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Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
DES MOINES — Six Iowa care facilities were placed in receivership after the owner informed the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) that it would be unable to continue operating those facilities.
On Monday, Jan. 23, the owner of Blue Care Homes, LLC, notified DIA that they were unable and/or unwilling to continue operations and would not be able to meet the needs of its residents at four nursing facilities and two assisted living facilities.
On Wednesday, Jan.25, pursuant to Iowa Code chapters 135C and 231C, DIA filed for receivership of the six facilities. Receivership ensures that residents are safe and that they have the ability to move to a location of their choosing.
On Thursday, Jan. 26, the courts appointed Michael F. Flanagan—who has significant experience in receiverships—in conjunction with Mission Health, as the temporary manager of these facilities. Mr. Flanagan and Mission Health immediately assumed control of the operations and will remain in control until all 263 residents are safely relocated to a facility of their choice.
Affected nursing/skilled nursing facilities
Affected assisted living facilities
“DIA’s most important duty is to ensure that every resident is safe,” said DIA Director Larry Johnson, Jr. “Facilities must abide by all regulations to ensure a safe and orderly closure and the State stepped in to ensure this happens.” The department, the temporary manager, managed care organizations, and the Office of the Long Term Care ombudsman will assist residents in determining where they would like to move, and DIA surveyors continue to monitor each of these facilities throughout the transition period.
Residents, staff, and families have been notified of the receivership and closures and additional meetings will occur in the coming days. Federal and state regulations require facilities to remain open while residents are being safely placed at a facility of their choice (60 days for nursing and skilled nursing facilities and 90 days for assisted living facilities).
This is the second time the department has filed for receivership. The first time was in July 2022 for a facility in Sioux City.The department will release additional information as it becomes available.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Fire Department personnel were called to the scene of a house fire a little before 10-a.m. today (Monday). Fire Chief Tom Cappel said when they arrived on the scene at 901 Birch Street, there was heavy smoke coming from the interior of the house, which made it difficult to determine where the fire was at first.
Crews made entry into the home from the west side of the structure and into the basement, where Cappel said he was confident that’s where the fire began. Fire crews made entry later on from the south end of the home. Eventually, the structural integrity of the house had been compromised, and the ground floor collapsed into the basement. The second story collapsed into the kitchen. Crews were recalled out of the house before the interior collapsed. Cappel said from there on it was an exterior fire containment effort.
He said they had to wait for the fire to burn up through to the roof, otherwise they would not have been able to get water into the inside of the home. Normally, they would be on the roof, cutting holes for an attack on the interior. Since the house was about 10-to-15 feet away from a house to the south, firefighters worked to protect that structure for fear the house with the fire might collapse toward the exterior instead of the interior.
The neighboring house has extensive smoke damage. Chief Cappel said it was a smokey and hot fire, plus the frigid conditions and formation of ice from the water used on the scene, made it a difficult blaze to contain. Mutual aid was requested and received from the Griswold, Marne and Lewis Fire Departments,. Cass EMS, Atlantic Police and others also provided assistance. Chief Cappel said he was extremely grateful for their help.
Atlantic firefighters finally left the scene at around 5-p.m.
Ric Hanson/photos
(Radio Iowa) – A judge has approved a competency hearing for the Fort Dodge mother accused of killing her infant daughter — but denied a request for a new lawyer. District Court Judge Christopher Polking cited Taylor Blaha’s refusal to meet with her current court appointed attorney on several occasions and said it was not likely that Blaha would be more cooperative with a new lawyer.
One of her arguments and requesting new counsel was that she has a learning disability. Blaha and the baby’s father Brandon Thoma are both charged with first-degree murder in the death of their infant daughter.
Blaha is scheduled to go to trial on February 28th and Thoma goes to trial on August 8th.
(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Guthrie County say no injuries were reported following two separate accidents that took place, Saturday. The first occurred at around 6-a.m., on Highway 44. Authorities say 33-year-old Teressa Stilwell, of Guthrie Center, was driving a 2002 Jeep Liberty eastbound on Highway 44, when she met a snowplow and her wheels dropped off onto the south shoulder. Stilwell lost control of the SUV, causing it to come back onto the road before the vehicle struck a cable barrier on the south shoulder. The SUV sustained about $3,000 (Minor) damage. Stilwell was cited for Failure to provide proof of financial liability (Accident-related insurance).
The second accident happened at around 6:45-p.m., Saturday, also on Highway 44. A 2017 Ford Taurus driven by 44-year-old Bobbi Jo Wolfe, of Guthrie Center, was westbound on State Highway 44, when a deer entered the traveled portion of the roadway. Wolfe was unable to stop and struck the deer, causing about $7,500 damage to the car. Wolfe and her passenger were not injured. No citations were issued.
