A shortage of bus drivers left junior high school students in the AHST Community School District with a tough choice: miss class or miss activities. The Daily NonPareil reports the school district – serving Avoca, Hancock, Shelby, Tennant and secondary students in Walnut – has needed an after-school activities bus driver. Now several parents have stepped up to get their bus driving licenses.

Officials with the Atlantic Medical Center (AMC) say they are offering influenza vaccines Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30 am and 11:00 am and 1:30 pm and 4:00 pm. There is no need to make an appointment. It takes about two weeks for influenza vaccine to provide full protection. With the holidays coming up quickly, it is best to get an influenza vaccine by early November to provide protection during the holiday gatherings with larger groups, where influenza is easily spread.

The two best ways to protect yourself, and those around you, from influenza are to get vaccinated and to practice good hand washing. Getting vaccinated not only protects you, but also those around you who may be too young (under 6 months) or have a medical condition that prevents them from being vaccinated.

There are four strains, or types, of the flu that typically hit the Midwest during flu season — two types of Influenza A and two types of Influenza B. Again this year there is a vaccine that has all four strains (types) of the flu virus in it (Quadrivalent—two A strains and two B strains), to provide even greater protection against influenza. Atlantic Medical Center will have this vaccine available. They will also be offering the High Dose flu vaccine for 65 years of age and older.

Vaccines also vary by age group, with different doses for different patient groups. The Atlantic Medical Center has the correct doses available for all age groups, including flu mist, which can be used by patients from 2 – 49 years of age. Patients can also receive Pneumonia, Tetanus with whooping cough (Tdap), and Shingles vaccines when they come in for an influenza vaccine.

The seasonal flu (influenza) is a serious disease caused by the Influenza virus. Some common symptoms of the flu are fever, cough, shaking chills, body aches, and extreme weakness. The influenza disease may last for a couple of weeks.

There is a common misconception that the “stomach flu” is the flu. That is incorrect! The “stomach flu” that everyone speaks of is caused by a different type of virus (most commonly Norovirus). The “stomach flu” only last a few days and is associated with vomiting and diarrhea.

Some people are more susceptible for complications from the Influenza virus:

•  Children 6 months-59 months (4 years 11 months)
• All people aged 50 years and older
• People who have chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, neurological, hematologic ,or metabolic disorders
• Immunosuppressed people
• Pregnant women
• Residents of Long-Term Care or Nursing Home facilities
• People who are morbidly obese
• American Indians/Alaska Natives

Any of the groups of people listed above should not wait to get their flu shot; they need to be protected as soon as possible. Tragically there are many infants, children, teens, and elderly people who die from the flu virus every year! Children younger than two years of age are at particularly high risk for hospitalization due to complications of influenza.

The Influenza virus is EXTREMELY contagious!!! Influenza viruses are thought to spread mainly from person to person through droplets. This happens when a person infected with Influenza coughs, sneezes, or talks. Flu viruses also may spread when people touch something with flu virus on it (shopping cart, door knob, counter top, or drinking fountain) and then touch their mouth, eyes, or nose. Many other viruses spread these ways too. People infected with flu may be able to infect others beginning two days before symptoms develop and five to seven days after becoming sick. That means you may be able to spread the flu to someone else even before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick. Young children, those who are severely ill, and those who have severely weakened immune systems may be able to infect others for longer than five to seven days.

People who have the flu often feel some or all of these signs and symptoms:

•Fever* or feeling feverish/chills
•Cough
•Sore throat
•Runny or stuffy nose
•Muscle or body aches
•Headaches
•Fatigue (very tired)
•Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

*It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.

Ways to help protect yourself from Influenza:
Avoid close contact with sick people.
If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu.

For more information, please contact the Atlantic Medical Center Immunization Nurses at 712-243-2850.

(Press Release)

GOWRIE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities are investigating two attempted kidnappings reported in the same Iowa county. Des Moines television station KCCI says the Webster County sheriff’s office received two reports on Sunday, one in the town of Gowrie and the other in Dayton.

Sheriff James Stubbs says two girls were targeted in separate instances. One is between the ages of 5 and 6, and the other is between 12 and 13 years old. Stubbs says both children are OK.

