(Atlantic, IA) – The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors met with staff from Hospice of the Midwest on Thursday November 6th, to learn more about the compassionate services they provide, and the important role volunteers play in supporting patients and families.

Hospice of the Midwest, based in Guthrie Center, serves Cass County and surrounding areas, offering end-of-life care that focuses on comfort, dignity, and quality of life. The organization provides a team-based approach to care, including nurses, social workers, spiritual counselors, and volunteers who work together to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients and their loved ones.

Pictured: Ambassadors (Left to Right): Summer Schwab, Rob Clausen, Bill Saluk, Chris Parks, Jim Kickland, Krysta Hanson, Nash, Julie Waters, Dolly Bergmann, Tiffany Johnson, Jeremy Butler, Elaine Otte, Joseph Weber, Connie Wailes, Anne Quist, Colt Doherty, and Brian Ruge

During the visit, Tiffany Johnson spoke about common misconceptions surrounding hospice care. She shared that many people believe hospice is only for a person’s final days of life, when in fact hospice can provide months of support, improving comfort and helping families navigate this important stage with understanding and peace of mind.

Joseph Weber discussed the vital role volunteers play as part of the hospice care team. Volunteers assist with a wide variety of tasks, from providing companionship to patients and families to helping with administrative needs. “Volunteers are truly the heart of hospice,” he shared, emphasizing that their time and compassion help bring comfort and connection to those receiving care.

Hospice of the Midwest staff encouraged community members to learn more about hospice services and consider volunteering as a meaningful way to give back. For more information about Hospice of the Midwest or to learn how to volunteer, visit https://www.hospiceofthemidwest.com/.

LYON COUNTY, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety, today (Friday), said that on Thursday, November 6, 2025, a Lyon County jury found 38-year-old Shaun Joseph Benward guilty of multiple felony charges. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s Special Enforcement Operations Bureau initiated an investigation in 2018, and warrants were issued for his arrest. Benward was later located in Mississippi in April 2025 and arrested for the following:

• Five counts of Money Laundering, a class C felony
• Five counts of Cheating at Gambling Games, a class D felony
• One count of Conspiracy to Commit a Felony, a class D felony
• A sentencing date has not yet been set by the court.

Shaun Joseph Benward booking photo

On December 16, 2018, SEOB agents and casino staff witnessed Shaun Joseph Benward commit a series of fraudulent activities at the Grand Falls Casino in Larchwood, Iowa. He manipulated casino staff to secure over $10,000 in improper payouts and avoided IRS reporting requirements by breaking up over $12,000 in transactions, changing his outfit multiple times, and using different tellers to stay undetected. Benward has been arrested for similar scams throughout the country.

The SEOB is the primary criminal investigative and enforcement agency for the Iowa gaming industry.

(Radio Iowa) – State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat running for governor, says when it comes to property taxes, he supports taxing out-of-state property owners at a higher rate than Iowa residents.

Sand’s proposal for a two-tiered property tax system for Iowans and for out-of-staters would apply to all classes of property — residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural.

The latest Iowa State University survey on farmland ownership — done back in 2022 — found about half of Iowa farmland is owned by someone who doesn’t farm. Nearly a quarter of land sold that year was purchased as an investment.

Sand made his comments during taping of the “Iowa Press” program that airs tonight (Friday) on Iowa P-B-S. Two of the top 10 individuals or companies that own Iowa farmland are based out of state. The Utah-based trust for the Mormon Church owns at least 22-thousand acres of Iowa farmland according to property records reviewed by The Cedar Rapids Gazette. A South Dakota egg company and a property management company based in Delaware each own well over 10-thousand acres of Iowa ag land.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court has denied an appeal from the city of Davenport for immunity in the fatal collapse of a building. The Iowa Supreme Court overruled the district court which said the city and two employees had immunity in the partial collapse of the apartment building in May 2023 that left three people dead. The high court says this case falls under an earlier ruling where they said claims for common law negligence and nuisance claims are not covered by qualified immunity the same as constitutional claims or the violation of specific statutory rights.

The ruling means the class action lawsuit by dozens of survivors against the building’s former owner and the city of Davenport can move forward.

(Glenwood, IA) – Officials with the Mills County Auditor’s Office report an administrative recount was conducted for two of polling places, Thursday. The administrative recount did confirm when the machines experienced a ballot jam, and the jam was clear – the corresponding ballot was not counted on election day. The election results remain unofficial until canvassed by the Mills County Board of Supervisors.

