Infectious Diseases

A survivor, Kooiker urges on final push to eliminate polio (03/05/10)
When Dixie Kooiker was 3, she was diagnosed with paralytic poliomyelitis, or polio. Hospitalized in the Sister Kenny Polio Institute in June 1949, Kooiker was in a crib next to her infant cousin and in the room across from her uncle, both who had polio...

Agri-Business Luncheon morning program features area biotech company (03/05/10)
The Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce 16th Annual Agri-Business Luncheon will feature a new biotectechnology company based in Sioux Center. The Agri-Business Luncheon is Tuesday, March 16, at the Le Mars Convention Center, upper level. The morning begins with a 9:30 a.m. Chamber Coffee hosted by the Plymouth County Farm Bureau...

'A Time to Remember' benefits local Alzheimer's programming (02/23/10)
Jerry and Audrey Scholten, of Le Mars, will serve as honorary chairpersons for the upcoming Wine & Roses event in Le Mars, "A Time to Remember." The event benefits the Alzheimer's Association. The Scholtens encourage everyone to generously donate to help provide optimal care and services to the persons and their families confronting this disease...

American Cancer Society holds Daffodil Days (02/23/10)
Spring is coming early this year -- and so is the American Cancer Society Daffodil Days! Plymouth County residents have until Feb. 25, to place their orders for daffodils. "With Daffodil Days, the hope goes beyond the symbol of the flowers -- you know that with every bouquet you order, you're making an actual difference in the lives of real people fighting cancer," according to June Muth, Plymouth County Daffodil Days co-chair...

Relay For Life team kick-off is Monday in Remsen (02/19/10)
Get ready for Relay For Life of Plymouth County 2010. The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Plymouth County will hold a community and team kick-off open house in Remsen Monday, Feb. 22. The open house will be held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Remsen's VFW, 207 S. Washington St...

Are we sending bald eagles back to endangered list? (02/01/10)
Bald eagles are being attacked by an emerging predator. It's in the food they eat. Eagle protection agencies have been seeing eagles that are oddly sick, explained Plymouth County Naturalist Victoria De Vos. "They started testing the blood and they are finding out that they had very high levels of lead -- a neurotoxin," De Vos said. "It was basically paralyzing them in different ways."...

Rewind 2009: The worst of times and the best of times (12/31/09)

Hundreds line up for free H1N1 vaccine, more to come (12/21/09)
About 500 people were vaccinated for H1N1 flu last week in Le Mars, and another free clinic will be held Tuesday offering the vaccine to anybody that wants it. Last week's clinic was the first time the shots were available for free to all Plymouth County residents...

All Iowans eligible for H1N1 vaccination (12/14/09)
Beginning today (Monday) all Iowans will be eligible to receive an H1N1 flu vaccination, according to an announcement by the Iowa Department of Public Health. Floyd Valley Community Health will be offering free public H1N1 clinics from 4-6 p.m. Thursday and 3:30-6:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 22 at Floyd Valley Hospital Conference Center...

Free H1N1 vaccination clinics scheduled (12/08/09)
Floyd Valley Community Health Service will be offering free public H1N1 influenza vaccination clinics from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17 and from 3:30 -- 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22 in Floyd Valley Hospital's Conference Center. These clinics are open to anyone that is in one of the following priority groups only:...

Inspired gift: Calling to donate kidney unites two strangers (11/30/09)
A central Iowa man had given up hope for receiving a kidney from a live donor. His kidneys were all but destroyed by a genetic disease and he was spending more than 12 hours each week in dialysis just to survive. There were no donor matches available among his family and friends...

Free public H1N1 vaccination clinic scheduled (11/18/09)
Floyd Valley Community Health Service will be offering a free public H1N1 influenza vaccination clinic next Monday. The clinic will be 4-7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23 in the conference center of Floyd Valley Hospital. This clinic is only open to anyone in one of the following priority groups:...

Iowa cat catches H1N1 from owners (11/09/09)
A 13-year-old house cat in Iowa that contracted the H1N1 flu from its owners is recovering. Ann Garvey, state public health veterinarian with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), said there's no indication the cat can spread the flu virus to other humans or animals...

