The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa announced Friday, that 46-year old Rebecca Canfield, a resident of Cass County, was sentenced in Council Bluffs U-S District Court, to 30 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and health care fraud. Canfield will serve 48 months of supervised release following her release from prison.

In August of 2015, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) received information regarding the illegal distribution of prescription drugs in and around Cass County (Iowa). An investigation revealed Mary Mayo and Rebecca Canfield obtained prescriptions for oxycodone from medical professionals through false representations of injury or illness and related pain management. Canfield used her Medicare/Medicaid benefits to obtain oxycodone from local pharmacies. Once the prescription drugs were obtained, Canfield provided the oxycodone to co-defendant Mary Mayo for resale.

During the course of the investigation it was determined Canfield also received Social Security benefits to which she was not entitled. As part of her sentence, Canfield was ordered to pay restitution to Medicare/Medicaid, and the Social Security Administration. Previously sentenced were: Mary Mayo, sentenced to 24 months imprisonment followed by 48 months of supervised release; Tony Martin May, sentenced to 12 months of imprisonment followed by 36 months of supervised release; Jessica Lynn Gross, sentenced to time served and 60 months of supervised release; and Alex Lee Pleis, sentenced to time served and 36 months of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the DEA; Department of Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General; Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit; Social Security Administration-Office of the Inspector General; Cass County Sheriff’s Office; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force. The matter was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports an Afton resident informed authorities this (Monday) morning, that his pickup truck had been stolen. The red, 2006 Dodge RAM 3500 with Iowa license plate BDM 289, was taken from 505 W. Jefferson Street, in Afton, sometime overnight Sunday into early this (Monday) morning. Anyone with information about the incident should contact the Union County Sheriff’s Office or your local authorities.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests. At around 2:30-a.m. Saturday, 71-year old Roger Thomas Anderson, of Omaha, NE., was arrested following a traffic stop on Deacon Road. He faces charges that include Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Concealed Weapon – Gun. Anderson’s bond was set at $3,300.

And, 28-year old Bradley Scott Wonder, of Emerson, was arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 34 at around 3-p.m. Friday. He was charged with Violation of Order, DUS (Driving Under Suspension), Open Container, and Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability, Wonder was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

The Glenwood Police Dept. reports the arrest on drug charges, Sunday, of 20-year old Cordell Belt. The Bellevue, NE. man was arrested in Glenwood, for Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His cash or surety bond was set at $1,300. And, Glenwood Police arrested 25-year-old Zachary Digilio, of Glenwood, on January 4th. Digilo was taken into custody for being a Fugitive from Justice.

DES MOINES, IA (Jan. 6, 2020) — Officials with the Healthiest State Initiative has announced the finalists for the “2020 Healthiest State Annual Awards.” Individuals, communities, K-12 schools, early care providers, out-of-school programs and workplaces will be recognized for their efforts to improve the physical, social and emotional well-being of Iowans in their respective sectors at an awards ceremony on Feb. 6th, in West Des Moines.

The finalists in the eight categories include:

• Healthy HometownSM Powered by Wellmark Community Award: The City of Creston; City of Dallas Center; Dickinson County; City of Manning; the cities of – Washington, Waverly & West Union.
• K-12 School: Irving Elementary (Waterloo); Notre Dame Catholic School (Cresco); Pierce Elementary (Cedar Rapids)
• Early Care Provider: Children’s Center (Council Bluffs); Little Steps & Beyond (Iowa City); TenderCare (Mount Pleasant); Tri-County Child & Development (Waterloo).
• Out-of-School Program: Live Well Montgomery County (Red Oak); and, Opportunity on Deck (Urbandale).
• Individual: Scott Gall (Cedar Falls); Bob King (Dallas Center); Ben Spellman (Des Moines).
• Workplace: Small – Anawim Housing (Des Moines); Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center; MercyCare Business Solutions (Cedar Rapids)….Medium – Merchants Bonding Company (West Des Moines); Montgomery County Hospital (Red Oak); Northwest Financial Corporation (Arnolds Park)…..Large – Drake University (Des Moines); Grinnell Mutual (Grinnell); The Iowa Clinic (Des Moines).

