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Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
(Radio Iowa) – Alzheimer’s disease strikes about one in nine Iowa seniors, but studies show the rate is even higher for people in rural areas. A statewide virtual community forum is planned later this week focused on dementia care in rural Iowa. The online event will be moderated by Jim Feauto, administrator of Regency Park Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Carroll. He says rural Iowans face more challenges when it comes to diagnosis, long-term care options, and support for caregivers. “It’s really kind of a double whammy,” Feauto says. “They have less access and the percentages are a little higher in rural Iowa.”
Nearly seven-million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, including more than 62-thousand in Iowa, while nearly 100-thousand Iowans are caregivers for family members and friends. The virtual forum is being hosted by the Alzheimer’s Association Iowa Chapter. The goal is to better understand the challenges in rural Iowa, to shed light on the need for more support, and to start finding solutions to decrease higher prevalence rates and increase access to medical and support services.
“Nationally and in Iowa, about one in nine over 65 is impacted by Alzheimer’s,” Feauto says. “In these rural areas, it’s less than one in eight, and they don’t have access to treatment, care, resources, so we want to see what they need and how we can help them.” A 2023 study found the average Alzheimer’s prevalence rate in Iowans 65 and older is 11%, though the rate was 12.5% in Osceola and Mitchell counties, 12.6% in Monona County, and the state’s highest rate of 12.9% was in Ringgold County. While Medicare recommends seniors get a cognitive test during their doctor’s checkups every year, studies show only about 25-percent of those who are eligible take the test.
“In rural areas, only seven-and-a-half percent of the eligible people over 65 get cognitive assessments in their annual wellness visits,” Feauto says, “and that’s something that we’re really trying to get the word out to do that.” Three other people will co-host the forum: Kari Bateman, administrator for Emmet County Public Health; Andrea Turnbull, home care nursing division manager for Cerro Gordo Public Health; and Coletta Weeda, a dementia caregiver from Denison.
The forum via Zoom is free and will be held starting at 11 A-M on Thursday. Register here:
https://tinyurl.com/RuralForumJan2025
(Iowa Capital Dispatch) – The latest data from the CDC and USDA show the continued devastating effects of bird flu outbreaks across the United States – with Iowa, the nation’s leading egg producer, suffering substantial losses. Since November 2023, more than 12.1 million poultry birds have been affected in Sioux County, Iowa. Statewide, nearly 30-million birds have been affected.
On Jan. 17, health officials in Georgia, the nation’s leading state for chicken production, announced it was suspending poultry sales after detecting bird flu, for the first time, in flocks designated for commercial sale. This recent development is not yet reflected in the CDC and USDA databases used for this analysis.
Since federal and state government officials began tracking in February 2022, at least 1,400 outbreaks have been reported in more than 600 counties nationwide, affecting nearly 135 million birds. Other counties experiencing severe losses include Weld County, Colorado, with 9.95 million since April 2022, and Merced County, California, recording 8.35 million, according to the data.
Midwest states with the highest number of birds affected include Iowa, Ohio, Minnesota, Michigan, and Nebraska. Meanwhile, 67 human cases have been reported in the U.S. since the flu was first detected in humans in 2024, according to the CDC.
“While the current public health risk is low, CDC is watching the situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposures,” the agency stated on its website, which is regularly updated with the latest information.
(Storm Lake, Iowa) — The Storm Lake Police Department, Sunday afternoon, issued a community safety alert pertaining to an armed and barricaded person. According to the Storm Lake Police Department Facebook, at approximately 4:55 p.m. Storm Lake PD officers were at 3rd and Oneida Street dealing with an armed and barricaded individual.
According to SLPD, earlier in the day deputies were involved in a vehicle pursuit that ended at the current scene. Authorities say the individual was actively firing at responding officers. Their Facebook post said “This is an extremely dangerous situation, and for your safety, we strongly urge all residents in the immediate vicinity to evacuate the area if it is safe to do so. If evacuation is not possible, please shelter in place, remain indoors, and stay away from windows or doors. Lock your doors and secure your property. Avoid the area completely, as it remains an active and volatile scene.”
No other details, and no updates have been provided as of this report. (Photos from the SLPD Facebook page)
(Manning, Iowa) – Numerous fire departments were battling a blaze Sunday night at a pallet company owned by Gene Steffes, in Manning. The fire broke out at around 5-p.m. City officials say the building was unoccupied. No injuries have been reported. The City said Sunday residents in Manning will notice changes in water pressure or discolored water for the first part of the week, because of the water used to handle the incident. Additional details are currently not available.
