Page 16 - Clear Lake Mirror Reporter E-Edition 8-5-2015

Local NewsPage 16 • Aug. 5, 2015
Stop by before the Car Cruise! Cerro Gordo Department of Health
nurse Karen Crimmings honored
The outside bar will be open at
3 p.m. Friday afternoon. One of 25 selected for prestigious leadership program
Dinner starts at 4:30 p.m.
(641) 829-3850 Summer Hours: Mon. - Fri. Open at 4:30 p.m. Karen Crimmings, RN, CIC,
702 East Lake St., Ventura the Chronic Disease Prevention &
Sat. & Sun. Open at 11:30 a.m. Health Promotion Service Manager
at the Cerro Gordo County Depart-
Federal Upholstering ment of Public Health, is one of just
25 nurses from across the country to
Locally owned & operated be selected as a Public Health Nurse
Leader (PHNL) by the Robert Wood
Home • Auto • Marine • Business • Antiques Johnson Foundation (RWJF). She
Upholstry for any project will participate in a two-year leader-
ship development program designed
10510 1/2 265th St., Clear Lake • (641) 423-8772 to strengthen the capacity of senior
public health nurses to improve popu-
M-F • 8:30-5 (Closed Noon-1 p.m Daily) or by appointment. lation health, address social determi-
nants of health, respond to emerging
Residential • Commercial trends in health and health care, influ- miller, PhD, RN, FAAN, RWJF’s se-
Complete Recycling Services ence policy, and lead collaboration in
their communities.
1 Yd. to 42 Yd. Containers The program’s goal is to support
nurses who are ready to lead public
ABSOLUTE WASTE health departments in building a Cul-
REMOVAL ture of Health in their communities.
Since PHNLs participate in partner-
LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED ships across all sectors and disciplines ing public health expertise to their
Proudly serving the Clear Lake area that lead to collaborative action, they
can leverage new and existing oppor-
(641) 357-4517 • (800) 357-1042
State warns: Iowans should be
wary of door-to-door meat sales
Email: [email protected] Iowans should be wary of indi- U.S. Department of Agriculture. “Io-
viduals selling products door-to-door,
Garage Doors to fit your Lifestyle especially those selling meat and meat
products. The Iowa Department of
Overhead Garage Doors Inspections and Appeals’ (DIA) Food
Residential • Commercial • Agricultural & Consumer Safety Bureau recently
has received several inquiries from in-
We service all brands of garage doors & openers dividuals questioning whether meat
and meat products may be sold from
641.357.5575 101 N. 8th St., Clear Lake the back of trucks directly to the at-
home consumer. to make sure the name and address of
www.KingConstruction.biz “The Department has been con-
tacted by individuals in northwest,
Andersen’s Flowers east central, and southern Iowa who
Locally Grown Fresh Produce have been approached by vendors go-
ing door-to-door offering meat and
Tomatoes • Green Beans • Peaches meat products for sale,” DIA Chief
Cantaloupe • Watermelon Food Inspector Mark Speltz said.
Blueberries • Cabbage Door-to-door sales of foods, in-
cluding meat products are permitted
Sweet Corn • $3 Dozen provided the vendor is appropriately
licensed and the product is clearly
marked, Speltz explained. In Iowa,
door-to-door vendors must have a
mobile food license for their trucks
and consumers should ask to see it, he
added. door sales of foods and food items,
Consumers should never pur-
chase any retail food or food products
from a vendor who does not have the
appropriate license, with the excep-
tion of fruit and vegetable stands that
dot the Iowa countryside during the
summer and fall months. The sale
of raw agricultural products, such as
sweet corn and tomatoes, is not regu-
lated by the Department, Speltz clari-
fied. product from a vendor, always make
If the offered item is a meat or
meat product it must bear either an
Iowa mark of inspection or the circu-
lar mark of inspection issued by the
Taking orders for canning produce 10% Off StorewideSidewalk Sale Special!
