DES MOINES – The DNR Derelict Building Grant Program has awarded grants to nine small, rural Iowa communities to help deconstruct or renovate abandoned structures, remove asbestos, and limit construction and demolition materials going to the landfill. In the KJAN listening area, that includes the Cities of Anita, Farragut, Mapleton and Wall Lake.

The DNR Derelict Building Grant Program was instituted by statute to help rural communities with populations of 5,000 or less remove environmental hazards, improve community appearance and minimize costs by recycling and reusing building materials through deconstruction or renovation of abandoned, derelict buildings.

DBGP funding is awarded annually on a competitive basis with cash matches required. Applications for the next funding round will be due on Feb. 25, 2022.

Among the projects that will receive a total of $400,000 as reimbursement grants, is:

City of Anita, Cass County — $8,500 to abate asbestos and complete a phase 1 environmental site assessment for an old abandoned church.

City of Farragut, Fremont County – $5,100 for renovation to help stabilize the foundation of a building that eventually the city would like to use for a Public Works shop.

City of Mapleton, Monona County – $31,250 for renovation of an old commercial building. Plans are to have business occupy the ground level with housing options on the second floor.

City of Wall Lake, Sac County – $121,700 for asbestos abatement, renovation and deconstruction of an old school building. New site will be transformed into a family recreation center.

(Radio Iowa) – A woman who investigators believe may be connected to a fatal shooting in Waterloo has turned herself into authorities. Earlier this week, officials identified 25-year-old Marcus Sykes as a person of interest in a May 15th shooting that killed 23-year-old Dayton Matlock and injured two women. At the time, authorities said they believed Sykes was hiding out in the Des Moines area with 23-year-old Shireca Wilson, who was wanted for crimes unrelated to the shooting. According to Des Moines police, Wilson turned herself into Iowa City authorities on Tuesday. She has since been transported to the Polk County Jail.

Authorities had issued warrants for Wilson’s arrest, charging her with second-degree burglary and willful injury. Wilson has NOT been charged in connection with Matlock’s death. While investigating the homicide, Waterloo police discovered that Sykes was in possession of a firearm around the time of the shooting. There is an active warrant for Sykes’ arrest, charging him with felon in possession of a firearm. As of Thursday, officials were still searching for Sykes. He’s described as a 5’9″, 135-pound black male with multiple tattoos on his body.

Anyone with information on where Sykes might be is asked to call 911 or Waterloo police at 319-291-4340. Tips can also be sent to Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers, which can be reached via phone at 855-300-TIPS or by texting “CEDAR” along with information to CRIMES (274637). Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa can be reached via phone at 515-223-1400 or online at CrimeStoppersofCentralIowa.com.

Police in Des Moines have identified the body of a man who was found Saturday in the Des Moines River.  Officers were called to the scene at the Euclid Avenue Bridge. A statement released today (Thursday) by police, said the person was identified as 34-year-old Justin Lee Gilliland, of Des Moines. Authorities said also, “There was no evidence of traumatic injury to the body, and no indications of a criminal act as a contributing factor to Gilliland’s death. Cause and manner of death are undetermined at this time as autopsy findings are not yet finalized.”

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports 26-year-old Caleb Jordan Ennan, was arrested Wednesday.  He was taken into custody on a valid Page County Warrant for failure to appear on a driving while license denied or suspended. Ennan’s cash/surety bond was set at $300.

And, a reward of up to $10,000 is now being offered for information that may lead to an arrest and conviction in a Page County fire and death investigation. As we’ve previously mentioned, the fire that occurred at around 9:10-p.m. on May 2nd in Page County, remains under investigation. The blaze destroyed a home owned by 61-year-old Robert Beach, Jr. The Page County Sheriff’s Office said Monday both the fire and death are being investigated as suspicious incidents.

Investigators are aware that Robert Beach purchased an AR-15 style weapon a few weeks prior to the fire. Investigators believe that was a legal transaction but would like the private citizen who sold the weapon to Robert Beach to come forward so that law enforcement can obtain the weapons identification information.

Investigators are also looking for information from the public concerning this fire to include anyone who may have been in the area between 10:00 pm on Saturday May 1, 2021 and 6:00 am Sunday May 2, 2021. Anyone with information, is asked to contact the Page County Sheriff’s Office @ 712-542-5193, or the Arson Hotline at 1-800-532-1459.

(Radio Iowa) – Today (Thursday) marks the first day Iowa health care providers will no longer be required to get the same reimbursement rates for medically necessary telemedicine visits as they would for in-person visits. The requirement was part of Gov. Kim Reynolds public health disaster proclamation. Dr. Doug Van Daele, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, says virtual visits are still being conducted at much higher rates than they were pre-pandemic. Van Daele says, “I would get emails from people who would say, ‘I didn’t think this telemedicine was going to work,’ but now it’s clear, I’m going to be doing telemedicine long after this pandemic is over, because the patients love it so much.” Van Daele says

UIHC is working with private insurers to make sure patients continue to have telemedicine options. While such virtual visits have gained in popularity, Van Daele says some patients still face barriers to the service. “I still have a fair number of patients in my practice who still have flip phones and they just simply don’t have broadband at home that they could use with their computer to be able to access it,” he says.

The change in reimbursement rates doesn’t affect mental health visits, which are guaranteed payment parity under a new state law. The change also won’t affect visits covered by Medicare.

(By Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) – Three of the Iowans serving in the U.S. House were in the Oval Office yesterday (Wednesday) as President Biden signed a bill named for an Iowa veteran who died by suicide five years ago. Brandon Ketchum of Davenport was a Marine sergeant who unsuccessfully sought in-patient treatment at a V-A center in Iowa City. Congresswoman Cindy Axne of West Des Moines says Biden called Ketchum’s mother. “When he connected with Bev, Sergeant Ketchum’s mother, there was not a dry eye in the room,” Axne says.

The law creates three new V-A teams to connect veterans in rural areas with mental health experts. Axne, a Democrat, was the bill’s lead sponsor. “Just so pleased to honor Sergeant Ketchum with this bill,” Axne says, “and it’s been years in the making and it’s so needed.”

Congresswoman Axne with President Biden at the bill signing

Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion was the lead Republican co-sponor and she recorded a video statement as she walked to the White House for yesterday’s (Wednesday’s) bill signing. “I will always work across the aisle to work on behalf of Iowa’s veterans,” Hinson said in the video she posted on Twitter, “and I know that this legislation will truly help veterans in Iowa and across the country.”

Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa also signed onto the legislation. Miller-Meeks says the new law will help many veterans get the mental health services they need and she was proud to have been present to witness the bill signing.

No injuries were reported following a single-vehicle accident this (Thursday) morning, on Atlantic’s southwest side. The incident involving a 2007 Toyota Camry occurred near 29^th Street and Sunnyside Lane was reported at 8:53-a.m. Atlantic Police Officer Cameron Ward explains what happened.

The occupant of the vehicle, whose name was not immediately released, was trapped in the car. It took a whole team of emergency personnel to get him out.

The vehicle sustained substantial damage.

Cass EMS along with Atlantic Fire and Rescue were called to the scene of a single-vehicle accident on the City’s southwest side, at around 8:53-a.m., today (Thursdsay). According to dispatch reports, a man was said to be trapped in the vehicle. The crash occurred at 29th Street and Sunnyside Lane. Additional information is not currently available.