Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, along with Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, today (Tuesday), urged the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs to review the case of a combat veteran who committed suicide after seeking help at the Iowa City Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Brandon Ketchum reportedly was denied admittance to a psychiatric ward after seeking help during a mental health crisis.

The senators wrote to Inspector General Michael J. Missal, “In light of what has transpired, we strongly urge your office to examine the facts and circumstances of Mr. Ketchum’s interactions with the Iowa City VA Medical Center on July 7, 2016, to determine what, if any, steps can be taken in the future to better protect our veteran population, including potential changes to VA policy, if applicable” They said also, “It is also important for policymakers within the VA and in Congress to know if this is an isolated incident, how often veterans seeking inpatient mental health care are turned away, and how often this leads to adverse consequences.”

Ketchum, a native of Wisconsin living in Davenport, Iowa, was a veteran of the Marine Corps and Army National Guard. On July 7th, according to a later post on his social media, he believed himself to be a threat to his own safety and sought assistance from the Iowa City VA Medical Center.  The Senators say “Despite his year-long treatment with a psychiatrist at the facility that knew of his struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder as well as repeated flags for suicide over the last three years, his request to be admitted to the psychiatric ward due to what he termed ‘serious mental issues’ was reportedly denied. Mr. Ketchum took his own life just over 24 hours later.”

A representative for the medical center has stated that the standing policy is never to turn away a patient who requires admittance as long as beds are open and that even if beds at the Iowa City facility are unavailable, the VA would find the patient a bed at another facility, the senators wrote. The senators asked to be informed of whether the inspector general’s office has decided to open an inquiry and if not, why not, and if so, for a status update when appropriate.

PRIMGHAR, Iowa (AP) – An October trial has been scheduled for a northwest Iowa home health care worker accused of stealing from an elderly client. Spencer radio station KICD reports 36-year-old Rebecca Rutledge, of Paullina, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of forgery, one count of theft and one of unauthorized use of a credit card. Her trial is set to begin Oct. 25th.

The O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office says Rutledge obtained access to the client’s debit card and checking account. The office says that between June and September 2015, Rutledge took more than $7,500 from the client.

MidAmerican Energy has launched a campaign to encourage customers to raise awareness about scams. Spokesperson Ashton Hockman says “Our message is Slam the Scam, which is very simple. We encourage customers if they think they are talking to a scammer to slam down the phone or slam the door shut, if they think they are talking to a scammer in person,” Hockman says. “And to immediately call MidAmerican Energy to check on their account.”

Hockman says there are different variations of the scams, but they all include some common elements. “They often pretend to be MidAmerican Energy employees, and they often call and threaten to shut off service unless they pay immediately,” Hockman explains. The goal is to get the customer’s personal information. She says MidAmerican will not call and make such demands.

“On average we receive about 100 scam calls each month from our customers. And since the start of the year, our customers have reported losing nearly nine-thousand dollars to scammers. And those are only the calls we know about,” She says. Hockman says customers can fight back by slamming down the phone or the door on the scammers. She also encourages everyone to share information about scammers with others.

“Spread the word when it comes to scams, we do find that education is the best defense and best way to fight back against these scammers,” according to Hockman. For more information you can go to MidAmerican Energy’s website. They have also produced a video that shows how scammers work.

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Glenwood arrested a man Monday for OWI/2nd offense. Officials say 74-year old Charles Kruse, of Glenwood, was brought to the Mills County Jail and held on a $2,000 cash bond.

Sheriff’s Deputies in Page County, Monday, arrested a man on an assault charge. Sheriff Lyle Palmer says 27-year old James Dean Archer, of Shenandoah, was arrested in Shenandoah, on a warrant was for Domestic Abuse Assault.  Archer was transported to the Page County jail, and was unable to posted a $2000 cash only bond. He was being held in the jail pending further court appearances.

James Dean Archer

A Cass County man was injured during a single-vehicle accident Monday evening, near Walnut. Pottawattamie County Chief Deputy Sheriff John Reynolds told KJAN News 42-year old Darrell Pershin, of rural Anita, was transported by Walnut Fire and Rescue to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, and later transported by LifeFlight Helicopter to a hospital in Des Moines.

The crash happened at around 7:20-p.m. on Highway 83. Chief Deputy Reynolds said  witnesses stated Pershin was traveling west at a high rate of speed on Highway 83 in a 2016 Chevy Express van registered to Plumb Tech Mechanical, Inc., out of Knoxville, when in the vicinity of 505th Street and Sycamore, the vehicle left the road and jumped an embankment on 505th and landed on the west side of 505th before entering a cornfield and coming to rest right side up. The vehicle sustained about $10,000 damage.

The accident remains under investigation, with charges or citations pending the outcome of the investigation.

Authorities in Union County say a medical condition likely contributed to a single-vehicle accident Monday morning off Highway 34. 75-year old Ronald Wheeler, of Murray, was traveling west on Highway 34 at around 9:50-a.m., when he apparently suffered a seizure while on the way to Omaha. The 2014 Dodge Avenger he was driving left the road to the right and went into a ditch. The car sustained $10,000 damage.  Wheeler was transported by ambulance to the hospital in Creston.

He told deputies he had suffered a seizure about 10-years ago, as well, and suspects that’s what happened Monday morning, because he doesn’t remember the accident.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a woman was arrested early this (Tuesday) morning in Council Bluffs, after she allegedly threw items at a man at a home in the 11,000 block of Dumfries Avenue. Officers responded to a residential disturbance call at around 1:45-a.m.  The victim told police 34-year old Christina Bruce, of Council Bluffs, threw items at him, resulting in a “Busted lip,” and tooth pain. Bruce was taken into custody for Domestic Assault with Injury, and brought to the Pott. County Jail.

The Sheriff’s Department said also, a traffic stop Monday evening on Highway 6 resulted in the arrest of a man from Carson, for Driving While Barred. 27-year old Robert Michael Carter was pulled over for speeding at around 6-p.m., and subsequently taken into custody. Carter was brought to the Pott. County Jail, where he was also cited for speeding.

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

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Nearly three-hundred people have signed up to attend the 2016 Iowa Arts Summit this Friday in Des Moines. Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs director Mary Cownie  says people from 90 Iowa communities have registered. “Two years when we launched the Iowa Arts Summit as a statewide convening for Iowa’s arts community, the response was overwhelming,” Cownie says, “so this year we will build on that success with local, state and national voices converging.”

The day will allow artists and non-profit groups that work on cultural projects throughout the state to network, learn about success stories in other communities and get fundraising tips. “We’re also excited to add a touch of Hollywood to this year’s summit…presenting a session track for Iowa filmmakers featuring Sarah Pearce, the managing director of the Sundance Institute,” Cownie says, “as well as Iowa native and University of Iowa alum Andrew Steele who is the creative director of the website ‘Funny or Die.'”

Steele grew up in Iowa City and is a former Saturday Night Live writer. He won an Emmy in 2002. Dozens of artists will be doing “pop up” exhibits during the event. More than 50 sculptures created by Waterloo’s Youth Art Team will be on display. Cultural experiences in Iowa cities and communities help keep and attract young professionals, according to Cownie.

“It’s not only the 9-5, because if they know they’re going to get a job, they look at public schools. They may look at public safety, but they also want to know: ‘What am I doing to do?'” Cownie says. “‘Where am I going to take my kids? What am I going to do with my spouse or partner?'”

On Friday, during the summit, Cownie plans to release new data about the impact of the arts on Iowa. Registration is still open for the conference. (Register online at https://iowaculture.gov/arts/get-involved/iowa-arts-summit)

(Radio Iowa)