DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Some patients at Veterans Affairs medical centers in Iowa and Nebraska are on waiting lists for treatment, but the facilities say they’re unaware of any unauthorized lists like those uncovered in other states. A regional VA spokeswoman said Thursday that Iowa and Nebraska facilities were included in a federal investigation of specific sites. Spokeswoman Sharyl Schaepe says the facilities do not expect to have any problems, but they won’t know for sure until they’re told what the review found.

A summary of VA audits released last week showed widespread falsification of waiting list records and unreported treatment delays at facilities nationwide. Conditions at individual sites were not given. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa says his office wants to know whether any secret lists existed in Iowa.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests Wednesday. 26-year old Kacie Lee Schleis, of Audubon, was arrested on a charge of Driving Under Suspension. Schleis was taken to the Cass County Jail where she was released on her own recognizance later that day.

36-year old Timothy Orville Welch, of Red Oak, was arrested Wednesday in Cass County, on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Welch was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $25,000 bond.

And, 24-year old Michael Russell Robinson,  of Massena, was taken into custody Wednesday, on a charge of Violation of a No Contact Order. Robinson was taken to the Cass County Jail where he is being held awaiting hearing before the Magistrate.

Officials with the Glenwood Police Department report the arrest on Wednesday, of an Oakland man. 37-year old Billy Hunter was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault and Obstruction of Emergency Communications.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey has announced that Farmers Market Nutrition Program applications are now available for eligible WIC recipients and low-income older Iowans. The WIC Farmers Market Nutrition and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs provide eligible Iowans with checks that can be redeemed for fresh, locally grown produce at authorized farmers markets and farm stands from June 1 through October 31st, 2014.

Northey says “Iowa has great fresh fruits and vegetables that can be found at farmers markets throughout the state and these programs are designed to give WIC participants and low-income seniors better access to these fresh and nutritious foods.”  The Farmers Market Nutrition Programs are administered through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, in partnership with the Iowa Department of Public Health and Iowa Department on Aging.

The WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program provides eligible WIC recipients with nine checks valued at $3 each. The program is implementing two changes for the 2014 season. This year checks will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Eligible individuals may pick up checks at arranged appointments or at regularly scheduled clinic appointments. A second change this year is that checks will be distributed on a statewide basis. Previously, checks were only distributed in 68 of Iowa’s 99 counties, but this year the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and Iowa Department of Public Health have broadened the distribution to include the entire state.

The state’s twenty local WIC agencies have begun to distribute checks and nutritional education information. WIC recipients interested in obtaining the benefits are encouraged to contact their local WIC clinic or visit www.idph.state.ia.us/wic/ for more information.

The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program provides eligible seniors with ten checks for $3 each. Applicants throughout the state are offered the checks on a first-come first-served basis and the checks are available through Area Agency on Aging offices. A combination of state and federal funds will be used to make benefits available to more than 20,000 eligible seniors this year.

Eligible seniors must be sixty years of age or older with a household income less than $21,590 if single or $29,101 for a married couple. Iowa seniors will be asked to complete a one page application verifying their eligibility, by providing their birth dates and the last four digits of their social security numbers.

The Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) have begun to distribute checks and nutritional education information. To find an Area Agency on Aging near you, contact the Iowa Association of Area Agencies on Aging (i4a) toll free at 866-468-7887 or at www.i4a.org.

w/ Ric Hanson

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The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, acted on several matters, including a request to approve the partial closing of 6th Street between Chestnut Street west, to an alley between Chestnut and Poplar Street, for the purpose of “Produce in the Park” events.

Produce in the Park is scheduled to take place from 4-to 7-pm on Thursday’s, from June 12th through Oct. 30th. Dr. Keith Leonard who explained what the event was about, presented the request to the Council, on behalf of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. Leonard said they might need more street space in the future, it just depends on how many vendors show up the first few times. He said also, it may not go as late as requested, depending on how the weather affects the growing of local crops. The Council approved the request for the temporary street closure during the event.

Mayor Dave Jones asked if the Chamber still planned to hold “Music in the Park” events this Summer and early fall. Dr. Leonard said there will be no organized or sponsored events, but independent musicians are welcome to perform during in the Atlantic City Park on some Thursdays. He said there won’t be a stage for performances, though.

