DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 29, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director in Iowa Theresa Greenfield today (Thursday) announced that the Agency is investing $1,823,465 in three grants to provide telemedicine and distance learning services to increase access to education, training, and healthcare resources that are otherwise limited or unavailable in rural Iowa. Director Greenfield says “Modern hospital services are essential to quality of life in rural neighborhoods, and these grants announced today enable rural patients to access medical professionals without leaving home.”

The three awards for Iowa healthcare providers came through the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants program. This competitive program helps rural communities use advanced telecommunications technology to connect to each other and the world to overcome the effects of remoteness and low population density.

–Clarinda Regional Health Center in Clarinda received a $399,670 grant to equip two hub/end-user and eight end-user sites throughout Page, Montgomery, and Taylor counties in Iowa and Lancaster County in Nebraska with a telehealth platform used to increase access to quality, local, specialty care. Medical professionals at Bryan Health, Clarinda Regional Health Center, and Clarinda Mental Health Center will deliver specialized care, close to home including mental health services to eight rural locations benefitting 15,000 area residents.

Clarinda Regional Health Care Center, Clarinda, IA

–Belmond Community Hospital in Belmond received a $463,644 grant to equip five hub/end-user sites, one end-user site, and multiple non-fixed locations throughout Franklin, Hamilton, Hancock, and Wright counties in north central Iowa with telehealth computer software, cyber security software and at-home patient devices for telehealth appointments. Medical professionals at Iowa Specialty Hospital will deliver mental health care to six locations benefitting 2,900 individuals.

–Wayne County Hospital in Corydon received a $960,151 grant to equip one hub site, three hub/end-user sites, and three end-user sites in Wayne County, Polk County and surrounding south central Iowa with telemedicine carts and other necessary equipment to establish an electronic Intensive Care Unit and telepharmacy program. Medical professionals at MercyOne in Des Moines and at Wayne County Hospital in Corydon will deliver specialty electronic Intensive Care Unit services and provide easier access to pharmaceutical consultations, patient counseling, drug therapy monitoring, and refill authorizations to six locations benefitting 10,289 residents.

Application Window Opens for DLT Program Today—Closes April 29, 2024

Today (Thursday), the USDA is making approximately $60 million in funding available under the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant program and begins inviting applications for these grants. This program funds distance learning and telemedicine services, like audio and video equipment, to digitally connect people to education, training and health care resources that are limited or unavailable in remote parts of the country.

For example, DLT funding expands opportunities for:

• Students to participate in classes that may be in places that are too far to access in person.
• Teachers to provide their expertise, trainings and educational services to students across the country.
• Patients to seek specialized care and treatment from medical professionals without needing to leave their homes or communities.

Eligible applicants include state and local governmental entities, federally recognized Tribes, nonprofits and for-profit businesses.

USDA is particularly interested in applications that will advance Biden-Harris Administration priorities to:

• Reduce climate pollution and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities.
• Ensure all rural residents have equitable access to Rural Development programs and benefit from RD-funded projects.
• Help rural communities recover economically through more and better market opportunities and through improved infrastructure.

Applications must be submitted electronically through grants.gov no later than April 29, 2024. Additional program information is available online and via the Feb. 29, 2024, Federal Register.

(Shelby County, Iowa) – A single-vehicle accident that was discovered early Tuesday morning in Shelby County, resulted in a fatality. According to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to the area of County Road M16 south of 1300th St., for a vehicle that left the roadway. Deputies located a 2004 F-250 pickup on the east side of road M16.

Authorities believe the pickup left the roadway the evening of the Feb. 26th. After investigating the scene, it was also believed the vehicle partially left the roadway while traveling south bound on the west shoulder. The driver identified as 34-year old Brett Gubbels, then made a corrective action to bring the vehicle back on the roadway and attempted to apply the brakes. The vehicle then went across the north bound land and into the east ditch, which caused the vehicle to roll over multiple times.

Gubbels was pronounced deceased at the scene.

CORALVILLE, Iowa (ISP District 11) – The Iowa State Patrol, Wednesday, said troopers recently stopped a vehicle clocked by aircraft at 123 mph. The ISP shared a picture on social media, saying it happened on Interstate 80 in Coralville. “Thankfully, Trooper Pilot Grim safely radioed to ground Troopers that were able to stop the irresponsible driver,” the ISP said in the post.

The State Patrol says it’s caught a record number of drivers driving over 100 miles per hour in the last three years.

DES MOINES, Iowa [KCCI] — A family who sued Des Moines Public Schools over a bullying incident has settled its case. Raven Lee and Robert Gullion filed a lawsuit back in September, claiming their son was the victim of bullying at Phillips Elementary in 2021. Court documents say he suffered a collapsed lung and other serious internal injuries.

