A chance encounter in a Florida airport and a random act of kindness by a central Iowa teen has turned into a world-wide social media phenomenon. Carroll resident and Kuemper Catholic High School senior Brittany Klocke had her flight from Orlando to Minneapolis cancelled in February. Klocke was stranded there for nearly 15 hours. The 19-year-old spotted 14-year-old Andrew Shumway in the terminal and his contagious smile drew her in for a conversation. She felt an immediate bond with Shumway, who has cerebral palsy, because one of her siblings has a disability. 

“He looked like a really special person,” Klocke says. “Just kind-hearted because a lot of people with disabilities can make anyone’s day and they’re beautiful, kind souls.” The time spent talking at the airport led to an invitation from Shumway, who asked Klocke to join him for a community-wide, special-needs prom being held in his hometown on April 16th. Brittany says she didn’t hesitate for a minute, even though her senior prom in Carroll was scheduled for the same night. Brittany made the nearly five-hour trip to Tomah, Wisconsin, last Saturday to accompany Andrew as his date.

“When he first saw me, his eyes rolled in the back of his head,” she says. “He said, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re so gorgeous!’ He had just the sweetest smile on his face and he picked out a white rose corsage all by himself and he gave it to me and I gave him his boutineer. He said, ‘We’re going to go out for ice cream tonight,’ and I said, ‘Of course,’ and he was just so excited.”

Klocke says there were a lot of tears from both of them that night, happy tears from being overwhelmed by the kindness and joy that had come from a chance meeting. She says Shumway is excited about what has happened and is hoping this may lead to a meeting with Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show. Klocke, on the other hand, says she doesn’t want the attention. She says this is all about Andrew and hoping others learn how easy it can be to bring joy to others.

“It’s not about me. It’s about Andrew and his family and anyone that is affected by a disability,” Klocke says. “I believe everyone has a kind heart and we should all think of other people and not ourselves. If you have something like this, even if it’s just a moment out of your day to complement somebody or to make someone smile, take on that chance and pursue someone’s happiness.”

Klocke will graduate from Kuemper in May. She dreams of becoming a registered nurse and looks forward to a summer visit with Shumway, possibly a trip to Disney World, and enjoying her new life-long friend.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Democratic-majority Senate has stripped away language in a budget bill passed by the Republican-controlled House that would remove state funding for Planned Parenthood.

The Senate voted 27-23 Friday for a roughly $1.8 billion health and human services bill that would remove language to cut Medicaid funding for family planning facilities that provide abortions. Medicaid provides health services for about 560,000 poor and disabled residents.

Democrats say the proposal would make Iowa ineligible for federal dollars. Republicans say they don’t want to support abortion providers and there are other options available.

The Senate would also add more state oversight of Medicaid, which switched recently to private management. Democrats say an oversight plan by the House isn’t enough.

A special legislative committee is expected to sort out differences in the bill.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Officials in Iowa and Minnesota are exploring a system to allow Iowa residents to buy medical marijuana from their northern neighbor, lawmakers from both states have told The Associated Press.  Iowa’s Legislature has struggled this year to expand a 2014 law that legalized marijuana oils for patients suffering seizures but left them nowhere to buy it. Iowa House Speaker Linda Upmeyer said Friday an agreement with Minnesota is one option they’re now considering.

Minnesota’s program launched last summer. The novel setup could bring more patients to the two companies in Minnesota that are struggling with low enrollment. But it would also raise some federal concerns. And it could pit Iowa residents with long drives to the closest dispensary in Rochester, Minnesota – three hours northeast of Des Moines.

The Cass County Health System continues its “Healthy U” series of programs this month, with an educational session April 28th on “Aging Well: The Role of Occupational and Speech Therapies.” The session takes place at Noon April 28th, in CCHS Conference Room 2.

In celebration of both National Occupational Therapy Month (April) and Better Speech and Hearing Month (May), CCHS occupational and speech therapists are teaming up to talk about both professions and their roles in aging. Ashley Williams, MS, OTR/L, CLT and Heather Buhr, MS, CCC-SLP will present during the session.

Heather Buhr (on the left), & Ashley Williams.

Healthy U is a free educational series offered by Cass County Health System that focuses on a different health topic each month. All registered attendees receive a healthy boxed meal in addition to the educational program presented by medical professionals.

For more information, or to make a reservation for Healthy U, call 712-243-7479.

An attorney representing Cass County Health System CEO Todd Hudspeth, Thursday, filed a plea of not guilty for Hudspeth, in connection with an alleged felony forgery incident. The Attorney from the F. Montgomery Brown law firm also waived a preliminary hearing in the case.

CCHS CEO Todd Hudspeth

Online court record show Storm Lake Police arrested Hudspeth last week on a charge of Forgery, after he allegedly presented a $10,000 check with a forged signature at Storm Lake MetaBank. Hudspeth has said the check was deposited into a checking account to pay for his son’s college expenses.

In a statement released last week by Hudspeth, he acknowledged he had made a poor decision in endorsing a disbursement check that included his name, and that of his ex-wife. Hudspeth admitted that he took “A foolish shortcut to expedite” the process of transferring funds for his son’s expenses.

A man from Mills County was arrested Thursday night following two separate shooting incidents in Avoca. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office says deputies were called to the Cobblestone Inn and Suites at 7013 N. Chestnut St., in Avoca, at the 10:20-p.m., where shots were reportedly fired. Upon arrival, it was determined that a male subject later identified as 29-year old Brandon S. Feller, of Hastings, had discharged a firearm in the lobby of the business.

Brandon Feller

About 20-minutes later, deputies were dispatched to 1019 North Chestnut Street, in the City of Avoca for an armed subject at the Casey’s General Store.  The reporting party advised that shots had been fired outside of the business.

Upon arrival, deputies took Feller into custody.  He faces charges that include Robbery 1^st Degree, Carrying Concealed Weapon, Going Armed with Intent, Assault while Displaying a Weapon, Reckless Use of a Firearm, and Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa State Patrol.