DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A decision by the Ohio governor to expand the state’s Medicaid program has not changed Gov. Terry Branstad’s opposition to Medicaid expansion in Iowa.      Branstad’s spokesman said Tuesday that the governor still believes that raising the Medicaid eligibility limits would be too costly. Tim Albrecht said Branstad does support continuing the IowaCare program, a state and federally funded plan that provides limited health coverage to low-income adults.

Democrats in the state Senate have introduced legislation that would broaden eligibility requirements for the Medicaid program in Iowa, which covers low-income residents, including children and the disabled. President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul provides funding to states that expand Medicaid.   An expansion in Iowa could add as many as 150,000 people to the program, including those currently on IowaCare.

The Shelby County Supervisors will be revising their security plan for county buildings. During a regular meeting this (Tuesday) morning, Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert gave the supervisors a Shelby County Courthouse interim crisis response plan. Seivert put the plan together because “acts of violence against public offices and elected officials is a distinct possibility.”

The plan includes an action plan for verbal altercations, in the event an employee becomes involved in an argument or discussion with another person, the employees in the immediate area are to call 911 and if able, outline the events occurring. A robbery or weapon displayed was also discussed, in the event an employee is confronted by someone who is making demands for money, showing a weapon or implying they have a weapon, the employee shall comply with the person and have local law enforcement deal with the attacker.

The final item was weapons being fired.  Seivert said “That would be the most critical thing to happen to us. It has gained a lot of national attention. Homeland security has come up with a similar plan for offices. They give the option to hide or to attack the individual and making it so he can’t get to you. If you are backed into a corner and can’t get out of harms way, they need to protect themselves.” Supervisor Steve Kenkel asked a follow up question about where to take the initial plan from this point forward. Seivert said “We need to look at the entire county safety plan and all other buildings. There is a lot of drafts and methods to assessing our risks.”

The board approved a review of all security in the building, with the Safety Committee with Seivert and Shelby County Sheriff Mark Hervey assisting in the plans.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Sunday of a Council Bluffs man on drug charges. 19-year old Alec John Guehlstorff, of Council Bluffs, was taken into custody at around 4:05-p.m. near the intersection of Highway 34 and 207th Street. He was charged with Possession of A Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Guehlstorff was later released on $1,300 bond. His preliminary hearing was scheduled for Feb. 19th.

During the same incident, 19-year old Mark Leon Stuart, Jr. of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts and Criminal Mischief.  Stuart negotiated a plea of guilty, was ordered to pay fines amounting to nearly $300, and then released from custody.

Early Sunday morning, 33-year old Justin David Fahrenkrog, of Mineola, was arrested in Mills County on a charge of OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000. And on Saturday, deputies in Mills County arrested 48-year old Joseph Timothy Wood, of Council Bluffs, on a warrant for allegedly violating the terms of his probation associated with his arrest last March on burglary and theft charges. Wood’s bond was set at $10,000. His hearing is set to occur on Feb. 18th.

Iowans are being asked to spread around a little love for Valentine’s Day. The Veterans Administration is planning a variety of events next week to show appreciation to men and women in uniform. Will Ackerman is spokesman for the V-A Western Iowa Health Care System. Ackerman says, “We have some different organizations that have come in and do give-aways of cookies and other things, plus we also invite organizations, such as schools and businesses to come in and visit with our veteran patients as a way to thank them for their service.”

Anyone can take part in thanking a veteran by picking up a few extra valentines and making them out to a veteran. Ackerman says, “Get involved by either bringing some valentines to their local VAs or they can mail them in to the VA ahead of time and we will give the valentines to our veterans throughout the week so they recognize they are being thanked for their service.” He says it’s an easy, inexpensive way to brighten the day of a veteran. “We’ve got a couple different organizations that are already scheduled to be there to thank them for their service and give the veterans who are coming in some of these goodies,” Ackerman says. “They’ll also be there to hand out valentines for veterans that people bring in.”

Groups involved include churches, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and others, though he says individuals are also welcome to visit and thank our servicemen and women.

(Radio Iowa)

Sheriff’s officials in Audubon County say no serious injuries were reported following a rollover accident early this (Tuesday) morning, about a mile north of Kimballton. Authorities say 51-year old Theresa Marie Amsden, of Manning, was traveling south on Bluebird Avenue at around 12:30-a.m., when her 1996 Chevy Corsica left the road and entered the east shoulder. The vehicle entered the road again and shot across the road into the west ditch before flipping onto its roof.

Amsden refused medical treatment at the scene. She was cited by deputies for Failure to Maintain Control. Officials say her car sustained $3,000 damage.

(9-a.m. News)

Police in Lenox report an investigation into drugs and drug paraphernalia found in a home there on Jan. 26th, led to the arrest Jan. 31st, of a Red Oak woman.

Natosha Cralley (Lenox P-D photo)

29-year old Natosha Myree Cralley was arrested on a charge of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was transported to the Adams County Jail and later posted a $1,300 bond.

Sheriff’s officials in Harrison County say a Logan man was injured during a rollover accident on Sunday evening. 23-year old Brian Jeffrey Hemenway was traveling westbound on Highway 30 in a 1995 Pontiac Grand Prix, when he lost control of the car at around 6:20-p.m., while attempting to pass another vehicle. The out of control Pontiac hit the left rear of a 2007 Saturn Aura, driven by 46 year old Anthony Lindner, of Odebolt, causing Lindner’s car to skid to the left shoulder of the road, while Hemenway’s vehicle skidded into the south ditch.

As the Pontiac entered the ditch, it rolled at least 5-times before coming to rest on its top. Hemenway was transported by Logan Rescue to Missouri Valley Hospital for what officials said were non-incapacitating injuries. An update on his condition is not available. Lindner was uninjured in the crash. Damage to Hemenway’s Grand Prix was estimated at $1,500 while Lindner’s Saturn was $8,000. Hemenway was cited for unsafe passing and failure to maintain control.

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The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports one person faces felony theft and burglary charges following a joint investigation by authorities in Mills and Montgomery County, as well as the Iowa State Patrol. 31-year old Damian Allen Govig, of Red Oak, was charged with 1st degree Theft a Class C felony), 2 counts of 2nd degree theft ( a Class D felony), and burglary in the 3rd degree (also a Class D felony).

Officials say the events leading up to Govig’s arrest began early Monday morning, when the Montgomery County Communications Center received a report about a burglary in the 1900 block of G Avenue in Red Oak. After deputies arrived, they determined someone had gained entry into a building on property owned by Michael Ecternach and Jeffrey Fort. Numerous items of value were taken during the burglary, including a 2002 Ford pickup and an attached 2013 Finish Line trailer.

The pickup truck and trailer were involved in an accident three-miles north of Tabor on Highway 275, Monday.  Govig, who was later identified as the driver of the pickup, told authorities he fell asleep at the wheel.  During an investigation into the crash, the stolen property was recovered from inside the vehicle and trailer.