DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — An April 14 trial start has been scheduled for a Dubuque man charged with the crash death of his motorcycle passenger. Dubuque County court records say Shannon Katka pleaded not guilty Monday to vehicular homicide while under the influence. Investigators have said Katka was driving the motorcycle the night of Aug. 29 in Dubuque when he lost control on a highway entrance ramp and crashed.

His passenger was thrown from the bike and died at the scene. She’s been identified as 43-year-old Shelly Brenke. Police say a blood sample taken at a hospital showed Katka’s blood alcohol level was well above the legal limit to drive.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa woman is charged with murder after police say she bound and gagged her husband for hours, leading to his death. West Des Moines police say officers arrested 41-year-old Gowun Park on Wednesday. The charges stem from the death Saturday of her husband, 41-year-old Sung Nam.

Court records say Park used zip ties to bind Nam’s feet and hands to a chair, jammed clothing into his mouth and used duct tape to attach a towel over his head. Officers were called Saturday evening and found Nam on the floor. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. Park is being held at the Dallas County Jail.

Atlantic, IA — Officials with the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, announced today (Wednesday), CCMH has been named a 2020 Top 100 Critical Access Hospital by The Chartis Center for Rural Health. The annual award honoring rural hospital performance is determined by the results of iVantage Health Analytics’ Hospital Strength INDEX®, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2020.

Brett Altman, CEO of Cass County Health System, says “Our vision is to be the best rural hospital in America for patients to receive care, employees to work, and physicians to practice. We don’t just say that because it sounds good – we say that because we truly mean it. It’s ingrained in all of us to dedicate ourselves to the care that we provide to every patient, every time. We’re honored to once again receive this award, which validates that we’re moving in the right direction for everyone that we’re blessed to serve.”

Based entirely on publicly available data, the INDEX is the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. Utilizing 50 independent indicators, the INDEX assesses performance across eight pillars of performance that span market-, value- and finance-based categories. Hospitals recognized as a Top 100 facility had one of the 100 highest overall scores among all Critical Access Hospitals nationally.

Michael Topchik, National Leader, The Chartis Center for Rural Health, says “The Top 100 Critical Access Hospital award program reminds us that rural providers haven’t lost touch with their mission and are committed to delivering better quality, better outcomes and better patient satisfaction. It’s a pleasure to be able to not only recognize this year’s recipients, but our larger group of top 100 alumni as we celebrate 10 years of The Hospital Strength INDEX.”

(12-p.m. News) — The Atlantic Police Dept. reports seven arrests took place from Feb. 9th through the 19th. Taken into custody today (Wednesday), was 27-year old Daniel Jones, of Atlantic, on charges that include Interference with Official Acts, Disorderly Conduct, and Harassment in the 3rd Degree. Yesterday (Tuesday), 18-year old Cheyenne Toepfer, of Audubon, was arrested in Atlantic on a Cass County warrant for Driving While Suspended.

On Sunday, 22-year old Kaylee Roach, of Atlantic, and 26-year old Robert Joens, of Exira, were arrested in Atlantic for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Joens was also charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance.

On Feb. 11th, 43-year old Joseph Grimes, of Wiota, was arrested for Operating While Under the Influence. And, on Feb. 9th, 20-year old Tyler Petty, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI, and, 33-year old Michael Medina, of Atlantic, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order. All subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports numerous arrests took place over the past week and a half. Today (Wednesday), at around 3:20-a.m.,  37-year old Michael Thomas Lenz, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at Bunge Avenue & I-29, of OWI/1st offense. On Tuesday, 29-year old Amanda Elizabeth Fisher, of Omaha, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Probation Violation, and, 26-year old Dana Maraleee Hornung, of Hubbard, IA, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension, and Operating a Non-Registered vehicle.

On Monday, 38-year old Donovan Edward Hankins, of Tabor, was arrested in Fremont County, on a Mills County warrant for Sex Offender-Verification Violation. His bond was set at $10,000. Last Saturday, 43-year old James Daniel Tupy, of Hastings, was arrested in Mills County for Driving While Barred. On Friday, 35-year old Megan Renee Daughtery, of Brighton, CO., was arrested for being a Fugitive from Justice. She was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

Last Thursday, Mills County Deputies arrested 33-year old Bret Wade Shepperd, of Emerson, on a warrant for Failure to Appear. He was being held without bond. And, 19-year old Austin Joseph Marsh, of Omaha, was arrested at the Mills County Jail, on a warrant for Attempted Burglary in the 3rd Degree, Criminal Mischief, and Theft in the 5th Degree. On Feb. 11th, 50-year old John Paul Hauger, of Glenwood, was arrested on a Pott. County warrant for Contempt of Court.

And, on Feb. 9th, 22-year old Johannes Jean Louise Sales, of Glenwood, was arrested for OWI/1st Offense. 44-year old Reagan Dee Roeder, of Red Oak, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, and Open Container.

Five Atlantic churches will be observing the Lenten season together through a rotating dinner and worship service. Pastor Ray McCalla with the 1st Baptist Church in Atlantic, says each congregation will host a meal for everyone, followed by a worship service that reflects their own tradition. Everyone is welcome to join in. The meals start at 6:00 p.m., and the services start at 7:00 p.m.

Here is the schedule:

• March 4 at First United Presbyterian Church, 616 Chestnut St., Sharon Worthington presenting.
• March 11 at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church, 1011 E. 13th St., Dean McPherson presenting.
• March 18 at Ss Peter & Paul Catholic Church, 106 W. 6th St., Ray McCalla presenting.
• March 25 First United Methodist Church, 800 Poplar St., Father Trevor Chicoine presenting.
• April 1 First Baptist Church, 710 Walnut St., Rachelle McCalla presenting

ATLANTIC – Officials with the Cass County Health System (CCHS) say several scholarships are available to area students through CCHS and its affiliate organizations.  Cass County Health System offers a $1,000 scholarship to southwest Iowa students pursuing a four-year degree in a health-related career. The deadline to apply is April 1st, 2020.

Cass County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary provides grant-in-aid scholarships for students pursuing a health-related career. Deadline is April 1, 2020. The Cass County Health System Foundation is offering $10,000 in scholarships to students who are enrolled and have been accepted into a nursing or medical doctor educational program. The scholarships were established by a bequest from Louie and Elsie Hansen. Again, the deadline is April 1st.

Applications are available on the Cass County Health System website, www.casshealth.org, and can be turned in to the Public Relations Office by the respective deadlines listed above. For more information, contact Ann McCurdy, Public Relations Coordinator, 712-243-7405.