China to lift ban, pork industry sighs in relief (11/02/09)
Last week officials from China announced plans to lift a six-month ban on pork imports from the United States -- news that could be a shot in the arm for a suffering pork industry. The ban has yet to be lifted, but National Pork Board president Tim Bierman, of Larrabee, Iowa, has no doubt this will have a widespread positive impact on the pork industry...

Olympic champion returns to roots: Jennie Finch headlines Pink Ribbon Night (10/30/09)
You won't find too many natives of Southern California who enjoy the smell of a cattle farm. But Jennie Finch is not your typical California girl. "It's funny how you appreciate the smell of cows and cornfields," said Finch, a softball pitcher for Team USA and a two-time Olympian, said in Le Mars Thursday. ...

Floyd Valley Hospital restricts patient visitors (10/26/09)
People with flu symptoms are currently banned from visiting patients at Floyd Valley Hospital. That's part of the temporary restricted visitation policy recently posted at the building's entrances by hospital officials. "A new strain of influenza, commonly known as H1N1, is currently widespread across the country," the policy states. "In order to protect our patients, guests and staff, we are temporarily modifying our visitor policy."...

Hand sanitizer pumps up locals against germs (10/16/09)
Free standing automated hand sanitizer dispensers for shoppers to use greet customers in the Le Mars Hy-Vee dairy section. That's just one precaution local stores and facilities are taking to combat the spread of germs in the wake of H1N1. Hand washing along with hand sanitization is the No. 1 prevention against the flu, other than vaccination, according to the Centers for Disease Control...

'Well Aware' health fair is Wednesday (10/12/09)
Area residents can learn more about health-related services and programs in the Le Mars community and surrounding area by attending the "Well Aware" Community Health Fair Wednesday. The fair, sponsored by Floyd Valley Hospital, will be held from 2-6 p.m. at the Le Mars Convention Center upper level. The Well Aware Community Health Fair is free of charge...

No more seasonal flu shots, H1N1 vaccines arrive (10/09/09)
Floyd Valley Community Health will not be offering the seasonal influenza vaccine after today (Friday) because manufacturers are unable to provide all the doses ordered. The last public clinic was held today at the Hinton Community Center. Vaccinations were given until the supply was gone...

Jennie Finch headlines Pink Ribbon Night in Le Mars (10/02/09)
World champion softball pitcher Jennie Finch will be the keynote speaker at Floyd Valley Hospital's seventh annual "Pink Ribbon Night" Thursday, Oct 29, at the Le Mars Convention Center. The event celebrates Breast Cancer Awareness Month. "This is the first year for a big name speaker," said Kari Daale, Community Health Education Assistant at Floyd Valley Hospital...

H1N1 flu cases confirmed in Plymouth County (09/28/09)

County free of hepatitis A cases (09/21/09)
While an annual report from the Iowa Department of Public Health indicates a significant increase in cases of hepatitis A in Iowa in 2008, no cases were reported in Plymouth County. That's according to Deb Steffen, community health manager at Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars...

Seasonal influenza vaccine clinics set in Plymouth County (09/17/09)
Floyd Valley Community Health Service will again be providing flu vaccine throughout Plymouth County. This year's seasonal vaccine covers three strains of influenza, A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)-like, A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like and B/Brisbane/60/2008-like...

Le Mars Students find positive side of H1N1 in Costa Rica (06/30/09)
Who would have thought that anything good could come from H1N1? The influenza outbreak closed one door in front of 11 Le Mars Community High School students and their Spanish teacher, but it opened another. Those students and teacher Gale Horan were set to visit Mexico with two other travelers for an educational trip in June, but all that changed in mid-May...

Relay For Life 2009: We won't stop fighting (06/08/09)
While there were a few raindrops during the luminaria ceremony, it didn't dampen the spirits of participants at the 13th annual Relay For Life of Plymouth County Friday evening. Participants in the America Cancer Society event included cancer survivors, caregivers, family members and friends, and 12 teams of walkers who raised money for the American Cancer Society...

Relay For Life helps in cancer fight (06/04/09)
The 13th annual Plymouth County Relay For Life takes off at 6 p.m. Friday at Jim Lorenzen Field in Le Mars. Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society's signature activity, offering everyone in the community an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer with activities, remembrances and fund raising...

