The price of regular unleaded gasoline rose 2 cents, averaging $3.30 across Iowa according to AAA.

Crude Oil Summary

• The price of global crude oil fell this week on the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) by $1.14 per barrel and is currently priced at $81.39.
• Brent crude oil fell by $1.98 and is currently priced at $85.71.
• One year ago, WTI crude sold for $75.66 and Brent crude was at $76.71.

Motor Fuels

• As of Wednesday, the price of regular unleaded gasoline averaged $3.30 across Iowa according to AAA.
  • Prices rose 2 cents from last week’s price and are down 10 cents from a year ago.
  • The national average on Wednesday was $3.66, unchanged from last week’s price.
• Retail diesel prices in Iowa fell 3 cents this week with a statewide average of $3.72.
  • One year ago, diesel prices averaged $3.88 in Iowa.
  • The current Iowa diesel price is 29 cents lower than the national average of $4.01.
• Wholesale ethanol held steady and is currently priced at $2.16.
• The current Des Moines Terminal/Rack Prices are $2.40 for U87-E10, $2.71 for Unleaded 87 (clear), $2.58 for ULSD#2, $2.84 for ULSD#1, and $1.99 per gallon for E-70 prices.

Heating Fuels

• Natural gas prices fell 4 cents at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently prices at $1.92/MMbtu.
• Continuing throughout the summer months, we will only report retail heating oil and propane prices in Iowa once a month.

Tips for saving energy on the road or at home are available at energy.gov and fueleconomy.gov.

May is Mental Health Awareness month, and many places are trying to spread the word. Henry County Health Center’s Senior Life Solutions is inviting you to learn where to start when it comes to taking care of your mental health. Learn more at mhanational.org/may

Iowa Healthiest State Initiative is encouraging you to make it OK when it comes to mental health this month. They have a variety of resources and events all month long to help start conversations and raise awareness in your school, workplace, and online. Visit https://www.iowahealthieststate.com for more information.

Although it’s May and American Heart Month is in February, it’s never a bad time to refresh on the steps of CPR.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, CPR, is important for several reasons. According to the American Heart Association, immediate CPR can double or triple chances of survival after cardiac arrest. 350,000 people in the United States die each year due to cardiac arrest.

One common misconception is that a heart attack is the same thing as cardiac arrest. These are not the same thing. A heart attack is a blood circulation issue, while cardiac arrest is an electrical issue. If you suspect somebody is having a heart attack, they should be taken to the hospital. For a person in cardiac arrest, 911 needs to be called immediately and high-quality CPR should be administered.

For the typical adult, 30 chest compressions should be followed by two “rescue breaths” for a ration of 30:2, and 100-120 per minute. If you’ve ever taken a class, or went to any parties in the late 70s, you may be familiar with the catchy tune that is often associated with this, Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees.

The depth of compression should be around 2 inches and an AED should be used if available. These are very simple to use as they give directions to the user as to what to do.

Of course, different people require different treatment, so be sure to look on the American Heart Association or the Red Cross website for a full list of duties.

Knowing and remembering how to deliver high-quality CPR can save lives.

Below is a list of seven steps to perform high-quality CPR for an adult, found and provided by the Red Cross.

1 CHECK the scene for safety, form an initial impression and use personal protective equipment (PPE)

2 If the person appears unresponsive, CHECK for responsiveness, breathing, life-threatening bleeding or other life-threatening conditions using shout-tap-shout

3 If the person does not respond and is not breathing or only gasping, CALL 9-1-1 and get equipment, or tell someone to do so

4 Kneel beside the person. Place the person on their back on a firm, flat surface

5 Give 30 chest compressions

• Hand position: Two hands centered on the chest
• Body position: Shoulders directly over hands; elbows locked
• Depth: At least 2 inches
• Rate: 100 to 120 per minute
• Allow chest to return to normal position after each compression

6 Give 2 breaths

• Open the airway to a past-neutral position using the head-tilt/chin-lift technique
• Pinch the nose shut, take a normal breath, and make complete seal over the person’s mouth with your mouth.
• Ensure each breath lasts about 1 second and makes the chest rise; allow air to exit before giving the next breath

Note: If the 1st breath does not cause the chest to rise, retilt the head and ensure a proper seal before giving the 2nd breath If the 2nd breath does not make the chest rise, an object may be blocking the airway

7 Continue giving sets of 30 chest compressions and 2 breaths. Use an AED as soon as one is available! Minimize interruptions to chest compressions to less than 10 seconds.

On May 1^st, 2024, at approximately 2:00 a.m., the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a vehicle in the ditch in the 2400-grid of Highway 34 outside of New London.  The caller, a passerby, stated the vehicle’s lights were on, but could not tell if it was occupied.

Law Enforcement arrived and located the vehicle which had a sole occupant.  The driver was identified as Jennifer Fernandez, 28, of Washington, IA.  The investigation determined Ms. Fernandez was driving a Chevrolet Malibu east bound on Highway 34 when a deer ran into the roadway.

Ms. Fernandez took evasive action, swerving to miss the deer, and the vehicle entered a rear wheel skid.  The vehicle left the roadway striking a delineator.  No injuries were reported and the damage to the vehicle was estimated at $4500.

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the New London Police Department.

In case you have been living under a rock, Southeast Iowa has experienced relatively large amounts of rainfall in the previous few weeks. While we are thankful for the rain, unfortunately rain can make driving awfully difficult.

Before departing on the open roads, consider doing some checks on your vehicle first. Inspect your wiper blades and make sure they are operational, be sure that your brake lights and headlights work, and that your tires are properly inflated. When on the road, reduce your speed and increase your following distance from the vehicle in front of you. Do not use cruise control in wet weather, as that can cause you to lose control.

Make sure to be safe on the roads this wet season.