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Senior Farmers Market Vouchers Still Available as of September 7

Ag/Outdoor, News

September 7th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Cass County, Iowa) –  The Cass County Local Food Policy Council reminds residents that Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) senior vouchers remain available. The senior voucher program provides $30 in farmers market fresh produce vouchers to adults age 60 and older with annual incomes less than $25,142 (single) and $33,874 (married). To apply for the FMNP senior vouchers, individuals over age 60 should call the Connections Area Agency on Aging at 800-432-9209 (extension 8888) and leave a message with their name and phone number.

While all Cass County farmers markets are certified to accept the vouchers, only the Lewis Farmers Market and Produce in the Park remained open past August. Both markets will be open until October 13, 2022.

Cass County Farmers Markets Fall 2022

  • Lewis Farmers Market:
    Location: 3HO (201 1st St., Lewis, IA 51544)
    Time/Dates: Tuesdays 4:00-6:30 PM, Thursdays 4:30-6:30 PM, May 31– October 13
    Highlights: Fresh produce, baked treats, crafts, and pallet wood creations.
    $: Some vendors accept Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) Senior vouchers and WIC checks.
    Contact: (712)789)-9455
  • Produce in the Park:
    Location: Atlantic City Park (10 W 7th St., Atlantic, IA 50022)
    Time/Dates: Thursdays 4:30-6:30, June 2– October 13
    Website: www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com
    Highlights: Fresh, local produce, baked goods, farm-fresh eggs, honey, local meat, soaps, candles,
    additional crafts and art, and weekly food truck. Live music, Guest Chef, Free Samples, and Activities.
    $: Some vendors accept Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) Senior vouchers and WIC checks. All
    qualifying food vendors at Produce in the Park accept SNAP/EBT (“food stamps”). All produce vendors at
    the market both accept and distribute Double Up Food Bucks ($1 coupons for fresh produce provided
    for every dollar spent on fresh produce with SNAP/EBT up to $10 per transaction).
    Contact: (712) 249-5870

For more information on local food, farmers markets, and food access, follow the Cass County Local Food Policy Council’s Facebook page @CassCountyLocalFood.

The Cass County Local Food Policy Council is a Cass County Government advisory body that promotes local foods and food access. The Council facilitates networking among people and groups who are involved in all aspects of the local food system—from growing and processing, to selling and eating. In its work, the Council gathers information about local food-related needs and considers what might be done to make sure everyone in Cass County has access to healthy food.

The Council then makes recommendations and supports organizations working toward that goal. To learn more about the Council, contact Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at bhoegh@iastate.edu or (712) 249-5870. The next Council meeting is September 13 at 2:00 PM at the Cass County ISU Extension Office (805 W. 10th St. Atlantic, IA 50022). Meetings are open to the public.

Des Moines plastic surgeon to pay $800,000 to settle Medicare, Medicaid billing allegations

News

September 7th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Federal officials have announced a plastic surgeon in Des Moines has agreed to pay 800-thousand dollars to settle allegations he improperly billed government health care programs.  The government’s allegations covered a seven year period, from 2013 to 2020, and a whistleblower who prompted the investigation will get part of the settlement.

Dr. Ronald Bergman, who operates Bergman Cosmetic Surgery, was accused of billing Medicare and Medicaid for services performed by others. In some instances, federal investigators say medical fellows did the work without Bergman present as their teaching physician.

According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Bergman was also accused of billing Medicare for medically unnecessary and unreasonable applications of skin substitute products which are used in surgery and for treating wounds.

Bergman’s attorney says his client is a well-known plastic surgeon who focuses on serving others while his office staff manages the billing side of the practice. The doctor’s attorney did not name the whistleblower, but said it’s both interesting and suspect that the person who sparked the federal investigation worked in Bergman’s office for 12 weeks and notified authorities of improprieties in another medical office where she worked.

Iowa home sale price record in July: $239,900

News

September 7th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The statewide median home sale price in July was nearly 240-thousand dollars — a record high. Iowa Association of Realtors data shows just over 37-hundred homes were sold in the state in July. That’s a nearly 29 percent drop in sales volume compared to the same month last year. There also was a 22 percent drop in the number of Iowa homes listed for sale in July. Those trends fueled the record median price for an Iowa home sold in July.

