(updated at 11:34-a.m. to include additional charges from the Audubon P-D)

A woman from Audubon County was arrested early this (Monday) morning, on assault and trespass charges. Audubon County Sheriff Todd Johnson reports 21-year old Samantha Christine Schmidt, of Audubon, was arrested at 12:30-a.m. and charged with two-counts of Assault, in addition to trespassing. The charges stem from a disturbance reported in the 5000 block of Jay Avenue.

In addition, Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer reports Schmidt was charged with Violation of a No Contact Order and Harassment. Schmidt was being held in the Audubon County Jail pending completion of an investigation into her alleged activities.

The CEO of Cass, Incorporated, in Atlantic, has issued a statement with regard to a new Medicaid “Settings Rule.” Glenda Farrier says in recent years, primary funding for organizations like CASS Incorporated across the country has gone under Medicaid, the governmental insurance program for people meeting its income guidelines and for people with disabilities. CASS currently receives over 90% of its funding for services from this federal program, which is administered by the state.

The recently introduced “Settings Rule” declares Medicaid will no longer fund services for people with disabilities provided in a “segregated” setting after March 17th, 2019. The action upholds the intent of a Supreme Court ruling called the Olmstead Decision and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, both of which refer to the segregation of people with disabilities away from the general population—therefore, a civil rights issue.

CASS Incorporated serves about 140 people in its comprehensive array of service offerings and has been a community rehabilitation provider since 1977. Our community employment and residential support services are done entirely in the community. Those services, by definition, are considered “integrated” as they are provided to the people we serve where they live and work, among the general population and within the community. Therefore, those services are compliant with the new Settings Rule.

Our segregated services would be those provided at our sheltered workshop and our day activity programs at our 7th Street location. These services are considered segregated because the majority of people attending at these locations are people with disabilities and the location itself is not a part of the general community.

Therefore, over the next four years, and in compliance of the Settings Rule effective date of March 17, 2019, CASS, Incorporated will be redefining how its services will be provided within the community and implementing that transformation. The Medicaid Settings Rule is nation wide and will create a shift in how services to people with disabilities will be provided all over the country.

(Press Release)

Large hail, high winds and heavy rain came with last (Sunday) night’s thunderstorms that rumbled across much of Iowa. Meteorologist Brad Small, at the National Weather Service office in Johnston, says parts of northwest Iowa report tennis ball-sized hail while wind gusts near 60 miles an hour were reported in north-central Iowa near Algona in Kossuth County.

“We had some reports of inch hail starting in northwest Iowa near the West Bend area,” Small says. “It progressed farther south and east into the evening. The biggest was near the town of Manson in Calhoun County which had anywhere from an inch up to two-and-a-half inch hail. We had some reports of broken windows there, too.” Small says more thunderstorms are likely later today and practically every day this week.

“Of and on through much of the week, we’ll have some storms, mainly tonight more than today, and there may be a break late Tuesday and Tuesday night,” Small says. “Other than that, the forecast for the week and into next weekend looks stormy with several periods of showers and thunderstorms.” At least one tornado was reported in eastern Nebraska last night, along with some areas getting three inches of rain.

(Radio Iowa)

A Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputy who died in the line of duty a little more than 82-years ago, will be honored Friday during a ceremony, in Des Moines. Governor Terry E. Branstad, Lt. Governor Kim K. Reynolds and other state dignitaries will honor Special Deputy Claude B. Dail and three other officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. Each of the men died while serving to protect and keep Iowa communities safe. Dail died Aug. 25th, 1932.

Iowa Peace Officer Memorial, in Des Moines.

The public is invited to attend the event set to take place 10-a.m. Friday, at the Peace Officer Memorial located near the Oran Pape State Office Building (at 215 East 7th Street). In the event of rain, the ceremony will be held in the rotunda, at the State Capitol.

The Governor’s office says if you are unable to attend this year’s ceremony, there are many ways you can observe National Police Week, during May 10-16, 2015. Please take time and thank current peace officers for protecting and serving your community and the great State of Iowa.

For the 20th consecutive year, West Central® Cooperative is awarding its’ Excellence in Agriculture scholarships for area seniors pursuing agriculture-related post-secondary education. This year, seven students have each been awarded $1,500.

West Central’s president and chief executive officer, Milan Kucerak, said “This year’s seven winners are excellent examples of the bright future of agriculture. These scholarship winners are hard-working, talented young people.”

