse. “All of those kinds of dust lead to increasing problems with asthma and chronic respiratory diseases in the farming and ranching population,” Jones says. “It’s really imperative that they avoid that kind of dust exposure on a chronic, long-term basis, or do something to protect themselves from that type of exposure.”

Years of being around big tractors, trucks and combines can also take a toll on one’s hearing. Jones says that’s another occupational hazard. “Farmers and ranchers work around a lot of heavy equipment, they work around a lot of noisy equipment and they’re especially vulnerable to have damage to their hearing,” Jones says. “They should take care and either wear some kind of hearing protection if possible or avoid long-term exposure to those kind of noises which can lead to sensory neuro hearing loss and tinnitus.”

For farmers and anyone else who suffers from ragweed allergies, he says a relatively new treatment is available. Drops can be taken under the tongue which can eliminate allergy shots and over-the-counter medications.

(Radio Iowa)

w/ Ric Hanson

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – State prosecutors have given way to federal prosecution of a Sioux City man accused of assault and robbery.  Court documents show robbery, burglary, theft and assault charges against Levon Dean have been dropped.  Woodbury County Attorney Patrick “PJ” Jennings says dropping the local case will save the state money and could lead to heavier federal punishment for Dean.

Authorities say Levon Dean and his brother, Jamal Dean, broke into a Sioux City home and beat and robbed a resident at gunpoint in April. A few days later Jamal Dean shot Sioux City Police Officer Kevin McCormick, who survived. Jamal Dean was given 25 years in prison for attempted murder.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report the arrest of a Stanton man on an assault charge, Sunday morning. 38-year-old Marshall Adams was arrested early Sunday morning on an Assault causing serious injury charge. Adams was taken into custody at around 1-a.m. Sunday in the 200 block of North 2nd Street shortly after the incident allegedlyt took place.

Adams was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.

Four Republican candidates for Iowa’s U-S Senate seat agree: the U.S. should not send military strikes into Syria. The four spoke Saturday night at the Polk County Republican Party’s annual summer picnic and the crowd applauded each for their stand on the issue. Sam Clovis of Hinton is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel who signed off his radio talk show in Sioux City in June to run for the senate.

“I’m amused at the fact that Bruce Braley has to go out and put a poll on the internet to find out where he stands on Syria,” Clovis said. “He ought to know where he stands on Syria. I know where I stand on Syria and that’s that we have no business being in Syria — not now, not ever. Ever!” Braley is the only Democrat running for the senate seat Tom Harkin has held since January of 1985. Candidate Joni Ernst of Red Oak is a lieutenant colonel in the Iowa National Guard and the commander of a battalion with 12-hundred soldiers.

“We are not going to Syria, not at this time,” Ernst said, telling the crowd there’s been a “lack of leadership” from the president on this issue. Candidate Matt Whitaker, a lawyer from Ankeny who was the G-O-P’s nominee for state treasurer in 2002, also served as a U-S Attorney. “I don’t see how it is in our strategic interest and I would be a note on military action in Syria,” Whitaker said.

David Young of Van Meter, who quit his job as Senator Chuck Grassley’s chief of staff this spring in order to run for the U.S. Senate, would be another “no” vote on a congressional resolution to authorize U.S. military strikes into Syria. “Assad is a mad man, obviously, gassing people,” Young says. “…But I would not support this. I certainly don’t want boots on the ground, that’s for sure.”

Congressman Tom Latham of Clive also spoke at the Saturday evening event, telling the crowd of fellow Republicans it is “irrational” to attack targets in Syria and kill men, women and children as a response to the Syrian government’s use of chemical weapons to kill men, women and children. Latham also faulted the president for failing to build an “international coalition” to respond to Syria.

(Radio Iowa)

AREA COUNTIES: SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD–

247 AM CDT MON SEP 9 2013

VERY HOT CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST FOR CENTRAL IOWA TODAY WITH NEAR RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES OF 95 TO AROUND 100 DEGREES FORECAST. DEW POINT VALUES BY THE AFTERNOON WILL DROP INTO THE 50S TO LOWER 60S…COMBINED WITH TEMPERATURES THIS WILL ALLOW THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES TO DROP TO 25 TO 30 PERCENT.