It was up 17 percent compared to July of 2021. The Realtors’ report indicates Iowa homes are selling quickly — averaging just 24 days on the market in July — and that’s 20 percent faster than July of last year. However, the president of the Iowa Association of Realtors says the housing market is cooling off, as home prices and mortgage rates rise.

Beth Goetz named Deputy Director of Athletics and COO at Iowa

Sports

September 7th, 2022 by admin

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa Athletics Department has named Beth Goetz as Deputy Director of Athletics and Chief Operating Officer (COO). The announcement was made Wednesday by Gary Barta, Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair. Goetz will replace Barbara Burke, who previously announced she will retire at the end of the 2022-23 academic year.  

Goetz joins the Iowa athletics staff from Ball State University, where she has served as Director of Athletics since May, 2018. At Ball State, she directly supervised 19 Division I Intercollegiate sports teams, all head coaches, and the senior athletics department professional staff. Goetz has previous Big Ten experience, serving as Minnesota’s Deputy Athletics Director from 2013-15 and interim Athletics Director during the 2015-16 season.

“Beth is a proven, experienced, and respected leader in college athletics,” said Barta. “We’re excited to have her join the Hawkeye family.” 

“The University of Iowa has a storied tradition, and I want to thank Gary Barta and President Barb Wilson for the opportunity to join the Hawkeye family,” said Goetz. “I look forward to working with such an outstanding team.” 

Prior to arriving at Ball State, Goetz was the chief operating officer/senior woman administrator at the University of Connecticut from 2016-18. She was the associate athletics director at Butler University from 2008-13 following a 13-year stint at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, where she was an assistant women’s soccer coach (1996), head women’s soccer coach (1997-2008) and assistant athletics director/senior woman administrator (2001-08). Goetz was inducted into the UMSL Sports Hall of Fame in 2014. 

During her college career Goetz was an accomplished Division I student-athlete, playing soccer at Clemson University. She earned All-America recognition at Brevard College (N.C.), where she was inducted into the college’s Hall of Fame in 2017. Goetz earned an associate of arts degree from Brevard in 1994 and a bachelor of arts degree from Clemson in 1996. She earned her master’s degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 2000.

Saint Paul Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Offense

News

September 7th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Syed Ben Al-Amin, age 34, of Saint Paul, Minnesota, was sentenced on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, to over eight years in prison (100 months) following his plea to a charge of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

On August 7, 2020, Al-Amin was involved in a hit and run accident on Interstate 80. Iowa State Patrol located Al-Amin driving on Interstate 80 and attempted to stop the vehicle. Al-Min refused to stop his car and a chase ensued into Council Bluffs. Al-Amin drove into a hospital parking lot where he lost control of his vehicle. Al-Amin then fled on foot before being arrested.

In the center console of Al-Amin’s vehicle, law enforcement located baggies of pills containing methamphetamine, which Al-Amin planned to distribute.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa State Patrol, the Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force investigated the case.

Iowa, Big Ten announce 2022-23 women’s basketball schedule

Sports

September 7th, 2022 by admin

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa, in conjunction with the Big Ten Conference, announced its 2022-23 women’s basketball schedule on Wednesday.

The defending Big Ten Champions will play five league teams twice and eight teams once. The Hawkeyes play home/away matchups against Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Penn State and Wisconsin. Iowa hosts Minnesota, Purdue, Northwestern and Rutgers in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, and travels to Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State.

The Hawkeyes posted a 14-4 Big Ten regular season mark in 2022, winning the Big Ten Tournament and earning a share of the conference regular season championship. Iowa finished the 2021-22 campaign 24-8 overall and advanced to the NCAA Second Round. 

Iowa returns 11 letterwinners, including all five starters: Caitlin Clark, Monika Czinano, Gabbie Marshall, Kate Martin and McKenna Warnock. Clark was a consensus All-American, Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year, Dawn Staley Guard of the Year, Big Ten Player of the Year, Big Ten Tournament MVP and was a finalist for the Naismith Award, WBCA Wade Trophy and John R. Wooden Award. Czinano was named an Associated Press and WBCA All-America honorable mention, and was a Lisa Leslie Center of the Year semifinalist, while leading the nation in field-goal percentage (.679).

Fans can purchase season tickets ($125), at the UI Athletics Ticket Office at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, over the phone at 1-800-IA-HAWKS, or online at hawkeyesports.com/tickets. Fight For Iowa mobile pass tickets ($199) will go on sale late September. Single game tickets will go on sale in early October.

Tip time and television information will be announced at a later date.

