United Group Insurance

LENA BEYERINK, 102, of Coon Rapids (svcs 9-13-11)

Obituaries

September 11th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

LENA BEYERINK, 102, of Coon Rapids, died Fri., Sept. 9th, at Thomas Rest Haven in Coon Rapids. A Mass of Christian Burial service for LENA BEYERINK will be held 10:30-a.m. Tue., Sept. 13th, at the Annunciation Church in Coon Rapids. Ohde Funeral Home in Coon Rapids has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 3:30-p.m. Monday (9/12)., where a Rosary service begins at 4-p.m., and a Prayer service isat 7-p.m.

LENA BEYERINK is survived by:

Her children – Evelyn Gute,  Alice Lengmann, Darlene Lloyd,  Ralph Beyerink & Ronnie Beyerink, all of Coon Rapids, and, Paul Beyerink, of Carroll.

23 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, & 15 great-great grandchildren.

JANICE SMITH, 70, of Coon Rapids (svcs 9-14-11)

Obituaries

September 11th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

JANICE SMITH, 70, of Coon Rapids, died Sat., Sept. 10th, at the St. Anthony Hospital in Carroll.  Funeral services for JANICE SMITH will be held 10:30-a.m., Wed., Sept. 14th, at the 1st Christian Church in Coon Rapids. Ohde Funeral Home in Coon Rapids has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 5-7pm Tuesday (9/13).

Burial will be in the Orange Township Cemetery near Coon Rapids.

JANICE SMITH is survived by:

Her husband – Ron Smith, of Coon Rapids.

Her children – Ron Smith, Mike Smith, and Jim Long, all of Coon Rapids; Tim Smith, of Odebolt; Peggy Kautzky, of Princeville, IL; & Kevin Long, of Los Angeles, CA.

Her brothers – Allen & Larry Long, both of Bayard.

21 grandchildren, many great-great grandchildren.

Fitzpatrick leads Bills to 41-7 romp over Chiefs

Sports

September 11th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Ryan Fitzpatrick threw four touchdown passes, two of them to journeyman tight end Scott Chandler, and the Buffalo Bills romped to a season-opening 41-7 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. Fitzpatrick finished with 208 yards passing for the Bills, who who hadn’t score 40 points in an opener since a 40-7 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 6, 1992. Fred Jackson added 112 yards rushing for Buffalo. Matt Cassel threw for 119 yards with a touchdown and interception for Kansas City. It was the most lopsided season-opening loss in franchise history, and the worst home loss by the Chiefs since a 45-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers 35 years ago.

Molina powers Cardinals past Braves

Sports

September 11th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Yadier Molina had three hits, including a three-run double, and the St. Louis Cardinals moved back into the playoff picture by completing a three-game  sweep of the slumping Atlanta Braves with a 6-3 win Sunday. The Cardinals pulled within 4 1/2 games of NL wild card-leading Atlanta. They have 16 games left and open a three-game set in Pittsburgh on Monday. The Braves start a three-game series with the Marlins on Monday and have 15 games remaining. Atlanta has dropped seven straight games at Busch Stadium and hasn’t won in St. Louis since Sept. 13, 2009. Jake Westbrook (12-8) allowed two runs and five hits in 5 1-3 innings for the Cardinals. Jason Motte pitched a scoreless ninth for his fifth save in eight chances.

Irwin man arrested on Public Intoxication in Montgomery County

News

September 11th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County said Sunday, a Shelby County man was arrested at around 9-a.m. Sunday on a charge of public intoxication. 20-year old Dustin William Martz, of Irwin, was taken into custody on Highway 71,  about one-half mile north of the intersection with Highway 34. Martz was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 cash bond.

VELVA KUNCE, 100, of Yale (svcs 9-13-11)

Obituaries

September 10th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

VELVA KUNCE, 100, of Yale, died Thu., Sept. 8th, at The New Homestead, in Guthrie Center. Funeral services for VELVA KUNCE will be held 10:30-a.m. Tue., Sept. 13th, at the 1st Christian Church in Panora. Twigg Funeral Home in Panora has the arrangements.