2727 19th St. S.W., Mason City (641) 530-1234 (Some exclusions apply)
Friday & Saturday, Aug. 7 & 8
Roaring Lion Antiques & Collectibles
Glassware • Pottery • records • Post cards • Books
(West of Newman School) Mon - Fri 9-6 • Sat/Sun 9-5 414 Main Ave., Clear Lake • (641) 357-1642
tunities for even healthier communi-
ties. As part of the Future of Nursing:
Campaign for Action, the PHNLs
will work closely with the Action Co-
alitions in their states to implement
recommendations from the Institute
of Medicine’s Future of Nursing re-
port. “This unique experience provides
“At RWJF, we are working to
build a Culture of Health that enables
everyone in the United States to live
the healthiest lives possible, supported one of the things we already do best:
by a system in which nurses are es-
sential partners in providing care and
promoting health,” said Susan Hass-
nior adviser for nursing and director
of the Campaign for Action—a joint
initiative of RWJF and AARP. “We
are so proud of all 25 nurses accepted
into this program and excited about
the many ways they will strengthen
their state Action Coalitions by bring-
work. Every one of the nurses in this
program will help make their com-

wans should never purchase meat or
meat products from a door-to-door
salesperson unless it has the mark of
inspection,” Speltz continued. “Un-
marked or unlabeled products should
always be avoided.”
Prior to making any purchase of
a packaged food item, it is important
to carefully review the product label
the distributor or producer is clearly
identified. Additionally, consumers
should make sure the product label
contains a statement of identity, the
net weight of the product, an ingre-
dient statement if more than one in-
gredient is contained in the package,
and – in the case of meats and meat
products – the mark of inspection. ness -- at a consumer’s door, for exam-
“Any product that does not con-
tain the proper labeling information
should be avoided,” the inspector
added.
While there are several major
companies that specialize in door-to-
not all vendors should be trusted. tion notice.
These national companies are very
careful to ensure that their trucks are
appropriately licensed and the foods
offered are safe and wholesome. copies of the notice of the buyer’s right schedule the appointment. Week-
However, it now appears that
there may be some unlicensed op-
erators who are going door-to-door
and offering meat and meat products
to Iowans. “Before purchasing any
sure the individual is appropriately
licensed and offering fully labeled or
marked food,” the inspector conclud-
ed.
Clear Lake Mirror-Reporter
munities healthier and our health care
system stronger.”
“I am thrilled to have been se-
lected for this honor, and look for-
ward to strengthening my skills to KAREN CRIMMINGS
better assist in improving the health sitions in governmental public health
of our community,” Crimmings said. organizations. Its goal is to help the
PHNLs develop their leadership skills
public health nurses the opportunity and connections with key influencers
to establish new relationships and so they can build and spread a Cul-
strengthen existing partnerships to do ture of Health. Participating nurses
will spend their first year focused on
prevention! I look forward to working individual leadership development.
with the Iowa Action Coalition in the Second-year activities are designed to
months ahead.” enhance the leadership competencies
Crimmings has worked for 13 and coaching skills of both the nurses
years at the Cerro Gordo County in this program and key members of
Department of Public Health in in- the Action Coalition in their states.
fectious disease and most recently The Public Health Nurse Lead-
chronic disease prevention. In addi- ers selected for this program are from:
tion, she has over a decade of previ- Montgomery, Ala.; Phoenix, Ariz.;
ous experience working in the family Little Rock, Ark.; Lakeport, Calif.; Los
practice setting. Angeles, Calif.; Marietta, Ga.; Hono-
RWJF’s Public Health Nurse lulu, Hawaii; Belleville, Ill.; Mason
Leaders program was open to regis- City, Iowa; Hutchinson, Kan.; Pau-
tered nurses who hold leadership po- lina, La.; Baltimore, Md.; St. Cloud,
Minn.; Jackson, Miss.; Jefferson City,
Mo.; Lincoln, Neb.; Santa Fe, N.M.;
Syracuse, N.Y.; Charlotte, N.C.; Co-
lumbus, Ohio; Marysville, Ohio; Aus-
In addition to licensing and food tin, Texas; Brownsville, Texas; Seattle,
quality issues, Iowans should also be Wash.; and Martinsburg, W.Va.
