Lenox Police Chief Jon Huggins reports the Lenox Police Department will be offering Women’s Self Defense Classes, beginning next week. The classes will take place Oct. 16th, 23rd and 30th, in the wrestling room at the Lenox High School . The classes will begin at 7:00 PM and last 1-1/2 hours each.

The classes are designed to give women of all ages basic defense skills. Participants must be at least 18 years of age. While the classes will involve physical activity, they are still being designed for a variety of physical skills and conditions. Participants will be required to sign a liability waiver prior to participating.

Participants should plan on attending all three nights of classes. In order to ensure we are able to maximize the effectiveness of these classes, group size will be limited. Contact Chief Jon Huggins at 641-333-2929 to reserve your spot now. There is no charge.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors return to business Wednesday morning in Atlantic, after having the previous week off for a statewide county convention. During their 9-a.m. meeting at the courthouse in Atlantic, the Board will act on approving a full-time jailer.

They’re also expected to act on appointing two members to the County Compensation Board (4-year terms, each), and the release of mortgages to satisfy homeowners’ five-year forgivable loans, withe Jumpstart Disaster Recovery Program. In addition, the Cass County Supervisors, Wednesday, will act on approving an Iowa DOT Federal-Aid agreement for a County Highway Bridge Program Project, with regard to the 83 bridge on 560th Street, the preliminary estimated cost for which is $360,000.

The government expects most households to pay more for heat this winter, although heating oil users will see their bills drop slightly.  Homes using natural gas for heat, about half of the nation, will see costs rise about 13 percent from a year ago to an average of $679. That’s still about $25 lower than the average for the winters of 2007 through 2012.

For heating oil customers, there is good news and bad news in the government’s annual outlook for heating costs. Their average bill should drop 2 percent, to $2.046. But that’s still the second highest average on record, behind last year’s $2,092.

Homes relying on electricity for heat, about 38 percent of the U.S., will likely pay about 2 percent more for heat, or about $18.

Safety improvements at highway-railroad grade crossings were approved by the Iowa Transportation Commission today (Tuesday). The improvements include the addition of signals with gate arms at 27 crossings and circuitry upgrades at five crossings. Funds were also approved to assist in crossing closures. Engineering and planning for these improvements will take place over the next year with installation planned in 2015.

In the KJAN listening area: Chestnut Avenue crossing the BNSF line in Adams County will receive $200,000 in federal funds to replace the crossbucks with signals/gate arms; Lincoln Avenue in Pacific Junction will receive $195,000 for a similar project. Both projects are included in the 2014 Program.

Projects scheduled for 2015 include the replacement of crossbucks with signals equipped with gate arms over the Union Pacific tracks in: Harrison County, where the improvements will be made along 128th Trail, and on Missouri Avenue in Pottawattamie County. The projects are receiving $440,000 altogether. And, the Union Pacific crossing on Iris Avenue in Union County, will receive $180,000 for the replacement of crossbucks with a signals/gate & arms.

The Highway-Railroad Crossing Safety Program provides 90 percent of the cost of the safety improvement, with the remaining 10 percent paid by the party responsible for the highway (normally a city or county), the railroad or a portion paid by each. Funding for the program comes from the Federal Highway-Railroad Crossing Program.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has received a $440,000 dollar grant award from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to be distributed over three years for suicide prevention. According to IDPH, 381 Iowans committed suicide in 2012, making it the tenth leading cause of death in the state. The grant will be used to implement evidence-based screening and assessment for suicide risk at IDPH-funded substance abuse treatment programs and certain public middle and high schools; to reach youth through a social media campaign; and to increase referrals to services for substance use and co-occurring mental health problems.

IDPH will coordinate the grant with the Your Life Iowa program announced by Governor Branstad last November as a “go-to” resource for youth, parents, school personnel and all Iowans looking for help and information about bullying and youth suicide prevention. Available 24/7, Your Life Iowa is a phone call or text away at www.Yourlifeiowa.org or 855-581-8111. Trained counselors provide guidance and support about bullying, and critical help to youth who feel they’ve run out of options and are considering suicide.  Since its launch, most callers and texters to Your Life Iowa have been female. Most callers who said they were bullying victims were between the ages of 9 and 12; the highest number of texts regarding bullying was from teens aged 13 to 16. The majority reported their bullying incidents occurred at school.

Most people who consider suicide want to live, but are unable to see alternatives to their problems and they often give warning signs such as:

• Threatening or talking of wanting to hurt or kill him/herself
• Talking or writing about death, dying and suicide, when these actions are out of the ordinary for that person
• Hopelessness
• Rage, uncontrolled anger, seeking revenge
• Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities
• Increased use of alcohol or drugs
• Withdrawing from friends, family, and society
• Anxiety, agitation, inability to sleep or sleeping all the time
• Dramatic mood changes

There are ways to be helpful to someone who is threatening suicide:

• Be direct. Talk openly and factually about suicide
• Listen. Allow expression of feelings and accept the feelings you hear
• Don’t judge, debate or lecture
• Get involved, be available, and show interest and support
• Don’t dare him or her to do it
• Don’t act shocked. This could create distance between you
• Offer hope that alternatives are available, but don’t give glib reassurance
• Take action! Remove guns, pills or other means.
• If urgent, call your health care provider, 911, Your Life Iowa (855-581-8111) or the Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800-273-TALK), or go to the emergency room.