Visitation at the funeral home is from 4-7pm Mon., Sept. 12th, with the family present from 5-7pm.

Burial is in the Yale Cemetery.

Area Health Care providers speak at Rural Health Roundtable (follow-up to earlier posting)

News

September 10th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

A Rural Health Roundtable held at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, Friday, gave area health care providers a chance to speak about issues affecting how they do their jobs and how the Obama administration’s new initiatives might affect them.

Dr. John Bigelow

One of those who spoke was Dr. John Bigelow, Executive Director of the Southwest Iowa Mental Health Clinic in Atlantic. Bigelow mentioned  the Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) which is in danger of  closing because a lack of reimbursement from Medicaid and Medicare has cost the hospital nearly $500-million dollars. He said the Affordable Care Act policies are looking to make behavioral health care part of primary care, which is important, because many of the patients he treats have significant health issues. He says statistics show there are a significant number of people who are dealing with depression and anxiety disorders, due in-part to the economy. The economy he says also creates a hardship for those who have to travel about 40-miles or more to receive the limited amount of services they BHU can provide.

A number of surrounding counties he says, don’t have community mental health centers because they weren’t being funded appropriately. Bigelow says the SWIMC is doing better than similar facilities because of Medicaid cost reimbursement, but that only covers about 35% of the clients they serve. CCMH he says, has provided cash flow during times of financial shortage, and the County subsidizes services to individuals who don’t have insurance, but some policies have high deductibles or don’t cover mental health. Bigelow said he was pleased to learn the Health and Human Services Administration (HRSA) has expanded eligibility of the National Health Corps, because it should help to attract mental health professionals to rural communities. He says it took more than seven months to fill the last two positions in his department, because some applicants weren’t qualified to take advantage of financial programs which would allow them to work and repay their loans.

Ed Friedman, a rural health Physician’s Assistant (P.A.) at the Redfield Medical Clinic and an administrator for 26-years, said good legislation, along with reasonable enforcement of those regulations andreimbursement are critical to the delivery of rural health care.  Friedman said the funding of a P.A. education  program by HRSA has made a big difference in bringing licensed P-A’s to Iowa. He says 40-years ago, there were none, now there are 800. Rural Health Clinics he says, have also made a huge difference. Still, he says RHC’s and Community Health Centers need guidance from HRSA on how to collaborate on policies which are confusing, and out-of-date, and those policies need to be integrated into the Affordable Care Act.

P.A. Ed Friedman

 

 

Rural Health Roundtable held in Atlantic

News

September 10th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

A gathering of health care professionals and persons with an interest in rural health care participated in a Rural Health Roundtable held in Atlantic, Friday.

Dr. Mary Wakefield, HRSA Administrator

Keynote speaker for the event was Dr. Mary K. Wakefield, R.N., Administrator of the U-S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) under the Health and Human Services Division (HHS). Wakefield, who was appointed to HRSA by President Obama in 2009, spoke with regard to the Obama Administration’s Rural Council, which was created in June, 2011, and  is led by U-S Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, the former Governor of Iowa.  Wakefield said its new initiatives are aimed at strengthening rural health care infrastructure across the U-S.

She says when he was in Iowa earlier this Summer for a Rural Economic Summitt, President Obama announced two initiatives. An expanded eligibility of the National Health Service Corps, which offers an opportunity for those who are willing to work in under-served rural and urban areas, to have their loans repaid or receive scholarships. She says that will allow hospitals to recruit primary care physicians, practitioners, physician assistants, psychologists and others.

The other initiative, is with regard to Health Information Technology and Jobs Training.  It focuses on the way the use HIT can be expanded in rural areas. She says this past week, $12-million was awarded in rural HIT development nationwide, through HRSA.  $300,000 of that went to two providers in Iowa: Van Buren County Hospital, and the Wright Medical Center. Wakefield also spoke with regard to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). She said there are a number of new provisions relevant to small communities, which are designed to improve the health work force infrastructure, help support access to health care services that target chronic illness, and focuses on illness prevention.”