(Photos are from our sister stations KNOD and KDSN)
KNOD photo
KDSN photo
DES MOINES, Iowa —[KCCI/KJAN] – Eight weeks into meteorological winter, Iowa continues to fall further behind on snowfall. In Des Moines, only 4.7 inches has accumulated since the first measurable snow arrived December 2. That puts the metro area nearly 14 inches behind normal at this point in the season. Snowfall in parts of northern Iowa is nearly 20 inches below average. The Iowa Drought Monitor released this past Thursday, shows a large part of southwest, northwest, northeast and east-central Iowa are in a D-1 (Moderate Drought), while other parts of southwest, central, northeast and southeast Iowa are Abormally Dry. Only south-central Iowa was listed as drought-free, due to a mid-December ice storm.
Here’s a look at snow accumulation so far this season around the state:
(Des Moines, Iowa) – Two western Iowa nursing homes with a history of regulatory violations have been added to a federal list of the nation’s worst care facilities. The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports the Garden View Care Center in Shenandoah, and the now-shuttered Aspire of Lake Park nursing home, were recently added to the nationwide list of nursing homes whose quality-of-care issues make them eligible for what’s called “special-focus status.” The Special-Focus Facilities list is updated periodically by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and includes homes deemed by the agency to have “a history of serious quality issues.” Nationally, there are 88 nursing facilities designated Special-Focus Facilities, with one or two slots filled by each state. Those homes are enrolled in a special program intended to stimulate improvements in their quality of care through increased regulatory oversight.
It’s not clear why the federal government added Aspire of Lake Park to its list of homes eligible for special-focus status. In the wake of dozens of regulatory violations cited last year, the state revoked the home’s license to operate. On Sept. 30, 2024, CMS announced it was shutting off all Medicare and Medicaid money to the home, which was two months before the agency added the home to the special-focus eligibility list. Asked why a closed facility would be added to the list, a CMS spokeswoman stated that because of a recent order by the Trump administration, the agency is pausing all communications with the public and the media that are not directly related to emergencies.
The now-closed Aspire of Lake Park nursing home. (Photo via Google Earth)
Because the number of Special-Focus Facilities in any given state is capped, additional facilities — even those that have earned CMS’ lowest ratings for quality — cannot be enrolled in Special-Focus Facility program until other special-focus facilities in that same state have either shut down or improved and “graduated” from the program. That’s a process that can take four years or more. As a result, there are several homes in each state that are designated “eligible” for special-focus status due to their ongoing quality-of-care issues, but they are unable to benefit from actual enrollment in the program.
Currently, three Iowa nursing homes have been eligible for special-focus assistance for more than a year without actually receiving it, including Des Moines’ Greater Southside Health and Rehabilitation Center, which has been deemed eligible for 29 months. Currently, the two Iowa nursing homes actually designated as Special-Focus Facilities are the Aspire care facility in Gowrie, and the Arbor Court facility in Muscatine. Aspire of Gowrie has been a special-focus facility for 14 months, and Muscatine’s Arbor Court has had the designation for 20 months.
In addition to the Aspire of Lake Park, Garden View Care Center and the Greater Southside Health and Rehabilitation Center, the Iowa nursing homes currently deemed eligible for the special-focus designation are Des Moines’ Bishop Drumm Retirement Center, Correctionville Specialty Care, Harmony West of West Des Moines, The Ivy at Davenport, Parkview Manor in Wellman, Pine Acres Rehabilitation and Care Center in West Des Moines, and Via of Des Moines.
(Red Oak, Iowa) – An investigation Friday into a single-vehicle accident that took place last month in Montgomery County, resulted the arrest of an Adams County man. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 31-year-old Devon Briggs, from Corning, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, following the investigation into an accident that occurred December 13th on Highway 34 near Highway 71, in Montgomery County. Separately, the Sheriff’s office said 38-year-old Ryan Wells, of Bronson, KS, was arrested Saturday, on an active Montgomery County warrant. Wells was being held in the Montgomery County Jail for OWI/3rd offense.
Police in Red Oak report 29-year-old Alec Thomas, of Red Oak, was arrested Saturday in Red Oak, for OWI/1st offense. Thomas was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond. Red Oak Police said also, no injuries were reported and no citations were issued, following a collision Friday afternoon in the parking lot of Woodland Apartment complex. Vehicles driven by 50-year-old Jill Schaefer, and 55-year-old Linda Bradway, both of Red Oak, collided at around 3:55-p.m. as Bradway was backing out of a parking slot. Police say with her vision obstructed, Bradway failed to see a Ford F-150 pickup driven by Schaefer, that was traveling north through the parking lot. Bradway’s 2011 Ford Focus struck the pickup on the rear passenger side, causing a police-estimated total of $3,500 damage. Both vehicles were driven from the scene.
