(Radio Iowa) – At a time when many rural hospitals are closing their birthing units, a medical center in northwest Iowa is planning a significant expansion. Tara Geddes, chief nursing officer at Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars, says construction will start on a major project next spring that will broaden the scope of the maternal care department. “We offer anything from preconception through our medical clinic all the way through OB care and then delivery afterwards and postpartum care, again, through our clinic,” Geddes says. “So we currently have an inpatient unit and deliver a little over 100 babies per year within that unit and are looking at expanding that.” One of the first things moms-to-be will notice is the larger rooms, which Geddes says are getting a much-needed update.

Floyd Valley Healthcare

“They’re pretty small. They’re a little over 280 square feet and the new rooms will be 411 square feet,” Geddes says. “It allows the moms and their families to have more room to come and see the new babies, to have more room to spread out, and also as equipment has evolved through the years, the rooms get pretty tight.” Geddes says the hospital strives to meet the expectations of patients, and the plans call for a new arrangement for care rooms that should make the process a little easier for mothers.

“Currently, moms, when they come in, will labor in a room and then once they’re ready to progress to the end of delivery, they move into a delivery suite,” Geddes says. “This will allow them to stay in one room, so they’ll be able to labor there, deliver and then actually be able to stay in that room postpartum, so they don’t have to move to different rooms.” Radio Iowa reported on a University of Iowa study in May that found rural Iowa hospitals are losing birthing centers at “striking” rate, with the statewide number of labor and delivery centers falling from 77 in 2000 to just 46 in 2020. Geddes says the expansion in Le Mars will represent a change of setting, but not a change in care.

“Our patient load is one-to-one, so for every patient here to deliver, we have one nurse for that patient,” Geddes says. “They’re not taking care of other patients, they are able to give individualized care and really personalize that to the patient and their family and that will continue in our new unit.” Construction will begin in March and should take about a year and a half.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report two men were arrested Tuesday, on separate warrants. 58-year-old Timothy Jay Blank, of Dubuque (IA), and 50-year-old David Joy Anderson, of Carter Lake, were each arrested on warrants for Violation of Probation. Blank was taken into custody at the Polk County Jail. Anderson was arrested at the Miller County Jail, in Missouri. Bond for Blank was set at $5,000. Anderson’s bond was set at $20,000.

Sheriff’s officials said also, 63-year-old Paul Lowell Otten, of Riverton (IA), was arrested on I-29 in Mills County, for Driving While Barred. His bond was set at $2,000.

(Nevada, Iowa/KCCI) — A woman charged with killing her child in Story County has pleaded not guilty to the crime. KCCI reports 23-year-old Sheyenne Shore faces charges of first-degree murder and child endangerment causing death. Nevada (Nuh-VAY-duh) police charged her earlier this year in the death of her 7-month-old child. Court documents state the child suffered suffered multiple injuries. Another suspect, 35-year-old Juan Angel Montalvo Jr., also faces murder and endangerment charges in his case.

He’s currently being held in the Fresno County California Jail awaiting extradition.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – A man in custody in Polk County in connection with a crime spree last year and who was arrested in Union County, now faces murder and theft charges. Investigators initially connected 24-year-old Davossi Wisdom to a bank robbery, other car thefts, breaking into a home and assaulting two people in January, 2022. He was convicted and is serving time for robbery and theft.

Police say Wisdom stole an SUV on Jan. 12, 2022. He ran over 32-year-old William Kline several times, and then drove away. Kline died from his injuries. Wisdom is now charged with first-degree murder, second-degree theft and leaving the scene of an accident.

(Monticello, Iowa) – One man is dead and another is in custody after a shooting Tuesday morning behind a Fareway store, in Monticello.  Police Chief Britt Smith said in a press release, that officers were called to the Fareway Store in Monticello at around 7:29-a.m., Tuesday, for a reported shooting. A 48-year-old store employee, later identified as Aaron McAtee, had been outside the store near the loading dock when he was shot. Investigators say the incident appears to be a random act of violence.

McAtee was flown to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, where he died from his injuries. The Monticello Fareway Store had previously released a statement on social media, saying it was a member of the “Fareway Family” that was shot, calling it a “senseless act of violence.” The store has since taken that post down.

A Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputy later found the suspect, identified as 38-year-old Nathan Russell of East Dubuque, in Hopkinton. While attempting to take Russell into custody, the man failed to comply with directions from the Deputy, who subsequently shot Russell. The suspect was also taken to the UIHC for treatment of his gunshot injuries.

