National EMT Week: Ambulance Services Face Challenges
(Le Mars) — This week is recognized as National Emergency Medical Technicians Week, a time we honor and pay tribute to those volunteers and paid staff that come to our aid when we are sick or injured. Bill Rosacker serves as the director of the Le Mars Ambulance Service. He says a challenge for Le Mars,
and ambulance services across the state, is to find enough volunteers willing to take the necessary training, and commit the time required to help on an ambulance service staff.
Rosacker says many smaller towns across the state are having troubles trying to staff an ambulance, especially during the daytime work hours. He points to Merrill as an example.
The Le Mars Ambulance Director says one solution would be to have counties and the state classify community ambulance services as an essential public safety entity. He says Wright County in North Central Iowa is trying a program which has the attention of the entire state.
Some people may wonder why an ambulance service is not already considered to be an essential entity? The issue has been brought to the attention of the state legislature, but so far, lawmakers have not acted upon the ambulance shortage issue. Rosacker says, in part, it is because ambulance services are
controlled differently from town to town.
Rosacker says in many small town communities, the local ambulance service is actually operated as part of the community fire department, which is also finding it difficult to have enough volunteers to adequately serve a community. We will continue our series of reports regarding EMT week and the challenges of local ambulance services during tomorrow’s news updates.
New Doctor To Join Floyd Valley Healthcare
(Le Mars) — Floyd Valley Healthcare Administrator Mike Donlin announced that Dr. Ashley Powell will be joining the medical staff at Floyd Valley Clinics in August 2018. As a family physician, she will provide all facets of family healthcare services from pre-conception to end of life services.
Dr. Powell brings a wealth of education and training experience. The former Ashley Sitzmann is a Gehlen Catholic alum, so is already familiar with our area. She earned her undergraduate at Creighton University in Omaha, NE.
Dr. Powell received her Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from Des Moines University. She is currently in the Family Medicine Residency Program at Clarkson in Omaha, NE.
Primebank Employee Is Chamber “Employee of the Month”
(Le Mars) — A long-time Primebank employee was named as the latest Le Mars Chamber of Commerce “Employee of the Month.” Lois Ohlendorf has spent 47 years in the banking business. Ohlendorf was nominated by the staff of Primebank. She is about to retire from working at Primebank. Upon
graduation from business school, Lois Ohlendorf entered the financial services industry as a residential loan processor. Over the years that first position led to other related positions eventually leading to Lois’s current position as an Underwriter.
Looking back at Lois’s time with Primebank, a few things quickly become apparent:
• Lois is a person of great integrity and high values,
• Lois expects nothing but the best efforts from both herself, as well as from those she works with,
• Lois’s great kindness and strength of character always shine through.
When asked to describe Lois, it’s not unusual to hear that she’s “the nicest person in the world.” The best part of this being that Lois may actually be that “nicest” person. Our congratulations go to Lois Ohlendorf as being named the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce May Employee of the Month.
Matt Ahlers, CEO of Primebank (left) stands with Lois Ohlendorf and offers his congratulations as Ohlendorf was named as the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce May “Employee of the Month.”
County Board Meets With Hinton Officials To Make Road Safer
(Le Mars) — During the Plymouth County Board of Supervisor meeting held Tuesday, Hinton’s City Attorney, Barry Thompson and Hinton Police Chief, Chris Conlen appealed to the county board to consider changing the speed limit on county road C-60 on the west side of town. A recent pedestrian accident caused some concern from the Hinton City Council. Several suggestions were made as to how best to make the area safer. One concern is traffic heading eastbound on C-60 are having to travel down a steep incline hill as they are also needing to slow down while entering Hinton. Another concern is there are three homes located on the north side of the highway which doesn’t have a sidewalk, therefore the children need to walk on the highway. The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors agreed that the speed limit of 25 mph needs to be extended, along with a sign informing motorists that they are entering a school zone. Supervisor chairman, Don Kass instructed County engineer Tom Rohe to create a resolution and to take it to the Hinton City Council to ask for their approval. Kass says once the Hinton
city council has approved the resolution, the county supervisors will also approve it.
Planned Parenthood President To Step Down
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The president of the Planned Parenthood chapter for Iowa and Nebraska will step down as the organization prepares to join a larger chapter based in Minnesota.
The Des Moines Register reports the agency announced Tuesday that Suzanna de Baca will step down effective Sept. 30 after leading Planned Parenthood of the Heartland since 2014.
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland is joining Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Together they will form a new regional affiliate, called Planned Parenthood North Central States.
Sarah Stoesz, the longtime leader of the Minnesota-based chapter, will be the president of the new consolidated organization. De Baca plans to fill an unpaid seat on its board.
De Baca says there are no plans to close any of the eight Planned Parenthood clinics in Iowa or two in Nebraska.
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Des Moines Proposes River Based Recreation
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Backers of a $117 million plan to bring recreation to downtown Des Moines say the rivers project would create a network of 80 water trails across central Iowa.
Rick Tollakson is president and CEO of Hubbell Realty Co. and one of the project’s biggest supporters. He told The Des Moines Register that the project centerpiece would be a series of whitewater features that would replace three dangerous low-head dams along the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers.
He says the Des Moines business community is committed to underpin fundraising because recreational opportunities are the best way to attract and retain young workers.
Project backers have discussed it with Iowa’s congressional members, hoping to secure a third of the cost through state and federal grants.
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Former State Senator Bill Dix Donates Campaign Money To Republican Party
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The abrupt downfall of Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix became a cash windfall for the Republican Party of Iowa.
The party accepted a $522,000 contribution from Dix’s campaign on March 26, two weeks after the Shell Rock farmer quit the Legislature. Dix resigned after the Iowa Starting Line published video of the married lawmaker kissing a lobbyist in a Des Moines bar. Republican leaders said they were disappointed in Dix’s behavior.
Dix had previously faced criticism after the state paid a $1.75
million settlement to former Senate GOP communications director Kirsten Anderson, who was fired after complaining about sexual harassment.
Anderson said Tuesday that Dix should have considered giving the money to the general fund to offset the settlement costs, which is allowed by state law.
Party spokesman Jesse Dougherty defended the move, saying “the money was raised to help elect and defend a Republican majority this fall.”
Governor Reynolds To Return Campaign Contribution
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A spokesman for Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ campaign says it plans to return a $250 contribution from a state official whom she later fired over sexual harassment allegations.
A campaign finance disclosure filed Monday shows that then-Iowa Finance Authority Director Dave Jamison and his wife made the donation to Reynolds on March 1.
Asked about the donation Tuesday, campaign spokesman Pat Garrett said in an email, “we plan to return it.”
Reynolds fired Jamison on March 24, saying she had received “credible allegations of sexual harassment” from two female subordinates a day earlier.
The governor’s office has released a detailed complaint from one of the women, who alleged that Jamison made constant sexual remarks in the workplace. Investigations are underway.
Reynolds and Jamison had long been acquaintances going back to their work as county treasurers starting in the 1990s.
Jamison hasn’t spoken publicly about the allegations.
