(Radio Iowa) — The death of an elderly woman at a north-central Iowa nursing home, allegedly from abuse and neglect, is subject of a U-S Senate panel hearing on Wednesday. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, who chairs the Finance Committee, says they will consider the case of 87-year-old Virginia Olthoff, who died in February of 2018 at the Timely Mission Nursing Home in Buffalo Center. “That’s a very hard thing for any family,” Grassley says. “The people responsible for any abuse or neglect should be held responsible.”

A state inspection report said Olthoff was in severe pain for days before she died, and she went several days without water, suffering from critical dehydration. Grassley has called the report “very disturbing” and “heartbreaking.” “What makes it even worse is that this nursing home had received the highest possible rating from the Centers for Medicaid Services,” Grassley says. “It even got a five-star rating, despite being fined for verbal and physical abuse.”

Grassley says his panel will hear testimony from Iowa Public Radio reporter Pat Blank, of Cedar Falls, who is Olthoff’s daughter. The committee will also hear from federal officials on how the nursing home ratings system is being upgraded. “Testimony will give our committee some first-hand insight into what needs to change for patients and family,” Grassley says, “and how we can improve accountability.”

The Winnebago County nursing home was fined more than $77,000 last August by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, in part, over the treatment of Olthoff.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Dubuque Community Schools leaders are proposing that staffers be equipped with a panic button app on their smartphones that could alert co-workers and 911 dispatchers to an emergency. Mike Cyze is the district director of school and community relations, and he told school board members at a committee meeting Monday that time is of the essence in an emergency.
The Telegraph Herald reports that a $30,000-a-year contract for use of the app is expected to be considered at Monday’s school board meeting.

The app lets users press a button for the type of emergency such as an active intruder, a fire, a medical issue or an incident requiring police response. The app would call 911 and send an automatic alert to all relevant staff members.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department reports 31-year old Rebecca Lynn Brodner, of Ramona, CA., was arrested Monday night on drug charges. A Deputy dispatched to the Loves Travel Center for a “check location” call, arrested Brodner for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Marijuana/1st offense, and Possession of Methamphetamine/1st offense.

Authorities said also, 19-year-old Kaitlyn Ann Richards, of Omaha, Nebraska, was transported from the Adams County Jail in Corning to the Pottawattamie County Jail to address an outstanding warrant for Forgery. She was held on $5,000 bond.

The Creston Police Department reports three arrests took place, Monday. 19-year old Patrick Nychylas Farlow, of Clarinda, was arrested in Creston on an Adams County warrant, for Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Interference with Official Acts. Farlow was being held in the Union County Jail on a $1,600 cash or surety bond. 25-year old Zachariah Thomas Benn, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County warrant for Failure to Appear on a Driving While Barred charge. He was later released on a $2,000 cash-only bond.

And, 18-year old Tristen McKinzie Wade Hastings, of Davis City, was arrested at the Union County LEC on a Union County warrant for Failure to Appear on an original Theft in the 5th Degree charge. Hastings bonded out of the jail on a $300 cash-only bond.