DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former workers’ compensation attorney for a Tyson Foods meatpacking division has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit in Iowa that accuses company officials of making anti-gay slurs, filing false information in workers’ compensation cases and discriminating based on sex and age.

Todd Beresford filed the lawsuit Oct. 1 in state district court in Des Moines against Tyson Fresh Meats, based in South Dakota, and its parent Arkansas-based Tyson Foods, the nation’s second-largest meat processor. The suit seeks damages after his dismissal last year.

Beresford argues he was fired in part because he complained the company was providing inaccurate information in workers’ compensation cases in Iowa to deny payments to injured workers. He claims a former company vice president used slurs in referring to former Iowa Workers’ Compensation Commissioner Chris Godfrey, who is gay.

Beresford, of the Cleveland area, also claims Tyson discriminated against employees on the basis of sex and age by firing several middle age men in 2017 and 2018, replacing them with younger women. A Tyson spokesman declined to comment.

A traffic stop on a motorcycle at around 7:45-a.m. today (Friday), in Red Oak, escalated into a pursuit and the eventual arrest of a man from Pottawattamie County. Red Oak Police Chief Justin Rhamy said in a statement, 27-year old Dakota Allen Culbertson, of Council Bluffs, faces felony charges that include: Eluding; Possession of stolen property; Possession of Meth with the intent to deliver; and Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree. Culbertson was assessed a misdemeanor, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, charge. He was also wanted on a warrant out of Council Bluffs for Theft in the 2nd Degree and on a narcotics warrant out of Nebraska. Culbertson was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $50,000 cash bond.

The incident leading to his arrest began when a Red Oak Police Officer saw a motorcycle in the area of 3rd and Nuckols Streets. He observed the cycle run a stop sign at 3rd and Market Street, and attempted to make a traffic stop. The operator of the cycle – later identified as Culbertson – failed to yield to law enforcement, and traveled south on 2nd Street to Ohio Street, and then to Highway 48, where the pursuit continued southbound.

Once in the area of Highway 48 and 130th Street in Page County, Culbertson took to the ditch and entered the yard of residence in the 1200 block of Highway 48. Officers tried to get the motorcycle boxed-in while it was still in the yard, but the Culberston managed to get the machine back onto Highway 48, where it began to travel north towards the City of Red Oak.

Red Oak Police and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies tried to establish a rolling road block near 230th and Hwy48, but Culberston was able to maneuver the cycle between two patrol cars in an effort to flee, but in doing so sideswiped a Red Oak P-D cruiser. The pursuit continued through the City of Red Oak and near the edge of town to the intersection of Highways 48 and 34. The cycle turned east on 34 to Q Avenue, east of Stanton.

There, Culbertson swung wide left at about the same time a Red Oak Police Officer came up on his right. The cycle turned into the left front fender of the police cruiser, causing Culberston to lose control. He dumped the cycle into a ditch and took off southbound on foot. He then ran toward an unoccupied residence at 2258 Q Avenue, and forced his way into the home, where he hid in a closet and was ultimately taken into custody.

During their investigation, officers learned the 2005 Yamaha Venture motorcycle had been reported stolen out of Council Bluffs, on Oct. 6th. Red Oak Police were assisted during the incident, by: The Montgomery, Adams, Page and Fremont County Sheriff’s Office.

Exira-EHK School District Superintendent Trevor Miller, today (Friday), posted a note to parents of students and District patrons, with regard to an incident that took place Thursday. In his social media post, Miller said “In an effort to remain as transparent as possible, we feel it is necessary to inform you of an incident that occurred [Thursday] at the Exira-EHK Middle School.

“An Exira-EHK student made a verbal threat towards staff in the late morning hours of 10/10/19 regarding bringing a weapon to school.” The statement said further, that “School administrators immediately began an investigation regarding the threat. School disciplinary action has been taken as appropriate. At no time [Thursday] was there any immediate danger to any student or staff member.”

Superintendent Miller said “The procedures that we have in place allowed us to handle this situation with little disruption to other students in the building.” His statement concluded with “We appreciate your willingness to continually trust us with your children. We make every effort to provide them with a safe and caring environment while at school.”

