GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP) — Five former state workers were sentenced to probation after their conviction of mistreating disabled people in their care at an Iowa health care facility.
A judge issued a yearlong probation sentence Monday to the employees who were fired or resigned in 2016 after resident abuse allegations surfaced at the Glenwood Resource Center, which cares for individuals with conditions such as autism or brain injuries.

The Des Moines Register reports that the five workers were charged with wanton neglect and required to serve two to four weeks in jail. A sixth case is ongoing.

The Iowa Department of Human Services oversees the facility. Department officials say the abuse was due to a small number of workers who have been removed. State administrators say they’ve improved training and supervision in response to the allegations.

Max Starlin, PA-C, will present a program on obstructive sleep apnea at the next session of Healthy U at noon on Thursday, March 15, at Cass County Health System, in Atlantic. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a serious disorder that causes people to stop breathing intermittently as they sleep. It is a very common disorder that affects millions of Americans. Starlin says “Obstructive sleep apnea is one of those problems that can really wreak havoc on us. People suffer from headaches, they’re tired all day, and they just don’t feel well, which has a huge impact on their quality of life. Thankfully, there are a number of great treatments to help people who suffer from this condition.”

During Healthy U, Starlin will discuss the types of sleep apnea, their causes, and the variety of treatment options. Healthy U is a free educational lunch series at Cass County Health System held monthly in Conference Room 2. The public is invited and welcome to attend, but reservations are required as lunch is provided for all attendees. Call 712-243-7479 to reserve your seat.

Two people were killed in a head-on crash about 8 o’clock last (Monday) night in southern Iowa’s Monroe County. State troopers say a 2002 Chevy pickup driven by 28-year-old Nathaniel Stroud of Centerville was westbound on Highway 34 traveling at high speed in the eastbound lane and struck a 2014 Chrysler driven by 34-year-old Summer Cox of Allerton. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. Highway 34 was closed for more than three hours in both directions.

(Radio Iowa)

The CAM School District’s Board of Education will hold a special meeting 5-p.m. Wednesday, at the High School Media Center, in Anita. On their agenda, is discussion followed by possible action on the CAM Education Association (CAMEA) negotiations toward the 2018-19 Master Contract, and a changing of the time for March’s regular meeting, to 5:30-p.m.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of video recording four people in a Mason City school staff restroom has pleaded not guilty. Court records say 46-year-old David Bemis entered the pleas Friday to four counts of invasion of privacy. A trial date hasn’t been set.

Investigators say Bemis was a janitor at Clear Creek Elementary School in May 2013 when he hid a video camera in the restroom and recorded four school employees in varying degrees of nudity. Investigators say the recording was found on a computer in Bemis’ home in Mason City. He no longer works for the district.

Clear Lake Superintendent Doug Gee says an investigation began in January after the district learned about an incident occurring four to five years ago. He says no students were recorded.

The Cass and Adair County Boards of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly meetings Wednesday, in Atlantic and Greenfield, respectively. In Atlantic, the Cass County Board will meet at 8:30-a.m. in their Board Room at the Courthouse. On their agenda is discussion and action on an Abatement or Compromise of tax on the County held Tax Sale Certificate for a parcel of land in Meredith’s Addition, in Lewis. The Board will also sign an agreement for County Engineer Charles Bechtold, with regard to the County Home generator replacement project.

In Greenfield, the Adair County Board of Supervisors will meet 9-a.m. Wednesday, at the Adair County Public Safety Center’s PSC Conference Room. Auditor Mindy Schaefer will provide an update on the Election Trailer, and IMWCA renewal worksheet. Sheriff Jeff Vandewater will discuss the credit card limit, and a New Hire. County Conservation Director Kevin Blazek will present pickup truck bids, and County Engineer Nick Kauffman will present contracts for various bridge/road resurfacing and other projects, as well as discuss other departmental activities.

At the end of regular business, the Adair County Board of Supervisors will enter into a Closed Session to discuss and possibly act on two parcels of land for real estate purchase.

A group of state senators and some of their staff had about an hour’s worth of private training Monday, in how best to respond to an “active shooter” situation. Sergeant Steve Lawrence, the state trooper who led the discussion. “I could tell that everyone in the room, their eyes had been opened a little bit and were willing to accept and prepare themselves for something like that, God forbid that it ever happened, he said.”

He spoke with reporters afterwards. If you hear gunshots, “evacuating is almost always the best response,” according to Sergeant Lawrence. “And run as fast as you can, not in a straight line, and run until you’re safe, that’s the best thing that you can do,” Lawrence says. “If you can barricade in a secure room where they can’t break through a window or through the door, that’s a great idea…Last resort, if you don’t have a chance to run or or you don’t have a chance to barricade: fight back…Fight back with whatever means you’ve got whether that be a pair of scissors, a paperweight, a coffee mug, hot coffee — anything in your hands — fight back and (don’t) become a victim.”

Lawrence says everyone should think about potential threats, wherever they may be.  “Every law enforcement officer does that daily,” Lawrence said. “Throughout our duties, traffic stops, whatever it is — we prepare ourselves daily, so if it does happen, we know how to respond.”

Lawrence is a certified safety instructor. He’s so far met with “well over two-thousand” state employees and state officials to discuss that kind of “situational awareness.”

(Radio Iowa)