The University of Iowa unveiled a new mobile medical training truck today (Tuesday) at the Iowa State Capitol. U-I program advisor, Cormac O’Sullivan says it allows medical professionals to get trained at home.

He cites one example where they would stage a car accident with mannequins for the local fire department.

They would then take them through training in the emergency room. O’Sullivan says there’s already staff shortages — and it’s tough for small towns to take everyone to a training session.

O’Sullivan is an associate professor in the College of Nursing where this first truck will be based in Iowa City. Two more trucks will be coming.

The goal is to reach every single facility, provider, and county in the state at least once a year with some continuing education training with simulation. Sioux City E-M-T Trainer, Terry Regaller, was on hand for the announcement.

He says the training is very important to the success of first responders.

The start-up of the program is funded with an eight-million-dollar grant from the Helmsley Charitable Trust. Trustee Walter Panzirer (Pan-seer), says Iowa is the fifth state to get these types of trucks.

The funding will gradually drop down over four years, and then the University of Iowa has to find money to keep the program going.

ATLANTIC, IOWA – Affordable housing in southwest Iowa recently got a boost from the Iowa Economic Development Authority. A grant administered by Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) will provide $300,000 to renovate and add four upper-story housing units in the City of Atlantic.

The project will include a complete interior overhaul of the second level of the building at 300 Chestnut Street in Atlantic. The renovation will add four new one and two-bedroom rental units in the heart of downtown. The Whitney Development Corporation of Atlantic owns the building. The group, which has completed other projects such as the Whitney Hotel restoration, was formed in 2018 for the purpose of funding community development projects in Atlantic and Cass County.

Other communities approved for SWIPCO grants include:

• $200,000 to renovate and update two upper-story housing units in the City of Clarinda. The Downtown Housing Grant is funded with State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The project will include a complete interior overhaul of the second story space at 115 E Main Street, and will provide two of the only quality, updated rental units near the city center. Transforming this underutilized space into residential units will help to highlight the potential for improved quality of affordable living in downtown Clarinda.
• (SWIPCO) will provide $200,000 to renovate and add two upper-story housing units in the City of Glenwood.  The project will include a complete interior overhaul of the second and third stories of the historic Hinchman Building on the Glenwood city square. The renovation will include two fully furnished two-bedroom, two-bath residential units. Major components of the project will include bringing electrical and plumbing services up to code as well as installing high efficiency HVAC and updated duct work.
• (SWIPCO) will provide $100,000 to renovate and update two upper-story housing units in the City of Stanton. The project will include an interior overhaul of unfinished second story space in the property at 312 Broad Avenue, along with exterior improvements such as brick tuckpointing, the addition of concrete parking stalls, and deck construction to add outdoor living space.
• (SWIPCO) will provide $178,984 to renovate and add two upper-story housing units in the City of Logan. The project will include a complete interior overhaul of the second level of the building at 307 E 7^th Street in Logan. Boarded windows will be reopened, and a new stairwell built to provide a secure, main street entrance to the residential units. In addition to two more one-bedroom, one-bath housing units, the renovation brings new economic activity in town. While the upper story has been vacant for many years, the building’s main level will soon house an expansion of Logan Flours, an existing local bakery. The project’s total cost is estimated to be just under $240,000 with $60,000 in private dollars in addition to the Downtown Housing Grant. The grant is funded with State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

SWIPCO routinely provides grant writing and administration services to its member communities in Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby Counties and has brought over $100 million in grants to the region in the last two years alone.

(Radio Iowa) – A bipartisan advisory panel has recommended that the House Ethics Committee dismiss its review of third district Congresswoman Cindy Axne’s stock trades. Last year a watchdog group called the Campaign Legal Center accused seven House members — including Axne, a Democrat from West Des Moines — of failing to report stock trades. The purchases and sales of stock were related to retirement accounts for Axne and her husband as well as 529 investment accounts for their children’s college expenses.

Axne says she and her husband left the investment decisions to account managers and didn’t execute or direct any stock trades themselves — and Axne didn’t realize she was to file public reports about any account activity. After the watchdog group’s accusation, Axne hired a lawyer to review the accounts and submit her financial disclosure reports. The bipartisan board that reviews ethics complaints has unanimously voted to recommend that all allegations against Axne be dismissed.