Schrunk gives support to Relay For Life (06/02/09)
LeRoy Schrunk is a cancer survivor. He is also the honorary chair for the 2009 Relay For Life of Plymouth County. Relay For Life is important to Schrunk especially after losing two brothers to the disease. "We need to fight against cancer and raise funds for research," said Schrunk, who has taken part in Plymouth County's Relay For Life for a number of years...

Plymouth County is no longer immune to H1N1 (06/01/09)
Plymouth County has its first positive H1N1 case. No information is being released as to the sex or age of the individual due to confidentiality. Deb Steffen, Plymouth County public health nurse manager, said she doesn't believe the person has been hospitalized...

13th annual Relay For Life set for June 5 (05/29/09)
Teams will take to the track at Jim Lorenzen Field in Le Mars as part of the 13th Annual Plymouth County Relay For Life Friday, June 5. Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society's signature activity, offering everyone in the community an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer...

H1N1 flu not found in county (05/13/09)
There have been no confirmed cases of H1N1 flu in Plymouth County, but there have been 54 in Iowa. Deb Steffen, Plymouth County public health nurse manager, Tuesday updated the Plymouth County Supervisors as to the status of H1N1. The majority of confirmed cases have been in the central Iowa area with the most in Marshall County. There has been one in Des Moines County, Steffen said...

Relay for Life luminarias available (05/11/09)
The 2009 Plymouth County Relay For Life will once again feature a luminaria ceremony at Jim Lorenzen Field in Le Mars on June 5. The Relay For Life is an American Cancer Society event which raises money for research and education about cancer. The ceremony, from 10 to 11 p.m., is a time to honor and remember loved ones who have battled cancer...

County residents remain safe, officials ready for H1N1 Flu (05/04/09)
No suspected cases of Swine Flu have presented in Plymouth County, but the first case has been confirmed in eastern Iowa. Plymouth County health officials are prepared if the H1N1 influenza, which was previously called Swine flu, is found here. Deb Steffen, county public health nurse, has been in constant contact with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) to stay abreast of what's happening throughout the state...

Measles hits northwest Iowa (04/17/09)
A Spencer area child has contracted a case of the measles, health officials announced Thursday. "This situation is being treated as an emergency public health threat," a press release from the Iowa Department of Public Health stated. "Measles spreads easily and can cause serious disease and death."...

Supervisors give green light to LOST projects (04/15/09)
Fourteen requests for Local Option Sales Tax money were approved by the Plymouth County Supervisors Tuesday. Those grant awards totaled $180,000, which was the amount set aside by the county. Linda Popken, chairwoman of the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) Advisory Board, recommended LOST money for the 14 projects, seven of which were fully funded...

Floyd Valley Hospital's Avera pre-diabetes program shows successful outcomes (04/10/09)
A program conducted by Avera McKennan's Diabetes Center at Floyd Valley Hospital and other regional partner sites shows education is successful in helping people with pre-diabetes lose weight, and prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. In 2006, the Avera McKennan Diabetes Center received a $6,000 grant through the Avera Health Community Service Fund for the development of a Pre-Diabetes Education Program over two years...

Local woman's compassion changes child's life (04/07/09)
Raegan Lombardi is walking and talking just like any other 2 year old. Last May Staci Wiltgen, of Le Mars, donated one of her kidneys to Raegan, a stranger at the time, who lived in North Carolina. "She's definitely Raegan's guardian angel," mom Layne Lombardi said of Wiltgen. "She's part of the family now."...

'A Time to Remember' features West Coast winemakers (03/30/09)
Six winemakers will be represented at the Le Mars Wine and Roses event, "A Time to Remember," this Thursday evening at the Willow Creek Country Club in Le Mars. "A Time to Remember" will benefit Alzheimer's Association programming in Plymouth County and features wine tasting with prestigious winemakers from across the United States...

State funding uncertainties plague LCS budget process (03/06/09)
Even as the City of Le Mars council members and Plymouth County Supervisors certify their budgets, the Le Mars Community School officials, along with districts across the state of Iowa, are faced with the task of preparing a budget for April 15 certification when they don't know how much money they have to work with...