Campus Ink, Iowa State announce NIL licensee partnership

Sports

September 7th, 2022 by admin

CHICAGO – Campus Ink has announced Iowa State as an official NIL licensee, providing Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) merchandising opportunities for all Cyclone student-athletes.

The NIL Store powered by Campus Ink will launch a complete NIL merchandise store for Iowa State student-athletes, featuring jerseys and officially licensed apparel. 

“We are excited to be the first Big 12 Conference program to partner with Campus Ink to provide a robust NIL merchandising program for all Cyclone student-athletes to participate in,” said Iowa State Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard. “We believe that this partnership, coupled with the Cyclone Exchange, and the comprehensive education partnership we initiated last year with Iowa State’s Ivy College of Business, is arming all of our student-athletes with the necessary tools to capitalize on their NIL opportunities.”

Every athlete signed up will possess a personalized digital locker room which will house their merchandise. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Iowa State to our NIL Store family as we expand into the Big 12 Conference,” said Steven Farag, CEO and co-founder of Campus Ink. “As we talked with Iowa State’s leadership team, it was quickly apparent how committed they were to providing NIL opportunities for all of their athletes, not just some. We are excited to be that solution in the merchandising space.”

The Campus Ink team handles all the creative, product creation, design, marketing, fulfillment and customer service for its student-athletes. Additionally, Campus Ink works directly with student-athletes to educate them on merchandising, marketing and sales trends to develop strategies for optimal success.

NW Iowa man involved in standoff with authorities transferred to federal custody

News

September 7th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A man involved in a nearly seven-hour standoff with law enforcement in a small northwest Iowa town has been transferred into federal custody. Late Friday afternoon, the Clay County Sheriff’s Department located 46-year-old Timothy Steinbeck, who was wanted on a federal warrant for a narcotics violation. Authorities say Steinbeck barricaded himself in his home in Royal.

Steinbeck finally emerged and was arrested at about 11 o’clock Friday night after law enforcement released tear gas into his home. Steinbeck was treated at a local hospital, then held in the Clay County Jail until his transfer into federal custody yesterday (Tuesday).

In June, Steinbeck was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver.

Head’s-up commuters: Temporary overnight lane closures of east- and westbound I-80 in West Des Moines scheduled to begin Monday, Sept. 12

News

September 7th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

CRESTON, Iowa – Sept. 7, 2022 – A project to set beams for the new Ashworth Road bridge over Interstate 80 in West Des Moines requires closures of east- and westbound I-80 between Jordan Creek Parkway (exit 121) and Grand Prairie Parkway (exit 118) and a full closure of Ashworth Road overnights beginning on Monday night, Sept. 12, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston construction office.

Monday, Sept. 12 at 10 p.m. until Tuesday, Sept. 13 at 5 a.m.

  • Full closure of westbound I-80 and closure of the left lane of eastbound I-80 to allow crews to set two beams.

Tuesday, Sept. 13 at 10 p.m. until Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 5 a.m.

  • Full closure of westbound I-80 and closure of the left lane of eastbound I-80 to allow crews to set two beams.

Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 10 p.m. until Thursday, Sept. 15 at 5 a.m.

  • Full closure of eastbound I-80 and closure of the left lane of westbound I-80 to allow crews to set four beams.

Thursday, Sept. 15 at 10 p.m. until Friday, Sept. 16 at 5 a.m.

  • Full closure of eastbound I-80 and closure of the left lane of westbound I-80 to allow crews to set three beams.

During these closures, traffic will follow a marked detour route using Grand Prairie Parkway, University Avenue, and Jordan Creek Parkway.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

Mixed results in Iowa students’ math and reading scores

News

September 7th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Testing of Iowa public school students in third through 11th grades shows gains in science proficiency, but mixed results in math and reading. The results come from Statewide Assessment tests taken last spring. Third through eighth graders returned to pre-pandemic levels in reading proficiency, but the reading scores for 11th graders dropped four percent. Math scores improved among students in third through seventh grades, but declined in higher grades — with 11th grade test results in math dropping five percent. The third subject area tested was science.

Students in fifth, eighth and tenth grades were tested and the results were higher than they’d been in the spring of 2019. In a written statement, Iowa Department of Education director Ann Lebo said the results show public schools in Iowa are moving in the right direction in many areas, but there is still work to be done.

National test results released last week showed declines in math, science and reading scores.