The Office of Congressional Ethics is an independent board that’s primarily made up of former members of congress. The board reviews allegations of misconduct and refers complaints to the House Ethics Committee. Axne says the group has asked her how the reporting system can be updated so that good actors don’t get tripped up and bad actors can’t skate by and she’s working with other members of congress to develop new guidelines for stock trade reporting.

(Radio Iowa) – Convicted sex offender from Inwood faces new sexual assault charge. Thirty-three-year old Justin Van Veldhuizen was arrested on his release from the state corrections system on Thursday, after serving time on an unrelated sexual assault conviction. While incarcerated, a victim came forward, and reported that Van Veldhuizen had assaulted her at a residence southwest of Rock Valley in 2007.

Van Veldhuizen was taken to the Sioux County jail, and was charged with two counts of sexual assault.

(Radio Iowa) – An Ottumwa man was arrested after authorities say he provided a gun to a teenager which resulted in the recipient’s death. According to court documents, on February 23rd, 19-year-old Mason McNelley provided a stolen firearm to a 17-year-old identified as James Barbieri. Investigators say Barbieri was handling the gun at which time the firearm discharged and a round struck him in the head.

Barbieri died from his injuries on February 26th. McNeely has been charged with trafficking in a stolen weapon used in a crime, dominion/control of a firearm by a felon, and transfer of a pistol or revolver to a person under 21.

(Radio Iowa) – A bar owner in rural Palo Alto County is facing multiple felony charges as a part of an investigation by state and local law enforcement agencies. 61-year-old Ronald Dean Smith owned and operated Molly Maguire’s Pub from a rural address seven miles east of Emmetsubrg, near the town of Cylinder. On Friday, Deputies from the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office executed search warrants at the Pub as a part of an investigation that includes the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division and the Iowa Department of Revenue.

Deputies arrested Smith and have charged him four felonies, which include Ongoing Criminal Conduct, Fraudulent Sales Practices over $10,000, Sales Tax Evasion and Felon in Possession of a Firearm, to go along with 4 misdemeanor counts. Smith was booked into the Palo Alto County Jail with a cash only bond set at $50,000.

(Radio Iowa) – The nationwide 9-8-8 crisis line will go active next month, providing help for people experiencing a mental health crisis. Foundation 2 Crisis Services in Cedar Rapids is one of the two Iowa centers that will answer calls. C-E-O Emily Blomme tells K-C-R-G T-V she is concerned about meeting anticipated demand. “There are tons of concerns, it keeps me up at night,” Blomme says.

It’s estimated 71-thousand Iowans will call, chat or text 9-8-8 during the first 12 months of the launching of the new service. One of the biggest concerns is having enough staff. “We know that every sector is having workforce crunches, and human services and crisis services, in particular, are no different. And so, we are having a hard time finding crisis counselors,” she says.

The second Iowa center is CommUnity Crisis Services in Iowa City. If a call center in Iowa is not able to pick up — the call will be rerouted to a center in another state. While every call will be answered, Blomme says having them answered locally is ideal. She says about 87 percent of situations can be de-escalated over the phone, saving lives.

The 9-8-8 line goes active on July 16th. The current National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number 1-800-273-8255 is still active for anyone who is struggling.

ATLANTIC, IA – Produce in the Park continues to be a popular spot this summer. According to Market Manager Brigham Hoegh, weekly food trucks are believed to be playing a role in increased attendance. On June 23, A-Town SmokeShack will be at the park. A-Town SmokeShack is expanding their menu this week to include pulled pork nachos, hot dogs,
and kids meals, in addition to their traditional brisket and pulled pork barbeque sandwiches and meals, sides including cheesy potatoes and baked beans, chips, and ice-cold drinks.

In addition to food trucks, an increased number of visiting organizations and vendors is also drawing more people to the park. The Nishna Valley Family YMCA is the June sponsor of Produce in the Park and continues to bring bounce houses and activities to the park every week this month. The bounce houses are a kid favorite, and parents and guardians are reminded there are just two weeks left in the month of June to enjoy the fun. 

Other activities at the park on June 23 include coloring with Cass County PROSPER as part of Self-Care Summer, yard games with Atlantic Parks & Recreation, and gardening information from Cass County Master Gardeners. Zion Integrated Behavioral Health Services and the Cass County chapter of the American Cancer Society will also be at the park, the Guest Chef will be sharing free samples of kale chips, and Sarah Selders will be performing live. Lastly, nearly 20 vendors will be at the park on June 23, including popular dessert vendor Frosting Inc.