The parents say the school didn’t take steps to prevent the bullying and downplayed the severity of their son’s injuries. The district says the lawsuit was settled on Feb. 21 for $30,000 by the school district’s insurer.

(Radio Iowa) – Legislators are considering changes in Iowa’s landlord-tenant law. Landlords are currently required to notify renters three BUSINESS days before eviction proceedings begin. A bill that’s cleared initial review in the House and Senate would let holidays and weekends be counted if those days fall in the three-day notice period. Lisa Davis-Cook, a lobbyist for the Iowa Association for Justice, says that’s a concern.

“Someone could go out of town for a long weekend and all of a sudden they get home and here’s this notice and they’re being evicted,” Davis-Cook said, “and they haven’t had the time to react to the notice and respond.” Keith Denner owns rental properties in Polk and Dallas Counties and he says the bill provides clarity as well as liability protection to landlords. Denner says there have been inconsistent rulings on that notice period from Iowa magistrates who oversee evictions, plus some rulings have declared sections of rental agreements illegal. The bill says landlords could not be sued if the illegal sections of a lease were never enforced.

“All we’re saying is if there’s something that turns out to be illegal there isn’t an adverse consequence to us, unless we try to enforce it,” Denner said. Representative Keenan Judge, a Democrat from Waukee, says the bill has major flaws. “This is completely one-sided and out of balance and needs to be corrected,” Judge said. Representative Phil Thompson, a Republican from Boone, says the legislature needs to ensure eviction proceedings are consistent throughout the state. “We need some uniformity here and we need to clearly define some of this,” Thompson says.

The bill is likely to be considered in the House Ways and Means Committee next week.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Management of the Sunnyside Pool in Atlantic may fall under the auspices of the Nishna Valley Family YMCA, this summer. According to reports, the City is holding discussions with YMCA Executive Director Dan Haynes, with regard to manage of the pool. During a meeting earlier this week of the City’s Parks Advisory Commission, Haynes said he was working on an MOU (memorandum of understanding) with the City and community members. He also proposes forming a committee to develop a structure to support Aquatics in Atlantic.

If the City agrees, the Nishna Valley Family YMCA would hire and manage the pool staff under their payroll and the City would reimburse the Y at the end of the season.

Parks Advisory Commission member Ali Pieken has proposed a pay incentive for veteran lifeguards, ranging from $15-to $20-per hour. Haynes says he’s sent notices to colleges advertising for a Pool Manager, lifeguards, and other staff positions.

The Parks Advisory Commission elected officers during their meeting, Monday. Kevin Ferguson was elected Chairman of the Commission. Mary Strong was named Vice-Chair.

As previously mentioned the Commission include Ferguson, Strong, Ali Pieken, Dolly Bergmann, and Shirley Jensen. City Council Liaisons to the Commission include Mike McDermott and Emily Kennedy.

DES MOINES, Iowa [KCCI] — A former Dowling Catholic teacher accused of having sexual contact with a student on school property will spend two years in prison. Kristen Gantt was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation by a school employee. Gantt admitted to inappropriate contact with a student at least five times in her classroom while she was teaching English at Dowling Catholic in West Des Moines.

In the criminal complaint, investigators said evidence of “clear and concise grooming activity,” including some with “direct sexual overtones,” were found in conversations between Gantt and the student. Police say they found evidence of “clear and concise grooming activity” in conversations between Gantt and the student, including some with “direct sexual overtones.”

Gantt was also fined $855 and will be on the Iowa Sex Offender Registry for 10 years.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County (IA) Democrats are hosting Iowa 3rd District Democrat Congressional Candidate Melissa Vine, on Tuesday, March 12th. The event is being held at the Heritage House lower level meeting room (1200 Brookridge Circle) in Atlantic, and will start with a potluck and social from 6:00-6:30 PM. The meeting with Vine will begin at 6:30 PM. While the event is being hosted by the Cass County Democrats, all people are welcome, regardless of party affiliation.

Vine is running for Congress in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional district currently held by Republican Zach Nunn. Vine is businesswoman and single mother of four. She currently works as the Executive Director of The Beacon, a Central Iowa non-profit organization that support women recovering from trauma and empowers them to achieve positive long-term change. More information on Vine and her campaign can be found at melissavine.com.

Melissa Vine

The Cass County Democrats are hosting Vine at their March monthly meeting, which is open to the public. For more information on the Cass County Democrats, monthly gatherings, or to join the Cass County Democrats email newsletter, contact casscountyiadems@gmail.com or follow the Cass County Democrats on Facebook @CassCountyIADems or on Instagram @CassCountyDemocrats.