Each finalist will be recognized and winners from each category will be announced at the Healthiest State Annual Awards ceremony on Feb. 6 at the Ron Pearson Center in West Des Moines.  Each winner will be granted a monetary gift to continue their work focused on improving the health and well-being of their employees, students or citizens. In addition to the awards presentation, keynote speaker Lyndsey (Medders) Fennelly will tell her inspirational story of living with a mental illness. Fennelly is a former Iowa State University women’s basketball player, owner of CampusCycle spin studio and passionate advocate for mental health. She is married to Iowa State Women’s basketball assistant coach, Billy Fennelly, and they live in Ames with their two children.

The Healthiest State Annual Awards are sponsored by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Hy-Vee, Inc., and Nemours.  Healthiest State Annual Awards tickets on sale now. The Healthiest State Annual Awards are open to the public and tickets are on sale now at IowaHealthiestState.com/Awards. Tickets are $25 for individuals or $190 for a table of eight. The event, hosted at the Ron Pearson Center in West Des Moines, will open at 4:15 p.m. for hors d’oeuvres and networking with the awards ceremony beginning at 5 p.m.

(Radio Iowa) — Democratic presidential candidate John Delaney embarked on a bus tour of the state this weekend, with at least 30 more stops planned this month, including a few very small Iowa towns.

Democratic Pres. candidate John K. Delany.

“All the economic opportunities are in a couple of big cities and we need someone to really fight for these towns,” Delaney said this weekend. Delaney, a former Maryland congressman, has been running for president since mid-2017. He told a crowd in Doon that rural America has often been ignored. “If you caucus for me and I do better in the Iowa caucus than people expect, I promise you on national television, I’ll stand and look at those cameras and say: ‘Listen, you know why I did well? It’s ’cause rural America voted for me. And you know why rural America voted for me? Because I actually have plans for rural America.”

Delaney’s infrastructure plan, for example, would give more money to struggling communities over larger cities. Joe Munoz says he’ll caucus for Delaney. “This country is so separated, we need to work together,” Munoz said. “And he seems like the person that wants to work together and can get the job done.” Doon had a population of fewer than 600 in the 2010 Census and is located in northwest Iowa’s Lyon County.

A couple of Republicans at the restaurant in Doon challenged Delaney on the issue of abortion. Delaney replied that he supports a woman’s right to choose.

(Reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Katie Peikes)

(Radio Iowa) — Developers leading the restoration of a long-empty, historic hotel in downtown Sioux City say it’s on track to reopen this summer. The Warrior Hotel was built in 1930 and closed in 1976. Restoration St. Louis is renovating the hotel and the adjacent Davidson Building into a nearly-150 room Marriott Hotel with 22 luxury apartments. Restoration’s Alex Cherubin says the pace of the project is really picking up.  “The rooms have been painted, tile is laid, getting ready for carpet,” Cherubin says. “Furniture and fixtures are being delivered, which is pretty exciting and unbelievable.”

Cherubin says crews are putting in elevators this month, while they’re keeping the hotel’s original properties and decor. Cherubin says the 73-million-dollar project is on schedule to hold its grand reopening in about six months. “It’s basically going to come down to furniture deliveries,” he says, “and making sure we have everything in place and the staff is fully trained.”

Cherubin says they’ve already hired a general manager, director of sales and a sales manager, while they’ll hire housekeeping staff, cooks and the rest of the crew closer to opening day. The Warrior and Davidson are on the National Register of Historic Places.

