Le Mars Fire Department Respond To Three Calls On Tuesday
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire Department had to respond to three calls last evening. The first and second calls were close to being the same time. At nearly 4:30 p.m. yesterday the fire department responded to a spill that was reported at the north plant of Wells. Fire officials were on the scene for about 25 minutes. At about the time the fire department were returning back home, a second call came in at about 4:50 p.m. requiring their services at Cleveland Park to extinguish a small fire. Fire officials were at that scene for nearly 15 minutes. The fire department was later dispatched to the residence located at 424 Lee Drive at about 7:30 last evening to help ventilate smoke from the home’s basement. No word as to how much damage there was as a result from that call.
Plymouth County 4-H Recognizes Leaders, Alumni, and Members
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County 4-H organization held its annual awards program on Sunday evening. Several county 4-H members were recognized for their achievements during this past year. Some special adult awards were also given. 4-H leader of the year was awarded to Phil and Gail Schoenrock of the Lincoln Toppers, 4-H alumni was given to Brett McNaughton of rural Kingsley, and John Ahlers was recognized as the Honorary 4-H member. ICON Ag and Turf was presented the Partner in 4-H. Leaders were honored for their years of service. Becky Beitelspacher, Tyler Dimig, Karen Bogenreif, Gary Larson, Brian Collins and Kris Collins received the Silver Clover pin for five years of service. Denise Anthony, and Brenda Phelan received the Pearl pin for 15 years of service. Julie Beitelspacher, JoAnn Casper, Jennifer Linton, and Gail Schoenrock received the Diamond clover pin for 20 years of service. Linda Beitelspacher received the Ruby pin for 30 years of service to 4-H.
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Dispute Medicare’s Claim of Overcharging
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is disputing a federal audit’s finding that it should repay more than $550,000 for accidentally overbilling Medicare for a
common cancer drug.
The Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a report Tuesday concluding that billing errors caused UIHC to receive $826,000 more from Medicare
in 2009 and 2010 than it was eligible.
The amount questioned is a tiny fraction of the $659 million that UIHC received from Medicare in those years for nearly 547,000 claims.
The hospital’s response agrees that errors caused overbilling totaling about $271,000. But it is challenging a finding that seeks the repayment of $555,000 more, saying it accurately billed for
Lupron injections based on the federal guidance available at the time.
Iowa State Names New Foundation Director
AMES, Iowa (AP) – A fundraiser for the University of Arizona has been named president of the Iowa State University Foundation.
Roger Neuhaus will oversee the foundation, which is a private, nonprofit corporation that solicits and manages gifts and grants that benefit Iowa State University.
At Arizona, he was the senior executive in charge of fundraising for the university’s foundation.
Neuhaus has held fundraising positions at Verde Valley Medical Center in northern Arizona, The Finley Hospital and Loras College, both in Dubuque; and Southern Illinois University in Carbondale,
Ill.
Neuhaus, a Dubuque native, begins at Iowa State on Jan. 23.
The foundation manages an endowment of about $480 million and administers about 5,000 gift accounts.
The organization is governed by an 18-member board.
Three Northern Iowa Men Arrested For Numerous Charges
GARNER, Iowa (AP) – Three north-central Iowa men are in jail on numerous charges including burglary and ongoing criminal conduct.
Hancock County Sheriff Scott Dodd says the arrest of the three men from Klemme is the result of a two-year investigation.
Thirty-year-old Christopher Bachman is charged with arson, 26 counts of burglary, carrying weapons and theft. Also in custody is 25-year-old Nicholas Wayne Ulrich, who is charged with burglary, possession of a firearm by a felon, theft, and possession of methamphetamine.
The third man facing charges is 22-year-old Mark Gouge, II, who is facing drug possession and burglary charges.
The men are in custody on $25,000 cash bond. They are expected to appear in court on Wednesday.
Attorneys have not yet been assigned to them.
Six Iowa Teenagers Charged For Sexting On Phone
INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) – Six northeast Iowa teenagers have been charged with misdemeanors stemming from distribution of an obscene photo taken by a fellow student.
The case began with a teen girl taking her own picture with a cellphone and sending it to a teenage boy at Independence Junior/Senior High School in Independence. He forwarded it to
several friends, who sent it on to several others.
Buchanan County Attorney Shawn Harden says a student who received the forwarded photo reported it to his parents, who then contacted the school. The school reported it to law enforcement
officials.
The Des Moines Register reports the six students were arrested last week and soon released to their parents.
Iowa law bars using a phone to send obscene material to a minor.
Will Next Year’s State Fair Have Deep Fried Twinkies?
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The fate of deep-fried Twinkies on a stick may be tied to the financial future – if any – of Hostess Brands.
On Wednesday a judge in New York could decide whether the bankrupt company can shutter its operations.
The decision matters greatly to Larry Fyfe, the concessionaire who introduced deep-fried Twinkies to the Iowa State Fair in 2003, a year after the concoction debuted at the Texas State Fair.
Fyfe told The Des Moines Register (https://dmreg.co/Qa2Cst ) that he sells up to 7,000 of them each year.
Fyfe says he hopes another company will acquire the Hostess product lines. He says using a knockoff cream-filled spongecake “would not be one of my first choices.”
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