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NW Iowa Nurse faces criminal charges in the death of a Fonda man

News

March 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa Capital Dispatch) – A nurse who allegedly failed to suction the airway of a U.S. Army veteran in an Iowa nursing home has been criminally charged in the man’s death. 69-year-old Becky Sue Manning, of Lake View, is charged with felony wanton neglect of a health care facility resident. According to prosecutors, Manning, a licensed practical nurse, refused repeated requests to provide physician-ordered care for a resident of the Fonda Specialty Care nursing home while working there in 2023 as an employee of the GrapeTree Medical Staffing temp agency. Manning has yet to enter a plea in the case. She was arrested Thursday and released from jail on Friday on a $10,000 bond.

According to state inspection records, 87-year-old Marvin “Pete” Jacobs, died Feb. 19, 2023, while sitting in his room at Fonda Specialty Care. Jacobs had undergone a tracheostomy, and because his airway tended to become clogged, the staff kept a suctioning machine by his bedside. On that afternoon, an aide later told inspectors, Jacobs was sitting in his recliner when another worker said Jacobs appeared to be “in trouble” and instructed her to get a nurse right away. Jacobs was pointing at his neck, gasping for air, and mouthing that he could not breathe, the aide told inspectors.

Manning reportedly acknowledged to inspectors that her fellow workers had each told her Jacobs needed his airway suctioned and that he had been pointing to his neck and mouthing that he couldn’t breathe. According to the inspectors, she allegedly said that despite her colleagues’ comments, it never occurred to her to suction Jacobs’ airway.

Pocahontas County prosecutors allege that no fewer than four workers asked Manning to suction Jacobs’ airway and that the staff had alerted Manning to the fact that Jacobs was asking to be suctioned and that, in their professional opinion, he needed to be suctioned right away. Prosecutors also allege Manning prevented the staff from calling 911 when it became apparent Jacobs couldn’t breathe. The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals fined Fonda Specialty Care $10,000 for the death, then reduced that penalty 35%, to $6,500, due to the lack of an appeal in the case.

In its written response to DIA’s findings, the facility’s owners, Care Initiatives of West Des Moines, said it does not admit to any statements, findings or conclusions by the state inspectors and added that it “will continue to provide care and services” for respiratory patients, including airway suctioning.

Jacobs grew up in northwest Iowa, was the varsity catcher of the 1953 Auburn Tigers state baseball championship team, and a 1954 graduate of Auburn High School. From 1955 to 1957, he served in the U.S. Army while stationed in Korea. After his discharge, he and his wife, Darlene, raised three sons in northwest Iowa. Over the years, he worked as a farmer and served as a partner and owner of the Mill City Loader Corporation.

Red Oak man arrested Sunday morning for OWI

News

March 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A traffic stop at around 5:30-a.m. Sunday, in Red Oak, resulted in an arrest. Red Oak Police say 25-year-old Luis Daniel Villanueva Aguilera, of Red Oak, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, following a traffic stop in the 400 block of Bridge Street, in Red Oak. Aguilera was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

Woodbury Supervisor whose wife was convicted of voter fraud not running again

News

March 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The member of the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors whose wife was convicted of 50 counts of election fraud will not be running for another term. Jeremy Taylor says he will finish out his current term. “I love this community and I’m going to continue to work during the duration of my term on behalf of taxpayers we have a lot of important decisions ahead of us but with that said I’ve made a decision not to run for this next term on the county board of supervisors so I can focus my time and energy more fully on my family,” Taylor says. Taylor is a Sioux City teacher and a member of the National Guard. He says he will continue to monitor what is going on with county government.

“I will to a certain extent if there’s a person who’s to take my spot and wants any thoughts advice or you know that transition I want to do as much as I can to really help out,” he says.
Taylor says he wants to see several issues resolved, including the opening of the new county law enforcement center. “I really believe that the decisions that we’re making today and over the next few months are going to set up the county board of supervisors on behalf of taxpayers for the next round of impacts for the next five or ten years,” Taylor says.

