Iowans who are hitting the half-century mark this year also need to make an appointment to talk with their doctor about a colonoscopy. Chuck Reed, spokesman for the Iowa office of the American Cancer Society, says March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and it’s a wise move to get screened. “Far too many people die from colon cancer,” Reed says. “The truth is, it’s almost unnecessary because if colon cancer is caught early, you stay up to date with your screenings, you talk to your doctor, there’s a tremendous survival rate. To die from colon cancer is really an unnecessary death if you stay on top of your health.” This year, it’s estimated nearly 17-hundred Iowans will be diagnosed with colon cancer and 590 will die from it. Reed said Iowans are responding by getting checkups.

“We’ve seen the rate for colon cancer deaths decline because screenings have become better and more people are getting their screenings,” Reed says. “Not as many as we’d hoped but more and more people are talking to their doctors, getting that colonoscopy at 50, using the other tests that are available.” One factor you can’t control is your family history, which Reed says may mean you’ll have to be screened earlier than age 50.

“If you have a family history, a mom, dad, sibling, uncle, whatever, who’s had colon cancer, had the polyps, you need to be checked relatively quickly,” he says. “That could be before 50 and that’s why you need to talk to your doctor.” Learn more about colon cancer at 800-227-2345 or at “www.cancer.org”. 

(Matt Kelley/Radio Iowa)

The Lenox Police Department reports four people were taken into custody following a traffic stop Saturday night. Officers stopped a vehicle at around 10-p.m. at the intersection of Brooks and Dallas Streets, for an equipment violation. During the stop, the officers observed beer and liquor in the vehicle. The driver of the car, 18-year old Taylor Turlock, of Lenox, was arrested on a charge of Open Container. Turlock was transported to the Taylor County Jail and held pending a court appearance. Two passengers in the vehicle, 19-year old Jesse Harrison, of Prescott and 18-year old Domenica Petty, of Clearfield, were cited for open containers of alcohol and released to sober persons. Another passenger, 17-year old Adriana Arevalo, of Lenox, was referred to juvenile court of a charge of possession of alcohol and released to a parent.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports today (Monday) five people were arrested last week. Taken into custody Tuesday, was: 20-year old Jace Reed Catlett, of Sidney, for violation of his probation; 30-year old Adam Wesley Bartles, of Glenwood, for trespassing; 21-year old Rayna Nichole Thomas, of Colfax, who was arrested for interference with official acts and disorderly conduct; and, 30-year old Douglas Alan Ballard, of Norwalk, who was charged with violation of a no contact order. And, officials say last Monday, 37-year old James Lee McClain, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Fremont County, for operating a motor vehicle without the owners’ consent.

Authorities in Montgomery County say three people were arrested Saturday. 16-year old Brittney Maynes was charged with Serious Assault. The teen was later released to the custody of her parents. And, two Red Oak residents were arrested on trespassing charges, for allegedly trespassing on railroad property. 51-year old William Coatney and 23-year old Jennifer Dellaca were taken into custody at around 5-p.m. Saturday. The pair were issued citations, and released.