AMES, Iowa – June 17, 2019 – It’s going to be a lot easier to get from Council Bluffs to Sioux City, now that Interstate 29 between I-680 near Crescent and I-680 at Loveland has re-opened to traffic. The road was officially re-opened at 1-p.m. today (Monday).

Those areas had been closed since late May due to flooding in the area for a second time this spring. Due to continued flooding south of Council Bluffs, I-29 from U.S. 34 to the Missouri border remains closed.

Other flood-related closures continue on U.S. 34, Iowa 2, Iowa 275 and Iowa 333.

Travelers should check 511ia.org, the Iowa 511 mobile apps or call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide) for up-to-date closure information on state-owned roadways across Iowa. Closures due to flooding can be viewed by turning on the incident layer on the online map and mobile app.

DES MOINES, Iowa, June 17, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Iowa Total Care announced today that it has signed contracts with four of the state’s largest healthcare providers, including UnityPoint Health®, University of Iowa Health Care, MercyOne, and Genesis Health System.

As a Medicaid managed care organization, Iowa Total Care will serve Iowa Medicaid recipients as part of the state’s IA Health Link program beginning July 1, 2019. Over the past year, Iowa Total Care has added thousands of high quality providers statewide to ensure members have access to medical care throughout the state.

“We are pleased to welcome these healthcare providers to our network, and we look forward to our partnership with the state of Iowa to deliver on our mission of providing better health outcomes,” said Mitch Wasden, president and CEO, Iowa Total Care.

For more information about Iowa Total Care and its providers, visit www.iowatotalcare.com.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says a new social media and advertising campaign is designed to draw attention to Iowa’s quality of life in hopes of attracting new workers. At the announcement Monday of a newly branded “This is Iowa” campaign, Reynolds unveiled a state-produced video that shows New York City residents being shown photos of properties they assumed were nearby, only to learn later they are in several Iowa cities. The video records their shock at hearing the prices for such large and luxurious apartments and houses.

Iowa has a chronic worker shortage and attracting more people to the state is one of Reynolds’ priorities. Reynolds held her announcement at a downtown Des Moines restaurant owned by Alexander Hall, who sold several New York restaurants four years ago and moved to his wife’s native Iowa. He’s now planning his fourth dining location.
Reynolds says Hall’s experience demonstrates that when people spend a year or two in Iowa, they stay.

The campaign is funded as part of the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s $5 million marketing budget.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The director of the Iowa Department of Human Services says he resigned at the request of Gov. Kim Reynolds. Jerry Foxhoven released a statement Monday afternoon saying he’d submitted his resignation at the request of the governor and that it was an honor to serve as director of the agency. His statement came about two hours after Reynolds issued a news release stating that she’d appointed Gerd Clabaugh as interim director for the Department of Human Services. Clabaugh has served as public health director since 2014.

The release included a quote from Reynolds complimenting the job Clabaugh has done as director of the state Public Health Department and outlining his work and education before noting he will replace Foxhoven, who resigned effectively immediately.

Neither Reynolds nor Foxhoven gave a reason for the change. Foxhoven led the department for two years. During the past two years, he has overseen a rocky transition to a privatized Medicaid program in which two major insurers have departed the state. He’s also faced criticism about oversight of state juvenile institutions. The Iowa Juvenile Home in Toledo, which housed troubled girls, closed after questions were raised about their treatment and a federal lawsuit underway now is delving into use of isolation rooms and restraints at the Iowa Training School for Boys. The Glenwood Resource Center, which cares for people with intellectual disabilities, has reported eight deaths in four months.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports five arrests over the past week. On Saturday (June 15), Cass County Deputies arrested 48-year old David Michael Boggs, of Council Bluffs, on a Sheriff’s Office warrant for Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine (C Felony). Boggs was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $50,000 bond. On Friday, June 14, 2019, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested 25-year old Jessica Lee Mack, of Springville, IA, on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear. Mack was additionally charged with Criminal Mischief 3rd Degree (Aggravated) and Interference with Official Acts (Simple). She was taken to the Cass County Jail and later released on her own recognizance.

