(Radio Iowa) – A man who was injured when a tornado struck Minden on Friday has died. Officials say about 50 homes in the western Iowa community of Minden were destroyed by Friday’s tornado and dozens more were damaged. First responders found an unconscious man in the aftermath and Pottawattamie County officials confirm he has died of his injuries. The National Weather Service office in metro Des Moines says at least 12 tornadoes touched down in central Iowa Friday. The Weather Service office in Omaha will released its report on Friday’s tornadoes in western Iowa later today (Monday).

Sixteen-year-old Avery Assmann of Minden says her family and four dogs were in the basement when the tornado struck. She says her home is still standing, but others weren’t as fortunate. “There’s a lot of trees down. A lot of people’s houses are down. A lot of people’s siding is gone, but the house isn’t gone. There are two houses that came off their foundation, so, they’re just like in people’s yards,” she said, “but it’s very scary to see the town like that.”

Assman was at the Neola Area Community Center Sunday, where a distribution center has been set up for tornado victims. JoDee Junkman is the center’s director and she says donations are coming from as far away as Des Moines and from Omaha, which took a hit from a tornado, too. “It’s amazing. It just makes you feel good,” she said. “We’ve had some families come in to go through donations, and they’re almost in tears because of everything that’s here that they can use.” Governor Reynolds toured Minden Saturday and said it appears 40 percent of the homes and businesses in the community have been damaged or destroyed.

As of yesterday (Sunday) afternoon, all roads into Minden were still closed to the public and volunteers while crews worked to restore power to the town.

In Union County, the tornado that caused damage in Creston reached speeds of 125 miles an hour. Two other twisters were reported in Union County, west of Afton. A tornado in Ringgold County stayed on the ground for 27 miles, with damage reported in Tingley and Redding. The tornado in Clarke County that caused damage in and around Osceola reached speeds of 135 miles an hour.

The Shelby County Board of Supervisors has declared a state of emergency in their county, where about 60 homes in rural areas were damaged or destroyed. There was significant damage between Harlan and the small community of Portsmouth. The Shelby County Golf Course north of Harlan was significantly damaged. Late Friday night a tornado hit Pleasant Hill, a suburb on the eastern side of the Des Moines metro.

(By: Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch) – Last year, the federal government imposed 244 fines totaling $5.7 million against Iowa nursing homes, but it won’t say which of those fines remains unpaid.

Federal data show that just five of Iowa’s 422 care facilities accounted for more than $1 million in regulatory fines imposed in fiscal year 2023. Three of those homes – Lantern Park Specialty Care of Coralville, Arbor Court of Mount Pleasant, and Genesis Senior Living of Des Moines – each were fined more than $200,000.

The fines represent penalties imposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and typically stem from quality-of-care violations reported by state inspectors. Although CMS publicly reports the fines imposed against all Medicare-certified nursing facilities, the agency does not disclose whether such fines have actually been paid.

In response to a recent Iowa Capital Dispatch inquiry about the payment status of 28 fines CMS imposed this year against two Iowa nursing homes, an agency spokesperson declined to provide the information and explained that “CMS does not publish the status of any nursing home payments for imposed fines.” No reason was given for the refusal.

“There is so much secrecy surrounding this whole regulatory process,” said Toby Edelman, senior policy attorney for the Center for Medicare Advocacy. “This is public information. Who are they hiding this information from? Who are they protecting by not saying which fines aren’t paid? The public has a right to know what is going on.”

According to the CMS data, the Iowa nursing homes that in fiscal year 2023 compiled the highest level of federal fines were:

• Lantern Park Specialty Care, Coralville
• Arbor Court, Mount Pleasant
• Genesis Senior Living, Des Moines
• Pine Acres Rehabilitation and Care Center, West Moines
• Cedar Falls Health Care Center, Cedar Falls
• Aspire of Gowrie, Gowrie

Other Iowa facilities that were fined more than $100,000 in 2023 were Garden View Care Center in  Shenandoah, which was fined $163,034; Crown Pointe Estates in Sioux Center, which was fined $161,905; Ivy at Davenport in Scott County, which was fined $111,039; Maple Crest Manor in Fayette, which was fined $107,7468; and Heritage Specialty Care in Cedar Rapids, which was fined $105,645.

