The Creston Police Department reports four recent arrests.

On Monday, August 29th at 8:50 p.m. Creston Police arrested 33-year-old Chelsie Nicole Liesener of Creston and 24-year-old Tommie Lynee ONeall of Creston at 806 Laurel Street in Creston on a charge each of Theft 5th Degree. Liesener and ONeall were cited and released on Promise to Appear.

On Tuesday, August 30th at 4:38 p.m. Officers arrested 20-year-old Kason Eugene Hulett of Lenox at 302 N Pine Street in Creston on a charge of Failure to Appear. Hulett was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on $3,000 bond.

Also on Tuesday 21-year-old Breck Nathaniel Loe of Creston was arrested at his residence on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault. Loe was taken to the Union County Jail and held on no bond until seen by a Magistrate.

(Radio Iowa) State officials have chosen a California-based company to join two other private firms that manage Iowa Medicaid — the joint state-and-federal program that currently provides health care services to 800-thousand disabled and low income Iowans. State Medicaid director Elizabeth Matney says Molina Healthcare’s contract will start July 1st.

The state is extending its current Medicaid contract with AmeriGroup. Iowa TotalCare’s contract for managing care for Iowa Medicaid patients runs through 2025. Matney says the goal is to divide Iowa’s Medicaid members evenly among the three managed care companies.

Hospitals and other other health care providers in the state have complained that Medicaid claims are not always being paid on time. Matney says no system is perfect, but the contract with Molina sets clear deadlines.

Republican Governor Terry Branstad oversaw the shift to private management of the Medicaid program in 2016. Democrats in the legislature say the contracts ensure profits for out-of-state companies while rural Iowa’s health care system crumbles.

Cass County Auditor Sara Harris submitted her resignation from the position to the Cass County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday.

Harris had been appointed to the position by the Supervisors following the retirement of longtime Auditor Dale Sunderman in February. She was appointed in April and took the Oath of Office to fill the position until the November general election.

The Cass County Republican party held a special nominating convention on August 16th to name a Republican candidate for County Auditor and nominated Kathy Somers of Atlantic. Somers has experience in local government, having served on the Atlantic City Council for 12 years.

The resignation letter that Harris submitted to the Board of Supervisors is listed below.

Dear Cass County Board of Supervisors:

Please accept this letter as official notice of my resignation. My last day will be Monday, September 12.

I would like to thank the board for the opportunity to interview and ultimately obtain the position of auditor over two additional candidates, with Kathy Somers being one of the two. It was an honor to utilize my skills and 24-years of experience in human resources, payroll, accounting and management in the private sector to help transition the county from the decades of service provided by Dale Sunderman seamlessly in terms of service provided to the county. Our office was not closed to the public, other than a mandated audit of election results. Over the past four months I was progressing every day in learning the duties of the Auditor position despite the added pressure of the Treasurer’s office being closed for an extended period due to the exodus of the entire department staff.

It hurts to know that I will not be able to continue to improve and grow within the walls of the courthouse. I had always wanted a position within the courthouse. I remember in grade school I took a tour of the grounds and I thought at that time how it would be such a neat opportunity to represent my family and community in such a role.

Sadly, my fate has been decided for me by the Cass County Republican Central Committee with their organized effort to remove me in a referendum against the board of supervisors when they chose to place party loyalty over process and a full capability of doing the job as an auditor. I do feel that I could have campaigned and won the election but to what end? The toxic environment fueled with unnecessary drama would remain and the party powers that decided to push me out, to no fault of my own, will be more inspired than ever to continue their vendetta against the board and by association, me and my family. I love this town and community, and I would not want to see it further divided by politics. I pray for all involved that peace may come soon.

Sincerely,

Sara Harris