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa said Friday (today), a Union County man was sentenced to prison on drug charges. 38-year old Brandon Robert Fry, of Creston, appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Celeste F. Bremer in Des Moines, and entered a guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Fry admitted that he knowingly possessed over 500 grams of methamphetamine on June 4, 2019, which was found by law enforcement in a white Mercedes, in Creston. Fry admitted that prior to being arrested on June 4, 2019, he had intended to distribute the methamphetamine. At the time of this offense, Fry was on federal supervised release for a prior conviction of felon in possession of a firearm.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Fry faces an agreed-upon sentence of 188 months in prison. He is also subject to at least 5 years of supervised release following the imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for 9:30-a.m. February 24, 2020, at the United States Courthouse in Des Moines, Iowa.

The matter was investigated by the United States Probation Office, the Creston Police Department, the Des Moines Police Department, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement (MINE) Task force. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Coronation of the Homecoming King and Queen for Atlantic was held at the Atlantic High School this noon. Congratulations to our very own part-time announcer Hana Holtz on being named Homecoming Queen! Hana was joined on the throne by King Tyler Moen.

The royalty candidates and winners will be featured in the parade at 2:30pm this afternoon in downtown Atlantic. You can watch an archive of our coronation video coverage on KJANTV, and the parade will be live and available for archive watching on that page as well.

(Radio Iowa) — There’s a sendoff in central Iowa tonight (Friday) for a group of National Guard soldiers who are deploying overseas. Guard spokesman, Colonel Michael Wunn, says the sendoff is at the unit’s headquarters in Boone. “It’s Company C 2nd of the 147th Assault Helicopter Battalion. And there’s about 60 soldiers who are a part of that unit who will deploying over to the Central Command of operations,” Wunn says. He says the soldiers will first go to Fort Hood, Texas, for additional training before heading overseas to the Central Command — which is comprised of 20 nations in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia, including Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries.

“They fly Black Hawk helicopters and they provide different types of things as far as support to air movement operations, they can help with air assault operations, combat operations if the need arises. They can help with V-I-P transport and medical evacuations as well,” according to Wunn. Wunn says the sendoff is at the Boone High School gym at 5 p-m. He says the public is invited to the event to show the soldiers the state is supporting them. “And then I think it is also important for the families of these service members who are deploying to see the support — not only from the leadership here in the state — the governor and lieutenant will be there. The Adjutant General will speak, we’ll have a representative from the Boone community who will speak. For those soldiers and their families to get a sense of the community that supports them as they prepare to go overseas,” Wunn says. Wunn says the number of soldiers deployed has been relatively low recently.

“A unit that flies C-12 aircraft — they’re deployed over the Central Command area of operations right now — there’s about seven who are with that unit,” Wunn says. “And then the 60 from the helicopter unit, that’ll bring us up to approximately 70 Iowa Army National Guard soldiers who are deployed. Plus we have two or threes who are deployed to Kosovo.” He says the Boone unit will be deployed for one year. It has previously been mobilized in support of Kosovo Force (KFOR) in 2010 and Operation Enduring Freedom in 2014.

Open enrollment is underway for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and the Iowa Insurance Division’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) is available to offer free, unbiased and confidential assistance to Iowans. Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen said “Iowans have four new Part D drug plans available to them in 2020 and many new Medicare Advantage options. Medicare can be very confusing, and I encourage any Iowans eligible for Medicare as well as caregivers to reach out to our SHIIP team for assistance before the open enrollment window closes on December 7.”

Iowans may make changes to their Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plan during open enrollment beginning October 15, 2019, through December 7, 2019. Iowans that miss the open enrollment deadline most likely would have to wait a full year before making changes to their plan. SHIIP Director Kris Gross said “We expect to see a high percentage of the people saving money by changing plans for 2020. Last year SHIIP helped Iowans save over $32 million by comparing Medicare Part D plans for Iowans”

SHIIP is reminding Iowans to do three important things during Medicare open enrollment:

• Review your plan notice. Read any notices from your Medicare plan about changes for next year – especially your “Annual Notice of Change” letter. Review your plan’s information to make sure the prescriptions you use are still covered and your medical providers and pharmacy are still in network.
• Think about what matters most to you. Medicare health and drug plans change each year and so can your health needs. Does your current plan best meet your needs?
• Shop for the plans that meet your needs and fit your budget. Compare plans even if you’ve been satisfied with your current plan. The coverage and costs for plans can change from year to year.

For SHIIP assistance locally call Carole Schuler, Cass County Health System Volunteer Coordinator, at 712-243-7545. SHIIP is a free, confidential service of the State of Iowa. SHIIP counselors review all plans offered and do not promote any particular plan or company.