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Local News for Thursday, March 11 
BUS RIDE TO THE CAPITOL
THE CHEROKEE AREA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION SPONSORED A BUS
RIDE TO THE CAPITOL YESTERDAY. CHEROKEE COUNTY SUPERVISOR MARK LEEDS SAID
THERE WERE ABOUT 20 PEOPLE WHO WENT DOWN. HE SAID THEY WERE ABLE TO
MEET WITH LEGISLATORS AND WAS PLEASED WITH THE SUPPORTS THE LEGISLATORS HAVE
FOR THE CHEROKEE MHI. THE BUS LEFT CHEROKEE AT 7AM AND RETURNED AT
7PM.
H1N1 VACCINES AVAILABLE
THE H1N1 VIRUS HAS SLOWED DOWN IN KCHE LISTENING AREA... FOR NOW.
JANICE CARLSON, ASSISTANT NURSE MANAGER OF HOME CHOICE HOSPICE AND PUBLIC
HEALTH REMINDS PEOPLE TO KEEP UP ON THEIR H1N1 VACCINES. SHE SAID KIDS
WHO HAD THEIR FIRST SHOTS SHOULD GET THE SECOND SHOT VERY SOON. SHE
CURRENTLY THE H1N1 VIRUS IS ACTIVE IN SURROUNDING STATES AND SOUTHERN IOWA.
PEOPLE SHOULD GET THERE VACCINE IF THEY PLAN ON TRAVELING TO PREVENT
BRINGING THE VIRUS BACK. CHILDREN, PREGNANT WOMEN AND PEOPLE WHO WORK
IN AROUND CHILDREN AND HEALTH CARE SHOULD ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO GET THE
VACCINE. FOR FURTHER DETAILS ON THE H1N1 VACCINE, CALL 225-6459.
MELTING SNOW MAY CAUSE
FLOODING
WITH SPRING JUST OVER A WEEK AWAY, IT’S NO SECRET MANY PEOPLE ARE
LOOKING FORWARD TO NOT SEEING SNOW. HOWEVER, THERE IS A CONCERN WITH THE
AMOUNT OF SNOW EXPECTED TO MELT AND GARY HALL REGIONAL EXTENSION EDUCATION
DIRECTOR FOR ISU SAID PEOPLE SHOULD TRY TO PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE FLOODING.
WITH THE HEAVY SNOWFALL AND THE RAIN THIS WEEK, THE SEWERS MAY NOT BE ABLE
TO HOLD IT ALL AND THE GROUND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE IT.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
THE CHEROKEE CITY COUNCIL HELD THE REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY NIGHT AT THE CITY
HALL DOWN TOWN. THEY BEGAN AT 7:00 WITH ALL COUNCILPERSONS PRESENT
INCLUDING CITY ADMINISTRATOR DON EIKMEIER, CITY CLERK DEB TAYLOR AND CITY
ATTORNEY WALLY MILLER. IN THE PUBLIC FORUM, A RESIDENT FROM 9TH
STREET IN CHEROKEE CAME IN TO REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT HE FELT HIS NEIGHBORS
WERE NOT FOLLOWING CITY ORDINANCE BY NOT SHOVELING PUBLIC SIDEWALKS. HE
ALSO SAID THAT HE FELT HOME OWNERS WITH MORE THAN 2 DOGS AND 3 CATS SHOULD
BE CHARGED A FEE BY THE CITY. CITY ADMINISTRATOR EIKMEIER SAID IT WOULD BE
VERY DIFFICULT TO DO. THE RESIDENT ALSO ASKED THE COUNCIL TO GO DOWN TO
JUST ONE FULL TIME FIRE FIGHTER TO SAVE TAX PAYERS MONEY. COUNCILPERSON
BURKHART RESPONDED BY SAYING SAFETY IS A PRIORITY AND THEY WILL NOT REDUCE
TO HAVING ONE FULL TIME FIRE FIGHTER. THE RESIDENT ALSO COMPLAINED OF
PEOPLE RIDING THERE ATV’S AND SNOWMOBILES BY HIS STREET AND ASKED THAT THE
COUNCIL HAVE IT STOPPED. THE COUNCIL AGREED TO LOOK IN TO IT. THE RESIDENT
ALSO STATED THAT HE FELT THAT THE CITY CHEROKEE NEEDED TO MAKE PEOPLE
RECYCLE. IN HEARINGS, ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS, THE COUNCIL DISCUSSED
RAISING THE FRANCHISE FEES TO 3 PERCENT BUT AGREED ON 2 PERCENT. IN NEW
BUSINESS THE COUNCIL ALSO AGREED TO SUBMIT THE APPLICATION FOR ENERGY BLOCK
GRANT. IN REPORTS, EIKMEIER GAVE A SHORT REPORT RECAPPING A PREVIOUS
MEETING AND REPORT. THE COUNCIL THEN WENT INTO A CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS
LABOR NEGOTIATIONS. THE CHEROKEE CITY COUNCIL MEETS THE 2ND AND
4TH TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH WITH ALL MEETINGS BEING OPEN TO THE
PUBLIC.
