It’s been a very busy July for the American Red Cross, as the organization responded to eight home fires last weekend alone. Red Cross regional executive director Tammy Lee says grilling out is just one of the summertime activities that can lead to disaster. “If you’re too close to the house or thinking the fire is out when it’s not, or starting a fire when it’s windy,” Lee says. “Then there are the things we should be cautious of inside year-round, overloaded circuits, putting things on electric cords.”

Lee says the Red Cross typically responds to more storms in the summer, but this July, they’ve helped 101 people already, compared to 70 people a year ago. She says many of those calls have been house fires, which are usually more of an issue in the colder months, when furnaces and fireplaces are in use. “This time of year this year is just a particular reminder that we can have an uptick in home fires even in the middle of the summer,” she says.

Last weekend’s fires were reported in Appanoose, Wapello, Cass, Floyd, Poweshiek and Polk counties. She says anyone wishing to make a donation or to volunteer with the Red Cross can visit redcross-dot-org.

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Atlantic report the arrest on Wednesday of a local man on drug & other charges. 53-year old Lafe Eichelberger, of Atlantic, faces charges that include Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to Deliver, Interference with Official Acts, OWI/1st offense, and Driving While License denied or revoked.

Also arrested Wednesday in Atlantic, was 54-year old Jim Findley, of Carson. Findley was charged with Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender.

And this morning (Thursday), 38-year old Jeremy Lange, of Humboldt, was arrested in Atlantic for OWI/1st offense.  All three men were booked into the Cass County Jail.

DES MOINES, Iowa – It’s a major milestone as the landmark civil rights law that ensures equal opportunity for people with disabilities celebrates its 25th anniversary this weekend.  The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was spearheaded by former U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa and signed by former President George H.W. Bush on July 26 of 1990.

Becky Harker, executive director of the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council, says one of the biggest changes in the years since has been the accessibility of public buildings. “Restaurants and grocery stores, courthouses, post offices,” she points out. “And they’re also more accessible to our elders, to people with strollers, to people with other mobility issues. So it’s been good for everyone.”

A number of events to celebrate the ADA anniversary are planned across Iowa in the days ahead including in Cedar Rapids, Des Moines and Iowa City. While there has been much progress, Harker says there is plenty more to do over the next 25 years and that includes improving job opportunities for those with disabilities.

“We’d like to see more people employed in the community and not segregated,” she stresses. “And it’s going to take a lot of advocacy, a lot of action on the part of people who feel strongly about that.” Statewide, it’s estimated that nearly 17 percent of adults or around 376,000 people have some type of a disability.