(Radio Iowa) — There’s a sendoff in central Iowa tonight (Friday) for a group of National Guard soldiers who are deploying overseas. Guard spokesman, Colonel Michael Wunn, says the sendoff is at the unit’s headquarters in Boone. “It’s Company C 2nd of the 147th Assault Helicopter Battalion. And there’s about 60 soldiers who are a part of that unit who will deploying over to the Central Command of operations,” Wunn says. He says the soldiers will first go to Fort Hood, Texas, for additional training before heading overseas to the Central Command — which is comprised of 20 nations in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia, including Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries.

“They fly Black Hawk helicopters and they provide different types of things as far as support to air movement operations, they can help with air assault operations, combat operations if the need arises. They can help with V-I-P transport and medical evacuations as well,” according to Wunn. Wunn says the sendoff is at the Boone High School gym at 5 p-m. He says the public is invited to the event to show the soldiers the state is supporting them. “And then I think it is also important for the families of these service members who are deploying to see the support — not only from the leadership here in the state — the governor and lieutenant will be there. The Adjutant General will speak, we’ll have a representative from the Boone community who will speak. For those soldiers and their families to get a sense of the community that supports them as they prepare to go overseas,” Wunn says. Wunn says the number of soldiers deployed has been relatively low recently.

“A unit that flies C-12 aircraft — they’re deployed over the Central Command area of operations right now — there’s about seven who are with that unit,” Wunn says. “And then the 60 from the helicopter unit, that’ll bring us up to approximately 70 Iowa Army National Guard soldiers who are deployed. Plus we have two or threes who are deployed to Kosovo.” He says the Boone unit will be deployed for one year. It has previously been mobilized in support of Kosovo Force (KFOR) in 2010 and Operation Enduring Freedom in 2014.

Open enrollment is underway for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and the Iowa Insurance Division’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) is available to offer free, unbiased and confidential assistance to Iowans. Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen said “Iowans have four new Part D drug plans available to them in 2020 and many new Medicare Advantage options. Medicare can be very confusing, and I encourage any Iowans eligible for Medicare as well as caregivers to reach out to our SHIIP team for assistance before the open enrollment window closes on December 7.”

Iowans may make changes to their Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plan during open enrollment beginning October 15, 2019, through December 7, 2019. Iowans that miss the open enrollment deadline most likely would have to wait a full year before making changes to their plan. SHIIP Director Kris Gross said “We expect to see a high percentage of the people saving money by changing plans for 2020. Last year SHIIP helped Iowans save over $32 million by comparing Medicare Part D plans for Iowans”

SHIIP is reminding Iowans to do three important things during Medicare open enrollment:

• Review your plan notice. Read any notices from your Medicare plan about changes for next year – especially your “Annual Notice of Change” letter. Review your plan’s information to make sure the prescriptions you use are still covered and your medical providers and pharmacy are still in network.
• Think about what matters most to you. Medicare health and drug plans change each year and so can your health needs. Does your current plan best meet your needs?
• Shop for the plans that meet your needs and fit your budget. Compare plans even if you’ve been satisfied with your current plan. The coverage and costs for plans can change from year to year.

For SHIIP assistance locally call Carole Schuler, Cass County Health System Volunteer Coordinator, at 712-243-7545. SHIIP is a free, confidential service of the State of Iowa. SHIIP counselors review all plans offered and do not promote any particular plan or company.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports a pickup reported stolen from a man’s garage in Creston at around 5-a.m. Thursday, was located three-miles east of town off of Highway 34. The 2019 Chevy Silverado had sustained an estimated $10,000 damage.No suspects have been identified as of the latest report.

Montgomery County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections, Stephanie Burke, has announced that absentee ballots for the November 5, 2019, City/School Elections are available in the Auditor’s office. Absentee ballots may be cast in the Montgomery County Auditor’s Office at the Courthouse, during regular office hours from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday- Friday, through November 4. Absentee ballots are available for all cities and school districts within the Montgomery County boundaries.

Absentee ballots must be requested in writing. Request forms are available at the Auditor’s office, on the Montgomery County website at www.montgomerycountyiowa.com and at the Iowa Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.iowa.gov. The deadline for the Auditor’s office to receive a request form to have an absentee ballot mailed to a voter is Friday, October 25 at 5:00 p.m. You can mail your request form to PO Box 469, Red Oak, Iowa, 51566. Ballots requested through the mail must be returned and postmarked by midnight, November 4. Ballots may also by hand-delivered to the Auditor’s office before 8 p.m. on November 5.

For more information about the 2019 City/School Elections in Montgomery County, contact the Auditor’s office at 623-5127.  Voters can keep up with the latest Election happenings on the Montgomery County Auditor & Elections Facebook page.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court says the founder of a boarding school for troubled youth will get another chance to potentially discredit a student whose testimony helped convict him of abuse charges. The court on Friday ordered a hearing to determine whether the student previously made false allegations of sexual abuse against her adoptive or foster parents. If a judge determines that false allegations were made, the court says 41-year-old Ben Trane should get a new trial on three sexual abuse and child endangerment charges.

Trane is the former owner of Midwest Academy in Keokuk, a boarding school that was shut down by authorities in 2016. A jury convicted Trane last year of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, sexual exploitation by a counselor and child endangerment. The convictions stemmed from allegations that Trane sexually assaulted the 17-year-old female student and kept two male students in confinement for extended periods of time. Trane has been free on bond during his appeal.

Police in Council Bluffs report a masked man who allegedly used a baseball bat on Oct. 5th to break out several windows at St. Peter’s Church in Council Bluffs, was arrested this (Friday) morning. The church’s security cameras captured the incidents and images of the suspect, 18-year old Tate Pilger, of Council Bluffs. Acting on a citizen’s tip, detectives were able to identify the man, and an arrest warrant was issued.

Pilger was booked into the Pottawattamie County Jail on one count of Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree (Causing damage greater than $1,500, but less than $10,000), which is a Class-D Felony. If convicted, Pilger faces up to five-years in prison and a $7,500 fine. The mask, bat and clothing worn during the incident were recovered inside Pilger’s home.