The Atlantic Police Department reports the arrest Tuesday of 38-year old Tommy Auten, of Atlantic. Auten was taken into custody on a District Court warrant associated with his Failure to Appear for a Child Support Hearing. Auten was booked into the Cass County Jail and held, pending a court appearance.

Iowa Congressman Bruce Braley is introducing a bill today (Wednesday) that he says will cut rural health care costs. Braley, a Democrat from Waterloo, is cosponsoring the “Rural Health Care Fairness Act” with Congressman Aaron Schock, a Republican from Illinois. Braley says the bill would allow rural health care clinics to qualify for federal incentives as they transition to electronic medical records. Braley says electronic medical records will help rural health clinics improve patient care, cut costs and prevent medical errors.

The Medicare Electronic Records Incentive Program already provides payments of up to 44-thousand dollars ($44,000) to eligible hospitals that upgrade to electronic health records technology. Braley says his bill would expand that program. “There are 142 Medicare rural health clinics currently in Iowa. They are not eligible to receive the electronic health records incentives. Our bipartisan bill changes that and allows rural health clinics to qualify for the electronic records incentive program,” Braley said.

Braley told reporters the legislation is budget-neutral, since it simply expands eligibility for the existing Medicare grant program and doesn’t expand the size of the program itself.

(Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Board of Supervisors have approved an amendment to the County’s Indigent Burial Policy. Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman says the policy as amended states “Applications for Disposition Benefits shall be made by family, interested friends or a funeral home, through the Cass County General Assistance office. Previously, funeral homes were not included in the application process, but that was changed due to the fact if the deceased has no family, and the other avenues of paying for a burial are not available because of a lack of assets, the “Friend” or funeral home can assume liability for reimbursing the County for related burial costs if it is later determined funds were available through a will or other source.

Supervisor Chuck Rieken said if there assets available no one was aware of at the time of application, the funeral home or person who applies has the responsibility of notifying the County. Rieken said the Board may revisit the Disposition Policy next year, to see if costs have increased and if the County can continue to provide an indigent burial service.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors have approved a slightly more than $16.3-million budget for Fiscal Year 2014, which begins on July 1^st, 2013. The action came after a public hearing was held on the matter. It marks an increase of a little more than $254,260 over re-estimated FY 2012-2013 budget, but also results in a decrease in the tax levy due to an increase in assessed valuations. The residential/urban levy for FY 2013-2014 is $5.63 per thousand dollars assessed valuation, or a decrease of about 28-cents over last year, while the levy for the rural areas of the county is $10.17 per thousand…which represents a 23-cent decrease over last year.

The Supervisors also approved a recommendation by the County Compensation Board for a three-percent salary increase for all elected officials, including the Sheriff, Auditor, Recorder, Treasurer and members of the Board of Supervisors. The Board chair will receive an additional $1,000 compensation. The Board then approved the Secondary Roads Department Expense Budget, which is in conjunction with the Iowa Department of Transportation. Engineer Charles Marker says also submitted for the Board’s approval the five-year road and bridge construction program.

With regard to the Secondary Roads Budget, Marker says they “Held the line on all the costs.” He said also, that a bridge project near Cumberland is for the most part done, with the exception of some work that is weather dependent.  The project being conducted by Murphy Construction is located northwest of Cumberland, one-mile north of the intersection of G-43 and N-48, is essentially complete, with the exception of some work that can only be finished when the weather is warmer. Once it’s done, the road will be open to the public.

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency reports a bridge replacement project has  resulted in the closure of a portion of Wildwood Road for approximately the next six-weeks. Officials say the bridge replacement over Wolf Creek is located in the 1100 block of Wildwood Road between 1125 Wildwood and 1118 Wildwood, between Jackson Townships sections 11 and 12. Construction on the project is currently underway.

Residents and emergency responders who should be aware of the closure include those in Irwin, Kimballton, Kirkman and Elk Horn.  Emergency responders are being advised to plan alternate routes to residents in the vicinity of the road closure. If you have questions, contact the Shelby County Engineer’s Office at 712-755-5954.

The Lenox Police Department reports the arrest Tuesday evening of a Lenox man on felony Identity Theft and Forgery charges.

Rosario Rivera (Photo courtesy Lenox P.D./Taylor Co. Sheriff’s Office)

According to Chief Jon Huggins, a Lenox Police officer along with a deputy with the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office arrested 45-year old Rosario Rivera, of Lenox, at his home.

A warrant for Rivera’s arrest was obtained by the Lenox Police Department as a result if an on going investigation. The charges allege that Rivera had previously gained employment and again attempted to obtain employment by using forged documents and a false name.

Rivera was transported to the Ringgold County Jail where he was being held on $10,000 bond.

State inspectors have temporarily closed the Taylor County Jail, in Bedford.  A Sheriff’s dispatcher told KJAN News the condition of the jail’s north wall has compromised the safety and security of the facility. The jail was reportedly closed Monday after problems were discovered with the furnace, which came on the heels of an inspection that took place late last week. That inspection revealed a gap between the ceiling and wall on the north side of the more than 100-year old facility.

All persons arrested will be transported to either the Adams County Jail in Corning or the Ringgold County Jail in Mt. Ayr.