The Oskaloosa Community School District will have a meeting of the Board of Directors on March 8 at 7:30 PM in the George Daily Auditorium Board Room. The main topic at hand will be to consider approval of profile and documents for the search of a Superintendent.
‘No Danger’ at Knoxville Schools After Threat Investigation
(KNOXVILLE, Iowa) – A possible threat to Knoxville High School reported early last Wednesday turned out to be false after a student posted photos of a fake gun to her social media.
At approximately 8:15 a.m. on February 28, Knoxville Police School Resource Officer Keller was notified of a possible threat to the high school when at least two students reported seeing a post on social media outlet Snapchat last Tuesday evening from another student at Knoxville High School.
According to a news release sent by the Knoxville Police Department, the Snapchat post was of what appeared to be an assault rifle with the caption “Coming soon to high school.” Authorities know who posted the content and have said that they interviewed the student. The weapon in the post was also located and found to be a plastic toy. Law enforcement officials say that there was no danger to any person at any time during this incident.
As a result, a 16-year-old female was charged with violating 708A.5 Threat of Terrorism, a class D felony. The suspect was taken into custody and then transported to a secure juvenile holding facility. Since she is a juvenile, the name of the suspect has not been release. Reminder: A charge is not an indication of guilt and all suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Anyone that perceives a threat or sees something suspicious is reminded to always contact local law enforcement authorities. Knoxville Community School District officials say the district will continue to pursue additional safety precautions and appreciate the support of the Knoxville community and partnership with the Knoxville Police Department.
Scammers Again Targeting MidAmerican Energy Customers
Residential, commercial customers report flurry of imposter calls seeking immediate payment
(DES MOINES, Iowa) – Residential and commercial customers of MidAmerican Energy today report receiving calls from imposters demanding immediate payment on behalf of MidAmerican Energy.
Imposter scam callers threaten to shut off power unless the customer makes an immediate payment over the phone with a prepaid debit card.
Scammers are persistent and aggressive and can:
- Spoof caller-ID to make the call appear as if it is coming from the utility or any number.
- Require customers to make an immediate payment using a prepaid card (such as a Green Dot card).
- Threaten disconnection if the customer doesn’t pay immediately over the phone.
Customers who receive a suspicious call should hang up, and report it to their local police department or sheriff’s office. MidAmerican does not call customers demanding immediate payment by phone.
Once you’ve reported the call to law enforcement, report it to MidAmerican Energy at the number on your monthly utility bill, or call 888-427-5632. Don’t call the number that appears on your caller-ID display.
To check your billing status, call MidAmerican. Or, access your billing records online through My Account on the company’s website at www.midamericanenergy.com.
Customers should follow these steps to stay safe:
- Don’t pay immediately by phone, especially if you did not initiate the call.
- Remember, MidAmerican Energy accepts many forms of payment, but won’t demand a specific payment method by phone.
- Never give out personal or financial information when someone calls you. Do not share credit card, bank, prepaid money card or even gift card account numbers when you receive a call. For more information, visit www.midamericanenergy.com/scams. The Consumer Protection Division of the Iowa Attorney General’s office has also set up a utility scam recording – call 515-281-5926.
Source: MidAmerican Energy
Over 6K Raised for MCRF During Bowling Tournament
(MAHASKA COUNTY, Iowa) – Family, fun and raising funds. That was the goal of the Mahaska County Recreation Foundation (MCRF) during the 8th Annual Bowling Tournament Fundraiser a couple weeks ago.
According to Kate Van Gilst, MCRF Recreation Manager, the fundraiser on Feb. 23 brought in over $6,000 and was a fun time for everyone. Oskaloosa Hy-Vee ultimately took the trophy for the 8th Annual Bowling Tournament, making it the first new winner in seven years.
“The event brought lots of laughter and smiles and helped MCRF fund great projects around the complex,” reads the news release sent out by Gilst. “A huge thank you to everyone who was involved, [sponsored] a lane, or donated an item for our silent auction. It was a great success.”
Country Icon Tragically Killed in Tennessee Plane Crash
March 5th in Country Music History
1963: Music icons Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copus and Hawkshaw Hawkins are tragically killed near Camden, Tennessee when their plane flies into severe weather. 90 miles from their destination, the trio were headed for Nashville in a Piper Comanche piloted by Copas’ son-in-law (and Cline’s manager), Randy Hughes.
1980: The film Coal Miner’s Daughter debutes in Nashville, soon becaming the #1 box office hit in America. The film starred Sissy Spacek as Loretta Lynn and Tommy Lee Jones as her husband Mooney Lynn.
1983: CMT is launched at 6:19 PM CST
2009: T-Swift makes her primetime television TV acting debut in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as Haley Jones. Unfortunately, the singer was stabbed in the heart with a pair of scissors.
2013: Connie Sanders King is charged with both felony and premeditated first-degree murder in the death of country music manager Thomas Colucci at their Coffee County, Tennessee, home.
Iowa State Fair Grandstand Tickets Go on Sale This Friday
(DES MOINES, Iowa) – Country smash duo Florida Georgia Line brings their multi-platinum sound to the Iowa State Fair on the final night of the 2018 Fair, Sunday, August 19.
Florida Georgia Line joins already announced Grandstand Acts: Casting Crowns (August 9), Reba (August 10), Old Dominion (August 12), Jim Gaffigan (August 14), Earth, Wind & Fire (August 16), and Sugarland (August 17). Tickets for Florida Georgia Line (August 19) go on sale on Friday, March 9, at 10:00 AM.