THESE CONDITIONS WILL ACCELERATE THE ONSET OF DEHYDRATION. IT IS RECOMMENDED FOR PERSONS THAT MUST BE OUTDOORS TO DRINK PLENTY OF WATER…TAKE FREQUENT BREAKS AND WEAR LIGHT COLORED AND LOOSE CLOTHING. OUTSIDE EXERCISE SHOULD TAKE PLACE DURING THE MORNING OR DELAYED UNTIL THE EVENING.

A COLD FRONT WILL DROP SLOWLY THROUGH IOWA TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT. THE HEAT WILL LIKELY PERSIST ACROSS SOUTHERN IOWA THROUGH TUESDAY.

IN ADDITION…THERE IS AN ELEVATED FIRE DANGER MONDAY AFTERNOON ESPECIALLY ACROSS AREAS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN IOWA WHERE DROUGHT CONDITIONS HAVE RETURNED. THE COMBINATION OF LOW HUMIDITY…A GUSTY 20 TO 25 MPH SOUTHWEST WIND AND DRYING VEGETATION COULD LEAD TO QUICK FIRE GROWTH SHOULD A FIRE BE IGNITED.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Governor Terry Branstad has jetted off to Japan and India, embarking on his sixth international trade trip since 2011. Since 2011, the state has spent less than $10,000 on Branstad’s travels, but the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s foundation, which takes private contributions, has paid out nearly $114,000. It will spend another $10,000 on the current trip.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa law enforcement officials are debating the wisdom of granting gun permits to blind people. The Des Moines Register reports Iowa law doesn’t allow sheriffs to deny a permit to carry a gun in public based on physical ability. Some sheriffs have been granting gun permits to people with visual impairments while others have been denying them.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) – Police say a 79-year-old man has drowned at a swimming area in a Mason City park. Mason City police Sergeant Steve Klemas tells the Mason City Globe Gazette several people pulled John Beery out of the water Saturday evening at Big Blue swimming area in Ray Rorick Park.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Officials at Iowa City-based USA Wrestling vow to keep improving the sport after reinstatement as an Olympic sport for the 2020 Tokyo Games. Wrestling, which was dropped from the list of core sports in February, received 49 votes Sunday to win in the first round of secret balloting by the International Olympic Committee.

The City of Atlantic’s Board of Adjustment will hold a public hearing early Monday morning at City Hall, with regard to a variance request. Keith Leonard, of 1108 Roosevelt Drive has requested a variance to allow for the construction of a two-family dwelling on an 8,000-square foot lot that does not conform to the minimum lot size requirements in an “R-3” High Density Single Family District, as stated in the City’s Zoning Ordinance. The site of the lot is at 801 Hickory Street.

The public hearing is slated to begin shortly after the board convenes at 7:30-a.m., Monday.

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will meet Monday evening at the High School, during a regularly scheduled session. During their 7:30-p.m. meeting in the High School Media Center, the Board will hear a special presentation from Ginger Bechtold, and architect Jerry Purdy will update the Board on the Middle School Renovation project.

Among the many action items on their agenda is approval of: the School Resource Officers’ (SRO) program agreement for 2013-2014; A sharing agreement with the Harlan Community School District for a Curriculum Director; an full-time At-Risk Advocate for the EOC/Level 3 Behavior/Preschool program; and lighting and electric bids for the AHS Auditorium lighting project.

The Board will also discuss Capital Projects and Board Training.

The Audubon City Council will hold a public hearing Monday evening at City Hall, with regard to the sale of City-owned property. The hearing, which takes place during the Council’s regular meeting beginning at 7-p.m., pertains to lots located at 414 Pacific Avenue, the west side of South Golden Street, 202 Washington, and 210 West Broadway.

Following the hearing, the Council will act on approving a Resolution authorizing the sale of the aforementioned property. And, Mark Heller and Mike Wede will speak to the Audubon City Council, with regard to a matter pertaining to the car wash.