(Blairstown, Iowa) – A school bus collided with an SUV, Wednesday afternoon, in eastern Iowa, resulting in some students and both drivers being injured. In a press release, officials with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office said the Benton Community School school bus was occupied by nine students and the bus driver. Of the nine students, three were transported by ambulance for evaluation at a local hospital. The remaining students and bus driver were transported by personal vehicle or released to a parent or guardian. The extent of the injuries is currently unknown. No injuries were believed to life- threatening.

The driver of the SUV was also transported by ambulance for evaluation. The names of the individuals involved were being withheld as of the latest report.

Agencies assisting with the accident include Blairstown Fire Department, Blairstown Ambulance, Area Ambulance, Belle Plaine Ambulance, Department of Motor Vehicle Enforcement, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa County Ambulance, Benton Community School District Administration.

(Scott County, Iowa) – A pickup truck that was eluding the Iowa State Patrol in Davenport Wednesday night, went out of control and collided with an embankment before rolling over, resulting in the death of a woman and serious injuries to a man. The Patrol reports the 2002 Chevy Avalanche was traveling south on Eastern Avenue from Elm Street, in Davenport, when it crashed and came to rest at Eastern Avenue and Pleasant Street, at around 8:15-p.m., Wednesday.

The person who died was identified as 24-year-old Alecia M. Garcia, of Davenport. The injured victim was 31-year-old Damonte Stewart, of Oklahoma City, OK. was transported to Genesis Hospital in Davenport. Neither was wearing a seat belt.

The Patrol did not indicate in the report, the reason for the pursuit, and it’s not clear who was driving the pickup. The crash remains under investigation.

(Radio Iowa) – A 17-year-old male juvenile was arrested today (Wednesday) by Webster County Sheriff’s deputies at Fort Dodge Senior High School. The arrest followed an investigation into a shooting that occurred late last Friday night during a party at a residence in rural Webster County. There was a juvenile female who was shot during the party. She was transported to Unity Point Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The male juvenile was charged with Intimidation with dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and possession of a firearm by an ineligible person.

The juvenile made his initial appearance in Webster County magistrate court and was ordered held on a 16-thousand dollar cash only bond. He is being held at the Central Iowa Juvenile Detention Center in Eldora.

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Harlan Police Department, Wednesday, released information with regard to five arrests that took place between Sept. 12th and the 19th. This past Sunday (9/19), 38-year-old Johnathan Patrick Antrim, of Council Bluffs, was arrested following a traffic stop. Antrim was transported the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with driving while suspended, no proof of insurance, and operating a non-registered vehicle.

There were three arrests Sept. 17th, in Harlan: 19-year-old Reese Lloyd Schwery, of Panama, was arrested following a stop. Schwery was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and minor in possession of alcohol; 20-year-old Chloe Isabella Schmidt, and 29-year-old Ashlen Marie Rutherford, both of Harlan, were arrested following a call for service. Both women were charged with domestic abuse assault.

And, on Sept. 12th, 54-year-old Keith David Finstad, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop. Finstad was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and fail to obey stop sign.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett, Wednesday evening, issued the Oath of Office to the two newest members of the City’s Parks and Recreation Department Board. The Parks Board, during their meeting Monday evening, selected Jeremy Butler to succeed Ashley Hayes, who resigned in August. And, Shirley Jensen, who was already on the Board, but had been improperly given the Oath when she was appointed to the Board, was sworn-in.

In other business, the Mayor proclaimed the week of Sept. 17-23 “Constitution Week,” in the City of Atlantic. Constitution Week is celebrated annually during the week of September 17-23 to commemorate its history, importance, and bring attention to how it serves still today. The celebration started through a petition of Congress in 1955 by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The resolution was later adopted by the U.S. Congress and signed into public law on August 2, 1956, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Mayor Garrett announced also, that Halloween Trick-or-Treating will be held City-wide in Atlantic on Oct. 31st, from 5-until 7-p.m. The Council, Wednesday, unanimously approved an Order permitting a fireworks show by Wild Wayne’s, during the Atlantic Homecoming game on Oct. 8th. They also approved an Order pertaining to the closure of 6th Street between Chestnut and Poplar, on Oct. 8th, from 1-until 5-p.m., for the Pre-Fire Prevention Parade. Councilperson Elaine Ottee explains…

There will be games and activities available for families in the downtown Atlantic City Park as part of the event. The Council also approved the closure of selected streets on Friday, Sept. 23rd, from 2:15- and 3:30-p.m., for the Atlantic Homecoming Parade.

Oath of Office issued to Jeremy Butler

Oath of Office issued to Shirley Jensen.

