Some Iowa families followed their traditions and picked out Christmas trees this past weekend, decking them out with shiny ornaments and colorful lights. Ron Humphrey, spokesman for the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office, says it’s vital to keep the tree well hydrated.  “A dry tree, a pine tree or an evergreen, have a lot of oils in them and as they dry out, they can catch fire and burn very quickly and very hot,” Humphrey says. “It’s important to keep them healthy and have plenty of water.”

The fire marshal’s website features a video that shows how quickly two separate trees can go up in flames, one that’s fresh, the other that’s dried out. While the tree may be beautiful and full of sentiment, he says it’s a wise move to plan to take it down later this week.  “Once Christmas is over, the best thing is to get rid of it as soon as possible, get it out of the home,” Humphrey says. “They will only last so long, even if you do keep it watered, they’re not going to stay fresh for very long.”

A few other suggestions: when stringing lights, make sure the cords aren’t frayed, also, never use lighted candles on or near a tree. Learn more about Christmas tree safety at the National Fire Protection Association website at www.nfpa.org

(Iowa News Service)

The time for gift shopping is quickly coming to an end, but parents are reminded that it still pays to be cautious when buying toys, to avoid those that are dangerous or toxic. According to Shaina Shay, spokeswoman for the Public Interest Research Group, one main concern are those toys with high levels of lead.She cited “the Marvel Superhero Squad Soft Shield that contains 2,900 parts per million of lead, which violates the standard by 29 times. Also the Ninja Turtles pencil case.”

Shay also urged parents to stay away from toys that could present a choking hazard for young children, which – if you want to check on your own – is generally any product that would fit through a toilet paper roll. Another consideration in toy buying is, how loud is it? The maximum suggested noise for toys that are held within an inch of the ear is 65 decibels, but Shay said one they found goes well beyond that. “The Leapfrog Count and Chat Smartphone, which is clearly intended to be held up to the ear, exceeds not only the 65-decibel range but prolonged periods of 90 decibels.”

You can find this year’s entire “Trouble in Toyland” report online at the USPIRG website.

(Iowa News Service)

 Time is running out to find the perfect gift for everyone on the “nice” list this year, but experts say it’s critical to protect yourself and your purchases in the midst of the last-minute rush.According to Michelle Corey of the Better Business Bureau, the recent data breach that affected an estimated 40 million Target customers should serve as a wake-up call for shoppers everywhere.

“If you’re using your credit card or your debit card on a regular basis during the holiday shopping season, go online to your bank and check your checking account statements or your credit card statements to see if there are unauthorized charges,” she suggested. Corey also recommended that at least once per quarter consumers check their credit reports with one of the three credit-reporting agencies to see if any unauthorized accounts have been opened or there’s any suspicious activity. 

Corey said many people look at gift cards as an easy option in these final shopping days, but she offered caution there too, as some gift cards come with transaction fees, processing fees, inactivity fees, or other issues. “Millions of gift cards every year, they go unused because people either lose them, they’re stolen, they forget about them or they just don’t want to do business at the stores,” she said.

Target data breach information is at tgt.biz/JMn9Td.

(Iowa News Service)

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a Glenwood man was cited Sunday night for driving with a suspended license. Nicholas Allen Hall was stopped at the Highway’s 71 and 34 interchange for a traffic violation. Upon further investigation, it was determined Hall was operating a motor vehicle with a suspended driver’s license. Hall was cited for the offense and released on a citation, with instructions to appear in court at a later date.