aware of consumer protection issues
involving door-to-door sales of meat Ventura
or seafood. “For example, be leery residents
when a sales person claims that he or urged to
she is offering you huge savings be- schedule meter
cause another customer backed out replacement
of a sale or there’s a surplus on the
truck,” Geoff Greenwood, Communi- Ventura city officials are ready-
cations Director for the Office of the ing the community for mandatory
Iowa Attorney General, said. “Iowans replacement of all water meters.
should get a written copy of the sale According to City Administrator
agreement and do have a cancellation Else Taylor, installation of new meters
window.” will begin approximately mid-Au-
Iowa’s Door-to-Door Sales Act gust. The entire process is anticipated
protects consumers for purchases of to take three weeks. The installation is
$25 or more made at a place other mandatory to continue receiving wa-
than the seller’s normal place of busi- ter service. There is no cost for the in-
stallation of the new meter, however,
ple, or at a tent sale, hotel conference, there may be residual costs involved
fairgrounds, etc. (The law does not ap- with faulty shut-off valves inside the
ply to sales at stores.) home.
Buyers have a right to cancel The city has contracted with
within three business days and receive Midwest Testing LLC, of St. Louis
a full refund within ten business days Park, (Minneapolis), Minn. to install
of the business receiving the cancella- “smart meters.”
Taylor reports a letter will be sent
Sellers also must orally inform prior to the beginning of the installa-
buyers of their right to cancel at the tion program and a contact number
time of the sale, must provide two will be provided for homeowners to
to cancel, and must provide a receipt end appointments will be available
or copy of any contract pertaining to to accommodate the part-time sum-
a door-to-door sale. mer residents. A door hanger will be
Iowans who have questions placed at residences during the instal-
about the door-to-door sale of foods lation if appointments have not been
should contact the Department’s scheduled.
Food & Consumer Safety Bureau The installation takes approxi-
(515-281-6538) to verify whether mately 20 minutes. During that time
the vendor is appropriately licensed. the installer will need to enter the
Consumers also may check a vendor’s residence. All installers have been
license status by visiting the Bureau’s had background checks and will be
online inspection website – https:// wearing an identifiable vest. An adult
food.iowa.gov. must be present for the installer to en-
Iowans with consumer pro- ter the home.
tection complaints can contact the
Consumer Protection Division of the
Attorney General’s Office by email
at [email protected], or by call-
ing 515-281-5926 or 888-777-4590
(toll-free, outside of the Des Moines
metro area only).
Bereavement camp scheduled in CL
Hospice of North Iowa’s Youth family member or friend. Those who
Bereavement Camp, Camp Green- have not been served by Hospice of
tree, is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. North Iowa are welcome to attend.
19, 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., at Camp Tan- For further information, or to
glefoot, Clear Lake. register, contact Hospice of North
Camp Greentree is free of charge Iowa at 641-428-6208 or 1-800-297-
and open to all youth ages seven to 14 4719 or visit our website at: www.
who have experienced the death of a hospicenorthiowa.com.
Tax-Advantaged Tom Alexander
Financial Consultant
Securities America
Investing Member FINRA/SIPC
641-357-7106
888-357-7106
Located at Clear Lake Bank & Trust
322 Main Ave • PO Box 8, Clear Lake
[email protected]
www.investmentcenterclearlake.com
Not FDIC/NCUA Insured. May Lose Value. No Bank Guarantee
Not a Deposit. Not insured by any Federal Government Agency.
Securities offered through Securities America Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC, Tom Alexander, Representative. Investment Center and
the Securities America Companies are unaffiliated. Securities America and its representatives do not provide tax or legal advice.