(Radio Iowa) – State officials are asking the legislature to correct for an error in the formula that determines some property tax rates. Each year, the Iowa Department of Revenue makes a statewide calculation that affects property tax rates and the error is connected to what’s called multi-residential property. A 2013 law said apartment buildings, nursing homes and mobile home parks were no longer to be taxed as commercial property, but as multi-residential property.
Then, a 2021 law called for taxing those multi-residential properties at the same rate as single-family homes and condominiums. However, the law failed to adjust the statewide formula used to determine how much cities, counties and schools can collect in property taxes. The error means local governments would get less than expected from residential property taxes.
(Massena, Iowa) – While firefighters from Atlantic were battling a house fire this (Monday) morning, crews from the Anita, Cumberland and Massena Fire Departments were dispatched at around 11:38-a.m. to a reported machine shed fire at 73122 Oxford Road, north of Massena.
Additional information is currently not available.
(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports two separate accidents occurred January 26th, neither of which resulted in injuries. At around 12:20-a.m., a 2016 Volvo driven by 52-year-old Ahmad Ayyash, of Festus, MO, was traveling south on I-29, when the trailer began to fishtail and go into the ditch. The driver attempted to correct the skid, but his actions caused the semi to flip onto its side and slide across the road. The trailer ended-up in the ditch. The contents of the trailer spilled out, causing damage to a field fence.
And, at around 7-a.m. on Jan. 26th, a 2013 Fiat driven by 48-year-old Ann Biermann, of Chicago, IL, was found in a ditch at 56995 240th Street. No one was around the vehicle. A Sheriff’s Deputy determined through an investigation that the vehicle left the road and rolled once before coming to rest upright. While the deputy was on the scene, a man arrived and said his sister was driving the vehicle. He said she walked home, uninjured. The driver later reported the accident to the Sheriff’s Office and stated it had occurred at around midnight. She said also the car did not completely roll over, but did flip onto its passenger side before landing back upright.
(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests occurred over the past few days. There were two arrests last Friday (Jan. 27): 34-year-old Brendan Ryan Clark, of Carter Lake, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Perjury – False Affidavit/affirmation or Statement, and Falsh application for License or ID card. His bond was set at $6,000. And, 22-year-old De’Sean Maurice McVay, of Glenwood, was arrested on the 27th, at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office. He was taken into custody on a warrant for Failure to Appear on an original Violation of Probation charge, and OWI. Bond was set at $1,000.
On Jan. 26th, 43-year-old Marc Dale Farrell,of Pacific Junction, was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree, Obstruction of Prosecution or Defense, and Assault. His bond was set at $7,300. And, on Jan. 25th, 27-year-old Jayme Ilene Rowe, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Page County Sheriff’s Office, on a Mills County warrant for Violation of Probation. (Bond $15,000)
(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports two arrests from the past week. 28-year-old Sebastian D. Borrowski, of Glenview, IL, was arrested following a traffic stop at around 4:47-a.m. on Jan. 25th, by Police in Stuart. His arrest for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense. A K9 search of his vehicle resulted in the recovery of multiple items of drug paraphernalia, and several THC wax containers containing THX wax. He was transported to the Adair County Jail and released later that same day on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.
And, at around 1-p.m. on Jan. 26th, Police in Adair arrested 36-year-old Enemecio Escobar-Vargas, of Adair, for Domestic Abuse Assault w/bodily injury or mental illness/1st offense. The arrest was the result of a DHS investigation that determined the assault of a woman allegedly took place Jan. 24th in front of children in the residence. Escobar-Vargas was transported to the Adair County Jail and released the next day on a $1,000 cash/surety bond.
Sheriff Vandewater said also, 75-year-old Gary Francis Beaman, of Fontanelle, was cited by Greenfield Police, for PCS-Marijuana/3rd offense, and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia. He received his citation following a traffic stop on a vehicle with no functional rear lights. A subsequent, probable cause search resulted in the discovery of a marijuana pipe, residue, and two baggies with the odor of marijuana. Beaman was released from the scene with his citation.
And, 34-year-old Matthew Lloyd Stevens, of Lewis, was being temporarily held in the Adair County on behalf of Cass County, on Cass County charges only.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Fire Department personnel were called to the scene of a house fire a little before 10-a.m. today. The first crews arriving a 901 Birch Street reported a “working fire,” and requested additional personnel. Mutual aid was requested from Marne and Lewis Fire, for their equipment and manpower, as well. Thick, gray-black smoke continued to pour from the home, as of the latest observation at 10:40-a.m. (Ric Hanson, Photos)
Heavy flames were still visible as of 11:50-a.m., according to scanner traffic.
The fire is believed to have started in the basement. Additional details are unavailable at this time.
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