Atlantic, IA— Cass Health officials today (Wednesday), announced that Dr. Elaine Berry will assume full-time responsibility for the role of Chief Medical Officer (CMO) this month. Dr. Berry has been serving in the role part-time while still managing an active medical practice over the last several months. By moving to full-time CMO, Dr. Berry will no longer offer appointments in clinic or provide nursing home rounds, a major shift for her and many patients.

“I want to express my appreciation to the community for the 34 years of support and caring. I am lucky to have a career that is truly my passion in life. Starting this new chapter, I hope to continue to add value to our health system and our patients’ lives,” said Dr. Berry.

As CMO, Dr. Berry will work in an administrative capacity focused on quality improvement processes, teaching, and mentoring. “This does not mean that I will not be involved in patient care, however. Behind the scenes, I will be teaching and consulting with providers. But my day-to-day work will focus more on how we provide care rather than actively providing patient care,” she said.

Dr. Elaine Berry (CCHS photo)

Cass Health CEO Brett Altman stated, “We are really blessed to have Dr. Berry in this role for our organization. Her expertise and leadership are the key ingredients we need at this time to continue our journey to be the best rural hospital in America.”

Dr. Berry’s current patients are encouraged to establish care with a new primary care provider at Atlantic Medical Center, RHC.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa League of Cities have announced Mayor Shawnna Silvius, of Red Oak, was elected to serve on the Iowa Mayors Association Executive Committee. Silvius became an executive committee member on September 28 during the Iowa Mayors Association Annual Business Meeting, held in conjunction with the League’s Annual Conference & Exhibit in Waterloo. Mayor Silvius was nominated by Mayor Matt Walsh of the City of Council Bluffs.

Mayor Walsh has served as the Southwest Iowa representative and as the Chair on the Executive Committee. Walsh and the Executive Committee identified Mayor Silvius as one they feel will provide strong future leadership, not only from her role as Red Oak’s Mayor but also based on her regional leadership and her professional experiences in her career as the Economic Development Planner with Metropolitan Area Planning Agency (MAPA).

Silvius says, “I am truly humbled to have been identified by Mayor Walsh and the Executive Committee. As a newly elected mayor with so many other extra-ordinary mayors in our region to choose from, I am absolutely honored. While I feel I have much to learn from all my mayor colleagues, I am eager to actively engage to further collaborate and share whatever skills, knowledge, network and voice I can to proudly represent Southwest Iowa and to further the advancement of our fellow mayors across the state.”

Red Oak Mayor Shawnna Silvius (Photo provided)

The Iowa League of Cities formed the Mayor’s Association several years ago in an effort to help Iowa’s mayors better understand the intricacies of their job responsibilities; doing so by fostering collaboration between mayoral colleagues while sharing their best practices. The Association is responsible for adopting policies to provide direction to the association, establishing membership fees and providing direction to the organization.

Mayor Silvius will be serving along with Mayors Mike Porsch of Storm Lake (pop 10,600), Dean Andrews of Charles City (pop 7,351), Courtney Clarke of Waukee (pop 23,940), Caleb Housh of Seymour (pop 634), Lorraine Borowski of Decorah (pop 8,127) and Louise From of University Heights (pop 1,228). The first meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 11.

The Iowa Mayors Association membership elects seven executive committee members to two-year terms.

(Radio Iowa) – A business magazine has ranked Iowa City among the 25 best cities in the country for people in their late thirties, forties and fifties to live and raise their families. Fortune magazine analyzed data from two-thousand American cities, focusing on things like education, financial health, general wellness of residents and resources for the elderly. The project focuses on the so-called “sandwich generation” — people who have aging parents and are raising kids or financially supporting their adult children. Iowa City ranked 18th in the country, cited for its public schools, senior care facilities, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics AND having the University of Iowa at its center.

Fortune also mentioned the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and the city’s designation as a City of Literature by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The other cities in neighboring states to make the top 25 are Olathe, Kansas at number three; WEST Chicago at number nine; Woodbury, Minnesota at 14 and Maryland Heights, Missouri at 19.

(Radio Iowa) – A house explosion in southeast Iowa left a resident seriously hurt. The Wapello County Sheriff’s Office says it received a 911 call at noon on Tuesday concerning a residence in Chillicothe. Authorities were told that the house exploded and a man needed medical assistance. Deputies arrived at the scene and found the man in question. He was airlifted to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. The injured man’s condition is unknown and his identity was not disclosed. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors, today (Wednesday), approved “with regret,” the resignation of the Jefferson Township Clerk Ron Maas. They approved the appointments of: Mike Sheeder, as Jefferson Township Clerk; and Ethan Gilman, Justin Schneider and Chad Varley as Jefferson Township Trustees. They also approved the County’s Election Incident Response Plan.