The Delaware County Deputy who shot Russell has been placed on incident leave, pending the continued investigation. The incident was under investigation by the Iowa DCI, Jones and Delaware County Sheriff’s Offices. The incidents will be reviewed by the Jones County and Delaware County Attorney’s Offices.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak have arrested a man for Child Endangerment – an Aggravated Misdemeanor. Authorities report 38-year-old Aaron Lucas Allen, of Red Oak, was arrested just before 7-p.m. Tuesday, in the 800 block of E. Reed Street in Red Oak. Allen was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

(Area) – There will be some new faces on the Atlantic City Council beginning in January, 2024, following Tuesday’s City-School Elections. Unofficial results from the Cass County Auditor’s Office show incumbents Pat McCurdy and Linda Hartkopf lost their respective 3rd and 4th Ward seats to challengers Mike McDermott and Shawn Sarsfield, respectively. McDermott won by a vote of 211 to 49. Sarsfield’s win was by a 158-to 89 margin. Voter turnout was 18.16% of all registered voters in Cass County.

Voters in the Atlantic Community School District chose to re-elect incumbent Laura McLean to the school board. Joining her will be newcomers Gini Jordan and Jodi Stowater-Goodrich. In Anita, Ben Daughenbaugh was elected Mayor over Kevin Littleton, and Cheryl Sokol along with Roger L. Huffman were elected to At-Large seats on the Anita City Council. In Lewis, Russell Hansen won the Mayor’s race over Rick Sanny, and Roy Wheatley, Ryan Lockwood and Donna Roberts were elected to fill three At-Large seats on the Lewis City Council.

In Adair County, Joanne Byars was elected Mayor of Adair. Shannon Mullen Haus, Jade Irlmeier and Renee Jensen were elected to At-Large seats on the Adair City Council.  In the City of Fontanelle, Dianna Goetz, Bernie Connors II, and Jessica Young were elected to At-Large seats on the City Council. And in Stuart, Michael Kalbach along with Craig Russell, were elected to At-Large seats. Voters in the Adair-Casey School District chose Randal Carney and Justin Crawford to fill to At-Large seats on the school board, and, Public Measure AA (Adoption of a Revenue Purpose Statement) passed by 211 Yes to just 20 No votes.

In Adams County, Public Measure AG in Corning (regarding a change to the make-up of the City Council) passed by a vote of 191 Yes to 83 No. Voters in Prescott approved Public Measure AH (Regarding the number and residency requirement for Prescott Library Board trustees), 12 to 4. Adams County voters also chose Jake Tripp and Seth Evans for At-Large seats on the Lenox Community School District Board. Voter turnout was 18.08%.

In Audubon County, residents of Audubon approved Public Measure A, authorizing a change in the use of the one percent local option sales and services tax, 303-176, or 63.26 percent, to 36.74 percent. The change expends 100 percent of the Local Option Sales and Services Tax for construction, reconstruction, replacement, maintenance, and improvement of city streets, curbs, storm sewers, related infrastructure, and public works-related expenses, including administrative costs. The measure passed by a vote of 303 Yes to 176 No. Voter turnout in Audubon County was 25.26%.

Two seats will be filled on the Audubon City Council by Andrew Graybill and Brandi Meyer, who defeated three other challengers. In Brayton, Cally Christensen was elected Mayor over two other candidates. Steve Fister, Steven Sykes and Joan Meese were elected to the Brayton City Council. In Exira, voters approved (69-to6) a change in the number of Trustees on the Exira Public Library from seven members to five, with one trustee being a resident of the rural area served by the library. The City Council will now appoint all members.

In Kimballton, Millette Shores was elected Mayor, Tuesday. Tony Petersen and Adam Larsen were elected to the City Council. Voters in the Audubon Community School District chose Anne Bomstad-Miller, Mark Nissen and Justin Sprague to represent them as At-Large Directors on the school board. At-large seats on the Exira-EHK School Board will be filled by Jodee Dixson, Terri Harris, Matthew Jorgensen and one of 46 write-in votes to fill the four seats on the board.

In Guthrie County, Joanne Byars won the Mayor’s race in Adair. Jaden David Forsyth, Jade Irlemier and Renee Jensen were selected for the City Council in Adair. Glen Foresman won the Mayor’s race in Bagley, and those elected to the City Council include Kyle Carmichael, Emily Chapman-Olesen, as well as Daphne Clark. Lexee Bonus was elected to fill a vacancy on the Council. Leland Acker, Rick Blake and Bret Wedemeyer were elected to the City Council in Casey. In Panora, Curt Thornberry won the race for Mayor, Tom Flanery and Mark Sheeder were elected to the City Council, in Panora. And, Roger Dorr along with Blake Michaelsen were elected to fill a vacancy on the Council.  Heidi Clark, Clinton Deardorff and Deborah Westergaaard won seats on the Panora School Board.  Patrons of the Guthrie Center School District in Guthrie County, passed a RPS (Revenue Purpose Statement), by a vote of 162-to 18. Voter turnout was 15.74%.

