May is Better Hearing Month and we don’t get hearing exams as regularly as we should, according to Doug Leonard, Audiologist at ASI in Atlantic. Hearing Evaluations should be as regular as eye and dental exams. It is suggested to have a baseline exam when you are 40-50 years old.

The diagnostic test is recommended for anyone who is over the age of 40 years old. It is a simple test where the patient would go in and go over some basic medical history, the Audiologist would look into their ears for any external abnormalities, and then they would go into the sound booth where they would test where their hearing is, and if needed schedule a follow up exam.

A diagnostic test could take less than an hour, cost anywhere from $25 to $50, and could potentially help save your hearing in the future.

The public is invited to join the Council Bluffs Police Department, the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department, the Iowa State Patrol and other local law enforcement agencies during their annual Police Memorial Service. The service will take place in the parking lot of the Pottawattamie County Courthouse on May 10th beginning at 6:30-p.m., with a laying of the wreath, taps and 21 gun salute. Shortly after the ceremony at the Courthouse, the scene will shift to Saint John Lutheran Church (across the street) for prayer, a lighting of candles and remembrance of Officers. All in the community are welcome to attend.

MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) — A trial has begun in southeast Iowa for a Colorado man who’s been charged in the death of his estranged wife more than 17 years after her disappearance. The Hawk Eye reports that the trial for 58-year-old Michael Syperda began Tuesday. He was indicted in December on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Elizabeth Syperda. Elizabeth Syperda disappeared in July 2000 in Mount Pleasant. The 22-year-old’s body was never found. Court records say the couple had been estranged for about a month prior to her disappearance because she was leaving him for a woman.

Prosecutors say Michael Syperda repeatedly threatened and stalked his wife. Public defender Kym Auge says there’s no evidence that ties Michael Syperda to his wife’s death. Michael Syperda is in Henry County jail on a $1 million bond.

(Corrects accident day to Tuesday) An injury accident in Shelby County is under investigation. Sheriff’s officials say the Shelby County 911 Center received numerous calls Tuesday afternoon about a single vehicle accident that occurred north of Harlan on Highway 59 near 1200th St. Authorities say 74-year-old Mike Kerr from Manilla, IA was traveling northbound on Highway 59 when his vehicle left the roadway and entered the west ditch, where it struck a tree before rolling over several times. Kerr was transported to Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan by Medivac Ambulance. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Harlan Police Department and Harlan Fire and Rescue.

And, this (Wednesday) morning at about 9-a.m., another accident occurred about two miles north of Harlan on Highway 59. One car was in the west ditch. Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Westphalia Fire and Rescue and Medivac Ambulance were on scene. No other details are currently available.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports Sheriff’s Deputies and Red Oak Police responded at around 1:25-p.m., Tuesday, to a call about rolling domestic incident that involved two vehicles, which were traveling east on old Highway 34, just west of Red Oak. The caller, Meagan Horgdal, told authorities that a black, 2015 Chevy truck driven by 34-year old Garret Horgdal, of Henderson, was making several attempts to force Meagan’s 2014 Chevy Traverse off the road, and that the vehicles made contact several times. Three small children were in the SUV.

Just west of Ginko Avenue and old Highway 34, Garrett Horgdal’s vehicle made contact with the SUV, forcing it into the south ditch. Officers arrived and attempted to take Garret into custody, but he managed to turn his truck around on the highway and fled the scene, leading officers on a 30-mile chase at speeds of up to 90 miles per hour. The chase wound its way into Pottawattamie County, and ended in a corn field one-half mile west of the intersection of 150th Street and C Avenue, back in Montgomery County.

Authorities say during the pursuit, Garret Horgdal drove his vehicle without regard for the public’s safety and other motorists. He also contacted Pott. County Dispatch by cell phone, and advised them he had a firearm, and intended to use it. At point during the pursuit, he swerved at a patrol vehicle at an intersection, and forced a grain truck onto the shoulder by swerving into the wrong lane. Once into the corn field, Horgdal was surrounded by three patrol vehicles. In an attempt to continue, he crashed his truck into the side of a 2016 Dodge Ram pickup, registered to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

As Horgdal continued his attempt to flee, officers discharged rounds from their firearms into his vehicle. He then quickly surrendered and was taken into custody. Horgdal was eventually transported to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital, and then to a hospital in Council Bluffs, for treatment of non-life threatening medical issues unrelated to the officer involved shooting. Garret Horgdal faces charges that include four felony counts of Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer and a felony charge of Eluding.

Iowa’s 20 safest cities are being listed by Safewise, a safety and security research council. Several of the top communities are in northwest Iowa. Le Mars came in as the number-seven safest Iowa city, while Spencer placed fourth, Carroll was third and Sioux County communities Orange City ranked second, and its neighbor, Sioux Center, was listed as the safest Iowa city. The ranking is based on the number of reported violent crimes, as well as the number of property crimes compared to the community’s population. The top 20 Iowa safest cities don’t just include mid-size cities, but large cities as well. Ames, Ankeny, Mason City and Cedar Falls all made the list, as did suburban cities of Johnston, Urbandale, Altoona and West Des Moines. Here is the list of Iowa’s safest cities:

#20 West Des Moines
#19 Ankeny
#18 Marion
#17 Anamosa
#16 Altoona
#15 Fairfield
#14 Ames
#13 Cedar Falls
#12 Norwalk
#11 Urbandale
#10 Decorah
# 9 Mason City
# 8 Johnston
# 7 Le Mars
# 6 Pella
# 5 Eldridge
# 4 Spencer
# 3 Carroll
# 2 Orange City
# 1 Sioux Center

(Radio Iowa)

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A 60-year-old man has been imprisoned for the death of a woman after a collision in northern Iowa. Court records say Paul Wood, of Manly, was given 10 years in prison Monday at his sentencing in Mason City. He’d pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and two counts of drug possession.

Prosecutors say he had methamphetamine and marijuana in his system when his pickup truck crossed the center line on U.S. Highway 65 south of Mason City and struck an oncoming vehicle. The collision killed 22-year-old Griselda Tello, a nurse at a Mason City hospital.