Two of the Iowa care facilities that racked up the highest number of federal penalties in the current fiscal year, without regard to the total dollar amounts, are Valley View Community and Lakeside Lutheran Home. So far this year, each of the homes has been fined $97,073 for 14 violations — all of which are tied to a failure to submit weekly COVID-19 data reports to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The data reported by CMS makes it difficult to identify the Iowa nursing home chains that have the worst record of compliance with regulations. Facilities that are clearly part of a multifacility chain, operating under common ownership, are incorrectly reported as having no affiliation with any chains.

For example, two of the most heavily fined care facilities in Iowa, Lantern Park Specialty Care and Heritage Specialty Care, are part of a 44-facility chain run by Care Initiatives of West Des Moines. CMS. However, reports state that neither facility has any affiliation with a nursing home chain.

In June 2021, the Iowa Capital Dispatch reported that CMS was only informing the public of the fines it had imposed against care facilities if and when the owners chose to pay those fines. Unpaid fines were not being reported at all by CMS.

That policy led to situations such as the Dubuque Specialty Care nursing home being fined $84,825, with CMS reporting to the public several months later that no fines had been imposed. At the time, an agency spokesman said that because the facility had not paid anything toward the fine, CMS policy was to report to the public that no fine had been imposed.

By the end of the year, CMS had reversed that policy and was reporting fines within 90 days of when they were incurred, rather than when they were paid. However, the agency also stopped disclosing whether the fines were paid, stating only that “this information is not generally publicly available.”

MINDEN, Iowa – A man who was hurt during Friday’s tornado in Minden, Iowa, has died of his injuries. Family members confirmed the news to Omaha area media.  According to a deputy with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, the man was unconscious when first responders found him.

He was transported to the hospital and was in stable condition, authorities said. He was then moved to the ICU on Saturday, the deputy said. The storm victim’s name was not immediately released.

County officials confirmed that three people were also injured from the tornado. They were treated and released.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Police in Council Bluffs are investigating the deaths of two men whose bodies were found Sunday morning, less than one-mile apart. According to a press release, 36-year-old Deonte Ivory,of Omaha, was found dead on the roadway in the 2100 block of S. 29th Street. An autopsy will be done early this week to determine how he died.

Then at about 7:02 -a.m. a person walking their dog near the entrance of the Western Trails Historic Center (3200 block of S. 24th Street) found a man on the ground. Officers identified that body as that of 25-year-old Michael Anderson, also of Omaha. An autopsy will also be done early this week to determine how he died.

Council Bluffs PD Shield

Detectives are investigating the circumstances and are trying to figure out whether or not they are related. Police ask anyone with information on the deaths to call the Council Bluffs Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division at (712)328‐4728 or CB Crime Stoppers at (712)328‐7867.

Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

(Clarinda, Iowa) –  The Page County Sheriff’s Department reports the following arrests:

4/11/2024 Daniel Jude Kruse (34) of Omaha Nebraska. Booked into the Page County Jail for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
4/11/2024 Corey Burton Dugger (40) of Onawa Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for OWI.
4/11/2024 Megan Renee Sunderman (38) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, Drug tax stamp violations and prohibited acts by a registrant.
4/13/2024 Michael Lee Dunlap (39) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for burglary 3rd degree and possession of prescription drug.
4/13/2024 James Linley Moses (66) of Shambaugh Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for driving under suspension and possession of a controlled substance. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office.
4/13/2024 Bryant Lee Kirby Fuller (23) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for assault.
4/14/2024 Wendy Sue Wood (52) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for possession of a controlled substance (X2) and possession of drug paraphernalia.
4/14/2024 Eric Lee Adams (42) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for possession of a controlled substance (X2), possession of drug paraphernalia and prohibited acts by a registrant.
4/14/2024 Mark Eugene Greene (56) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for driving while suspended and possession of drug paraphernalia.
4/15/2024 Justin Joseph Reed (46) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for contempt.
4/15/2024 Lissa Jade Dunkeson (36) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for domestic assault and reckless driving.
4/16/2024 James Vincent White (60) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for harassment.
4/16/2024 Michael Lloyd Harms (53) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail to serve time.
4/17/2024 David Alfonso Clark (45) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for domestic assault.
4/17/2024 Sherry Danette Young (46) of Polo Missouri. Booked into the Page County Jail for disorderly conduct.
4/17/2024 Nicholas Alan Haidsiak (39) of Coin Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for an active warrant out of Cass County Missouri warrant for possession of a controlled substance.
4/17/2024 David Allen Mulkins (64) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for OWI third offense. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office.
4/18/2024 Blas Rendon Luevanos (22) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail violation of a no contact order
4/19/2024 Merlin Glenn Lininger (51) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail to serve time.
4/19/2024 Matthew John Stubbendieck (48) of Essex Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail to serve time.
4/21/2024 Nathaniel Gene Teeters (48) of Bedford Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for driving while barred. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office.
4/22/2024 Devin Michael Lee Betsworth (22) of Mapleton Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for criminal mischief. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office.
4/23/2024 Megan Renee Sunderman (38) of Omaha Nebraska. Booked into the Page County Jail for possession of a controlled substance (X3) and possession of drug paraphernalia (X3)
4/25/2024 Trent Thomas Brammer (30) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for OWI second, carrying a weapon while intoxicated and possession of drug paraphernalia.
4/26/2024 Merlin Glenn Lininger (51) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail to serve time.
4/26/2024 Alisa Lynette Alexander (48) of Shambaugh Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for driving while revoked.
4/27/2024 Rebecca Ann Mayer (36) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for violation of a no contact order.
4/27/2024 Mark Allen Olson (60) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for OWI first offense.

A charge is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

(Sidney, Iowa) – Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope, today  (Sunday), released a report detailing multiple arrests from April 21st through the 27th. Most recently:

• On 04/27/2024 – deputies arrested Hunter James Williams, age 21 of Witter, Arkansas for OWI 1st Offense. Williams was released on a $1,000 cash/surety bond; and, Jessica Lee Guthrie, age 45 of Hamburg, was arrested in the 1100 block of Argyle St, in Hamburg. Deputies were called to a report of a reckless driver entering Hamburg on Bluff Road. Deputies located the vehicle parked at a residence in Hamburg and located Guthrie unconscious in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. Deputies allege Guthrie woke and then attempted to flee into her home on foot. After a brief struggle, Guthrie was placed under arrest for OWI 2nd Offense, Driving while Suspended and Interference with Official Acts. She was released after posting a $2,000 cash/surety bond.

• On 04/24/2024, deputies with assistance from the Fremont County K9 Unit, arrested Matthew Jeffrey Barnes, age 51 and Serena Ann Scott, age 51 of Omaha, Nebraska in the 2300 block of Hwy 2. Deputies conducted a traffic stop on a non-plated vehicle. During the traffic stop, Fremont County K9 Storm was deployed, and a search of the vehicle uncovered approximately 10 grams of suspected methamphetamine. Barnes was also found to have a felony warrant for his arrest out of Douglas County, Nebraska.

Bares was arrested for Possession with Intent to Distribute over 5 grams, Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp, Possession of a Controlled Substance 2nd Offense, Possession of Marijuana 2nd Offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Fugitive from Justice. He is being held on a $100,000 cash/surety bond on the Fremont County charges and without bond on the Nebraska warrant. Scott was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Scott is being held at the Fremont County Jail on $1,000 cash/surety bond; Andrew Thomas Cowan, age 31 of Malvern was arrested for Possession of Marijuana 1st Offense, OWI 1st Offense, and Carrying a Weapon While Intoxicated.

At approximately 0348hrs, Deputies were called to a one-vehicle accident at the intersection of Hwy 275 and 110th street near Tabor. Deputies allege that Cowan was southbound on Main Street in Tabor and left the roadway striking the ditch at the intersection with 110th Street. Cowan was found to be in possession of suspected marijuana and a firearm. Tabor Fire and Rescue assisted the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office with the call.

Cowen was released after posting a $1,000 surety bond.