That’s Adair County Auditor Mandy Berg. She said the plan covers incidents affecting elections, such as an active shooter, fire, civil emergencies, natural disasters, and a cyber security threat. The Board approved the plan as presented. The Adair County Supervisors however, voted unanimously NOT to invest in a Renodry Dehydration System. Supervisor Steve Shelley said he would rather invest in 20 dehumidifiers, to dry out the Courthouse basement and other areas.

Supervisor John Twombly and others were not convinced the company would be a good investment.

Last month, the Boards of Supervisors in Cass and Adair Counties heard a presentation from a representative with Renodry. Cass County opted to use the system, which dries out the walls and has a three-year dry-out guarantee and a 25-year warranty. The system/service costs $19,285 (in Cass County). Adair County requested an estimate of costs during their meeting, in September. The Board during their meeting today (Wednesday), agreed to look at other options to mitigate the moisture, including a future way to keep the water from coming in through the limestone outside, and getting into the basement.

The Board also discussed supplying of fuel and related components from the Adair County Secondary Roads Department, to the City of Greenfield for its vehicles, with the idea being the Department invest in a bigger tank to help transport the fuel, with there being a possible savings of anywhere from 10-to 15-cents per gallon. But there’s no guarantee. The Department already provides fuel for the Conservation Department and school. It collects 5-cents per gallon for the service to offset expenses for invoices, fuel.

County Engineer Nick Kauffman said the arrangement has “Worked out well for us.”

Kauffman said the first step is ordering a 16,000 gallon double wall tank, split for both gas and diesel. The Board approved having him move ahead with the plan to acquire the tank and necessary facilities and/or equipment.

Des Moines, Iowa – Governor Kim Reynolds today announced a new grant opportunity intended to reduce language barriers in the workforce. The Iowa Language Learners Job Training Program will help employers provide sustained programs for English language instruction to support improved communication in the workplace. “Here in Iowa, we’re focused on breaking down any barrier that may stand in the way of a successful career,” said Governor Reynolds. “As I travel the state, employers regularly highlight the importance of English Language Learner training. The Iowa Language Learners Job Training Program will provide employers with resources to offer or expand ELL training while at the same time supporting job safety, recruitment and retention efforts.”

The Iowa Language Learners Job Training Program will provide a total of $5 million in grants to support employer programs that help employees improve English language proficiency in relation to work-related duties, policies, or procedures. Applicants must be employers or groups of employers with at least 25 full-time employees who are either expanding or creating a language program.  “The ability to communicate is key to making any workplace connection successful,” said Beth Townsend, Director of Iowa Workforce Development. “This grant opportunity is another great tool to help Iowa employers find the skilled workforce they so desperately need and support employees interested in improving their communication skills at work.”

Applications are now being accepted at IowaGrants.gov and are due on December 2, at 11:59 AM. Visit this link for more information on the grant and the application process.
A webinar will take place on October 11 at 11:00 AM to provide more information on the grant and a Q&A session. Interested employers can sign up to participate by visiting (Link).

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) — Officials with the U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, Tuesday, said two of the five Cass County (Iowa) residents who were arrested for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, have plead guilty to the charges. According to documents 29-year-old Kelsi Marie Thurman, of Lewis and 19-year-old Mason Blaine Loudermilk, of Atlantic, have pled guilty to charges of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. The arrests were the result of a six-month investigation into a series of fentanyl overdose cases in Cass and Shelby Counties. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 20 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison, a maximum fine of $20 million, and a 10-year to life long term of supervised release.

According to court documents, Thurman admitted that beginning at least as early as August 2019, she and co-defendant 28-year-old Chase Daniel Jahnke, of Lewis, entered an agreement or came to an understanding to distribute fentanyl — including Thurman driving Jahnke to Omaha to obtain, deliver, and collect money from the sale of fentanyl. On or around October 3, 2021, Thurman, along with Jahnke, provided fentanyl pills to two individuals, one of which was found to have died October 4, 2021 from an overdose by using half of the pills provided by Thurman and Jahnke. Thurman and Jahnke also supplied fentanyl pills to co-defendants 25-year-old Colby and 20-year-old Collin Clarken, and Thurman admitted that Colby Clarken supplied pills to an individual who died of an overdose on or around February 24, 2022.

Loudermilk also entered a guilty plea last month, and sentencing proceedings will be held on February 28th. A sentencing date for Thurman is unknown at this time.
According to court records a trial for Jahnke, Colby Clarken and Collin Clarken, both of Atlantic, is set for November 7th with a plea deadline of October 21st.