CHEROKEE COMMUNITY
THEATER
THE CHEROKEE COMMUNITY THEATER WILL BE HAVING A PLAY THIS WEEKEND.
JAMES PUFFET, DIRECTOR SAID THE PERFORMANCE WILL BE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY THIS
WEEKEND AT 7:30 AND SUNDAY AT 2:00. HE SAID THE PLAY WILL BE FUN FOR
THE ENTIRE FAMILY. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT CHEROKEE MAIN STREET
PHARMACY AND BY CALLING 225-4440.
ROXANNE CONLIN IN CHEROKEE
A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR SENATOR MADE AN APPEARANCE IN CHEROKEE
SUNDAY. ATTORNEY ROXANNE CONLIN FROM DES MOINES SPOKE AT DANNY’S TO HER
SUPPORTERS. SHE FEELS SHE CAN HELP FIX THINGS IN WASHINGTON AND WAS
PLEASED TO HAVE MET HER SUPPORTERS. SHE INVITES ANYONE TO CHECK OUT
HER WEBSITE AT
WWW.ROXANNEFORIOWA.COM
ROD ROBERTS WELCOMES
RURAL DEBATES
RECENTLY GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE ROD
ROBERTS FROM CARROLL INVITED OTHER CANDIDATES, BOB VANDER PLATTS AND TERRY
BRANSTAD TO RURAL DEBATES. HE FEELS RURAL DEBATES ARE GOOD FOR THE
IOWA FARMER. ALTHOUGH THE DEBATES HAVE NOT BEEN SCHEDULED, ROBERTS
WILL KEEP THE PUBLIC INFORMED. GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE AND STATE
REPRESENTATIVE ROD ROBERTS FROM CARROLL SERVES, CARROLL AND PARTS OF
CRAWFORD AND SAC COUNTIES.
DAN HUSEMAN SEEKS
RE-ELECTION
STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAN HUSEMAN OF AURELIA RECENTLY ANNOUNCED HIS
PLANS FOR RE-ELECTION. HE SAID HE FEELS THAT MUCH WORK NEEDS TO BE
DONE AND HE'S HOPING TO CONTINUE TO REPRESENT THE 53RD DISTRICT.
CHEROKEE SHERIFFS
DEPARTMENT
THE CHEROKEE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT REPORTS TO KCHE NEWS THAT ON
MONDAY, 44 YEAR OLD RODNEY ROBINSON, 53 YEAR OLD STEVEN HAGAN AND 35 YEAR
OLD DONALD HOHBACH ALL OF CHEROKEE AND 52 YEAR OLD COLLEEN RHEA OF CALUMET
WERE ALL ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY TO MANUFACTURE
METHAMPHETAMINE.