On June 13th, 42-year old Sandra Marie Namanny, of Wiota, turned herself in to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office. Namanny was wanted on two Sheriff’s Office warrants for two counts of Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine (C Felonies). She was booked at the Cass County Jail and remains held on $50,000 bond. 30-year old Katherine Lynn Coleman,  of Corning, was arrested June 13th on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Coleman was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $20,000 bond.

And, on June 11th, 59-year old Donald Allen Dollen, of Griswold, was arrested by Cass County Deputies on four Sheriff’s Office warrants for one count of Ongoing Criminal Conduct (B Felony); four counts of Possession with Intent to Deliver Hydrocodone (C Felonies); and four counts of Drug Tax Stamp Violation (D Felonies). Dollen was taken to the Cass County Jail and later released on $30,000 bond.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports three, non-injury accidents took place last week. On Sunday, June 9th, deputies responded at around 2:40-p.m. to a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Highway 71 and Keystone Road. A 2010 Ford Edge owned and driven by 67-year old James Peter Heller, of Manilla, was southbound on Highway 71, when the vehicle struck the left rear of a 2003 Subaru Legacy owned and driven by 42-year old Shannon Lee Julich, of Harlan, who attempted to make a u-turn and did not see Heller’s vehicle approaching. Julich was cited for Failure to Yield Upon Entering the Highway. Damage from the collision amounted to $7,000 altogether.

At around 11:44-p.m. on June 11th, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of an accident on Grain Street in Lewis. A 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by 27-year old Morgan Barbara Dvorak, of Griswold, struck a parked 2016 Nissan Maxima owned by Donna Jean Roberts, of Lewis. Dvorak was cited for Striking an Unattended Vehicle, Failure to Maintain Control, and Open Container. Damage to  the vehicles amounted to $13,500.

And, at around 10:05-a.m. Friday (June 14), Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a car/tractor accident at the intersection of Main and Adair Streets in Griswold. A 2005 John Deere driven by 75-year old Sidney Rossell, of Atlantic, was backing up on Main Street when it struck a 2006 Buick Lucerne owned and driven by 79-year old Mary Ann Kirchhoff, of Griswold. Damage to the Kirchhoff vehicle was estimated at $2,500.

Police in Glenwood report four, recent arrests. On Sunday, 42-year old Kelli Armstrong, of Ft. Collins, NE., was arrested for OWI/1st offense. Armstrong has since posted a $1,000 cash or surety bond. On Saturday, 57-year old Brenda Salinas, of Glenwood, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. She was released on her Own Recognizance. And, there were two arrests Friday, in Glenwood: 23-year old Deyon Downing, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension; 20-year old Dylan Barrett, of Glenwood, was arrested for Public Intoxication. Both men were released on their Own Recognizance.

The Cass County Auditor’s Office says they are in need of Precinct Election Officials for all polling locations in the County, but in particular, for Atlantic Ward 2. If you would like to work please contact the Office at (712)-243-4570. Officials say “This year with just the City/School Elections is a good year to start and learn the ropes! If you have any interest but want more information please contact (the Auditor’s) office.” They promise not to nag you.

OAKVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say the three tornadoes that touched down over the weekend in southeast Iowa damaged a house and destroyed outbuildings but apparently didn’t injure anyone. The National Weather Service says it’s confirmed two tornadoes that occurred around 8:20 p.m. Saturday about 3 miles south and west of Oakville. Both were rated EF-2 with peak winds of 120 mph. The two also knocked down trees and power poles.

The third twister was spotted around 7:55 p.m. Saturday about 3 miles west of Mediapolis. It was rated EF-0 with a top wind estimated at 70 mph. No damage was reported. The service says the storm system also brought hail and heavy rain.

GRUNDY CENTER, Iowa (AP) — A woman accused of faking a kidney transplant has been imprisoned for an unrelated theft in eastern Iowa. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that 46-year-old Shawn Marie Tomkins, also known as Shawn Marie Eastman Adams, to five years. She must also pay restitution. Prosecutors say she took people to a farm in rural Dike in December 2017, selling them items that she falsely said were hers.

She’s also awaiting trial in Black Hawk County on theft and other charges. Prosecutors say she got nearly $58,000 in aid from a Waterloo couple after telling them she had a kidney transplant, tumors and other medical problems. Prosecutors say she accused one of one of them of sexually abusing her son when the couple discovered her scam.