Creston Police report a woman from Lenox was arrested Wednesday evening for Assault with Injury, and Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree. 37-year old Brenda Davis was later released from the Union County Jail on a $1000 bond.

The union representing a majority of state workers is blaming “inappropriate staffing levels” for recent incidents at the Independence Mental Health Institute where a patient injured three staff members. Two of the workers required a trip to a hospital emergency room, according to a news release from AFSCME Council 61. The Department of Human Services has oversight of the state’s two mental health institutes. D-H-S spokesperson Amy McCoy says while she’s not aware of any staffing shortages in Independence, workers know there are risks with direct care of patients.

photo courtesy KCRG-TV via Radio Iowa

“Unfortunately, from time to time at the facilities, assaults do happen where patients who have psychiatric diagnoses may have some behavioral issues and act out,” McCoy said. AFSCME Council 61 president Danny Homan is also questioning the placement of the patient at the Independence MHI due the man’s history of violent behavior. McCoy admits “some very difficult individuals” do get placed at the M-H-Is.

“We are always trying to make sure that we have policies and procedures in place that can best protect our staff,” McCoy said. “The safety of the patients and our staff is our highest priority.” McCoy said she did not know details about the incidents at the Independence MHI.

(Radio Iowa)
AFSCME PRESS RELEASE:

AFSCME Iowa Council 61 President Danny Homan issued the following statement regarding recent staff injuries at the Independence Mental Health Institute:

“I was deeply concerned to hear about two separate incidents of staff being seriously injured by the same patient at the Independence Mental Health Institute over the past two weeks. The first incident resulted in two staff members being rushed to the emergency room; the second resulted in injuries simply due to the fact that insufficient staff was available to respond and assist the staff member while she was being assaulted.

“The issue of understaffing permeates too many of our state facilities. Whether prisons, mental health institutes, or resource centers, putting staff in harm’s way simply because we are continually understaffed is unacceptable.

“Appropriate placement has also been a continuing issue at our mental health institutes and resource centers. The patient who attacked multiple staff at Independence MHI was transferred from a private facility who was no longer able to handle his violent behavior. There should have been a period of consideration by the state to determine whether or not his behavior pattern could be appropriately handled at Independence MHI, given their staff shortages.

“Another ongoing concern regarding placement is the convicted rapist at Woodward Resource Center, who has been threatening another attack since his transfer to the facility in August. There is no doubt that the Woodward Resource Center is an unsafe place for a violent sexual predator to reside. For the sake of the staff, his fellow residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and the public, we have to make more responsible placement decisions.”

The vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court was the first topic tackled last (Wednesday) night as Republican Senator Chuck Grassley and his Democratic challenger Patty Judge met to debate in Sioux City. Foreign policy, tax reform and the future of the federal ethanol production mandate were briefly discussed, but Grassley and Judge began with the issue that has been at the center of their contest.

Grassley is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Since February he’s said the next president should “make the next appointment” to the Supreme Court. A debate moderator asked Grassley whether he’d change his mind if Hillary Clinton wins and the other G-O-P senators want to confirm President Obama’s nominee. “If a majority of the senate said that they were going to move ahead, a chairman serves at the (will) majority of the senate of the United States and I would follow the will of the majority of the senate,” Grassley said. “I don’t expect that to happen, though.”

Judge said Grassley’s “playing political games” with the court. “I am really tonight troubled with this answer. It sure appears to me that he’s leaving himself some wiggle room so that they can have a hearing for Judge Garland between the time this election is over and Hillary Clinton takes office.” The candidates sought to prove they have the ability to understand what’s important to Iowans. At one point, that included their check of commodity prices.

“Corn was $3, $3.13 today,” Judge said during a discussion of the next Farm Bill. A few seconds later, Grassley said: “The price of corn at New Hartford today is $3.10.” Grassley, who is from New Hartford, is seeking a seventh term in the U.S. Senate. Judge, a former state ag secretary who is from Albia, presented herself as “new leadership” for Iowa in Washington. She says the “gridlock and obstruction” in D.C. is fueling “great unhappiness” in the country.

“Put the partisan politics down,” Judge said. “Quit playing games.” Grassley promised to focus on creating jobs and national security. “I make sure that I’m on top of things by having dialogue with my constituents so I can better represent them,” Grassley says. Judge shot back. “When my opponent talks about the need to get out of there in Washington after having been there for 42 years is almost humorous,” Judge said. “I don’t need to have 99 town hall meetings to know what’s going on in Iowa. I live here.” Grassley replied: “My opponent, I don’t think she would mean to imply that coming home on a regular basis and having all these meetings and making the process is something that’s wrong about Washington. That’s kind of what I heard, though.”

The hour-long debate was staged at Morningside College and hosted by K-T-I-V in Sioux City. It was also broadcast on stations in Waterloo, Quincy, Illinois and Rochester, Minnesota that have signals which reach into portions of Iowa.

(O. Kay Henderson/Radio Iowa)

Council Bluffs Police are investigating an incident of burglary and assault. Officials say at around 11-p.m. Wednesday, officers were called to 3002 Bel Air Dr for an assault, where the suspects had entered the residence and assaulted the resident. The suspects then fled from the scene and have not been located.

The victim was transported by rescue squad to the hospital by the Council Bluffs Fire Department for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The case remains under investigation by Council Bluffs Police.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at (712) 328-7867 or the Council Bluffs Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at (712) 328-4728.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer said Wednesday, the Page County Sheriff’s Office will be having a K-9 Fundraiser on November 5th, 2016 from 5-until 8-p.m., at the Coin Community Building, in Coin.  They will be serving Fried chicken strips and Fish along with coleslaw, baked beans, fries, tea and water. A silent auction of items that have been donated for the event will also be held, with bidding taking place during the time of the fundraising event.

The Coin Firemen have generously donated their frying expertise with their equipment to help with this fundraiser.  Every year in the late spring, they put on a wonderful fundraiser.  Palmer says they are honored that they will be cooking for the fundraiser. If you are unable to attend for some reason and wish to donate to the K-9 program, monetary donations are being accepted at the Page County Sheriff’s Office 323 N 15^th St. Clarinda,IA. 51632.  Donations can be mailed or brought to the office.

All proceeds and donations will go toward the Page County Sheriff’s Office K-9 program that they are starting.