A state ombudsman reports that denial, reduction or termination of services is the number one complaint among the hundreds of complaints filed each month from Iowa Medicaid recipients. The report was reviewed yesterday (Monday) by a legislative committee examining Iowa’s switch to having for-profit companies manage the state’s Medicaid program. Representative Rob Taylor, a Republican from West Des Moines, cited the report as he spoke to Kim Fultz with United Healthcare. “This, I see, as your report card of what you’re doing well and what you’re not,” Taylor said. “Would you like to respond to that?” Fultz replied: “Well, first I’d like to say that it’s an inaccurate characterization.”

According to Fultz, a small number of Medicaid recipients are complaining about denial of services they believe they need, but there isn’t support for those services and the company deals with each complaint individually. According to the ombudsman’s report, the complaints are coming in particular from patients who get home and community-based services through Medicaid. The ombudsman’s office received more than four-thousand calls from Medicaid recipients over the 12-month period that ended September 30th. Nearly half were about denial, reduction or termination of services.

(Radio Iowa)

Five Iowa Great Places have been awarded $1.3 million in grants for projects in their communities, including Madison County’s fire-damaged Cedar Covered Bridge. The iconic landmark has been featured in literature, film and theater (“The Bridges of Madison County”) and is one of six covered bridges near Winterset that are the centerpiece of the area’s tourism industry.

Other Iowa Great Places grants announced today (Tuesday) will support (by organization, project and award):

• Pott. County Arts, Culture and Entertainment – Renovation of the historic Harvester II building in Council Bluffs – A$400,000 award toward the overall estimated project cost of more than $22.5-million.
• City of Manning – Phase II development of Trestle Park in Manning – A $31,380 award toward the $62,760 project cost
• Madison County Chamber of Commerce -Rebuilding of the Cedar Bridge in Madison County – A $275,770 award toward the more than $597,000 project cost.

Additional details:

Pottawattamie Art, Culture & Entertainment seeks to renovate the historic Harvester II building in Council Bluffs into a 50,400-square-foot arts and culture center offering art programs for all ages but especially low-income youth. Renovation includes the addition of a 245-seat theater that will be shared by American Midwest Ballet, the Chanticleer Theater, the Kitchen Council, community partners and arts education programs. The facility will serve as a home for its umbrella arts and culture organization, which works to streamline fundraising, marketing, archiving, volunteer services and more for partnering arts organizations in Pottawattamie County.

In 2014, Manning created a Trestle Park Plan as part of its successful Great Places application in 2015. The new park revolves around a 102-year-old historic railroad trestle that is a local icon and is quickly becoming a state icon. Crews have already completed most of Phase I, which included removing the former feed mill on the property, building a shelter house and installing a train-themed informational kiosk, trail, road, parking, lighting, and a large “IOWA” sculpture that has quickly become a favorite place for photographs. The natural play area is just starting to be developed. Project leaders are working with Iowa State University on concepts for public art, providing specific instructions to students to design art pieces that were interactive or served an additional purpose. The goal of Phase II is to further develop the park into a unique experience for both locals and visitors by using nontraditional items.

On April 15, 2017, one of Madison County’s world-famous covered bridges was destroyed by arson. The Cedar Covered Bridge was a significant tourism asset, serving as the bridge on the cover of Robert Waller’s novel, “The Bridges of Madison County,” as well as the site for Oprah Winfrey’s visit to Madison County in 1993, plus countless weddings, photography sessions and community celebrations. Additionally, Cedar Bridge is a featured attraction along the newly designated Covered Bridges Byway, which is part of the Iowa Scenic Byways program administered by the Iowa Department of Transportation. Madison County’s covered bridges hold considerable local significance and attract national and worldwide attention.

Other projects awarded funds include: Construction of a trail bridge in the Turkey River Recreational Corridor near Elgin, and Redevelopment of the Wapsipinicon River Scenic Overlook in Linn County.

The Iowa Great Places program recognizes and partners with Iowans who cultivate the unique and authentic qualities of their local places, such as neighborhoods, districts or regions, to make them great places to live and work. Iowa’s Great Places receive access to funding opportunities, professional development training, technical assistance opportunities, a network of vibrant communities and passionate leaders, and other state and local resources. This year, the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs received applications from 14 Iowa Great Places projects seeking more than $3 million. Funding for the Iowa Great Places program is provided by an annual appropriation from the Iowa Legislature through the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund.

