Abbey Officials Fined $100,000 For Health Care Violations
(Le Mars) — The Abbey of Le Mars, Inc. which state government officials has ordered to be closed, and other individuals with financial interests in the Abbey’s operations, agreed to pay $100,000 to settle allegations they violated the False Claims Act by submitting or causing claims to be submitted to Medicaid when the care provided to nursing facility residents was so
substandard that the care was worthless and effectively without value.
The allegations relate to care provided for sixteen residents between January 2009 and February 2015. The government alleged that the care the Abbey provided
was grossly substandard in multiple material ways:
1. Providers failed to address skin conditions and fractures, leading to inadequate care and additional medical costs;
2. Residents were subjected in the first instance to physical restraints and unnecessary medications rather than other types of interventions;
3. Providers utilized anti-psychotic medications to numb or sedate residents so as to decrease residents’ needs; and
4. Residents were not given adequate nourishment or bathing and toileting care, leading to infections and impactions necessitating emergency room visits.
The individuals signing the agreement include Leo Lenaghan, who owns the building where the Abbey operates; John Florina, Jr., who was a paid consultant to the Abbey; Janet Howe, the Abbey’s president; Don Butcher, who worked as the Abbey’s
administrator; and the Abbey’s former director of nursing, Donna Stuhrenberg.
The False Claims Act settlement agreement only resolves government claims related to the alleged submission of claims for payment to Medicaid when the services provided were worthless and effectively without value. Other government claims
are not released.
Gehlen Catholic Announces $2 Million Fundraising Campaign
(Le Mars) — At the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce coffee held Wednesday at Gehlen Catholic School, Father Kevin Richter, the president of Gehlen Catholic, and priest for the All Saints Parish, made the announcement the local catholic school
is starting a $2 million dollar fundraising campaign. Richter says the money will go to many projects within the school.
Richter offers a specific explanation as to the projects needing improvements.
Catholic officials hope to raise the money within three years.
With many parishioners of the St. Joseph church having a connection to Gehlen Catholic School, Richter believes the timing is right to start the fundraising campaign since the parish was able to pay off the church’s building debt seven
years early.
Another fundraising campaign effort is nearing completion is with the new set of playground equipment. Richter says the playground equipment will be installed this spring and summer. He says $80,000 of private donations were used to pay
for the new playground equipment.
Gehlen Catholic Cafeteria Staff Honored As “Employees Of the Month”
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Chamber of Commerce honored the cooks of Gehlen Catholic school as the February “Employees of the Month” during the Chamber coffee held on Wednesday. The award was presented to Kari Puetz, Janice Kneip, Robin Ellensohn, Karen Nuebel, and Stacy Wiltgen. The nomination was submitted by the entire staff of Gehlen Catholic. In that nomination it reads: “They are the first to arrive everyday at Gehlen, even on the days when there is a late start.
As the clock strikes 7:00 a.m. the Gehlen Catholic nutrition professionals begin serving breakfast to 30 students every school day. By mid-morning, and again in mid-afternoon, they serve 113 snacks and/or milk to Gehlen’s youngest learners that include the pre-schoolers, transitional kindergarten, and the kindergarten students. Beginning shortly after 11:00 a.m. and wrapping up by 12:40 p.m. the Gehlen Catholic Cafeteria staff serve over 500 lunches every day for students, faculty, staff, and visiting parents. Through out the year, the Gehlen Catholic’s cooks prepare their renowned cinnamon rolls for coffees, liturgies and prayer services, as well as luncheons for Gehlen Catholic’s benefactors, plus each spring’s pre-school, transitional kindergarten and kindergarten parent meetings. They are also often called upon for thier assistance in the evenings
and weekends for tailgates, concessions, and the Fine Arts Turkey Dinner and All Saints Parish Dinners. Our congratulations go to the Gehlen Catholic Cafeteria staff for being honored as the February “Employees of the Month”.
Gehlen Catholic Cafeteria Staff: (left to right) Kari Puetz, Janice Kneip, Robin Ellensohn, Karen Nuebel, and Stacy Wiltgen.
Primebank Donates Visa Card Proceeds To Gehlen Catholic
(Le Mars) — During the intermission of the Gehlen varsity basketball games on Tuesday evening, officials with Primebank presented a check totaling $2,709.24 to Gehlen Catholic Schools. Kelli Langel and Cole Sitzmann, both Gehlen alums and now employees of Primebank, gave the check to Gehlen Catholic
elementary principal Lorie Nussbaum. The check represents the funds generated from Primebank’s Gehlen Catholic Visa card program. For the past 16 years, Primebank has donated a percentage of total purchases made using the Gehlen Visa
card to Gehlen Catholic School. With this year’s donation, Primebank has exceeded $50,000 in total donations through the program. Proceeds from the card are used to enhance the local tuition assistance program at Gehlen Catholic, assuring a focus on “Faith, Values, Service, and Academic Excellence to low and
middle income students.
Le Mars Police Department Investigate Accident
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Police Department is investigating yet another automobile accident that happened at the junction of Highway 75 and county road C-38. The accident happened at about 5:00 p.m. Tuesday evening. Janice Kooiker, age 71 of Le Mars was westbound on C038 in a 2011 Dodge Ram 2500 Pickup. Kooiker failed to see Eric Staufacker, age 49 of George, IA who was northbound on Hwy 75 in a 2014 Freightliner truck and proceeded into the intersection. Kooiker collided with Staufacker causing disabling damage to the front end of Kooiker’s vehicle and disabling damage to the passenger side cab area of Staufacker’s vehicle. Staufacker had possible injuries.
Kooiker was cited for failure to obey stop or yield sign.
Kooiker’s vehicle sustained approximately $7,000.00 in damages.
Staufacker’s vehicle sustained approximately $20,000.00 in damages.
Fire Department Issues January Report
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department responded to a total of 38 calls for the month of January. Eight times the local fire brigade responded to fire calls, they performed ten rescues, performed eight investigations or
accident clean-ups, and provided mutual aid to Oyens and to Remsen. The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department had ten requests for services. Fire Chief Dave Schipper reports during the recent snowstorm, six fire fighters stayed at the fire station to keep snow clear, and to answer emergency calls.
