A specialist with Mosaic Life Care for tick-borne illnesses has seen a slight increase from last year in suspected tick-related infections.

Dr. Scott Folk is the Medical Director of Adult Infectious Diseases with the hospital. He said while he has seen a slight increase from 2016, this year appears to be on par with what he would normally expect to see.

“Based on my observation this is a more typical year. This is kind of in keeping with what I would normally expect based on the last 10 plus years,” Dr. Folk said.

He estimates he has seen around eight or 10 individuals, since mid-May with possible tick-borne infections. While the number was slightly lower in 2016, Dr. Folk said on average he would expect to see around 10 to 15 individuals for possible tick-related infections. However, he said he usually examines individuals with more severe reactions.

“I’m sure that there are other patients who aren’t as severely ill, who present to their medical provider with perhaps a smaller number of symptoms, who have been evaluated and treated in the office of their family physician,” Dr. Folk said.

The most common ticks found in northwest Missouri include the Lone Star Tick and the American Dog Tick which do not transmit Lyme disease. Dr. Folk said the Blacklegged Tick which does transmit Lyme disease is rarely found in northwest Missouri which is why cases of Lyme disease are lower in the area. However, the two types of ticks most found in the area can transmit other illnesses.

“Such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Rickettsiosis and what we found here, the Heartland virus,” Dr. Folk said. “The range of ticks in the U.S. seems to be increasing and certainly new tick-borne diseases have been discovered and I think undiscovered at this point in time.”

Prior to going out in wooded and grassy areas, Dr. Folk recommends wearing long pants and long-sleeves and pulling socks over pant-legs to prevent ticks from being able to find skin. He also recommends using tick repellent that contains 20 or 30 percent DEET in it. While it’s a good idea to take preventative measures against ticks year-round, Dr. Folk said to be especially vigilant in northwest Missouri in spring and late summer.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, tick-borne diseases can result in mild symptoms treatable at home to severe infections requiring hospitalization. CLICK HERE to learn more about symptoms and when to see a doctor for a tick bite.

A Bald Eagle was returned to its handler earlier this week after landing in the front yard of a St. Joseph City Councilmember’s home.

Kent O’Dell said on July 3rd he got a Pre-Independence Day surprise like no other.

“We noticed this eagle landing in the front of my house in the yard. We walked up there and here’s this fully grown 15-year-old, 9 lbs Bald Eagle,” O’Dell said.

O’Dell said he noticed leathers on the bird’s talons and deduced the eagle came from Phil Welch Stadium from the St. Joseph Mustangs and he started making calls.

“I said, ‘Man I got your bird up here, I’m pretty sure it’s your bird.’ Next thing you know he said, ‘Man we’re on our way up,'” O’Dell said. “The handler was very emotional because the transmitter had gone dead at that instant that afternoon and he literally thought he had lost his Bald Eagle.”

A group of handlers came out to retrieve the bird from O’Dell’s house which was about a block away from the stadium.

According to the St. Joseph Mustangs’ Facebook Page in a comment, the eagle took a detour during his flight at the game Monday but was recovered safely due to some help from a family where the bird landed. O’Dell said the eagle’s detour was the most magnificent thing he has ever seen.
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Qcountry’s Brent Harmon, better known to many as “Brother B” is celebrating four decades on airwaves in St. Joseph.

Harmon started his career with Eagle Radio on July 6, 1977 after graduating from Northwest Missouri State University two years prior.

“A friend of mine, who I went to college with at Northwest, told me there was an opening here for the all-night show on KFEQ,” Harmon said. “When I started here we were playing vinyl 45 records and then we went to cartridges, then we went to CDs and now everything is digital.”

Eagle Radio launched Qcountry on Oct. 1, 1991. Harmon said he eventually took on a radio announcer role on Qcountry in the late 90s.

“When I started with KFEQ it was and still is an agricultural oriented station but we played country music. As country music or music in general went to the wayside on the AM dial we went to all talk and I was just sort of running the board for several years and doing production on KFEQ,” Harmon said. “When Qcountry came about…and we moved into this new building, I got to do a live show on Qcountry.

Harmon said he’s heard similar discussions about the sound of country music throughout the years.

“People complain these days about, ‘that doesn’t sound like country music’ and that argument has always been there,” he said. “I remember back in the day people said that about John Denver and Olivia Newton-John.”

Harmon said he’s had a lot of listeners that have been with him throughout his career.

“That’s a good feeling to know people stick around for you,” Harmon said.

During his career he has met numerous artists including George Strait, Thomas Rhett, Charlton Heston,  Kelsea Ballerini,  and Barbara Mandrell.  He said his passion is music of all sorts, and has seen the Rolling Stones in concert at least a dozen times.

“My wife and I love going to concerts. We love live music. I think I’ve seen them (the Rolling Stones) maybe 12 or 13 times. I saw the Beatles when I was a kid. I’ve always loved all kinds of music,” Harmon said. “It’s just kind of a hobby. Some people build tables or what have you, we go to concerts.”

Listeners can hear Brother B middays on Qcountry 92.7.

A woman was transported to the hospital Tuesday after a rollover crash on Alabama St.

Officer Patrick Zeamer with the St. Joseph Police Department said a woman in her mid-60s reported having a medical condition and passed out behind the wheel while she was heading west on Alabama Street.

“We believe she might have passed out and had a medical condition. Went off the roadway, striking a light pole and a road sign, overturning her vehicle,” Zeamer said “The fire department arrived on scene without having to cut anything off the car. They were able to get her out through the windows on a backboard and take her out that way.”

Zeamer said the woman was conscious when authorities arrived. She was transported to Mosaic Life Care for evaluation of what was described as minor injuries. Zeamer said the crash is currently under investigation.

While crews were on scene the road was shut down briefly around 2:15 p.m. It has since reopened.

Missouri Western State University plans to close campus for the Total Solar Eclipse in August.

According to an email sent out by Western President, Dr. Bob Vartabedian, after consulting with the school’s Board of Governors and local public safety officials he said they have decided to close campus on Monday, Aug. 21, the day of the eclipse.

“Some essential functions of the University will still be in operation, and previously planned private events will go on as scheduled. Please check with your supervisor to confirm whether you will need to be on campus that day,” Vartabedian said.

He said because campus will be close on Aug. 21, the General Opening Session for the year will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 22, at 9 a.m. in the Fulkerson Center.