In other business, the Council approved the third reading and adoption of an Ordinance pertaining to the City’s Flood Plain Regulations, as requested by the State of Iowa, and required by FEMA. They also held a public hearing on, and the first reading of, an Ordinance pertaining to the height of structures, objects and natural vegetation, as well as land uses of property in the vicinity of the Atlantic Municipal Airport.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Planned Parenthood of the Heartland is closing two small clinics in southwest Iowa. The Des Moines Register reports that the closures in Red Oak and Creston are among at least 11 satellite clinics the group has closed in recent years. The group uses a video-conferencing system to dispense abortion pills to women in outlying clinics.

Planned Parenthood says the Red Oak and Creston clinics were open only by appointment and are being closed because of “a shifting need for services.” Patients will be referred to remaining clinics, including seven that provide the telemedicine abortions and two that also provide surgical abortions.

Planned Parenthood spokeswoman Angie Remington says the closures were not sparked by abortion opponents’ objections to the clinics.

The largest insurer of homes and vehicles in Iowa and Nebraska has made “staffing adjustments” to help customers in both states affected by Tuesday’s storms. Ann Avery is a spokesperson for State Farm. “It’s the kind of damage that is consistent with a wind and hail storm…we’ve all seen some pretty dramatic photos,” Avery says.

The heaviest damage in Iowa is over the southwest corner of the state. In some cases, homes and cars were battered by fallen trees that were uprooted by 80 to 90 mile per hour winds. Large hail and flooding also caused damage. The total number of insurance claims are adding up quickly. Avery says safety should be the top priority when surveying storm damage. She encourages homeowners to avoid downed power lines and when it’s safe to do so, make temporary repairs to prevent further damage to a home or vehicle.

“We do encourage people to save their receipts for any purchases they incur in the process of doing that,” Avery says. As for permanent repairs, Avery says it’s important to take time to choose a reputable contractor.  “Ask for references, ask about certificates of insurance, maybe consider contacting your local Better Business Bureau,” Avery suggests. “Just take care to choose someone who will help you recover appropriately.”

In the eastern Nebraska town of Blair, which is part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area, thousands of vehicles at a car dealership were badly damaged by baseball-sized hail. The courthouse in Blair sustained at least $1.2 million in damage from heavy rain after the hail shattered windows and skylights.

(Radio Iowa)

A Cass County man faces numerous charges following a traffic stop that resulted in a high-speed pursuit late Wednesday evening. Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy Josh McLaren told KJAN News that chase began after he tried to stop a red Chevy pickup on the northwest side of Massena at 740th and Quincy Road, just before 9-p.m.

McLaren said he knew the driver, 28-year old Trel Curtis Peterson, of Cumberland, and that the man did not have a valid driver’s license. When the deputy activated his lights and sirens, Peterson failed to pull-over. A pursuit ensured westbound on Quincy Road with the pickup reaching speeds that approached 100-miles per hour. He says the chase continued on several roads.

Deputy Kyle Quist picked up the pursuit as the pickup headed east on Victoria Road. During the pursuit, the pickup nearly collided with Quist’s SUV, as well as other vehicles, and it nearly hit a man who was trying to retrieve his mail from his box on a rural road. The chase wound its way toward the southeast corner of Massena on various county roads before the pickup found its way onto a dirt road that had become muddy following the recent heavy rains. The deputies didn’t want to risk getting stuck, so they circumvented the mud road. The suspect wasn’t so lucky. Deputy Quist located the vehicle on the road, parked in front of 67213 760th Street. The vehicle had been abandoned.

Peterson was found hiding near an outbuilding on the property. He surrendered to Quist and his K-9 partner, “Vader,” at 9:17-p.m. McLaren said despite efforts by several law enforcement agencies to locate a passenger in the pickup, that person was not found. He said they “Have a pretty good idea who that subject was,” and that charges are pending completion of the investigation.

Peterson, meanwhile faces a litany of charges. They include eluding law enforcement, reckless driving, speeding, driving under suspension, violation of a restricted license, carrying a concealed weapon, No SR-22 insurance, possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana and drug paraphernalia, OWI/drug-related, and a pending charge of assault on a peace officer.

The man was being held in the Cass County Jail, pending an appearance before the magistrate. McLaren says the Cass County Sheriff’s Office was assisted during the incident by deputies from the Shelby, Adair, Adams and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Departments, the Iowa State Patrol, an Iowa State Patrol aircraft, Red Oak P-D and Atlantic P-D K-9 units, and Atlantic P-D Reserves.