Jim Field speaks with Cass County Youth Coordinator Beth Irlbeck about 4-H in Cass County.
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Jim Field speaks with Cass County Youth Coordinator Beth Irlbeck about 4-H in Cass County.
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A report from the Iowa Healthcare Collaborative (IHC) claims hospitals across the state that participate in a program designed to reduce medical errors prevented potential harm to more than 43-hundred (4,300) patients last year. Scott McIntyre, spokesman for the Iowa Hospital Association, says the effort is part of the federal Partnership for Patients initiative, with the goals of reducing harm by 40 percent and hospital re-admissions by 20 percent.
“We just feel there’s been very positive and noteworthy progress,” McIntrye says. “In reality, we’re keeping people out of the hospital…and we’re saving lives.” The report estimates at least 32 lives were saved in Iowa in 2013 because of the Hospital Engagement Network (HEN). The Iowa-based HEN, which includes 12 hospitals in Illinois and Nebraska, also reduced health care costs, according to McIntrye.
“Our estimate is about 51-million dollars was saved because of the improvements in these quality measures,” McIntyre says. In addition to reducing costs, McIntyre says the Iowa HEN reduced the time that patients spent in the participating hospitals by 17,758 days. The report also claims participating hospitals reduced early elective baby deliveries (which can increase complications) by 90 percent; catheter associated urinary tract infections by 44 percent; adverse drug events by 28 percent; central line-associated blood stream infections in intensive care by 24 percent; surgical site infections by 24 percent; patient falls by 23 percent; and avoidable re-admissions by 11 percent.
(Radio Iowa)
DES MOINES, Iowa – With winter starting to lessen its grip on Iowa and more people venturing outside, there’s a reminder that all 99 counties are now under restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the emerald ash borer, an exotic insect which kills valuable ash trees. The quarantine was issued by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and prohibits taking wood and ash-tree products out of state, according to state entomologist Robin Pruisner.
“And what that means is that we’re looking at high-risk items like ash logs, hardwood firewood – we call those regulated articles – that those that originate in Iowa must stay within Iowa, must stay within the quarantine boundaries to reduce the risk of spreading emerald ash borer.”
The destructive emerald ash borer has been discovered in eight Iowa counties thus far, and Pruisner says it’s likely that more infestations of the bugs will be found before the trees even leaf out this spring.
While the quarantine prohibits transportation out of state, Pruisner said they’re urging Iowans to keep it even more local, especially when it comes to firewood.
“Kind of the rule of thumb is, we’d like to see it maybe stay in the county that it originates from. We know that’s not always possible, but firewood does carry other pests than emerald ash borer and we’re just trying to slow the spread.”
For landowners wondering whether their ash trees may be in danger, there are signs that may indicate an infestation. They include emergence holes shaped like the letter “D” and serpentine or “S-shaped” tunnels under the bark. Iowa State University entomologist Mark Shour said that at this time of year, woodpeckers can help point the way to the bugs.
“They will go after a borer, whether it be a native or an exotic borer, beneath the bark of trees,” he said. “And in our case they’ve been very helpful in locating emerald ash borer infestations when we weren’t aware of them.”
Shour said there are a few treatment options, but they can take years to be effective against the emerald ash borer – and just because a tree can be treated doesn’t mean it should be.
Those with questions or concerns about a possible infestation can contact the Iowa DNR or Department of Agriculture or an office of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
More information is at IowaAgriculture.gov and at Extension.IAState.edu.
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Repairs and improvements on Council Bluffs river and creek levees could cost the city $50 million. The Daily Nonpareil says the estimate comes from a study on the work needed to repair river and creek levees to meet federal standards.
City engineer Matt Cox says the improvements are necessary to have the Federal Emergency Management Agency certify that the city’s levee systems are adequate. Without that certification, FEMA would redraw its city maps to show the entire west side of the city could be prone to flooding. And Cox says that would force property owners there to pay high flood insurance rates.
Cox intends to ask the City Council today (Monday) to approve hiring an engineering firm to oversee the work.
2013-14 BOYS BASKETBALL FINAL STANDINGS
RVC Boys All-Conference Teams
1st Team: Travis Freese (Sr., Ar-We-Va); Austin Stoelk (Jr., Ar-We-Va); Emmitt Wheatley (Jr., Adair-Casey); Sam Honnold (Jr., Coon Rapids-Bayard); Seth Willis (Sr., Woodbine); Drew Peppers (Jr., Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton); Jake Carey (Jr., Paton-Churdan); Jake Roden (Sr., West Harrison).
2nd Team: Brandon Hagge (Jr., Ar-We-Va); Kyle Liechti (Sr., Ar-We-Va); Michael Holste (Sr., C-A-M); Trevor Hachmeister (Jr., Coon Rapids-Bayard); Jake Bruggeman (Sr., Glidden-Ralston); Noah Juergensen (Soph., Paton-Churdan); Brad Staley (Sr., Charter Oak-Ute); Chase Bonsall (Sr., Boyer Valley).
2013-14 GIRLS BASKETBALL FINAL STANDINGS
RVC Girls All-Conference Teams
1st Team: Paige Danner (Sr., Ar-We-Va); London Vais (Sr., Adair-Casey); Alyssa Kragelund (Sr., C-A-M); McKenna Zaners (Jr., Coon Rapids-Bayard); Megan Maaske (Jr., Woodbine); Morgan Straight (Soph., Boyer Valley); Rachel Smith (Jr., Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton); Carleigh Paup (Soph., Paton-Churdan).
2nd Team: Jenna Hausman (Soph., Ar-We-Va); Danni McCorkel (Sr., Adair-Casey); Erin Daugherty (Sr., C-A-M); Rylie Schlepp (Sr., Coon Rapids-Bayard); Dashia Nuzum (Jr., Woodbine); Anna Fleecs (Soph., Glidden-Ralston); Claire Paulsen (Sr., Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton); Crystal Sabus (Jr., Paton-Churdan); Cierra Carlson (Sr., Charter Oak-Ute).
SALIX, Iowa (AP) – A submerged pickup has been found at Snyder Bend Park near Salix in northwest Iowa. The Sioux City Journal says a park ranger spotted the truck around 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
Sgt. Don Armstrong of the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office says the pickup belonged to Ronald Mathison, of Sioux City. Mathison told officers that he’d been ice fishing Saturday night when the ice started to break up beneath him and the truck. He was able to get away before the truck plunged into the water.
Recovery of the truck could come as early as today (Monday).
WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) – Williston State college point guard Trey Dickerson plans to play for the University of Iowa the next three years. The 6-foot freshman from New York City gave a verbal commitment to the NCAA Division I Hawkeyes over the weekend. Williston State says Dickerson had received interest from numerous schools and offers from Iowa, Nebraska, Iona, Washington, Washington State, Arkansas, Alabama-Birmingham, St. Louis, and Fordham.
Williston State is a two-year junior college in northwestern North Dakota. Dickerson this season helped lead the Tetons to a 26-5 regular season record and a Mon-Dak Conference title. He was named most valuable player in the conference, with an average of 20 points, six assists and four rebounds per game.
Class 1-A Quarterfinals:
Class 2-A Quarterfinals:
The Freese-Notis Weather forecast and weather info. for Atlantic.
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