A public hearing was held during Wednesday’s Council meeting, on a proposal to enter into a General Obligation Land Acquisition Loan Agreement for the purchase of land from the Comes Family Trust. The land will be used for housing development. Hearing and having received no comments, the Council unanimously passed a Resolution authorizing and approving the Loan Agreement, the issuance of $500,000 taxable G.O. Bonds, and the levying of taxes to pay for them. They then acted to pass a Resolution with regard to an application to rezone City-owned property at 301 Maple Street, for the purpose of expanding an existing local business. City Administrator John Lund…

And, the Atlantic City Council passed the third and final reading of an amended Ordinance pertaining to Panhandling, as well as the second readings of Mowing, and Solid Waste Removal. The Council voted 4-to 2 (With Councilman Sisco absent), to pass the second reading of an amended snow & ice accumulation removal Ordinance. Councilmen Pat McCurdy and Jim Behrens had separate reasons for voting “Nay.”

(Radio Iowa) – An historic F-80 fighter jet made a flight to Sioux City for repainting with an assist from a Davenport-based Iowa Army National Guard Chinook helicopter.

The 1950s era jet has been on display at Camp Dodge in Johnston and has the markings of the 174th Fighter Interceptor Squadron which was the predecessor to the 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City. Flight engineer Staff Sergeant Jesse Ayala says carrying the jet in a sling under the helicopter to Sioux City allowed them to practice important aircraft recovery methods.

“Downed aircraft recovery is something very important not only in experience but in a timely manner as well and sot when it comes to the mission and it could save lives it could save equipment,” he says.

F-80 jet arriving in Sioux City. (ING photo)

He says the fighter jet hanging below the helicopter on a sling provided some challenges:

“The unique load essentially is we have to be creative and find a way to properly and safely secure the aircraft. And the aerodynamic aspect is basically how is it going to fly in the air and when it’s an aircraft with another aircraft, something that has tendencies to react to different wind and gusts. It can be something to really pay attention to so slowly but surely and just with experience is the best way to get around it,” he says.

The first generation F-80 fighter was assigned to the Iowa Air Guard after the 174th returned to Sioux City following their activation in 1951. The jet will be painted and then flown back to be put on display again at Camp Dodge.

(Radio Iowa) – A dangerous and potentially deadly trend is sweeping social media that entices people to cook chicken in cough syrup or cold and flu medicine, prompting an expert at the Iowa Poison Control Center to say -never- do this. Registered nurse Tammy Noble, the Sioux City-based center’s education manager, says this practice can be exceptionally hazardous, depending on what’s used, and she calls it a recipe for disaster.

“There’s different medicines that are in the cough syrup and chicken can absorb that cough syrup,” Noble says. “Some of those ingredients could be things like acetaminophen, which is the active ingredient in Tylenol. Acetaminophen is safe in recommended doses but it can cause liver damage and even death when you get overdoses of it.” The U-S Food and Drug Administration has issued an advisory, warning consumers that cooking chicken in these medications is dangerous and Noble confirms, it could be lethal.

“Cough suppressants can cause heart palpitations and agitations, sometimes even hallucinations depending on the amount that was taken,” Noble says, “and it also has things like decongestants which have an effect on your blood pressure, can cause heart attacks and headaches if they’re used in high, high doses.” There’s also the risk of food poisoning if the chicken isn’t properly cooked, and if the red, green or blue liquid soaks into the meat, it’ll be hard to distinguish its color.

In addition, cooking chicken in a marinade of medication could give off highly concentrated vapors which could critically damage the lungs. So, why would people even consider following this TikTok challenge? “I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be better for sleep or if it’s just a trend,” Noble says, “or if they’re looking for alternative ways to keep themselves from getting sick, whether it’s from just regular winter/fall germs or whether it’s with the COVID-19 infections, we’re not really sure.”

Much like with the Tide Pod Challenge a few years ago, in which people shot video of themselves while eating liquid laundry detergent pods, Noble says she’s not surprised people would try cooking chicken in NyQuil.  “Working at the poison center, we always think we’ve heard it all until we answer the call and then it’s like, ‘Nope, haven’t heard that one before,’ and people never cease to amaze us at some of the things that they will attempt to do,” Noble says, “maybe not necessarily knowing how unsafe it may be, or maybe they -do- know how unsafe it is and they don’t care.”

As ridiculous as the Tide Pod Challenge may have seemed to most of us, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reports it killed at least ten people, none of them in Iowa. Noble says as yet, she’s taken no calls at the hotline about this latest chicken recipe, at least not yet. Reach the Iowa Poison Control Center any day, any time at 800-222-1222.