• On 04/20/2024 – Deputies were called to the 600 block of West Street in Tabor for a report of a party where minors were drinking and damaging a neighbor’s property. Prior to the deputies’ arrival, a suspect, Lane Allan Harris, age 19 of Sidney, fled the scene with another person. The investigation was turned over to the Tabor Police Department for further charges.

Deputies later received a call that several males were in a truck stop near Percival, Iowa and told employees that they were running from the police. Deputies contacted the males and Harris was arrested for Possession of Alcohol by a person under the legal age and released with a court date. On 04/23/2024, Harris was arrested for an active Fremont County warrant for Violation of Probation. He was released after posting a $1,000 cash/surety bond. Fremont County Deputies later issued four juvenile citations for Possession of Alcohol by a minor.

• Also arrested April 23rd, was Jason Daniel Matthew, age 35 of Minot, North Dakota in the 2000 block of Hwy 2 for a felony warrant out of North Dakota. He is being held at the Fremont County Jail without bond, pending extradition to North Dakota; Deputies also arrested Trista Lee Bensley, age 20 of Des Moines, on the 23rd, Iowa for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Deputies were called to Cubby’s near Percival for a reported shoplifter. The vehicle was stopped on Interstate 29 near the Pottawattamie County line by the Iowa State Patrol. A search by deputies uncovered drug paraphernalia. The Fremont County Magistrate dismissed the case without prejudice, and she was released pending further charges.

• On 04/22/2024 – deputies arrested Anthony Lee Moyer, age 61 of Sidney, for Assault with intent to Commit Sexual Abuse. It is alleged that on 04/08/2023, Moyer was at a Fremont County business and made sexual comments to the victim as well as pulled on her clothing, struck her buttocks, and kissing her without consent. Moyer was released after posting a $2,000 surety bond; Deputies arrested Timothy Mark Gardner, age 63 of Hamburg, for Operating without Owner’s Consent. Deputies were called to the 2800 block of Bluff Road near Hamburg for a report of a stolen vehicle. The vehicle was later located at the city park. Deputies were able to identify a suspect through surveillance footage, and Gardner was arrested at his residence. Gardner is being held at the Fremont County Jail on $2,000 cash/surety bond; and, deputies arrested Cassandra Sue Evans, age 31 of Glenwood, Iowa, on April 22nd, near the intersection of 330th Ave and 170th St for OWI 2nd Offense. She was released after posting a $2,000 cash/surety bond.

• On 04/21/2024, deputies arrested Barbara Ann Shryock, age 49 of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Danny Joe Fallin, age 68 of Leon, Iowa for Trespassing and Child Endangerment. Lydia Michelle Wittwer age 21 of Riverton, Iowa was arrested for Child Endangerment.

Deputies were called to an address in Riverton for trespassers attempting to live in a house they did not own that was scheduled for demolition. Deputies allege that a search of the home uncovered a bucket of human waste, soiled diapers, and children’s toys.

Deputies allege that Shyrock and Fallin were living in the home and Wittwer was living nearby but allowing her small child access to the home. The child was found in an unsanitary condition and taken into protective custody by the Iowa Department of Human Services.

Shyrock and Fallin are being held at the Fremont County Jail on $2,000 cash/surety bond. Wittwer was released after posting a $2,000 surety bond.

Wittwer

Williams

Shyrock

Scott

Moyer

Matthew

Harris

Guthrie

Gardner

Fallin

Evans

Cowen

Bensley

Barnes

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by Justen and Tara Templeman, owners of Speedforce Internet Café, on Friday April 26th, 2024, to celebrate the new business located on Chestnut Street.

Justen has fond memories of growing up in Atlantic and getting together with friends at the “Underground.” Game enthusiasts would get together to play board games and card games in a casual welcoming environment. Justen and his wife Tara wanted to recreate a space like the Underground and opened a place in Walnut. The Templeman’s found that a majority of their customers in Walnut were coming from Atlantic, so they set out to find a space in town.