The election results can be found here: Mills County_Unofficial Results_After Administrative Recount

Or on the Iowa Secretary of State’s website at https://electionresults.iowa.gov/IA/Mills/124261/web.345435/#/summary?v=364569%2F

(Radio Iowa) – Some 80-thousand Iowans are now caregivers for more than 62-thousand loved ones who have Alzheimer’s or another dementia. One such caregiver, Lori Phillips of Madrid, leads an online support group and attends an in-person meeting as well. Phillips says the two groups have been a tremendous help, as she was struggling to cope with all of the responsibilities she’d taken on to care for her mother. “The virtual support group was what really spoke to me,” Phillips says, “because so many people are so busy, and being able to just jump online and be able to support one another and to share things we’ve learned was extremely helpful to me.” After Phillips’ father died more than two years ago, she moved her mother back to Iowa from Arizona and into a local memory care facility.

Phillips visits her several times a week to spend time with her and help with her care, including showering, dressing and eating. “The biggest challenge is the emotional toll that it’s taken on me and my family,” Phillips says. “Thank goodness for the caregivers and the nurses and all the people at the facility where she is, because I’ve had several meltdowns. I mean, actually sobbing, because it’s such a roller coaster. There’s good days and there’s bad days and I never know what I’m walking into.” Phillips’ virtual support group is among more than 60 such groups in Iowa through the Alzheimer’s Association. They provide resources and support to spouses, children, friends and family of loved ones living with dementia. Phillips says they discuss a wide range of topics revolving around the ups and downs of being caregivers.

“One time she pulled the fire alarm and I didn’t know how to react, and so I’m like, ‘Are you sure she did it? I want to see the video.’ And then it was like, ‘Okay, well, it says PULL on it,’ you know?” Phillips says. “Just all the phases I go through, from defensive to sad to an advocate to supporting to celebrating.” Phillips, a former school principal, says she’s learned a host of helpful tips from the Alzheimer’s Association to help her care for her mother, and now she helps other caregivers as a support group facilitator. “Getting to know my mom as the new mom who’s ill, and grieving the mom who she was is where I’m at right now,” Phillips says. “It’s just finding ways to make my mom happy now, but knowing her as a whole new person has been extremely helpful for my mental state.”

The Alzheimer’s Association offers local support and programs to families, along with a 24-7 Helpline at 800-272-3900. The next virtual support group Phillips will lead is scheduled for 4 P-M on Monday, HERE: bit.ly/virtualcaregiverSG

(Radio Iowa) – Officials in Iowa’s fourth largest county have adopted a temporary ban on construction of data centers in rural areas of Johnson County. Jon Green, chairman of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, read the details during this week’s board meeting. “A resolution establishing a temporary moratorium on the approval of applications for rezoning, subdivision, or site plan; and on the issuance of building permits for data centers in unincorporated Johnson County,” Green said.

The resolution passed unanimously without debate or comments from the public. Data centers serve as the digital hubs for tech giants like Google and Microsoft and Meta. Critics worry about the impact on local utilities due to the amount of water and electricity data centers use.

This summer, the Clarke County Supervisors approved a temporary moratorium on the construction of data centers in rural areas of their southern Iowa county.

(Atlantic, IA) – Officials at Cass Health, in Atlantic, says the Cass Health Nurses Honor Guard will hold a fundraising event at Pizza Ranch in Atlantic on Thursday, November 20, from 5- to 8-pm.  Portions of every dine-in or take-out purchase will directly support the Nurses Honor Guard’s mission to honor the dedicated nurses who devoted their lives to caring for others. Proceeds from the event will be used to purchase meaningful gifts for families such as Florence Nightingale lamps, flowers, and blankets. Those items are presented during funeral services to the families of nurses who have passed, as well as during living tributes for those still with us, celebrating their remarkable careers.

Founded in 2003, this national organization has more than 250 groups across the United States. The Nurses Honor Guard is a volunteer program made up of current and former nurses that attend the services of nurses who have passed away, as well as parades, honor walks, living tributes, and more. The Cass Health chapter was founded in 2024 and has quickly grown to 25 members. Current or former nurses interested in joining this volunteer organization can call 712-243-7575 for more information.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The Iowa Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) website, now lists new details regarding layoffs at Collins Aerospace. Collins Aerospace confirmed October 30 it would lay off workers as part of a restructuring plan. Iowa WARN says three people will be affected by the layoffs. Workers were given notice on November 4. Layoffs will go into effect on December 31. A spokesperson told KCRG-TV the company is realigning resources and ‘optimizing organizational structure.

In a statement, officials with Collins Aerospace said “To ensure we are best positioned to address our customers’ greatest needs now and into the future, we are taking actions to reduce costs and optimize our organizational structure. This includes conducting a small reduction of positions. These actions will allow us to reinvest in high-priority programs, reduce complexity and increase efficiency to better meet the strong demand for aerospace and defense products.”