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.

The Iowa Department of Revenue and other state agencies are getting closer to unveiling a new online portal where you can conduct business with them. Department of Revenue spokesman, John Fuller, says it’s called GovConnectIowa.

The Department of Revenue, the Iowa Lottery, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, and the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division partnered to create the new portal.

He says the website will be a place to get the process started.

Iowa Lottery C-E-O, Matt Strawn talked about the pending rollout with the Lottery Board at their meeting. He says he looks forward to replacing the paper system they now use.

Strawn says. Fuller says this has been a four-year project, and the first rollout is a starting point for bigger things ahead.

The rollout of the first services is slated for November 15th.

Mills County Emergency Management Coordinator Larry Hurst recently put in a request on behalf of area fire departments to the State Fire Marshall to institute a temporary burn ban in the County. A ban on open burning will go into effect at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, October 1st and continue until conditions are deemed by fire departments to have improved.

CRESTON, Iowa – Sept. 30, 2021 – A project to set beams for the new Ashworth Road bridge over Interstate 80 in West Des Moines requires closure of eastbound I-80 between Grand Prairie Parkway (exit 118) and Jordan Creek Parkway (exit 121) overnight for two nights beginning on Monday night, Oct. 4, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston construction office.

Eastbound I-80 will be closed:

• Monday, Oct. 4 at 10 p.m. until Tuesday, Oct. 5 at 5 a.m.
• Tuesday, Oct. 5 at 10 p.m. until Wednesday, Oct. 6 at 5 a.m.

During this closure, traffic will be will follow a marked detour route using Grand Prairie Parkway, University Avenue, and Jordan Creek Parkway.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

The latest traveler information is available anytime through our 511 system. Visit 511ia.org; call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide); stay connected with 511 on Facebook or Twitter (find links at https://iowadot.gov/511/511-social-media-sites); or download the free app to your mobile device.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of a Red Oak man Tuesday evening. At 7:37 p.m. Officers arrested 49-year-old Floyd Raymond Henry II in the 100 block of West Prospect Street. on a valid Warrant for Failure to Appear for Initial Appearance on the original charge of Driving While License Denied or Revoked for OWI. He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,000 cash only bond.