Health Officials Warn Of Frost Bite During Frigid Cold Days
(Le Mars) — With temperatures dropping to the single digits and below, combined with the winds, weather officials have issued wind chill advisories for Iowa.
But, health officials want people to know that exposure to these types of conditions can also mean frost bite. Lorrie Mortensen is the Director of Nursing for Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars. She says frost bite symptoms can occur fairly quickly.
Mortensen says the first symptoms of frost bite can be a cold, prickly feeling.
The Director of Nursing recommends wearing mittens as opposed to gloves.
She says both the young and the elderly are more susceptible to the frigid cold temperatures, and they are likely to get frost bite before others.
Mortensen’s advice during these cold days is to “keep moving and bundle up.”
Mortensen says when you bundle up for the outdoors, make certain you wear several layers of clothing.
The Floyd Valley Nursing Director says wet clothing will bring on frost bite faster than wearing dry clothing.
Gilman Man Dies After Falling Into Well
GILMAN, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a 90-year-old man died in central Iowa after falling into a water well on Christmas Day.
The Marshalltown Times-Republican reports that first responders were sent to a property in rural Gilman around 9:10 a.m. Monday. Gilman Fire & Rescue says the man was pulled out around 20 minutes later from about 6 feet (2 meters)
underground. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
Authorities identified the man as Maurice Tufte. It’s unclear what led to his falling into the well.
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Wanted: Chaplains For Police Service
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Chaplains who provide emotional support and spiritual guidance to police officers in western Iowa say they’re looking for more members to better serve the community.
The Daily Nonpareil reports that the Council Bluffs Police Department Chaplain Corps met with police recruits Friday to spread the word about the program and their need for more chaplains. Only three chaplains serve the
department.
Lt. Dan Flores says a chaplain offers the police department support through non-denominational faith. Flores says a chaplain can help notify a family when someone has died or hold a ceremony.
Chaplain Liaison Sgt. Jill Knotek says a member doesn’t have to be an ordained minister or a certain faith to become a chaplain.
Flores says the chaplains encourage anyone who “can be there for others” to contact them.
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Man Found Guilty Of Murder In Parking Lot
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A jury has found a 25-year-old defendant guilty of killing one man and wounding another in a Cedar Rapids parking lot.
Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports that Quarzone Martin was convicted of second-degree murder, willful injury and going armed with intent.
The verdicts were read Wednesday in a Linn County District Courtroom.
Prosecutors say he fatally shot 26-year-old Andrew Meeks and wounded 30- year-old Johnny Moore Jr. on July 2 in the parking lot of a Cedar Rapids Walmart store.
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New Charges Filed Against Man Suspected Of Killing Teenager
OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) – New charges have been filed against a man accused of fatally shooting an Ottumwa teenager.
The Ottumwa Courier reports that Venhure Tsegay was charged last week with a robbery and burglary that occurred on Oct. 30, 2015. Tsegay is accused of shooting 16-year-old Christian Madueno in the face on Nov. 29, 2016. Authorities
say Madueno died nearly a month later, on Christmas Day last year.
The 19-year-old Tsegay has not yet entered pleas on the new charges but has pleaded not guilty to charges of robbery and first-degree murder in the slaying of Madueno. Tsegay’s trial on those charges is scheduled to begin March 6.
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Planned Parenthood Clinic To Close
BETTENDORF, Iowa (AP) – A Planned Parenthood clinic in eastern Iowa that is providing abortions will close soon.
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland said Wednesday its clinic in Bettendorf will close Friday, several months after the local affiliate announced plans to do so.
Planned Parenthood said in May that four of its 12 clinics in Iowa,
including the Bettendorf location, would close soon. The announcement was made shortly after the Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature removed state funding for organizations that provide abortions. At the time, no federal or state
dollars were being spent on abortions in Iowa.
The other three facilities closed during the summer, and the Bettendorf clinic stopped most family planning services around the same time. The facility has been proving telemedicine abortion, which involves the use of medicine to
end a pregnancy.