Taylor declined to comment on his wife’s case. Taylor’s wife Kim will be sentenced in Federal Court on April 1st. She was convicted last April on the voting fraud charges that were linked to her husband’s races for Congress and supervisor.

Lenox man arrested in Creston on 7 Adams County warrants

News

March 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department report an Adams County man was arrested Sunday morning at the Creston/Union County Law Enforcement Center, on seven Adams County warrants for Failure To Appear. Kevin James Jungers, of Lenox, was taken to the Union County Jail and was later extradited to Adams County.

JAYSON SPURR, 46, of Norwalk (& formerly of Creston) – Celebration of Life 3/28/24

Obituaries

March 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

JAYSON SPURR, 46, of Norwalk (& formerly of Creston), died Saturday, March 23, 2024 at the Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. A Celebration of Life Service for JAYSON SPURR will be held 1 p.m. Thursday, March 28, 2024 at the Norwalk United Methodist Church in Norwalk (IA). Powers Funeral Home in Creston is assisting the family.

The Service will be livestreamed at a link found under Jay’s obituary at funeral home’s website.

Military Honors will be given by the United States Air Force and the Cummings American Legion Post 562.

Visitation and family receiving friends will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 27 at the Norwalk Methodist Church.

Burial will be at the Norwalk Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the Helping Heroes Foundation.

Online condolences may be given at www.powersfh.com

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Monday, March 25, 2024

Weather

March 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: A 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms. High near 62. South winds @ 15-30 mph. A few strong thunderstorms may be possible this afternoon and evening, with hail and wind the primary threats.

Tonight: Rain showers/thunderstorms becoming mixed w/snow after midnight. Low around 25. Winds NW @ 10-25 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tomorrow: A chance of rain and/or snow showers. High near 36. NW @ 20-30 mph.New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 44.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 60.

Sunday’s High in Atlantic was 48. Our Low was 34. From 7-a.m. Sunday through 7-a.m. today, we received 1.22″ of rain at KJAN. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 60 and the Low was 31. The all-time Record High in Atlantic on March 25th, was 91 in 1907. The Record Low was 5 in 1894. Sunrise today: 7:15. Sunset tonight: 7:37.

Produce in the Park now accepting Summer Vendor Applications, Sponsorships

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

ATLANTIC, IA (March 24, 2024) – Produce in the Park is now accepting vendor applications for summer markets and seeking sponsorships for the 2024-2025 market season. Vendor applications and sponsorship information can be found online at www.ProduceintheParkAtlanticiowa.com. Printed copies are available at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce (102 Chestnut St. Atlantic, IA 50022).

Produce in the Park is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote local food and build a community that supports the health and well being of its residents. Produce in the Park’s summer farmers markets are held weekly on Thursday evenings (4:30-6:30 PM) in the Atlantic City Park from June through mid-October. Produce in the Park also holds holiday farmers markets just before Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Easter.

Produce in the Park seeks vendors who sell handmade or homegrown foods and crafts. The 2024 summer market full-season vendor fee is $100. Vendors who register by May 1 will receive a $20 discount, and food vendors who participate in the Farmers Market Nutrition Program receive an additional $10 discount. Vendors can also join four summer markets for $50 or a single summer market for $25.

Produce in the Park seeks sponsors who support community and well being. Sponsorships offer various levels of recognition, including mention in radio ads, booth space at markets, and the organization’s logo on tote bags. 2024-2025 season sponsorships range from $250 to $2,000.

In addition to vendors and sponsors, Produce in the Park is always looking for volunteers interested in providing entertainment, serving as Guest Chef, or leading activities for kids.

Produce in the Park’s next farmers market is being held this Saturday, March 30 from noon – 3 PM at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA. Spring Celebration Market will offer produce, meats, farm-fresh eggs, baked goods, desserts, crafts, and more. Customers can expect to find goodies for Easter baskets and food for Easter dinner. There is no cost to enter the market, and the YMCA will offer free bounce houses for kids. Food truck Amos Fabulous Foods will be parked outside the YMCA for the duration of the market.