Wakefield said since 2009, Iowa has received $114-million in direct funding, primarily through the ACA. She says of that, $56-million is directed to community health centers. $15-million out of that is for construction and critical renovation of those facilities.  $19-million dollars has been targeted towards the health of women, infants and children. $11.4-million has been allocated to support the next generation of health care providers through partnerships with education. $8-million is coming into the state to support rural health grants. Another $7-million is in the form of Health Information Technology grants to the Iowa Foundation for Medical Care. $8.4-million is for the Iowa Department of Public Health for its Information Health Exchange program.

$190,000 in Quality Improvement grants has also been given to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic from HRSA‘s Office of Rural Health Policy.  Wakefield said input from ongoing roundtables such as that which was held in Atlantic,  will help HRSA compile a report for the President’s Rural Council. The report will be submitted to him in October, along with a copy for Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the U-S Department of Health and Human Services.

A report on some of the preliminary work that has been accomplished “Jobs and Economic Security for Rural America,“ can be found at www.whitehouse.gov.

Direct link:
www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/08/16/president-announces-new-jobs-initiatives-rural-america

$1-million “Calling All Communities” campaign underway

News

September 10th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Officials with U-S Cellular, based in Chicago, have announced voting has begun for the company’s $1-million “Calling All Communities” campaign, which will award 18 schools across the country with some much needed funding. The school with the most votes wins $150,000, while the next 17 schools each receive $50,000. The winnings may be used in any manner needed to enhance students’ learning experiences.

Now through October 6th, anyone 18-years or older can visit a U-S Cellular store and ask an associate for a code that will allow them to vote for their favorite school at www.uscellular.com. Each online voting code gives the person an opportunity to vote online once per day during the campaign. Each voting card also features a pee-off sticker that gives thousands of school supporters a chance to cast two votes per day, or win a prize.

Public and private schools, kindergarten through high school, are eligible to win. No purchase is necessary, and you don’t have to be a U-S Cellular customer to vote. The winning schools will be announced in October and November.

Since the program began in 2008, $2 million has been awarded to schools across the country.

High School Football Scores from Sep. 9

Sports

September 10th, 2011 by admin

Class 3A District 1

Atlantic 14, Winterset 13

Creston 21, Council Bluffs Lewis Central 19

Carroll 48, Red Oak 0

Harlan 42, Glenwood 6

Class 3A District 2

Denison-Schleswig 7, MOC-Floyd Valley 6

Class 2A District 2

Kuemper Catholic, Carroll 42, East Sac County 0

OA-BCIG 46, Missouri Valley 7

Class 2A District 8

Clarinda 22, Osceola Clarke 8

Interstate 35, Truro 42, Shenandoah 0

Class 1A District 1

IKM/Manning 35, Ridge View 6

Class 1A District 7

West Central Valley, Stuart 31, Greenfield Nodaway Valley 23

Panorama 47, Pleasantville 0

Class 1A District 8

Council Bluffs St. Albert 54, Clarinda Academy 18

Neola Tri-Center 26, Griswold 20

Logan-Magnolia 44, Audubon 6

Treynor 23, Underwood 8

Class A District 8

Bedford 33, Liberty Center SE Warren 24 (ND)

Van Meter 38, Avoca AHST 0 (ND)

Madrid 59, Corning 0 (ND)

Earlham 42, Oakland Riverside 9 (ND)

Exira-EHK 14, Martensdale-St. Marys 12 (ND)

8Man District 6

Adair-Casey 68, Afton East Union 16

Murray 58, Lenox 30

Anita CAM 52, Garden Grove Mormon Trail 22

Lamoni 60, Ankeny Christian Academy 0

8Man District 7

Westside Ar-We-Va 46, Coon Rapids-Bayard 12

Boyer Valley 68, East Greene 22

Glidden-Ralston 42, Woodbine 7

 

 

8Man District 8

East Mills 48, Stanton 12

Fremont-Mills 68, Nishnabotna 12

Essex 10, Villisca 0

Sidney 60, Charter Oak-Ute 20