IONIA (IRN) – A firefighter was killed during a response to an emergency in Chickasaw County Sunday. The Iowa State Patrol reports Tony Hoffman 17 year member of the Ionia Fire Department, died when he rear ended a fire truck while assisting in response to a field fire. Hoffman was driving a modified UTV when both vehicles attempted to pass a tractor at the same time.

POCAHONTAS COUNTY (IRN) – Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the signing of a disaster proclamation for Pocahontas County effective immediately through November 22nd, as the USDA has confirmed a positive case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a commercial turkey flock there. This proclamation allows state resources from Iowa Homeland Security, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and other agencies to assist with tracking and monitoring, rapid detection, containment, disposal, and disinfection. The proclamation also waives regulatory provisions related to commercial vehicles responding to affected sites. The recent HPAI detections in birds do not present an immediate public health concern, and it remains safe to eat poultry products, according to the Governor’s office.

DES MOINES (IRN) – National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday and the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Office of Drug Control Policy encourages Iowans to clean out their medicine cabinets and safely dispose of unused and unneeded medications. Local law enforcement agencies and pharmacies are teaming up to collect leftover prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as part of this special one-day event held each spring and fall. The spring collection, held in April, netted over 3,800 pounds of old medicine from Iowans. To date, Iowans have safely disposed of over 98 tons of unused medications at these events.