Officials with SWIPCO (the Southwest Iowa Planning Council), Monday, announced Amber Carcel, of Avoca, joined the organization Oct. 26th, as its Community Development Director. Carcel comes to SWIPCO from Iowa Western Community College where she was the Business and Computer Program Coordinator. Prior to Iowa Western Carcel was the Energy Housing Director at West Central Community Action in Harlan. She is also a veteran of the United States Air Force.

The SWIPCO community development department includes five staff in addition to the director. The department handles a wide variety of tasks including housing assistance, grant writing and administration, community and regional planning, and general assistance to local governments.

Executive Director John McCurdy said Carcel holds a Bachelor degree in business marketing, a Masters of Arts in Education and a Masters of Business Administration in addition to her work experience. Outside of SWIPCO Carcel is a member of the AHSTW school board and an active mentor in the Teammates Mentoring Program, as well as an adjunct instructor at Metro Community College. She and her husband, Tim, have two children, Timmy (13) and Lilianna (9).

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday), reported four arrests over the past week. Last Thursday, 19-year old Mark Sean Dupre, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a Warrant for Failure To Appear in court on a Possession of Controlled Substance charge. Dupre was arrested at around 11:40-p.m. at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, where his bond was set at $5,000.

34-year old Michael Alan Hathaway, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Thursday night in Mills County, for Possession of drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $300. And, 41-year old Deborah Lynn Wentz, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Thursday morning for Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drug, and on a Pottawattamie County Warrant for Probation Violation. Her bond was set at $1,000.

Mills County deputies also arrested 24-year old Shialea Kay Cozad, of Omaha. She was taken into custody Saturday night in Glenwood, for Possession of Contraband in Correctional Institution, and on warrants for Violation of No Contact Order and being a Fugitive from Justice.  Bond was set at $30,300.

A woman trying to do too many things at once crashed her vehicle Saturday evening, in Mills County. The Sheriff’s Office says Jennifer Weber, of Pacific Junction, was giving her back seat infant a bottle, and attempting to change a DVD in her 2009 GMC, when her vehicle veered off Highway 275.

The front passenger wheel hit a culvert going under a driveway. The vehicle continued through the ditch and embankment before it collided with a speed limit sign. At that point, the vehicle flipped forward and landed on its roof. Weber suffered injuries to her head and mid section and was transported to a hospital by Tabor Rescue. The infant in the car was properly buckled and did not appear to be injured.

Officials say the accident happened at around 6:20-p.m., Saturday.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports a traffic stop Saturday, resulted in two people being arrested on drug charges. 28-year old Denise Jean Chamberlin, of Atlantic, was arrested on charges of Possession of Marijuana 3rd/Subsequent offense, and OWI 1st Offense. 29-year old Randy Wayne Fredericksen, of Atlantic, was arrested on a charge of Possession of Marijuana 2nd Offense. Both individuals were taken to the Cass County Jail and released on bond, Sunday. Chamberlin’s bond was set at $3000, while Fredericksen’s bond was $1000.

And, on Friday, Deputies in Cass County arrested 56-year old Robert John Rasmussen, of Massena. He was taken into custody on two District Court warrants for Failure to Appear. Rasmussen was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released Saturday, on his own recognizance.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office says a rollover accident that took place at around 9:45-a.m. Sunday, remains under investigation. Authorities say 65-year old Wynette Elsine Grote, of Brayton, was driving a 2009 Chevy Impala near the right shoulder of the road as she was heading west on 330th Street, about one-miles east of Brayton, when she turned the wheel and her vehicle began to fishtail.

The car slid sideways, partially entered the left ditch and flipped onto its top. Grote, who was trapped in the vehicle until she could be extricated by rescue crews, was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, by Exira Rescue. Her car sustained about $4,000 damage.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) today (Monday) announced two influenza-related deaths. The two middle-aged (41 to 60 years of age) males were from central Iowa. IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk said “These deaths are an unfortunate reminder the flu virus is circulating in Iowa, and does have the potential to cause severe illness and death.”

The flu season typically peaks in February and can last as late as May. The most current surveillance shows three states in the nation have the highest estimated influenza activity – Iowa, Oregon and Rhode Island. Based upon CDC’s national estimates, an average of 300,000 Iowans get the flu every year and together, flu and its complication of pneumonia cause an average of 1,000 deaths yearly in Iowa. The flu vaccine is the best defense against getting influenza; however, it is also important to take personal actions to help prevent the spread of illness. Remember the 3Cs: Cover your coughs and sneezes; Clean your hands frequently; and Contain germs by staying home when ill.

Anti-viral medications are an important second line of defense to treat the flu in persons at highest risk of developing more severe illness. Anti-viral medications can make flu illness shorter and reduce the risk of ending up in the hospital or dying from influenza. Antivirals work best if started as soon as, or within 48 hours of when symptoms begin, so it is important to contact your health care provider if you develop symptoms of influenza. Flu symptoms may include fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, and body aches. Illness typically lasts two to seven days.

The flu is a respiratory illness caused by viruses. The flu comes on suddenly and may cause severe illness or even death in people such as the very young or very old, or those who have underlying health conditions. Both the current influenza deaths in Iowa occurred in individuals with underlying health conditions.

The “stomach bug” which causes diarrhea and vomiting is not caused by the influenza virus but usually by norovirus; thus, the flu vaccine will not protect you against this illness. 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 https://idph.iowa.gov/influenza/reports.

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/.

The Iowa Department of Transportation is expanding its “Highway Helper” program. Scott Marler, director of the DOT’s Office of Traffic Operations, says two safety patrol trucks have been in operation in Des Moines. Four more trucks were added in metro areas of eastern and western Iowa today (Monday). “We’re expanding the program into the Iowa City-Cedar Rapids metro area, as well as the Council Bluffs metro area,” Marler said. “So, we’re putting two trucks in Iowa City-Cedar Rapids and two trucks in Council Bluffs.”

Iowa DOT Hwy Helper truck

The Highway Helper vehicles assist motorists with flat tires, jump starts, fuel, and transports free of charge. Marler says the ultimate goal is to improve highway safety. “It really is about keeping traffic moving because we know that traffic backups can lead to very dangerous conditions,” Marler said.

The two trucks added in eastern Iowa will mostly operate on I-80 through Iowa City and I-380 between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. “For the Council Bluffs area, we’ll mostly be focused on Interstates 29 and 80,” Marler said. The patrol vehicles will be in operation on weekdays between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. and during select high-traffic holidays, according to Marler.

(Radio Iowa)