(Reporting by Katie Peikes, Iowa Public Radio)

The Red Oak Fire Department and Dave Carbaugh State Farm Insurance are teaming up for a Montgomery County “2020 Challenge.” The insurance company-sponsored national challenge, is for each person to do 100 acts of good; it will be a big opportunity to help strengthen communities across the county. The rules are simple:

• Agree to the challenge for the year 2020.
• Sign up yourself as an individual/your family/your organization/your business. Entry forms will be available at State Farm, 207 E. Coolbaugh St. or the Red Oak Police Dept. at 106 W. Coolbaugh St.. Fill out entry and leave at location.
• As an individual or group you agree to do 100 acts of good in your community. There will be no guidelines as to what an ‘act of good’ is, but we do ask that it be an extra effort. (So, we are hoping established deeds or deeds done normally through employment are not counted in the total.) Help someone with yard work, buy someone lunch, spend time mentoring.
• You will not be graded or judged on what you accomplish, but we are asking you to keep a total or list of good acts/deeds and report that to us. Dave Carbaugh State Farm and ROPD will keep a total and we will let everyone know at the end of the year how many acts were done.
• You may do more than 100, (some larger groups may accomplish this in a month). This will not be a contest on who gets the most acts done, but random prizes will be awarded throughout the contest.

Individuals, teams, businesses, organizations may sign up and pledge to do 100 (or more) self-monitored Acts of Good.  At the end of the year, there will be a tally on the number of extra good that occurred in the Montgomery County area.

Questions may be directed to Dave Carbaugh – 712-623-5639, Red Oak Police Chief Justin Rhamy, 712-623-6500, or Brad Baker at ROPD, 712-370-3062.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – The city of Waterloo is being sued for adopting a measure banning the city and many businesses from asking about applicants’ criminal records in early stages of the hiring process. The City Council approved the so-called “ban-the-box” ordinance this past fall. It doesn’t let employers ask about an applicant’s criminal history until after making a conditional job offer. The lawsuit was filed Thursday in Black Hawk County. Mayor Quentin Hart told station KWWL that he and the council wouldn’t comment on the litigation. The lawsuit was filed by the Iowa Association of Business and Industry.

(Radio Iowa) — You still have weeks before you need to file your federal tax returns — but an I-R-S spokesman says now is the time to be sure you have all the paperwork ready. Chris Miller says organize the 2019 tax documents you already have and add to them as the other year end information comes in. “Gather up your canceled checks, your property tax bills, any forms you get from your employer or your bank — like W-2’s and 10-99’s — and put those in one place,” Miller says. “Make sure they are altogether, so when it comes to file your taxes into the new year, you’ll have it all in one place. You won’t need to go looking for any paperwork.”

He says it’s also a good idea to get a copy of your 2018 income tax filing as you may need it to filed this year. “For example, anyone using a tax software product for the first time may need to use their adjusted gross income — their A-G-I — from last year’s tax return to file their 2019 return electronically,” Miller says. Miller says by having everything together, you will know what you have and don’t have for tax filing. Another suggestion for the start of 2020 is that you be sure your withholding from you paycheck is correct. Miller says if you get a bigger refund than expected – or got back less than expected — it’s a sign your withholding is not right. “Then you’re going to want to be someone who checks their withholding as quickly as possible in the new year to be sure that the amount that’s being withheld from your paycheck by your employer is correct for your situation,” according to Miller.

He says you can check it online. “It’s called the withholding estimators. It’s a lot more improved than earlier versions — and you simply put in some information like your filing status and how much you earn — and you’ll be able to find out whether or not the amount you withhold is correct for your situation,” Miller says. He says you may have been happy with the withholding last year — but have had things happen in your life that impact your tax status. “Checking your withholding is always a really good idea — especially if you have had a change in your life situation,” Miller explains. “If you have gotten married, or divorced, or had a baby or adopted children. These are some of the reasons you would want to check your withholding to be sure the right amount is being withheld for your situation.”

Miller says you can go to the I-R-S website and use the withholding tool to see if those life changes require a withholding change.