(Creston, Iowa) – An accident in Creston early Friday night resulted in a woman being transported to the hospital. According to the Creston Police Department, the accident happened at around 7:40-p.m. on North Division Street, just north of the intersection with West Irving Street. Authorities say a 2016 Dodge SUV was legally parked, when a 17-year-old female from Shannon City, attempted to turn the car she was driving, around. The 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis was backing up, when it struck the SUV.

The teenage driver said she looked but didn’t see the Dodge. The owner of the Dodge, 28-year-old Crystal Whitney Jacobe, of Creston, was in the process of putting her children in the vehicle at the time of the accident. The impact caused her to be struck by the door of her vehicle, causing an injury to her right hip. Jacobe was transported to the Creston hospital by ambulance.

Both vehicles sustained minor damage and were driven away from the scene. The damage amounted to $1,500 altogether, according to the police report. There were no citations issued. The report only noted contributing factors in the accident were starting or backing improperly.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, during their meeting Tuesday morning (Oct. 8^th), are expected to approve an Informal Resolution with regard to a complaint to the Iowa Public Information Board (IPIB), about an alleged violation of Iowa’ Open Meeting Law, by the County Supervisors. On a related note, the Supervisors are expected to acknowledge the IPIB opinion found after the complaint that was filed following a Supervisor’s meeting in July, 2024.

In September, the IPIB scolded Montgomery County for what a complainant called “egregious” violations of the state’s open meetings law. In September, the Montgomery County Supervisors accepted a complaint filed by West Township resident Jan Norris against the Board of Supervisors. The IPIB says Norris’ complaint alleged the supervisors violated chapter 21 of the Iowa Code by conducting an open session requirement in a closed session. In written comments last month accepting the IPIB’s findings, the Supervisors noted violations were unintentional, and in no way intended to conceal information from or mislead the public in any manner.

In other business, the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors are expected to approve: Board representatives for the County Compensation Board; Oct. 9^th claims; and, Recorder’s and Sheriff’s Department fees for Sept. 30^th. Tuesday’s meeting will be held in the Montgomery County Courthouse Supervisor’s meeting room in Red Oak, beginning at 8:30-a.m.

*********

*Please note, this is a public meeting; however, it may be conducted via ZOOM

Join Zoom Meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85039693411

Meeting ID: 850 3969 3411

Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 If you are calling in, Press *9 to raise your hand if you wish to speak.31

(Des Moines, Iowa) – More than 50 privately owned Iowa nursing homes have agreed to reimburse taxpayers for $13.9 million in unpaid fees owed to the state. In August, Iowa Capital Dispatch reported that records obtained though the state’s Open Records Act showed that 49 Iowa nursing homes owed the state more than $10.7 million in fees the state had so far failed to collect. At the time, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services said it had entered into payment plans with many of the care facilities.

In response to a subsequent request for the amortization schedules that detail the schedule of payments for individual homes, DHHS recently turned over records pertaining to 52 care facilities, indicating a few facilities that hadn’t agreed to payment plans in August have since been added to the list. The newly disclosed documents show that:

— The payment plans total $13.9 million: The 52 nursing homes are in the midst of reimbursing the state for $13,914,672 in unpaid fees, with many of the monthly payments having been initiated in April of this year. Most of the agreements call for the companies to have their debt paid off by September 2025.

— Two homes owed $1.3 million each: Two of the nursing homes that accrued a large amount of debt are owned by one for-profit company called Pacifica Health Services. That company operates the Carlisle Center for Wellness and Rehabilitation, and the Fleur Heights Center for Wellness and Rehabilitation in Des Moines.

— One chain owed $4 million: The nursing home chain that accrued the largest debt is Accura Healthcare, which operates 19 care facilities in Iowa that are now on payment plans totaling $4,073,725. The chain has been hit with more than $1.1 million in fines for quality-of-care violations, and regulators have suspended Medicaid payments to various Accura facilities at least 11 times. In a written statement, the company said Friday that it is “fully committed to fulfilling its repayment obligations.”

— Some homes charged interest: DHHS is characterizing some of the financial arrangements with nursing homes as the repayment of “loans,” rather than the collection of unpaid fees. In some cases, the documents show, the state is charging the facilities interest, but in other cases the payment plans speak only to the amount of principal that will be paid, with no mention of interest.

— Debtors include closed facilities: Two now-shuttered care facilities — the Donnellson Health Care Center and Fremont County’s Tabor Manor – owe the state close to $1.3 million. The state appears to have no payment plan in place for Tabor Manor, which is currently in bankruptcy and owes the state roughly $1.1 million, but it does have a payment plan that calls for the Donnellson home to make an escalating series of payments through September 2025 to pay $282,265 it owes the state.

— Million-dollar balloon payments: Many of the facilities that owe the state hundreds of thousands of dollars will pay a relatively small amount toward their debt until 2025, when balloon payments of $400,000 or more will come due.

Among the care facilities on a payment plan, is:

Accura Healthcare of Carroll: This facility agreed to make an escalating series of 18 monthly payments, beginning in April 2024, to repay $345,222 that is owed. The plan includes a balloon payment of $309,222 to be made in September 2025.