Since their breakout in 2012, Florida Georgia Line has earned prestigious honors from the AMA, ACM, CMA, Billboard Music Awards and CMT Music Awards. The top-shelf entertainers continue to crush records as the first and only country act to achieve RIAA Diamond certification: 10 million copies sold for their breakout smash, “Cruise,” which is the best-selling digital country single of all time.
Ticket prices vary depending on location of seats in the Grandstand. Tickets can be purchased at www.etix.com or by calling 800-514-3849. Please see concert maps for reserved and standing pit area seating. Convenience charges apply to all tickets. Grandstand tickets do not include Fair admission, but discounted advanced admission tickets are available at www.iowastatefair.org. The Iowa State Fair is not responsible for tickets purchased through any third party vendors; please check that you are purchasing tickets from www.etix.com.
Source: Iowa State Fair
UnityPoint Health Receives Inspired Award
(GRINNELL, Iowa) UnityPoint Health® – Grinnell Regional Medical Center underwent a cultural climate change in early 2015 by educating GRMC staff using materials from Values Coach, Inc. Then in February 2018, GRMC employees received the Joe Tye Inspired Award for exhibiting excellence in both values and culture.
“GRMC is just the third hospital in America to receive this award,” says Joe Tye, CEO of Values Coach, Inc. “And a trailblazer for many more to follow.”
GRMC welcomed 27 team members to become Certified Values Coach Trainers and also team-taught The Twelve Core Action Values to their fellow GRMC employees. Each employee has completed the two-day values course, and all new hires complete the course as part of new employee orientation. The twelve core action values are woven into every job description and account for 50 percent of every performance evaluation.
The Values Team at GRMC meets regularly to discuss ways to enhance organizational culture and operational effectiveness. More than 20 new projects were launched under the guidance of this team.
As a demonstration of how this program has changed the lives of their staff, GRMC collected more than 50 stories from employees. These will be published in a book for employees in May.
In its most recent patient satisfaction survey results from fourth quarter 2017, GRMC ranked in the 95 percentile for the question “would you recommend the hospital?” GRMC also received the top score for overall hospital rating. All of these accomplishments factored into GRMC’s receipt of the award.
“Our staff is truly amazing. The board of directors and GRMC administration wanted to invest in our employees and their satisfaction, both personally and professionally,” says Doris Rindels, interim GRMC CEO. “The Core Value program enriches our employees’ lives and creates a greater culture here at GRMC for our patients. It’s had a positive impact on our organization.”
-This information was provided in a news release sent from staff at Grinnell Regional Medical Center.
Des Moines Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms Offenses
(Des Moines, Iowa) – On February 22, David Marken Aikoriegie, of Des Moines, appeared in federal court and pleaded guilty to charges related to a series of gun store burglaries in the Des Moines area, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum.
Aikoriegie pleaded guilty to three counts of stealing a firearm from a federal firearm licensee and one count of unlawful possession, receipt, and sale of a stolen firearm. Aikoriegie admitted he stole three firearms from JLM Gun Shoppe in Urbandale on November 16, 2017; ten firearms from Rangemasters in Clive on December 2, 2017; and eleven firearms from Rangemasters on December 14, 2017. He also admitted to selling one of those stolen firearms to another person on December 16, 2017. A sentencing date has not been scheduled at this time.
This investigation was conducted by the Clive Police Department; United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Des Moines Police Department; and Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
USDA Launches Webpage to Help Rural Communities Address Opioid Crisis
(WASHINGTON, USA) – Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett recently unveiled a new webpage featuring resources to help rural communities respond to the opioid crisis.
“While no corner of the country has gone untouched by the opioid crisis, small towns and rural places have been particularly hard hit,” Hazlett said. “The challenge of opioid misuse is an issue of rural prosperity and will take all hands on deck to address. The webpage we are launching today will help rural leaders build a response that is tailored to meet the needs of their community.”
The National Center for Health Statistics estimates that more than 63,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2016. More than half of those deaths involved opioids, including prescription drugs and heroin.
USDA is playing an important role to help rural communities address this national problem at the local level through program investment, strategic partnerships and best practice implementation.
In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump, which included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America.
In the area of quality of life, the Task Force included a recommendation to modernize health care access. The report highlighted the importance of telemedicine in enhancing access to primary care and specialty providers. The Task Force also found that improved access to mental and behavioral health care, particularly prevention, treatment and recovery resources, is vital to addressing the opioid crisis and other substance misuse in rural communities.
To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community services such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
Pleasant Hill Woman Charged with Fraud
(Des Moines, Iowa) – Cora Lea Harrington, age 42, of Pleasant Hill was charged with Fraudulent Submissions (Class D Felony) and Theft in the 2nd Degree (Class D Felony) following an insurance fraud investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau.
The charges against Harrington, a former insurance claims representative, stem from an investigation that began in March 2017. It is alleged that Harrington engaged in altering financial documents related to insurance claims in order to redirect insurance claim proceeds to herself for personal use.
On January 30, 2018, a State of Iowa warrant was issued for the arrest of Harrington. On February 9th, 2018, Harrington was arrested by the Pleasant Hill Police Department and booked into the Polk County Jail.
Iowans with information about insurance fraud are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau at 515-242-5304. No additional information has been provided at this time.
Note: A criminal charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.