Two Iowans and a Missourian are in federal custody after an internationaldrug sting, breaking up what authorities call a methamphetamine pipelinebetween Iowa and Mexico. An official at the Mexican Embassy in WashingtonD-C reports the three were taken into custody in Colima ,Mexico on Thursday. Jose Zabalgoitia is Minister ofInformation for the Mexican Embassy. He says one suspect, John Briggs ofClark County, Missouri, was a top lieutenant in a meth production anddistribution ring based in southeastern Iowa. He believes that good thingshappen when Mexico and the U.S. work together. Mexican officials say thethree suspects were involved with two Mexicans who were arrested last monthin Colima, along with three TONS of cocaine, the 2nd largest cocaine bust inMexican history. Zabalgoitia says the F-B-I and D-E-A both put out fullalerts on the three suspects. The other suspects are identified as MichellePrivia and Kinzie Butcher, both from the Keokuk area. All three are beingbrought back to the U-S.
Decorah mural creates controversy
The work of an artist from northeastern Iowa known globally for hiscolorful, expressionist paintings is being labeled “pornographic” in hishometown. Brian Andreas painted a mural on an outside wall ofa Decorah bookstore, sparking protests from a handful of residents:Elizabeth Skeate owns Skeate Books, where the mural depicts amulti-colored girl walking across a tightrope — a metaphor for life. Whilebeauty may be in the eye of the beholder, Skeate says there’s nothingscandalous about the expressionist-style two-story painting.Some critics charge the painting is at least a traffic hazard, if notpornographic. The girl is painted in a free-form style that depicts no bodyparts, other than her limbs and head. Skeate says it’s a lot of outcry overnothing. Ironically, Andreas has been commissioned to do four more muralsin Decorah.
Campaign lauched to bring awareness to ovarian cancer
Three-hundred Iowa women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year –and a statewide campaign has been launched to encourage more women to beaware of the disease. Joan Blum (bloom) of the Mercy Cancer Center in DesMoines says ovarian cancer is sometimes called the “silent killer” becauseits symptoms are difficult to recognize. The symptoms of ovarian cancer –stomach pain, bloating, and fatigue — are common to women, so most casesare diagnosed long after the cancer has taken hold of the ovary. Surgery and chemotherapy are used to treat the cancer that targets women intheir later years, usually after menopause.The five-year survial rate for ovarian cancer is less than 25 percent if itisn’t diagnosed and treated early. To date there is no good screeningmethod, so Blum recommends regular pelvic exams. For more informationcontact the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition at 1-888-OVARIAN. September isNational Ovarian Cancer Awareness month.
New medical examiner promises improved integrity
Iowa’s new state medical examiner says she will work to reorganize and bringback integrity to the office. Dr. Julia Goodin had been the chief medicalexaminer in Alabama. Goodin takes over the post that was mired incontroversy which led to the resignation of Dr. Thomas Bennett in October of1997. Goodin turned down the job the first time it was offered to her. Shewished to see some changes in the operation, and now says there is progress.The changes included moving the office from the jurisdiction of the PublicSafety Department to the Department of Public Health. The legislature hasalso approved funding for a deputy examiner. Goodin says adding the deputyexaminer is important in allowing the department to handle the volume ofcases it faces. Goodin says she will also work on a new system for storingevidence and files from the various autopsies completed by the department. The controversy surrounding Bennett involved several “shaken baby” cases.Goodin says she can’t comment on those cases, but says she will handle allcases the same. Department of Public Health Director Stephen Gleason saysthe lengthy search for a new medical examiner has created a backlog ofcases. Gleason says he hopes Goodin and her new staff can catch up with thatbacklog over the next six months.
Iowa State wins season opener
The Iowa State Cyclones cruised to a season opening win Thursday night witha 33-7 victory over Indiana State. For the Cyclones, it is the first season opening win since 1995.Cyclone coach Dan McCarney says his team Cyclones performed well ontheir first test.McCarney says the opener showed the kicking game needs a lot of work.J.J. Moses caught a touchdown pass and was Iowa State’s leading reciever inthe game. He says it’s great to get a win after finishing last season with a victory.Moses says both quarterbacks performed well.
Diet pill called dangerous
Iowans who are trying to drop a few pounds may want to steer clear of a pillthat’s heavily-advertised as a “miracle” diet drug. A cardiologist and otherhealth experts at the Iowa Heart Center say Xenical (ZEN-ah-cal) is only forextreme cases. Cindy Conroy is a registered dietician and director of theCenter’s Lipid Clinic. She says even in cases where a person has a severeweight problem, this drug may not be for them. She encourages patients tomeet with a dietician first. Xenical is billed as a safer alternative to the”Phen-Fen” drugs, which were taken off the market in 1997 after researchfound they may damage the user’s heart valves. Conroy says Xenical can bringvery uncomfortable and even unhealthy side effects. She says the best way tolook fit is to do it the old-fashioned way — through better eating habitsand regular exercise. She says people who lose a lot of weight very quicklyoften put the pounds right back on, but that doesn’t happen though moresensible diets & a routine workout
Grain rules could cause problems
One of the nation’s largest grain marketers has thrown a curve to grainelevators on the eve of the fall harvest. Archer Daniels Midland officialsare warning grain suppliers to segregate genetically-modified crops fromconventional corn and beans. Jim Penny, general manager of the Heart ofIowa Co-op in Nevada (nuh-VAY’-duh), says separating grain that’sgenetically-modified is a huge request. Penny says much of the 1998 harvestremains in Iowa grain elevator storage — and it’s not segregated.Penny says during harvest season, thousands of bushels of grain are hauledto elevators each day — and there’s no time to conduct tests to determinewhich grain is what. Penny’s Heart of Iowa Co-Op receives up to250-thousand bushel of grain a day during the height of harvest.