Accura Healthcare of Shenandoah: In April 2024, this facility agreed to repay the state $62,274 by making 18 monthly payments of $3,460.

Accura Healthcare of Stanton: This facility has agreed to make a series of 18 monthly payments, beginning in April 2024, to repay $31,478 that is owed.

Crest Haven Care Center, Creston: This home agreed to repay the state $24,660 by making 12 monthly payments of roughly $2,055 each, beginning in April 2024. This facility is owned or operated by Trillium Healthcare Group.

Denison Care Center: This home agreed to repay the state $30,480 by making 12 monthly payments of roughly $2,540 each, beginning in April 2024. This facility is owned or operated by Trillium Healthcare Group.

Garden View Care Center, Shenandoah: This home agreed to repay the state $231,639 by making 12 monthly payments of roughly $19,303 each, beginning in April 2024. This facility is owned or operated by Trillium Healthcare Group.

Lenox Care Center: This home agreed to repay the state $30,754 by making 12 monthly payments of roughly $1,729 each, beginning in April 2024. This facility is owned or operated by Trillium Healthcare Group.

(Allamakee County, Iowa) – A collision between an SUV and a motorcycle Saturday (Oct. 5) in northeast Iowa, resulted in one death and two others injured. The Iowa State Patrol reports 37-year-old Adam J. Green, of Sumner, was operating a 2001 Harley Davidson motorcycle eastbound on Highway 9, when he failed to yield while attempting to turn north onto 9th Street Southwest, in Waukon. The cycle was struck by a 2008 Mercedes Benz SUV driven by 18-year-old Keira J. Miller, of Waukon. The accident happened in the westbound lane of Highway 9, at around Noon, Saturday.

Adam Green was flown by Gunderson Air to Gunderson Hospital in LaCrosse, WI, where he died. A passenger on the motorcycle, 56-year-old Julie Geerts, of West Union, suffered critical injuries. She, along with the Keira Miller, were transported to the hospital in Waukon. Miller was treated for minor injuries and released.

DES MOINES, Iowa  – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds ordered all flags in the state to be flown at half-staff on Monday, to honor the lives lost in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel by the terrorist organization Hamas. In the attack, 1,200 lives were lost, including at least 40 Americans, and at least seven American hostages are still being held by the Iran-backed terrorist group.

“The hearts of Iowans go out to the innocent Israeli families and American citizens killed by Hamas. Iran and its terrorist proxies continue to attack as Israeli forces fight to protect their people against the forces of evil,” Gov. Reynolds said. “Iowa stands, as it always has, with Israel.” 

On Monday, flags will be flown at half-staff at the State Capitol Building and on all public buildings and grounds across the state until sunset. Residents, businesses, schools, municipalities and other government subdivisions are encouraged to do the same.

(Red Oak, Iowa) — Two people were arrested late Friday morning in Red Oak, on animal neglect and other charges. According to Red Oak Police, 57-year-old Kelly Kay Wilcoxon and 21-year-old Spencer Fred Lee Wilcoxon, both of Red Oak, were face charges that include animal neglect with injury, and allowing a dog to run at large.

The couple was later released from the Montgomery County Jail after posting $1,000 bond’s, each.

(Radio Iowa) -The Butler County Sheriff says what’s known as the “Grandparent Scam” is starting to show up more and more. Chief Deputy Mike Lammers says scammers target older people by calling and claiming to be a grandchild with an emergency need for cash. He says they use a lot of personal information they get online.

Lammers says if someone calls you and says your family member has been arrested you need to check it out. You can get help from local law enforcement.

Reports says Americans older than 60 lost three-point-four-billion dollars to scams in 2023.

(Radio Iowa) – The Democrat running against Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra in Iowa’s fourth congressional district says rank-and-file voters in the district have massive public health concerns that aren’t being addressed. Iowa is the only state where cancer rates are increasing and Ryan Melton says Iowans want answers.

Melton cites Palo Alto County, which has a cancer rate 50 percent higher than the national average. There’s just one other county in the country that has a higher incidence of cancer among its residents. Melton says more robust action is needed to encourage farmers to reduce the amount of fertilizer that winds up in Iowa waterways.

Melton says policymakers should explore limiting the amount of nitrogen applied to farm fields.

Melton says the added cost of treating drinking water to reduce contaminants and the sheer number of “swimming not advised” warnings this summer at state owned parks are concerning to Iowans, regardless of party.

Ryan Melton, the Democratic Party’s nominee in Iowa’s fourth congressional district, on the “Iowa Press” set on Oct. 4, 2024. (Iowa PBS photo)

And Melton says there need to be increased protections for public health and water due to the increase in large-scale hog operations in Iowa.

Melton made his comments during today’s (Friday’s) taping of “Iowa Press” which airs tonight on Iowa P-B-S. Congressman Feenstra did not accept the invitation from Iowa P-B-S to debate Melton before this year’s election. Melton is running against Feenstra for a second time. Melton works for a major insurance company. Melton and his family recently moved from Nevada (nuh-VAY-duh) to Webster City.