Benefit breakfast set for Scott Williams (02/27/09)

Wells' Dairy expands nationwide voluntary recall due to possible health risk (02/24/09)
In response to the ongoing investigations of Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) and its Texas facility, Wells' Dairy, Inc., is expanding its recall and response to include a nationwide recall of select Blue Bunny, Great Value, Hy-Vee, Sysco, Fastco, Shurfresh, and Country Rich ice cream products because they may contain peanuts that have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella...

LADS Valentine's Dance, auction raises more than $30,000 (02/23/09)
Calling the evening a total success, Le Mars Area Dialysis Services board chair Kirk Klohs announced the Second Annual Valentine's Day Dance raised a total of $30,036 for the development of a dialysis center in Le Mars. Approximately 330 people attended the Feb. 14, event at the Le Mars Convention Center. Top ticket sellers were Charlotte Meyer and Nubs Gotto...

'A Time to Remember' names honorary chairs (02/20/09)
A Le Mars couple, Jeff and Teresa Peters, will serve as honorary chairman and chairwoman for the upcoming Wine and Roses event in Le Mars, "A Time to Remember," benefiting the Alzheimer's Association. "Each of us has been close to someone suffering from Alzheimer's disease," said Jeff Peters, who runs the Williams & Company, CPA, Le Mars office...

Former Le Mars man beats cancer, gets back on the beat (02/19/09)
Many Mapleton residents are starting to recognize that a familiar face is back among them. Mapleton Police Chief John Holton -- formerly of Le Mars -- has returned back to work after a five and a half month bout with cancer. The chief is glad to be back on his feet and serving the citizens of Mapleton once again...

Quilts on auction block at LADS Valentine's Dance fundraiser (02/11/09)
Two Le Mars women have stitched their way to donations of quilts for the Le Mars Area Dialysis Services Valentine's Dance fundraiser set for this Saturday at the Le Mars Convention Center. The two quilts will be sold to the highest bidder during the live auction Saturday evening. The dance runs from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m...

Valentine's Dance benefits LADS (02/06/09)
The Magnificent Board of Directors, a member of Iowa's Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame, will bring their music to the stage for the Second Annual Valentine's Dance for Le Mars Area Dialysis Services Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Le Mars Convention Center. Music will flow from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. for all to enjoy...

Relay For Life team kickoff set for Feb. 9 (02/05/09)
Get ready to walk for the 2009 Relay For Life. Plymouth County's Relay is set for June 5 in Le Mars. The county's Relay For Life Team Kickoff is set for 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9, at Grace Lutheran Church in Le Mars. Relay For Life is an American Cancer Society event where individuals are invited to honor cancer survivors and caregivers, or pay tribute to those who have lost their battle with cancer...

Angels without wings: Group gives hope to families touched by cancer (01/22/09)
When Carly Ortmann, daughter of Bill and Brenda Ortmann, of Remsen, was diagnosed with cancer, a family friend Deb Staab and many others were faced with feeling helpless as to how to help the family. Now they're working to change that. "When Carly got sick we all wanted to do something, help fix it or take the pain away and we couldn't, so we did a fundraiser for Carly," Staab said. ...

Lending a hand in Peru: Locals aim to rebuild with more than bricks (01/21/09)
A 2007 earthquake rocked the mountainside village of Lucumo in Peru. Homes and lives were shaken apart, and the local church was reduced to a pile of rubble and a tile floor. That collapsed church is symbolic, according to local student Ellie Hemmingson...

Flu hasn't descended on county yet, IDPH reports (01/13/09)
Wash hands frequently. Sneeze or cough into elbow, away from other people. That is the best advice healthcare professionals give to avoid contracting influenza and other flu viruses. No documented cases of influenza have been reported in Plymouth County...

Iowa's health ranking falls, obesity a factor (12/11/08)
Iowa ranks 15th in the nation's health in the 2008 study by America's Health Rankings "A Call to Action for Individuals and Their Communities," down one from its 14th place rank in 2007. The report looks at four groups of health determinants that can be affected: Personal behaviors; community and environment; public and health policies and clinical care...

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