The Creston Police Department reports three arrests over the past 24-hours.

On Thursday at 3:46 a.m. Officers arrested 30-year-old Anthony Roger Cross of Creston at the intersection of Fremont and Pine Streets. Cross was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a Controlled Substance Methamphetamine-3rd Offense, Controlled Substance Violation, and Failure to Affix Drug Tax Stamp. Cross was taken to the Union County Jail and held on $35,000 bond.

Also on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. Officers arrested 31-year-old Andrew Justin Kerwin of Creston at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. Kerwin was charged with OWI-1st Offense and held on no bond until seen by a Magistrate.

Early Friday at 1:26 a.m. Creston Police arrested 27-year-old Charles Kegan Lohoff of Creston for Possession of Controlled Substance-Marijuana 1st Offense, OWI-1st Offense, and Carry Weapon While Intoxicated. Lohoff was later released after posting $300 bond.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors met for their end of the month session on Thursday morning in the board room at the Cass County Courthouse. The board had two major points of discussion during the meeting.

The first discussion was with regard to continuing a 28E agreement with the Iowa DNR in regard to well coverage in the County. The County Sanitarian representative was in attendance to clear up some questions in regard to what wells are covered and what the rules should be throughout the County.

The next major discussion topic was in regard to the impending closure of the Willow Heights mental health and disability facility. Southwest Iowa Mental Health and Disability Services Region CEO Suzanne Watson was in attendance to talk about the transition process. Work is in progress to find new homes for the current Willow Heights residents. There has been a push from the Federal level to integrate resource center residents into smaller, community based, residential settings. The Board expressed their desire to find a new tenant to operate the Willow Heights facility as it operates now. Watson warned that it would probably be tough to find another operation that wants to come in unless staff is retained and they would need to properly vet any new operator to assure quality care. The board is going to continue to look for a new operator if possible.

(Radio Iowa) The latest drought monitor reflects the lack of rain we’ve seen in the state in September. The D-N-R’s Tim Hall some areas that were in D-1 moderate drought have now moved to the D-2 severe drought category.

Only about 24 percent of the state is reporting NO drought conditions — down from about 25 percent last week. Hall says we shift at the end of September from the growing season — or “water year” concerns to the subsoil moisture concerns.

He says the need to bank moisture for next year varies across the state.

Hall says one positive is the plants are not pulling water from the ground and the cooler weather leads to less moisture lost from evaporation.

He says there can be replenishing rains in October and November — but the odds get worse deeper into fall.

Halls says 2020 was also a dry year — so the state started out behind and hasn’t been able to fully replenish the groundwater through this year.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of 37-year-old Kaleb L. Wagaman of Bedford on a valid Montgomery County Warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault-1st Offense. He was arrested at 11:00 p.m. on Thursday night and taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 bond.

Red Oak, Iowa – Montgomery County Memorial Hospital (MCMH) has announced that Michael (Mike) C. O’Neal has accepted the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) for MCMH. Mike is currently the CEO at George C. Grape Community Hospital in Hamburg, Iowa. Mike has been the CEO at Hamburg since 2008 and prior to that was the CIO at the hospital in Hebron, Nebraska. Mike has an excellent resume with experience as a United States Marine, a Nebraska State Trooper, and after receiving his MBA has spent many years in healthcare leadership in Southwest Iowa. Mike is known to many healthcare leaders in the region and has an excellent reputation.

MCMH CEO Ron Kloewer said the hiring of a COO is important for the leadership continuity at MCMH. “I am so pleased that Mike has agreed to join us at MCMH. We welcome Mike into our leadership team and are very excited about the future opportunities for him. The MCMH Board and I are determined to have a smart plan in place so we can develop future leaders from within.”

The MCMH Board of Trustee’s and Medical Staff had an opportunity to meet with Mike, he received overwhelming support to be the next COO for MCMH.

Mike and his wife Kristi will be relocating to the Red Oak area and is scheduled to begin at MCMH on October 31, 2021. Mike grew up in the Hebron, Nebraska area and has three grown children. Mike said, “I am very excited about this opportunity, MCMH has an excellent reputation and has always been innovative and a proven leader in rural healthcare. Kristi and I are looking forward to our move to Red Oak.” Mike is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and serves on Governor Reynolds Flood Advisory Board – Public Health Workgroup. Mike is also a member of Kiwanis International.

CEO Kloewer said, “This is an outstanding opportunity for Mike, and for MCMH, we are thrilled to have him and I would humbly ask you to join me in welcoming Mike and his wife to Montgomery County.”

The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department will be hosting a meeting on Monday evening to discuss the future of Sunnyside Pool. The meeting will take place in the Council Chambers at City Hall at 5:00 p.m.

Parks and Recreation Director Bryant Rasmussen said he really hopes the public comes out to let them know what amenities and improvements they are looking for at the pool. They would like to get a firmer idea of what projects to work into proposals from companies that would bid on the potential project.

(Radio Iowa) An Ohio-based company called CareSource plans to submit a bid to be among the private companies managing Iowa’s Medicaid program. In 2016, the State of Iowa switched to privately managed care of Medicaid, which currently covers health care costs for 750-thousand poor, elderly and disabled Iowans. Two companies — Amerigroup and Iowa Total Care — have existing contracts to manage care for those Iowans. CareSource, based in Dayton, Ohio, has rented office space in Des Moines and hiring Iowa staff, preparing to submit the paperwork for an Iowa Medicaid managed care contract. State officials likely will decide next fall if another company will be added to Iowa Medicaid’s program. CareSource already oversees Medicaid coverage for residents in five other states.

A survey of real estate agents finds the price of tillable Iowa farm land is increasing significantly. The Iowa chapter of the Realtors Land Institute releases survey data in March and September. The latest report shows Iowa farm land values have jumped nearly 19 percent since the spring. Compared to a year ago, the average price for Iowa farm land is up 26-point-six percent. The Realtors Land Institute cites high commodity prices, a good harvest and favorable interest rates as factors driving up farm land prices. The group reports farmers are the primary buyers, but investors are very competitive at public auctions of farm land. Farm land prices are rising throughout the corn belt. According to the Chicago Federal Reserve, the dollar value of good Iowa farm land rose 18 percent between July of this year and last July.

(Radio Iowa) The Iowa Department of Public Health’s weekly Covid update shows 60 percent of Iowans over the age of 12 are fully vaccinated. The vaccination rate among Iowans who are 65 or older is 83 percent. Over the past even days, 24 percent of the Iowans who’ve tested positive for Covid are under the age of 18. Dan Diekema (DEEK-uh-muh) is an infectious disease specialist at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

He says the spread is largely driven by virus activity in schools where students under age 12 aren’t eligible for a Covid shot.

The total number of Covid patients in Iowa hospitals has dropped slightly for the first time in 12 weeks according to state data. However, there are more Covid patients in intensive care now compared to last Wedneday and nearly 85 percent of them were not vaccinated.

(Radio Iowa- Woody Gottburg) A Celebration of Life is planned for the 12-year-old who died after falling from a float in the Westwood High School homecoming parade.
Kage McDonald of Salix was riding on the back of a float last Friday when he fell off and later died in the hospital. The service for McDonald is set for 11 a-m Saturday in the Westwood Community High School East gym. Kage’s family requests those in attendance wear their favorite sports team attire or casual clothes. A memorial for the junior high student is set up outside the high school A GoFundMe account for McDonald has raised almost 31-thousand dollars in contributions.