Iowa Republican Senator Tom Shipley, from Nodaway and Republican Representative Tom Moore, of Griswold, spent about 90-minutes taking questions and defending their position on the issues, Saturday, before a large crowd at the Walnut Street Farmer’s Diner, in Atlantic. The men spoke during a legislative coffee sponsored by Farm Bureau. Among the hot topics of interest among those in attendance, was the role of Managed Care Organizations (MCO’s) in the area of mental health, the recently signed bill by Governor Branstad pertaining to Collective Bargaining, and the defunding of Planned Parenthood.

Pastor Nancy Jensen said she buried two people last year who had mental health issues but had nowhere to go for treatment. One of the individuals ended up committing suicide. The other died from an accidental overdose.

Rep. Tom Moore (R) – Griswold

One of the persons was in their 20’s, the other in their 40’s. Jensen said the wait time for mental health care is days, and even months, because the system has been “completely overwhelmed,” over the past couple of years. She asked if Shipley and Moore would be willing to “take a stand” and help oversee Managed Care companies.

Moore said the Iowa Department of Human Services is taking an extensive look into the system that finds beds for mental health patients.

Senator Tom Shipley (R) – Nodaway

One person said providers for mental health care are not getting paid by Managed Care companies. Shipley suggested anyone with concerns e-mail him with the pertinent information, so that he can resolve provider pay errors and delays. Both men agreed the “system” is a long way away from being fixed.

Shipley came under fire when it came to the topic of Collective Bargaining. He said he voted for the bill signed by Governor Branstad, but then admitted he didn’t read the bill that closely. Shipley later backtracked, and said his interpretation of what was in the bill was different that what it actually said.

The question of “What’s next” was brought up, with regard to concessions over Collective Bargaining, and the topic of IPERS was mentioned. Specifically, Senate File 45, a bill which was introduced by Republican Senator Brad Zaun, and is entitled “An Act providing for the development of a mandatory defined contribution pension plan for certain public employees.” It states peace officers (State Troopers/DCI/DPS/Fire Marshal and Narcotics Division) hired after July 1st, 2019, ARE NOT eligible to participate in the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System (IPERS). (https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/87/SF45.pdf)

Representative Tom Moore said he knows what his vote would be on the bill.

(He says he would be a “No” vote if there are any detrimental changes to IPERS benefits are brought before him.)

Senator Shipley said he contacted the Governor’s Office about the bill, but hasn’t heard back on any proposed amendments.

A man who was allegedly acting in a disorderly manner at a Red Oak pawn shop, was arrested Saturday morning for Breach of Peace. Red Oak Police say 43-year old James Reed Mitroff II, of Red Oak, was found to be intoxicated and acting in a disorderly manner. He was taken into custody at around 10:30-a.m. and held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A group associated with the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce has hired a director to focus on boosting activities near the Missouri River. The Omaha World-Herald reports that former Lincoln Railyard employee Rachel Halbmaier began Monday at the Missouri River Commons initiative.

The push to bring more events to the riverfront comes after a 2014 Urban Land Institute study. The group suggested the Omaha-Council Bluffs area come together to bring more people to the riverfront, and even potentially hold a national festival.

Chamber President David Brown says that before anything big can develop, Halbmaier will work to ensure people are using the current riverfront amenities. Brown says residents can expect to start seeing results from Halbmaier’s work by next year.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – U.S. Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska says he will re-introduce a measure aimed at helping secure citizenship for the widower of an Omaha police officer killed in the line of duty nearly two years ago. The measure, first introduced by former Nebraska Congressman Brad Ashford and dubbed the Kerrie Orozco Act, would expedite the citizenship process for spouses of first responders who are killed on the job.

Bacon, a Republican, defeated Ashford, a Democrat, in November in the race to represent the state’s 2nd congressional district, which encompasses the Omaha area.

Kerrie Orozco was fatally shot in May 2015 while trying to make an arrest. Her husband, Hector Orozco, is now a single father to three children, including the one Kerrie Orozco delivered only three months before her death.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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A legislative forum featuring State Senator Tom Shipley, from Nodaway, and State Representative Tom Moore, of Griswold, will be held this afternoon, in Atlantic. The event takes place at the Farmers Walnut Street Diner, beginning at 1-p.m. The event is sponsored by Farm Bureau, and offers you a chance to hear from our area legislators about the issues they have voted on, those yet to come, and to answer your questions.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Today (Saturday) marks the start of F-F-A Week in Iowa. Scott Johnson, executive secretary for the Iowa F-F-A Association, says the theme for the week-long observance is “Transform: Purpose to Action.” The week signals not only the 70th annual F-F-A Week but another special date for the program. “On the 23rd will be the 100th anniversary of the federal Smith-Hughes Act, passed on February 23rd of 1917,” Johnson says. “The Smith-Hughes Act is actually what established what was called vocational agriculture at the time in public schools.”

That laid the foundation for creation of the F-F-A just 11 years later. Johnson says there will be special events statewide to honor of F-F-A Week, including Drive Your Tractor to School Day in some areas. “You see a little bit of everything,” Johnson says. “Some will do an Ag Olympics, they’ll have appreciation breakfasts, pancake feeds, activities that engage the community, school, students, FFA members, staff dress-up days.”

Iowa has 232 chapters of F-F-A and last year counted 14-thousand-700 members statewide. On the web at http://www.iowaffa.com

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Red Oak arrested a local man on an assault charge, Friday. 39-year old Edgar Ralph Wilkins, Jr., of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 9:45-p.m. in the 200 block of E. Hammond Street, on a charge of Aggravated Assault. Wilkins, Jr. was booked into the Montgomery County Jail, where his cash bond was set at $2,000.

A traffic stop early this (Saturday) morning in Fremont County resulted in the arrest on drug charges, of a Pottawattamie County woman. Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports 19-year old Taylor Murdock, of Council Bluffs, was taken into custody for Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st Offense, after her vehicle was pulled over at around 12:30-a.m. near Percival and a K9 search was conducted. Murdock was being held in the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center on a $1,000 bond.

Taylor Murdock