Montgomery County voters elected Emerson Hill as Mayor, in Grant. And, Robert Tripp Narup, Marsha Shepherd and Vince Abraham to At-Large seats on the Villisca City Council. Voter turnout was 15.40%.

In Pottawattamie County, Drew Becker and Robert McCarthy were elected to the Avoca City Council. Dakota Nelson and Cheyenne Mertz won two seats on the City Council in Walnut. Adrian Griffifth and Timothy Branan won the two vacancy seats on the Council in Walnut, and, Mark Jeppesen, Katie Ausdemore and Sara Arnold were elected to the Riverside School Board. Pott. County voters in the Tri-Center School District passed a measures pertaining to a RPS and PPEL. Voter turnout was 14.36%.

In Shelby County, voters overwhelming approved a referendum on taxation [Public Measure TD] (75-cents per $100,000 valuation, & a 1% income surtax) to fund EMS service in the County. The measure passed 1,710 Yes to 368 No. The referendum makes EMS in Shelby County an essential service. Danny Petersen, Kayla Creek and Kendall Petersen were elected to the City Council in Elk Horn. Troy Schaben was elected to the At-Large Lincoln seat on the Harlan City Council/Ward 1, and Shelby County voters elected Zachary Meiners, T.J. Sterk and David Heller to the IKM-Manning School Board. Voter turnout in Shelby County was 24.07%.

See all the results, county-by-county, in links to the Iowa Secretary of State’s website through each area county’s results that were posted on the kjan.com News page.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Red Oak Police report two separate arrests were conducted Tuesday evening. A little after 5-p.m., 64-year-old David Gene Carroll, of Villisca, was arrested for Driving While Revoked, following a traffic stop near 190th St. & Eastern Avenue, in Red Oak. Carroll was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

And, at around 5:30-p.m., 32-year-old Jessica Lynn Hardman, of Red Oak, was arrested in the 300 block of E. Valley Street, on a Red Oak Police Dept. warrant for Driving Under Suspension. Hardman was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 cash-only bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Hundreds of millions of dollars worth of government borrowing plans were approved by voters in this year’s city-school elections in Iowa. Eighty percent of Polk County voters approved a 350-million dollar plan to build a new terminal and expand check-in, baggage claim and security checkpoint areas at the Des Moines Airport.

Nearly 55 percent of voters in Webster County voted to borrow 45-and-a-half MILLION dollars for a new county jail, but bond issues have to pass with at least 60 percent support, so the plan failed. Voters in Pocahontas and Greene Counties crossed that 60 percent threshold and approved building new county jails. Bonding plans in 34 school districts were decided, too.

Voters in the Cedar Rapids School District rejected a 220-million dollar bond issue to build a new middle school and make other improvements in the district. Voters in the Waukee district approved a 180 million dollar bond referendum to update district facilities.

Hundreds of city council and mayor’s races around the state were decided Tuesday. Connie Boesen is the first woman to be elected mayor of Iowa’s largest city. Boesen, an Iowa State Fair food vendor who’s been a member of the Des Moines City Council for six years, finished ahead of three others running for mayor.

Davenport Mayor Mike Matson won a third term as mayor of Iowa’s third largest city. Candidates backed by the conservative “Moms for Liberty” group failed to win seats on the Linn-Mar School Board. Several Republicans have criticized the district’s policies for transgender students and Governor Reynolds has said the new state funded scholarships for private school expenses are an option for parents who feel trapped in districts that don’t share their values.

Conservative slates of candidates campaigning on parental rights issues failed to win seats on school boards in the Des Moines suburbs of Johnston, Waukee and West Des Moines.

Full (Unofficial) results will be available HERE

CITY OF AVOCA

City Council (elect 2):

Fred G. Miller, III 145

Drew Becker 157**

Robert McCarthy 185**

Clint Fichter 89

CITY OF WALNUT

City Council (elect 2):

Dakota Nelsen 98**

Joshua Thomas 42

Michael Chapman 22

Larry M. Hagadon 60

Kevin Clark 83

Cheyenne Mertz 89**

City Council to fill a vacancy (elect 2):

Adrian J. Griffith 99**

Timothy A. Branan 127**

Mike Martin 81

Tracy Stohler 56

RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Director District #5 (elect 1):

Mark Jeppesen 220**

Tate M. Brandon 62

TRI-CENTER CSD

Director At-Large (elect 2):

Kevin K. Holben 56

Katie Ausdemore 203**

Sara Arnold 179**

TRI-CENTER Public Measure SB  (Re: Adoption of a Revenue Purpose Statement)

Yes 202

No 26

TRI-CENTER Public Measure SC (Re: PPEL renewal of $1.34/1,000 assessed property valuation, effective in the FY ending 6/20/2025)

Yes 182

No 47