Iowa’s hospitals scored top marks in a U.S. government survey of hospital patients. Scott McIntyre is spokesperson for the Iowa Hospital Association, which represents 118 hospitals in the state. “When patients responded to the survey, considering their overall hospital experience and how they perceived the hospital overall, Iowa was ranked first in the nation tied with two other states,” McIntyre said. 

Iowa tied for first with Kansas and Nebraska. The survey was administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Nearly three out of four patients gave Iowa hospitals the highest possible rating — either a 9 or 10 on a 10-point scale. In addition to the overall rating, patients were surveyed about nine other aspects of their hospital experience. Iowa ranked in the top 10 in all nine of those categories.  “One area where we faltered a little bit, compared to how well we did in the other areas, was in quietness,” McIntyre said. “That’s always a struggle because it’s tough to keep a hospital as quiet as somebody who’s not feeling well would like it to be. That’s something our hospitals work at continually every day.” 

Iowa ranked eighth for hospital quietness. The survey was based on patients discharged from hospitals between July 2010 and June 2011.

A Griswold woman was cited for Unsafe Backing this (Monday) morning, after the vehicle she was driving hit a parked pickup. The accident happened at around 9-a.m. on Union Street, in Griswold. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says a 2010 Ford Taurus owned and driven by 66-year old Julianne Margaret Adams, of Griswold, was backing out of a garage onto Union Street, when the car hit a parked 2008 Nissan Titan, owned by Christopher Thomas McCoy. Adams’ Taurus sustained $600 damage during the mishap, while the damage to McCoy’s truck was estimated at $2,000.

The Atlantic Police Department reports five people were arrested over the weekend. Taken into custody Saturday, on a charge of OWI/1st offense, was 36-year old Brandon Shadden, of Oakland. Among those arrested on Sunday, was: 43-year old Rhonda Stanley, of Atlantic. She was charged with OWI/2nd offense; 43-year old Brian Wright, of Atlantic,  33-year old Sergio Ramos, of Greenville, NC, and 20-year old John Bierbaum, of Griswold, were each arrested on a charge of OWI/1st offense.

All of those individuals were booked into the Cass County Jail and held, pending a court appearance.

Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green said today (Monday) a combined effort by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and officers with the Atlantic Police Department has resulted in numerous charges being filed in association with a number of car burglaries, and the theft of a firearm. Taken into custody on 25 counts each of Burglary in the 3rd degree and Ongoing Criminal Conduct, were 17-year olds Shawn Jensen and Kameron Burg, both of Atlantic.

During their investigation, authorities recovered a stolen firearm from 19-year old Joseph Riesberg, of Atlantic. He faces a felony charge of Possession of a Firearm, and Theft in the 4th Degree. 20-year old Lucas Nelson, of Marne, faces a Possession of Stolen Property charge.

Green says the case remains under investigation, and additional charges are currently pending.

A family of seven firefighters from the Harlan Fire Department will be featured on Iowa Public Television, tomorrow (Tuesday). Tom Butler of Harlan and his sons Chad, Brad and Mike, along with his daughter Kristi Pederson, son-in-law Tim Pederson, and daughter-in-law Robin Butler, are all members of the Harlan Fire Department. Tom Butler says he has Harlan Fire Chief Roger Bissen to thank for getting the family on television. Butler says IPTV wanted to do a segment on firefighters. Bissen threw their name into a hat, and after interviewing Butler’s family members and other prospective families, decided to select the Butlers. 

Families from the state of Iowa were interviewed as potential candidates for the segment entitled “Iowa’s Firefighting Families.” Butler says once the film crew came back, they followed and filmed the family for a week. Tom Butler says at first he didn’t think he had the time to join the Harlan Fire Department but one fire in particular changed his mind. He says after a fire at the grocery store where his wife works, he decided to join the department. Once his children grew up, they decided to follow in his footsteps. 

He’s been on the Harlan Fire Department for 24 years. Most of his kids have been serving with the department for over a decade. The 30 minute program featuring the Butler family will air 7-p.m. Tuesday, on IPTV. If you miss the first broadcast, you can see it on Tuesday, June 12^th, beginning at 4:30-pm, or, on Sunday, June 24^th at 8:30pm. Butler says it was an honor to be featured on the program.

The Council Bluffs Police Department reports a Plattesmouth, NE woman and her son whose bodies were found near Lake Manawa died as the result of an apparent murder/suicide. 41-year old Charlotte Schilling and her 10-year old son Owen Schilling disappeared May 10^th, after the woman checked her son out of the elementary school he was attending. 

The woman’s car was found about one-half mile from where the bodies of her and her son were found May 20^th..  Inside the vehicle, was Charlotte Schilling’s cell phone and purse. The bodies were found deep in the woods at Lake Manawa State Park. Authorities say Charlotte and Owen Schilling died by ligature/strangulation, by use of a zip tie. 

An official autopsy report however, is expected to take several weeks. Authorities say Charlotte Schilling attempted suicide by a similar method in November, 2011. Interviews with her friends and associates revealed recent actions consistent with those of a person contemplating suicide, and officials say evidence at the scene supports that theory.