Special to the Times Vedette

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) issued the following guidance for livestock producers, pet owners and veterinarians to help protect animals from the parasitic New World Screwworm (NWS) fly. The guidance comes after multiple cases of NWS have been detected in livestock in Texas and one infestation was confirmed in a canine in New Mexico.

All livestock caretakers and pet owners should routinely inspect animals for open wounds. If maggots are detected in an open wound of a warm-blooded animal, report it to IDALS immediately at 515-281-5305 or Animal.Industry@iowaagriculture.gov. When caught early, animals and wounds can be treated, and animals can fully recover from NWS.

Guidance for importing livestock and companion animals into Iowa from an infested zone:

First, contact the State Animal Health Official in the state of origin for movement requirements.

Then visit IDALS’ Animal Admission Health Requirements page or call 515-281-5547 to verify Iowa’s import requirements. Be sure to isolate the imported animals from the rest of the herd for at least two weeks. Talk to your veterinarian if you have questions or concerns.

Guidance for importing livestock or companion animals into Iowa from areas not known to be infested:

All animal caretakers should routinely inspect animals for open wounds. Open wounds should receive prompt veterinary care. Monitor animals for clinical signs of NWS, including irritated or depressed behavior, loss of appetite, headshaking, smell of decaying flesh, evidence of fly strike, presence of larvae in wounds or self-isolating from other animals or people. If you find an open wound with maggots, you should call your veterinarian immediately.

Do not proactively treat livestock prophylactically for NWS at this time. When traveling, companion animal owners should consult their veterinarians about their pet’s external parasite prevention plan.

Livestock producers are encouraged to register for a Premises ID so they can be contacted in case of a NWS detection in their area.

The NWS does not pose a food safety risk. Properly prepared meat and poultry are safe to eat. The NWS primarily affects livestock but can also infest pets, wildlife and, in rare cases, people. It is considered a low risk to public health. If you have a human health concern, you should contact your primary care physician immediately. More information about the NWS risk to humans is available on the CDC website.

Additional resources:

• • IDALS NWS website
    • USDA APHIS New World Screwworm website

    USDA APHIS New World Screwworm website Iowa Pork Industry Center NWS website (for pork producers) American Veterinary Medicine Association NWS website (for veterinarians) U.S. Food and Drug Administration NWS website (for veterinarians)

Special to the Times Vedette

On June 10, a total of 16 players participated. Dick Ellis got a 16 and a 17; Lela Schwartz got two 16s; Mark Humphrey Bruce Bailey each got a 17; Allen Pierce, Sandy Rumelhart and Sue Mozingo each got a 16; Clint Malbon got a 20; and Dave Richter got three 16s.

The Guthrie Center cribbage players generally meet at Guthrie Center Library, 400 Grand St., on Mondays at 8 a.m. and at the New Homestead independent living dining hall, 2306 State St., at 8 a.m. on Wednesdays and at 1 p.m. on Fridays. Organizers say there is always room for more, and they will be glad to teach you how to play. They play for quarters on Wednesday and Friday.

If you know the music of the Zac Brown Band, then you know they like their chicken fried, a cold beer on a Friday night, a pair of jeans that fit just right and the radio turned up.

That all sounds pretty good to me, even the part about the jeans. There is something about a pair of blue jeans that has been worn and washed enough times to fit your body perfectly. Once you get used to that feel, no other pair seems quite right. Can you relate?

As a kid, jeans did not matter much. Most of mine wore out at the knees from hours spent pushing Hot Wheels cars across the floor. The exception was Toughskins. They lived up to their name. The rest did not stand a chance. Fortunately, Mom was handy with a sewing machine. When my jeans developed holes, she patched the knees and gave them a second life. At the time, I thought those patches looked pretty cool.

I attended a Catholic grade school, where blue jeans were not part of the dress code. Outside of school, however, that was all I wore. Brand names did not matter much. The important thing was that they were long enough. Nobody wanted to be accused of wearing “floods.” They also had to be as flared as possible, which occasionally created problems with bicycle chains. It was the 1970s, after all.

By the time I reached junior high in the 1980s, Levi’s had become the jean of choice for both guys and girls. The fancy pocket-stitched disco jeans had mostly fallen out of favor, although my friend Ian somehow managed to make them work.

Back then, a new pair of Levi’s felt as stiff as cardboard. You could not wait to get them through a few wash cycles so your knees could bend without a struggle. Before long, new options appeared: button-fly, stone-washed and shrink-to-fit styles. As long as they carried the Levi’s label, most people were satisfied.

A few years ago, my wife bought me a pair of “skinny” jeans. I could not get them past my calves. These days, I prefer relaxed-fit jeans. I am not built like Earl Campbell, but I do appreciate a little extra room in the legs. As I have written many times, the older I get, the more I value comfort over style.

The worst part comes when a pair of jeans that fit perfectly finally wears out. Then the search begins again for a replacement that feels just as good. And the wear and tear on the jeans? Well, it is no longer the result of pushing Hot Wheels around on the floor. These days, it might have more to do with the fried chicken and cold beer.

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital newsletter
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707