RON WIECK NOT RUNNING
FOR RE-ELECTION
STATE SENATOR RON WIECK FROM SIOUX CITY RECENTLY ANNOUNCED HE IS NOT
RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION. HE SAID IT FEELS LIKE A GOOD TIME TO SPEND
WITH FAMILY AND MAKE TIME FOR TRAVEL. HE SAID HE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK HARD
UNTIL THE END OF HIS TERM. STATE SENATOR RON WIECK IS FROM SIOUX CITY
AND HE REPRESENTS CHEROKEE AND PARTS OD WOODBURY AND PLYMOUTH COUNTIES IN
THE KCHE LISTENING AREA.
STORM LAKE POLICE DEPARTMENT
ON FRIDAY, STORM LAKE POLICE ARRESTED 13 YEAR OLD RAFAEL VARGAS OF
STORM LAKE CHARGING HIM WITH HARASSMENT 1ST DEGREE AFTER HE
THREATENED THE LIFE OF A SCHOOL STAFF MEMBER. HE WAS RELEASED TO A PARENT
PENDING A COURT DATE AND THE CASE WAS FORWARDED TO THE JUVENILE COURT.
ON FRIDAY, POLICE ARRESTED A 14 YEAR OLD FEMALE OF
STORM LAKE CHARGING HER WITH ASSAULT AFTER SHE ASSAULTED ANOTHER STUDENT IN
SCHOOL. THE CASE WAS FORWARDED TO THE JUVENILE COURT.
ON FRIDAY, ARRESTED15 YEAR OLD GUSTAVO ADULFO GRACIA
OF STORM LAKE CHARGING HIM WITH SERIOUS ASSAULT AFTER BEATING UP ANOTHER
STUDENT… GRACIA WAS RELEASED TO A PARENT AND THE CASE WAS FORWARDED TO THE
JUVENILE COURT.
ON FRIDAY, POLICE ARRESTED 43 YEAR OLD DAUD ALI OF
MARSHALL MINNESOTA CHARGING HIM WITH CRIMINAL TRESPASS, PUBLIC INTOXICATION
AND INTERFERENCE WITH OFFICIAL ACTS AFTER REFUSING TO LEAVE A BAR. HE WAS
HELD ON 300 DOLLAR CASH BOND.
ON SATURDAY, POLICE ARRESTED 35 YEAR OLD SALVADOR
RECINOS OF STORM LAKE CHARGING HIM WITH HARASSMENT AFTER VERBALLY ABUSING
PEOPLE.. HE WAS HELD ON A 300 DOLLAR CASH BOND.
ON
SATURDAY, STORM LAKE POLICE ARRESTED 51 YEAR OLD LAWRENCE LESSETT JUNIOR OF
STORM LAKE CHARGING HIM WITH DISORDERLY CONDUCT AFTER HE BECAME DISRUPTIVE
DURING A BASKETBALL GAME.
ON MONDAY, STORM LAKE FIRE FIGHTERS WERE CALLED TO A
HOME OWNED BY LUZ ELLENA GONZALEZ AFTER THE CALLERS AWOKE TO A LOUD HISSING
NOISE NEAR THEIR GAS METER AND SMELLED A GAS. FIRE FIGHTERS DETERMINED THAT
A WOODED DECK HAD COLLAPSED ON TO THE GAS METER DUE TO HEAVY SNOW AND ICE
CAUSING THE GAS PIPING NEAR THE METER TO BREAK AND LEAK. FIRE FIGHTERS
STOPPED THE FLOW OF GAS AND REMOVED SNOW AND ICE. THEY WERE ASSISTED BY
ALLIANT ENERGY.
ON MONDAY, THE STORM LAKE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS
WERE CALLED TO AN ALLEY WHERE A SUBSTANCE WAS REPORTED. FIRE FIGHTERS
DETERMINED THE SUBSTANCE WAS A GAS LEAK FROM A PREVIOUSLY PARKED VEHICLE.
THE STORM LAKE STREET DEPARTMENT USED EQUIPMENT TO REMOVE THE FUEL. T WAS
ESTIMATED THAT AROUND ONE GALLON OF DIESEL FUEL WAS RELEASED AND NO
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT IS ANTICIPATED.