On June 16 Produce in the Park introduced a new market layout to help with traffic flow. Additional sidewalks and shady spaces are now being utilized. Produce in the Park thanks Atlantic Parks and Recreation for maintaining a beautiful city park and encourages shoppers to bring blankets or lawn chairs to relax, hang out, and picnic in the park.
Event: Produce in the Park Bounce Houses & BBQ
Date: June 23, 2022
Time: 4:30-6:30 PM
Location: Atlantic City Park (10 W. 7th Street, Atlantic, IA 50022)
For updates on Produce in the Park, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/), or visit the Produce in the Park website to sign up for the e-newsletter at www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday (today), approved two investigators for the Medical Examiner’s Office. Supervisor Steve Green said he spoke with Medical Examiner Dr. Elaine Berry about the assistants to her office.

Michelle Schroeder, MSN/BSN/RN will be returning to the area, while Andrea Stork, RN, is the Medical Examiner Assistant to be approved. Green pointed out the staff are necessary due to Dr. Berry’s schedule.

At some point, he said, she will probably retire after building-up her staff. In other business, Cass County Treasurer Tracey J. Marshall was asked how long it might be before her office reopens.

The Treasurer’s Office is currently closed while new staff training is being conducted. In the meantime, she says, if you have a driver’s license expiring or need to have one issued, you can go to another county. Taxes, and motor vehicle registrations can be handled online.

Marshall said she is advertising for a Deputy again since last week’s hire fell through. In his report to the Board, County Sanitarian Mike Stringham said houses aren’t selling quite as fast this year, so they haven’t handled a lot of transfer inspections (for septic systems).

Stringham said he will begin public (Municipal) pool inspections soon. And, with regard to drinking water well tests, the State had extra money to include arsenic and mangenese as part of the free tests. He said there are some areas where arsenic has been found.

Manganese is a trace mineral that is present in tiny amounts in the body. It is found mostly in bones, the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. Manganese helps the body form connective tissue, bones, blood clotting factors, and sex hormones. Arsenic is a natural component of the earth’s crust and is widely distributed throughout the environment in the air, water and land. It is highly toxic in its inorganic form.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – An investigation in Adair County that began June 9th with a reported crash and the recovery of a stolen vehicle, has resulted in the arrest of a man from Omaha. Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports that at 5:42 p.m., Monday (June 20) the Adair County Sheriff’s Office served two arrest warrants upon 25 year-old Luis Penaloza Garcia of Omaha, Nebraska upon his release from a Des Moines Hospital, Monday evening. The charges for which the two arrest warrants were issued, include: Burglary in the 2nd Degree; Theft in the 1 st Degree; Theft in the 2nd Degree; and Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree. The total bond for all charges has been set at $70,000 CASH ONLY to the Court.

Original story:

Luis Penaloza Garcia

(Casey, Iowa) -A person (later identified as Luis Penaloza Garcia) who allegedly tried to break into a home in Adair County was shot by the occupant of the home, early Thursday morning (June 9). According to the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, at around 3:18-a.m., the Adair County Communications Center received a cellular 911 call reporting a vehicle in the median of Interstate 80 near the Adair rest areas in Adair County. An Adair County sheriff’s deputy responded and shortly after his arrival, determined that the crashed vehicle had previously been reported as stolen to the Omaha Police Department. Officers from the Stuart Police Department and their K9 unit were summoned to assist in locating the driver of the stolen vehicle.

At approximately 4:30-a.m.,  the Adair County Communications Center received a cellular 911 call from a rural residence southwest of Casey, in Adair County. The occupant of the home reported that someone had tried to break into his home and that he, the occupant of the residence, had shot the suspected intruder (Penaloza Garcia). Officers searching for the driver of the stolen vehicle, who were in the immediate area, responded and administered first aid to the wounded Garcia. Adair Rescue and the Adair County Ambulance responded to the scene to provide additional medical aid. Penaloza Garcia had been transported by an Air-Ambulance to a Des Moines area hospital where he received treatment for multiple gun shot wounds.

It should be noted that a criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.