Nearly 10-percent of children younger than 4 years of age have food allergies and one of the most severe is caused by peanuts. But, a recent study indicates simply smelling peanuts or peanut butter likely won’t trigger an allergic reaction. Doctor Michael Huckabee has been researching the issue at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. “Studies have shown that most individuals, in fact 91-percent of individuals, actually reported that it was ingestion of the peanut butter that would create a reaction,” Huckabee says. “So, with that information, we feel somewhat reassured that the odor is not the problem, it’s the direct contact – by touching or ingesting – and that’s what causes the more severe reactions.”

A recent study had participants smell peanuts and no one suffered a reaction.  “That smell was disguised by adding tuna fish and mint to the peanut itself, so it could not be smelled as peanuts. They allowed some children to be tested with a dish that had that mixture and those kids did not have reactions,” Huckabee explains.

The study, according to Huckabee, should ease the concerns of kids with peanut allergies and their parents that if they sit by someone in a lunch room who is eating a peanut butter sandwich – they should not suffer a reaction. However, Huckabee says there still is a concern when it comes to airborne peanut dust.  “Even a pinch of peanuts, whether that be dust or powder, if it is airborne and breathed in, that would cause the same reaction as if it were ingested,” Huckabee says.

The reaction from those with peanut allergies can range from a rash to heart arrhythmia’s to death. Huckabee recommends people with a peanut allergy wear a medical alert bracelet and carry an EpiPen.

(Radio Iowa)

No injuries were reported following an accident Sunday night, in Clarinda. The Clarinda P-D says a vehicle driven by 17-year old Samuel Ripley, of Clarinda, was traveling south on 15th Street at around 10:20-p.m., and entering the intersection with Lincoln, at the same time a vehicle driven by 18-year old Krista Rogers, of Clarinda, was traveling west on Lincoln Street and entering the intersection. Ripley’s SUV hit Rogers’ SUV in the middle of the intersection, causing a total of $10,000 damage to the vehicles. After the impact, Rogers’ SUV hit a light pole, causing it to snap-off at the base. Damage to the City of Clarinda pole was estimated at $1,500. Police cited Rogers for Failure to Yield to the vehicle on her right.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A 37-year-old man has been arrested, accused of kidnapping his daughter in eastern Iowa and causing an Amber Alert to be issued.

Sean Shannon

Officials say Sean Shannon was arrested just before 11:30 a.m. Sunday in Cedar Rapids. Online records say Shannon remains in Benton County Jail, awaiting court action on a kidnapping charge.
He’s accused of abducting his 11-year-old daughter, Kiley, from her Shellsburg home on Thursday night. Authorities say he punched Kiley’s 15-year-old half brother at the home as he took the girl.

Kiley Seane Shannon

Authorities say Kiley was released without injury in Cedar Rapids less than an hour after the Amber Alert was issued on Friday evening. Authorities say Shannon doesn’t have parental rights to his daughter.

Members of the Elk Horn-Kimballton Board of Education will meet this evening in the Family and Consumer Science Room, at the High School in Elk Horn. During the 7-p.m. session, under the Consent Agenda, the Board will act on approving contracts with: Tony Santiseban, Junior High Boys Basketball/Assistant High School Basketball Coach, and Kelly Juhl, Assistant High School Girls Basketball Coach. They will also act on appointing a School Board lawyer, and Secretary/Treasurer as well as Business Manager.

Under “New Business,” the EHK Board will discuss and likely act on approving: contracts with HTS, Midwest Lock and Security, and Southwestern Community College; a bid for an I-T Room heat pump; and the high school and teacher handbooks.

Prior to adjourning for the evening, the Board will enter into a closed session per Iowa Code, to “Evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose hiring is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation.”

Afterward, they will return from the closed session to discuss and act on Superintendent Dean Schnoes’ contract.