HEART WORM
MANY PEOPLE LOOK AT THEIR PETS AS PART OF THE FAMILY AND MAKING SURE
THEY ARE HEALTHY. DR. STEVE BENSON VETERINARIAN AT VALLEY VET IN CHEROKEE
SAID HEART WORM IS A COMMON DISEASE THAT CAN BE PREVENTED. HE
RECOMMENDS PET OWNERS HAVE THEIR PETS CHECKED FOR HEART WORM. HE SAID
THERE IS A MONTHLY MEDICATION AVAILABLE TO PREVENT HEART WORM. DOGS
AND CATS CAN GET HEART WORM FROM INSECT BITES.
DIABETES AWARENESS
WITH THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, MANY PEOPLE ARE PLANNING ON
LIVING A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE. ONE THING THAT PEOPLE CAN CHECK ON TO STAY
HEALTHY IS DIABETES. STEPHANIE JACOBSEN, DIETICIAN AT CHEROKEE REGIONAL
MEDICAL CENTER SAID STATISTICS SHOW THERE ARE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE
GETTING DIABETES. SHE FEELS ANYONE WITH SYMPTOMS INCLUDING WEIGHT
GAIN, WEIGHT LOSS, LOSS OF APPETITE, LOSS OF ENERGY AS EXAMPLES,
SHOULD GET A CHECK UP. SHE ALSO SAID ANYONE WITH FAMILY HISTORY SHOULD
GET CHECKED. THERE ARE MANY RISK FACTORS INVOLVED. IF YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS, YOU MAY CALL JANICE CARLSON AT 225-6459 OR STEPHANIE JACOBSEN AT
225-5101.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IS PRETTY COMMON IN ADULTS BUT IT’S ALSO
DANGEROUS. JANICE CARLSON, ASSISTANT NURSE MANAGER OF HOME CHOICE HOSPICE
AND PUBLIC HEALTH SAID HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IS A SILENT KILLER. CARLSON
SAID THERE MANY RICK FACTORS REGARDING HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE INCLUDING GENDER
LIFESTYLE, OVER WEIGHT AND LACK OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. SHE RECOMMENDS
LIFESTYLE CHANGES TO THOSE WHO HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. FOR DETAILS
ON HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, YOU CAN CALL HER AT 225-6459.
IMPORTANCE OF NEUTERING AND SPAYING
THERE ARE A LOT OF UNWANTED PETS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD WITH MANY OF
THEM HEALTHY AND JUST LOOKING FOR A GOOD HOME. ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THERE
ARE SO MANY IS BECAUSE A LOT OF CATS AND DOGS ARE NOT SPAYED OR NEUTERED.
VETERINARIAN, DR. STEVE BENSON AT VALLEY VETERINARY CENTER IN CHEROKEE SAID
THAT THERE ARE MANY REASONS TO HAVE OUR PETS FIXED AND THE MAIN ONE IS TO
HELP CONTROL THE PET POPULATION. HE SAY'S IT VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE
FEMALES SPAYED TO AVOID PROBLEMS LATER ON INCLUDING BREAST CANCER.
MALE DOGS WHO ARE NOT NEUTERED BECOME TERRITORIAL AND AGGRESSIVE... THEY
COULD ALSO DEVELOP TESTICULAR CANCER. MALE CATS CAN ALSO BECOME
AGGRESSIVE AND WILL MARK THEIR TERRITORY BY SPRAYING LEAVING AN AWFUL POTENT
SCENT THAT IS VERY HARD TO GET RID OF. FIGHTING CATS CAN ALSO PASS OR
SPREAD DISEASES. DR. BENSON HIGHLY RECOMMENDS SPAYING OR NEUTERING OUR PETS.
ALSO HE RECOMMENDS STAYING CAUGHT UP ON VACCINATIONS TO KEEP YOUR PET
HEALTHY.

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