(Radio Iowa) – A new report ranks Iowa 20th in the nation for the overall health of older adults. The annual America’s Health Rankings by the United Health Care Foundation looks at more than 50 factors that affect adults over the age of 64. It found Iowa seniors have low rates of food insecurity and mental distress — and very few elderly Iowans avoided seeking medical care due to the cost. Archana Dubey is the Chief Medical Officer at United Healthcare. She says Iowa also ranks low for the number of doctors who specialize in treating aging adults, but that’s improving.

“There is a definite increase in geriatric providers,” she says. “That’s something that I did notice – a 19% increase in physicians who are practicing this specialty.” The report found a low rate of social isolation among elderly Iowans. However, it did find households with someone age 65 or above are slightly less likely to have a high speed connection to the internet.

“Even though nationally, we improved on internet access, but we noticed that in Iowa, we could do better so there is a lower percentage of household connectivity to high speed internet,” Dubey says. The report found 79 percent of Iowa households with people age 65 plus have high speed internet. That compared to 83 percent nationally. Dubey says being able to go online to order groceries or visit with a nurse or doctor is important to the health of older adults.

The United Health Care Foundation’s annual report found dental health among Iowa seniors has improved, while the rate of injuries from falls among older adults in Iowa is higher than the national average.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – An accident at around 8-p.m. Sunday in Montgomery County claimed the life of a man from Red Oak. The Iowa State Patrol reports 68-year-old Miles H. Russell died, when the 2019 Ford F-150 pickup he was driving crossed the center line of eastbound Highway 34 near Eastern Avenue in Red Oak, and struck the front driver’s side of a westbound 2007 Peterbilt tractor-trailer, driven by 54-year-old Jonathan D. Gonseth, of Murray.

Following the collision, the pickup struck a road sign and came to rest partially in the north ditch. The semi came to rest partially on the road and westbound shoulder. Miles Russell – who was not wearing a seat belt – was transported by Red Oak Fire to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital, where he died from his injuries. Gonseth suffered minor injuries, but was not transported to the hospital.

(Clarinda, Iowa) – The Page County Sheriff’s Office has issued a report on arrests spanning a time frame from May 4th through the 18th. On the 18th, 41-year-old Joshua Jay Martin, of Clarinda, was arrested at the Page County Jail, for Willful Injury causing bodily injury.

There were two arrests on May 16th in Page County: 31-year-old Daniel Dean Archer, of Shenandoah, was arrested in Shenandoah on an active warrant for Violation of Probation. Archer was also charged with Interference with official acts, Possession of a controlled substance [PCS] – methamphetamine, PCS – marijuana, and Possession of drug paraphernalia; and, 32-year-old Michael Ryan Weeden, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on an active warrant for two counts of probation violation, original charges of assault on a police officer without injury and assault while displaying a dangerous weapon. Weeden was taken into custody at the Pottawattamie County Jail.

On May 14th, Deputies in Page County arrested 35-year-old Chad Douglas Smith, of New Market, on an active warrant for child endangerment. Smith was transferred from the custody of a Montgomery County Deputy to deputies from Page County.

On the 13th of May, 31-year-old Chelsie Nichole Greene, of Shenandoah, was arrested in rural Shenandoah, for Domestic Abuse Assault. And, on the 4th, 28-year-old Juan Salazar, of Syracuse, New York, was arrested in Page County for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Montgomery County, Tuesday, (May 23, 2023, will discuss and act on a request for the use of the courthouse lawn. The request is with regard to an annual Bible reading on July 13, 2023, from 8-a.m. to 8-p.m. The Board has approved a similar request for at least the past couple of years. The event is generally held state-wide, and has drawn up to 80 or more participants at bible reading gatherings.

The Board will also act on approving claims payable for Wed., May 24, 2023. Their meeting on Tuesday begins at 8:30-a.m., in the Supervisor’s Board Room, inside the Montgomery County Courthouse.

The meeting will be conducted in-person, and via Zoom. (See instructions below)

Join Zoom Meeting…
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86185141628
Meeting ID: 861 8514 1628
Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 If you are calling in, Press *9 to raise your hand if you wish to speak.31

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Board of Adjustment for the City of Atlantic will hold a public hearing, following by consideration and action on, a Dimensional Variance application for 1200 Roosevelt Drive. Jon Schmidt has applied for the the Variance, with regard to the construction of a garage in an R-2 Zoning District with a corner lot, street yard setback of eight-feet, which is currently in violation of two sections of the City’s Zoning Ordinance.

In addition to the Public Hearing, there will be a Question and Answer (Q&A) period between Schmidt and the Board. The meeting takes place 5:30-p.m. Monday (May 22, 2023), in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa State Patrol reports two separate crashes this weekend claimed two lives. At around 9-p.m. Saturday, 19-year-old Reese Jones, of Ottumwa, died when the 2006 Yamaha motorcycle he was operating collided with a pickup truck in Davis County. The crash happened while Jones was fleeing from law enforcement. The Patrol says Jones was traveling at a high rate of speed south on Highway 63 in Bloomfield, when his cycle hit a 2007 Ford F-150 pickup that was stopped at intersection of Highway 63 and Highway 2. Jones died at the scene. The driver of the pickup, 17-year-old Jason Rich, of New London, Iowa, was not injured.

And, at around 11:15-a.m. Saturday, a man when the John Deere tractor he was operating, was struck from behind by a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The accident happened as the van was traveling south on Highway 330 in Marshall County. The tractor – driven by 86-year-old Clarence E. Borton, of Albion – was southbound on the highway after turning from a private driveway.

After the van – driven by 22-year-old Morgan Weiglet, of Albion – hit the tractor from behind, the tractor left the road to the right and overturned in the ditch. Borton fell off the tractor and died at the scene.

Morgan Weiglet and a passenger in the van, 22-year-old Dylan S. Dare, of Albion, were transported to Unity Point Hospital by ambulance.