Pictured from Left to Right: Chris Parks, Megan Sramek, Dolly Bergmann, Tara Templeman, Jim Kickland, Alisha Wagner, Justen Templeman, Sue Liston, Elaine Otte, Jen McEntaffer, Steve Tjepkes, Julie Waters, Jeff Christensen, Anne Quist, Kelsey Beschorner

Speedforce Internet Café is open Wednesday and Thursday 2pm-8pm, Friday 2pm-10pm, and Saturday and Sunday noon to 8pm. During business hours, customers can gather with friends to play boardgames such as Magic the Gathering, Pokémon and Disney’s Locana, and more. Speedforce Internet Cafe also has an online store where gamers can purchase playing cards to better their game. Tara and Justen hope to host gaming events and competitions in the future as their gaming community grows.

Speedforce Internet Café is located at 317 Chestnut Street in Atlantic. For more information visit their Facebook page or call 712-249-6420.

(Creston, Iowa) – A man from Creston suffered suspected minor/non-incapacitating injuries Saturday morning, when he veered for a deer on the road and ended-up losing control of the car he was driving. According to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, the accident happened at around 7:54-a.m., as 19-year-old Aiden James Evans was driving a 2006 Infiniti G35 eastbound on Rea Road, near 12 mile Lake.

Evans told authorities a deer was in the middle of the road. When he swerved in order to avoid hitting the animal, Evans’ car entered the south ditch and struck a grove of trees.

Evans was wearing his seat belt. He complained of wrist pain, but was not treated at the scene. The car sustained $6,000 damage and was declared a total loss.

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Shelby County have declared a State Of Emergency, as authorized under Iowa Statutory Law, following the destructive storms that struck the area on April 26th. In a press release, the Board said their action will result in the expenditure of emergency funds from all available sources, the invoking of mutual aid agreements. Approximately 60 homes sustained damage ranging from minor to destroyed. No towns were taking a direct hit in the county. The properties affected are in rural areas or on the edge of the incorporated limits. Officials say the goal is to complete the damage assessments by the weekend’s end. Utilities, some roadways, and the County Landfill were also damaged. At this time, the landfill will be closed until further notice.

Shelby County Courthouse, Harlan, IA

A number of trained professionals watched as a massive multi vortex tornado moved into Shelby County at around 6:05-p.m., Friday. There was significant damage between Portsmouth and Harlan with homes having been destroyed, outbuildings, grain bins and trees shredded and blown throughout fields. The Shelby County Golf Course north of Harlan sustained significant damage, with the roof torn off the clubhouse, sheds losing their roofs, and trees down all over the golf course.

The tornado moved from west of Harlan to the west edge of Harlan and traveled along highway 44, up highway 59 and Linden road to just south of Defiance, causing extensive damage. A tornado was observed just west of Manilla at about 7 pm.

According to the Shelby County EMA’s office, approximately 60 homes sustained damage ranging from minor to destroyed. Officials say the goal is to complete the damage assessments by the weekend’s end. Utilities, some roadways, and the County Landfill were also damaged. At this time, the landfill will be closed until further notice.

(Delaware & Cerro Gordo Counties) – The Iowa State Patrol reports two people died and two others were injured in separate crashes over the past couple of days. One person was killed and two others were injured in a Delaware County crash Friday afternoon. The Patrol says a Polaris Ranger UTV was traveling southbound on 190th Ave in Rural Ryan around 2:30-p.m., when the operator of the machine, 39-year-old Kyle James Kelchen, of Manchester, failed to stop at a stop sign. The vehicle was then struck by a pick-up truck that was traveling eastbound on 310th Street. Both vehicles came to rest in a ditch. Kelchen died at the scene.

The driver of the pickup, 67-year-old Gerald John Beitz, and his passenger, 65-year-old Susan Eileen Beitz, both of Monticello, were injured but did not require transport to the hospital. Both were wearing their seat belts. The crash remains under investigation.

Late Saturday night, a wrong-way driver on Interstate 35 in Cerro Gordo County, died when the 2008 Chevy Cobalt he was driving, collided with a 2015 Freightliner semi. The driver of the car was identified as 40-year-old Glen Evan Hemming, of Mason City. The accident happened as the car was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of traffic at around 11:20-p.m., near mile marker 194. The Patrol says the driver of the semi – a man from Burnsville, MN – was not injured. The crash remains under investigation.