(Crawford & Buena Vista Counties) – With immigration and deportation being discussed; the Chiefs of Police in Storm Lake and Denison shared messages in both English and Spanish on social media, with their community’s residents, Friday. Storm Lake Police Chief Chris Cole released video messages, Friday. In his videos, Chief Cole said in-part, “Our officers do not and will not stop individuals solely to inquire about their immigration status….While we prioritize public safety and fostering trust, we will continue, as we always have, to cooperate with our federal partners in cases involving wanted or violent individuals with valid criminal arrest warrants.”
“The Storm Lake Police Department,” he said, “will continue our mission of focusing on protecting and serving all members of our community, without bias or undo involvement in federal immigration enforcement. Our officers are not trained to enforce federal immigration laws, nor is it our responsibility to do so.”
Storm Lake Police Chief Chris Cole (Screenshot of his video message on Facebook)
Denison Police Chief Tony Trejo said in written statements posted to social media, “At this time, there is no enforcement changes at the Denison Police Department pertaining to immigration status of individuals. To date, the Denison Police Department has not been requested by our federal law enforcement partners to assist with any investigation enforcement efforts.” Chief Trejo says if such a request does come, that cooperation could consist of information sharing, logistics, scene security and coordination with local resources in and around Denison.
“If requested, the Denison Police Department will cooperate with our federal law enforcement partners on their immigration enforcement efforts as permitted under Iowa law,” said Chief Trejo. Additionally, the police say they will not initiate any state-level immigration enforcement while Iowa’s immigration enforcement law is still under review by the courts.
“As with all of our enforcement efforts, the Denison Police Department will ensure that constitutional and civil rights are protected.” Chief Trejo said, “Our citizens will be treated with dignity and respect.”
Statement on Facebook from Denison Police Chief Tony Trejo
DES MOINES, Iowa [via KCCI — With about six months to go before the start of the 52nd ride, we now know the route for this year’s RAGBRAI© event (The Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa). The route was announced Saturday night during an event at Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee. This year’s event will take riders west to east from Orange City to Guttenberg, starting July 20 and ending July 26. The route goes 406 miles and has 10,487 feet of climb. It’s the second shortest ride in RAGBRAI history.
From the RAGBRAI 2025 Facebook page
2025 Route Dates/legs:
Sunday, July 20: Orange City to Milford, 70.1 miles
Monday, July 21: Milford to Estherville, 44.6 miles
Tuesday, July 22: Estherville to Forest City, 74.1 miles
Wednesday, July 23: Forest City to Iowa Falls, 68.3 miles
Thursday, July 24: Iowa Falls to Cedar Falls, 49.5 miles
Friday, July 25: Cedar Falls to Oelwein, 38.2 miles
Saturday, July 26: Oelwein to Guttenberg, 61.2 miles
(Area Counties) – Firefighters around southwest Iowa were kept busy battle numerous grass and field fires this weekend. Early today (Sunday), Cumberland and Massena crews were called to assist in fighting a large field fire in northern Adams County.
The Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency reported Saturday, area fire departments have responded to numerous grass/field/brush fires Saturday afternoon. Officials said some were controlled burns, others were not. The EMA urged property owners that “If you plan to burn at anytime, please call the Montgomery County Communications Center at 712-623-5107 to report your burn and exact location.
Montgomery County EMA photo
This will allow us to verify the location and responsible party should a fire be reported or grow out of control.” The Montgomery County EMA said also, that “With warm and windy conditions forecasted over the next several days and continued dry fuel loads present everywhere, any fire that starts will quickly spread. Be sure to check any previous burn piles multiple times over the next several days as well.”
The Red Oak Fire Department posted to social media Saturday afternoon, that at around 12:30-p.m., Saturday, Stanton FD, Red Oak FD, and Elliott FD were dispatched to 2513 170th for a reported grass fire – near a barn. Upon arrival, a debris pile fire had spread into a south field/grass area, as well as, within feet of a standing barn. Fire crews made a quick knock down and spent considerable time extinguishing the debris pile fire. No injuries to civilians or firefighters. As of 1:30 p.m Stanton FD and the property owner were extinguishing some hot spots, preparing to terminate fire-ground operations.
Red Oak FD photo
Red Oak FD photo
Red Oak FD photo
And, Neola Fire and Rescue reported on social media, that Saturday morning, they were paged out to a grass fire. With the dryness and wind conditions they quickly called for mutual aid. Fire officials said they wanted to thank the Underwood Fire and Rescue, McClelland Volunteer Fire Department, Minden Fire & Rescue, Crescent Volunteer Fire Department and Lewis Township Fire & Rescue for their quick response and help! Also thank you to the local farmers who were quick to help!!”
Neola FD photo
Neola FD photo
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