West Central’s 2015 Excellence in Agriculture winners are:

• Tyler A. Steele, son of Douglas and Lynette Steele of Anita, attends CAM High School and will be studying biochemistry at either Creighton University or the University of Northern Iowa.
• Cliffton J. Nelson, son of Kurt and Toni Nelson of Audubon, attends Audubon Community High School and will be studying agronomy at Iowa State.
• Mark E. Baudler, son of Ronald and Susie Baulder of Fontanelle, attends Nodaway Valley Community School and will be studying agricultural business at Iowa State.
• Nicole M. Huser, daughter of Tim and Marti Huser of Sac City, attends East Sac Community School and will be studying agriculture genetics at Iowa State.
• Wesley Reever, son of Tim and Lora Reever of Glidden, attends Glidden-Ralston Community School and will be studying animal science/pre-veterinary medicine at Iowa State.
• Noelle M. Gray, daughter of Bret and Melissa Schilling of Jefferson, attends Greene Co. Community School and will be studying animal science at Iowa State.
• Abigail R. Hansen, daughter of Jeffrey and Barbara Hansen of Dallas Center, attends Woodward-Granger Community School and will be studying agronomy at Iowa State.

WC’s Excellence in Agriculture program has been in place since 1994, awarding scholarships to high school seniors interested in pursuing an education in an agriculture related field. The program is open to students who are –or have parents that are – voting members in good standing of West Central (at the time of the scholarship application deadline). Applicants must have a cumulative high school GPA of 2.5 or better on a 4.0 scale.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The City Council is expected to vote Monday on a proposal for a special baseball field for mentally and physically disabled players in Sioux City.
The Sioux City Journal reports that if the development agreement were approved, Miracle League of Sioux City would be allowed to build a $750,000 field at the Riverside Recreational Sports Complex. The project would include a playground.

If the agreement were approved, the city would give the developer a $330,000 grant. Construction would begin May 12 and end on Sept. 15. Miracle League provides baseball for people regardless of mental or physical capability. There are similar facilities in Des Moines and in Omaha, Nebraska. The field and playground would be built on custom-designed, rubberized material that would accommodate wheelchairs or other devices.

The 8-a.m. Newscast w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Creston Police Department reports a man was arrested late Friday night for assaulting a police officer. 21-year old Patrick Liams, of Creston, was taken into custody at around 11:45-p.m. and charged with Aggravated Assault, 3 counts of Assault on a Peace Officer with injury, Attempting to Disarm a Peace Office of a Dangerous Weapon, and Public Intoxication in the 3rd Degree. Liams was being held in the Ringgold County Jail on $5,000 bond.

18-year old Keegan Williams, of Creston, was arrested Saturday evening at the Union County Law Enforcement Center in Creston. Police say Williams faces Possession of Paraphernalia and Possession of Marijuana with the Intent to Sell, charges. He was later released on $5,000 bond.

And, 59-year old Debra Feldhacker, of Creston, was arrested Friday night at the Union County Jail, on a charge of OWI/1st Offense. She was later released on $1,000 bond.

Creston Police say they also received a report from officials at Wal-Mart in Creston, with regard to a theft. Store management said an unknown female stole numerous items of girls clothing, a doll and a magazine. The theft, which happened at around 5-p.m. Saturday, resulted in a loss of about $157.

The 7:06-a.m. report w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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A man who was allegedly making threats against two women in Council Bluffs, was stabbed Sunday evening, after breaking into the home of one of the women and allegedly trying to strangle her. Council Bluffs Police Sgt. Dave Dawson reports the suspect, 39-year old David Leroy McKee, drove away from the scene of the crime in his pickup truck, but was stopped by police and found to be bleeding. He was transported to CHI Creighton in critical condition, suffering from several stab wounds.

Dawson says the at around 5:45-p.m. Sunday, Pottawattamie County Communications Center received a call from 55-year old Linda Minard, of Council Bluffs. The woman wanted to make a police report for threats made against her and 58-year old Roberta Franke-McKee, also of Council Bluffs. Uniformed officers had not yet arrived at Minard’s residence located at 3557 2nd Avenue, when a 9-1-1- call was received at 5:50-p.m. , about an assault in progress and a possible stabbing.

When police arrived, they learned David McKee had fled in his 2002 Dodge Dakotqa pickup. The Bluffs Police Department’s Criminal Investigation determined David McKee made several calls to Minard’s cell phone throughout the day, with the last to Roberta Franke-McKee, when David McKee allegedly threatened to kill her. Mckee arrived at Minard’s residence a short time later, where he broke out the rear window and entered through the kitchen area.

During a physical confrontation with both women, McKee used his hands in an alleged attempted to strangle Roberta Franke-McKee, who grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed the man. Roberta was injured during the incident, but did not require medical attention. Minard was not hurt during the confrontation. The incident remains under investigation.