Members of the Cass and Adair County Boards of Supervisors will hold their separate, regular meetings Wednesday morning. In Atlantic, the Cass County Board meets at 8:30-a.m. On their agenda is: a review of information pertaining to renewal rates for Health Insurance in FY 2018-19, and the setting of contribution rates for employer and employee; A review of County Compensation Board recommendations for compensation of Cass County’s 10 elected officials, and other FY 2018-19 budget matters; and, a renewal of the Unified Law Enforcement contract (which terminates June 30, 2018), between the Cass County Sheriff’s Department and the Cass County Unified Law Enforcement District (which includes the cities of Cumberland, Lewis, Marne, Massena and Wiota).

In Greenfield, the Adair County Supervisors meet at 9-a.m.  Auditor Mindy Schaefer will discuss 2017 Payable 2018-19 Valuation information, FY 2019 Health Insurance, and Election Trailer. Afterward, the Board will receive the Adair County Compensation Board recommendations, and County Engineer Nick Kauffman will discuss various road culvert projects, the proposed replacement options for the Loucks Grove Bridge, and grading from 130th Street to the quarry, and G-61 for N-51 west. He’ll also present bids for awarding, with regard to the G-27 grading project.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say three inmates — including two convicted killers — have been charged with attempted murder for attacking two officers at the Des Moines County Jail. The two officers were attacked Dec. 10. One was treated and released on the same day. The other officer left a hospital two days later.

The Iowa Public Safety Department says Earl Booth-Harris, Jorge Sanders-Galvez and Bobby Joe Morris also were charged Monday with assault on a correctional officer. Booth-Harris’ attorney didn’t immediately return a call Tuesday. Court records don’t list attorneys for Sanders-Galvez and Morris in the new cases.

Sanders-Galvez was convicted last month of killing of a gender-fluid Burlington teen, and Booth-Harris has been convicted of killing a Burlington man. Morris is awaiting further court action on his robbery case appeal.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports 38-year old Brenda Lynn Davis, of Afton, was arrested Monday morning. Davis was taken into custody on a Union County warrant for Probation Violation. She was being held in the Ringgold County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater says the Adair County Sheriff’s Office and the Toys for Tots program helped out families in eight communities in the area, last Friday evening. Between 5-p.m. and 8-p.m. Frida toys were handed out to 58 different children who were signed up through the Sheriff’s Office. The donation drive collected enough toys to provide for approximately 200 children. The Sheriff says “We surpassed our donations last year by approximately two and a half times. This was the first year for the Adair County Sheriff’s Office to be a distribution point and/or to hand out toys, and I think it went extremely well.”

Deputy James Paup, a former active duty Marine, spearheads the Toys for Tots toy drive.

Two deputies, a jailer, an off duty civil clerk, a Greenfield Police Officer, two of their spouses along with the Sheriff came in that night to help in the handing out of the toys.  Vandewater says “It was a fun, positive experience and was a great opportunity to interact with adults and kids alike on a totally positive basis with the goal of helping make Christmas just a little bit better for some children in our community.”

Police in Council Bluffs reports a man wanted in connection with the death of a man whose body found December 11^th in a vacant lot, has been arrested by Lincoln, NE, Police on a misdemeanor charge. 43-year old Michael J. Thacker, a transient, is currently in custody while awaiting extradition to Pottawattamie County, where he is wanted on a warrant for Murder in the 1^st Degree.

Council Bluffs police say the body of 34-year old David S. Simpson, of Council Bluffs, was found by a resident walking his dog.  An autopsy shows Simpson died of blunt force trauma. Authorities have charged 53-year-old Cleo W. McClellan, of Council Bluffs, with being an accessory to a felony-murder.

The Mills County Sheriff’s reports three arrests. On Sunday, 32-year old Jacob Andrew Graham, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for OWI/3rd offense, Driving While Revoked, and Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs. He was taken into custody following a traffic stop on I-29 at around 4:45-a.m., Sunday. Bond was set at $7,000. Saturday night, 23-year old Joshua Udo Laubert, of Glenwood, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. And, late Friday night, 33-year old David Michael Graham, of Silver City, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. He was taken into custody following a traffic stop near Highway 34 and 195th Street.

(9-a.m. News)

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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