Spring Celebration Market is sponsored by Cass Health, Gregg Young of Atlantic, First Whitney Bank & Trust, Nishna Valley Family YMCA, Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Atlantic

Reviving capital gains tax break for livestock sales

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has voted to extend a state tax break for SOME Iowans who own livestock and get at least half of their annual income from farming. It’s a capital gains tax break for the sale of dairy cattle, work horses and racing horses as well as livestock — like cows and bulls and sows and b boars — used for breeding.

The tax break expired at the end of 2022. If it isn’t revived, officials estimate the state will collect two-and-half MILLION dollars in capital gains this year from cattle and horse sales. Representative Derek Wulf and his wife have a cow-calf operation on a third generation family farm near Hudson. Wulf says the capital gains tax break for livestock was established in the late 1990s.

“Our tax code should promote livestock production, which we know is often how beginning farmers get their start in agriculture. We know that livestock production supports rural communities and drives our rural economic activity,” Wulf said. “…We want to make sure that we don’t increase taxes on our livestock producers and farmers here in the state.”

The repeal of this capital gains cut for some livestock sales was part of a wide ranging tax bill that became law in 2018. The House bill that would restore the tax break is now under consideration in the Senate.

Property tax break for commercial child care centers

News

March 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has approved the governor’s idea of reducing property taxes for some child care businesses. Commercial child care centers are currently taxed as commercial property and the governor has proposed they be taxed at a far lower rate – just like residential property. Representative Brook Boden, a Republican from Indianola, spoke briefly before the bill passed the House on a 94 to one vote.

“This bill will provide an opportunity for more much needed child care in our communities,” Boden said. A Legislative Services Agency analysis indicates the bill could cut property taxes by a total of 19 million dollars for the 15-hundred commercial child care centers in the state. Republican Senator Dan Dawson of Council Bluffs is chairman of the Senate’s tax policy committee. He says Iowa cities already are adjusting budgets based on significan property tax changes lawmakers approved last year, but Senate Republicans are contemplating the governor’s proposed property tax cut for child care centers.

“It’s kind of a unique idea,” Dawson says .”But we’ve got to make sure as we’re hearing a lot of local government input right now that anything is thoughtful on that front of property taxes because we said last year it would be multiple bills over multiple years and we need to give (cities) some predictability there, too.”

Dawson made his comments this weekend on “Iowa Press” on Iowa P-B-S.

Iowa State scientists target disease in RNA

News

March 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa News Service) – Researchers at Iowa State University are taking the next step in genetic medicine by targeting diseases in a person’s R-N-A. Most drugs target proteins to interrupt the disease process. Iowa State University researcher Walter Moss says they’ve moved beyond targeting proteins and are taking aim at disease on a smaller level – focusing on ribonucleaic acid, or R-N-A. This will allow scientists to create ‘personalized disease attackers’ that Moss says fit perfectly into ‘pockets’ in a patient’s cells.

“So, there’s the different pockets on a protein drug target. You’d be able to get that drug into that pocket, either to interfere with the protein function or the protein interaction in some way. And the same idea would be with RNA.”

Moss says the R-N-A approach could be used to target cancer and genetic diseases, but adds years of testing remain before the technology will be ready for the commercial market. Moss says 90-percent of the body’s genome is turned into R-N-A as opposed to just 10-percent that becomes protein. He explains that dramatic ratio presents scientists with new opportunities.

“It opens up whole new avenues of targeting diseases that aren’t currently possible at the protein level. Because now you can start to treat RNA-related diseases, or diseases where there is no good protein drug target. ” Moss says COVID vaccines harnessed the power of what’s known as “messenger R-N-A,” which caused a spike in interest in using R-N-A science more broadly to treat other diseases.