Witnesses described a white-colored vehicle in both reported kidnapping attempts. Authorities say they weren’t able to give a description of a suspect, but they’re conducting interviews and hope to provide more information.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — The Council Bluffs community has come together to remember a western Iowa 17-year-old who died from a head injury suffered during a fight at school. Friends of Dakota Escritt released balloons at a memorial Sunday night. He died Saturday at Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha, two days after he hit his head on the tile floor at Abraham Lincoln High School.

Authorities have filed a felony charge of Assault Causing Serious Injury, against 16-year-old Gregary Teer, who was suspended from school. Superintendent Martha Bruckner tells KETV-TV the fight appeared to be a random, isolated incident that no policy could have prevented.

The Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office will review the circumstances surrounding Escritt’s death, today (Monday).  The teen’s friends say he enjoyed hanging out and looking at Japanese animation and comics, but some students had teased him because of his interests and hobbies. Authorities have not said what led to Thursday’s fight.

The two major party candidates for Iowa’s U.S. Senate seat met face-to-face in an hour long debate early Sunday evening — touting their rural Iowa roots and questioning their opponent’s loyalties. Republican Joni Ernst grew up on a farm near Red Oak in southwest Iowa. Democrat Bruce Braley grew up in the small eastern Iowa town of Brooklyn, where his dad ran the grain elevator. “I have not left my rural roots, but I think congressman you have left those behind in your ‘Beltway’ ways,” Ernst said. Braley said: “I have never forgotten where I came from. That’s why I voted to pass a five-year Farm Bill.”

Each accused the other of being beholden to special interests who’re financing thousands of dollars worth of ads to try to sway Iowa voters. Braley accused Ernst of being beholden to Oklahoma billionaires who made their money in the oil industry. “Congressman Braley you’re not running against these other people. You’re running against me,” Ernst said. “…You are being funded by Tom Steyer who is a California billionaire extreme environmentalist.” Ernst also accused Braley of doing the bidding of President Obama and Harry Reid, the Democratic leader in the U.S. Senate. Braley countered with this.

“Senator Ernst would have voted to shut down the federal government with Ted Cruz. She’s called President Obama a dictator and thinks impeachment should be on the table,” Ernst replied: “Congressman, you threatened to sue a neighbor over chickens that came onto your property. You’ve talking about bipartisanship. How do we expect as Iowans to believe that you will work across the aisle when you can’t walk across your yard.” Braley responded: “It’s not true. I never threatened to sue anyone. It’s not true.” That exchange came near the end of the debate. Both began by stressing a message to appeal to independent voters. Braley repeatedly tried to tie Ernst to the so-called “Tea Party.”

“I’ll work with anyone who has a good idea that’s good for Iowa,” Braley said. “I’m a bridge builder, not a bridge burner.” Ernst told the audience she provided voters a “clear contrast” with Braley. “I believe Washington is taking our country in the wrong direction and for the past eight years Congressman Braley has been there,” Ernst said. The two candidates broke no new policy ground on issues like the minimum wage and immigration. Braley charged Ernst co-sponsored legislation in the Iowa Senate that ultimately would wind up banning abortion, certain forms of contraception and invitro fertilization. Ernst said she “will support life,” but she also believes “in a woman’s right to contraception.”

Sunday night’s debate was sponsored by The Des Moines Register and broadcast live on KCCI TV in Des Moines.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

INDIANOLA, Iowa (AP) — Democrat Bruce Braley and Republican Joni Ernst clashed over health care, Social Security and foreign policy during the first debate of the Iowa Senate race. The candidates in the closely-fought race have largely campaigned using scripted television ads and carefully controlled public events. Both candidates fielded questions from voters last night at Simpson College.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Disease causing bacteria have been found at the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Hospital, but officials have not informed patients about the problem. The Des Moines Register reports the VA is planning to spend $6.5 million to address the legionella bacteria that has been found in the hospital’s water pipes. VA pathologist Stacy Klutts says the bacteria are at low levels, so there is little risk of infection at this point.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa City police are looking for a man who robbed a convenience store and then forced an employee to leave with him. Police say the robbery at Gasby’s in southern Iowa City was reported at 6:39 a.m. yesterday when an employee hit a panic alarm. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the robbery to call Crime Stoppers at (319) 358-8477.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) —The Pottawattamie County Attorney will review the circumstances of 17-year-old Dakota Escritt’s death on Monday. The Daily Nonpareil reports Escritt was knocked unconscious during the fight when his head hit the tile floor. Escritt died Saturday evening at an Omaha hospital.