Tornado Hits Sioux Falls Causing Considerable Damage And Injuries
(Sioux Falls) — Two tornadoes have been reported to hit Sioux Falls last evening. City officials in Sioux Falls urged citizens to stay off the streets until 8 a.m. Wednesday as crews remove debris from a probable tornado and straight-line winds overnight. Classes for Sioux Falls students were delayed 2 hours.
Sioux Falls Fire Chief Brad Goodroad said at an early morning news conference Wednesday that at least 37 structures collapsed in the city or have structural issues. One of those buildings affected by the tornado was the Avera Heart Hospital. Officials report that more than 100 patients were moved from Avera Heart to Sanford Hospital because of the storm. There are some
reports of injuries, but no word on any fatalities.
Xcel Energy says as many as 25,000 customers were without power at one point because of the damage, but that number dropped about 2,100 customers by 6:30 a.m.
The Red Cross has opened a shelter at the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds’ armory for people displaced by the storm.
Moments ago, I spoke with Todd Hietkamp, the chief meteorologist with the National Weather Services of Sioux Falls about the damage that occurred.
Plymouth County Secondary Roads Department To Close 160th Street To Install Culvert
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Secondary Roads Department has announced they will close 160th Street between Fawn Avenue and Fir Avenue to replace a bridge with a box culvert. The road will be closed until at least through October 4th.
Le Mars Police Department To Offer Second Police Citizens Academy
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Police Department will hold its second Police Citizens Academy this fall. Assistant Police Chief Justin Daale says they are wanting around 12 people to participate.
Daale says participants will meet twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday for four weeks and will be shown all the aspects of the duties of a police officer.
Applications are being accepted through September 30th. The Assistant Police Chief says applicants will need to pass a background check.
Scott Pagler of Hardware Hank and Laurie Peters with Floyd Valley Healthcare participated on the inaugural police citizens academy program last year. Both say it was an educational experience.
Peters talks about some of the activities associated with the Police Citizens Academy.
For additional information regarding the Le Mars Police Citizens Academy, you can contact the Le Mars Police Department.
Le Mars FFA To Organize Alumni Chapter
(Le Mars) – The Le Mars FFA chapter is starting an Alumni chapter. The Alumni chapter will assist the Le Mars FFA Chapter with fundraisers, educational programs and activities. They will also work to encourage and promote agriculture.
Danielle James, LeMars FFA chapter Adviser says “The goal of the Alumni chapter is to increase our networking within the community, which will ultimately lead to increased opportunities for our students.”
James says, “We welcome any former LeMars FFA member who is interested in supporting upcoming generations of agriculture.” Those who would like to support the chapter, but are not alumni, are encouraged to join as an allied partner.
The Le Mars FFA chapter, founded in 1940, currently has 63 active members.
All past FFA members, and interested parties, are invited to attend the inaugural Le Mars FFA Alumni Meeting and Social. September 19, 2019, at 7 p.m., in the Le Mars Community High School Ag Classroom.
James says, “The Social will act as an informational meeting for those interested in the Alumni chapter.” Questions can be directed to Le Mars FFA chapter Adviser Danielle James at danielle.james@lemarscsd.org.
Medicare Providers Say They Are Owed $1.4 Million Dollars
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Providers of Medicaid services in Iowa say they’re owed up to $1.4 million by an insurance company that left the Iowa Medicaid program two years ago.
Documents filed with the Iowa Insurance Division show AmeriHealth Caritas could owe as much as $1.4 million to Iowa hospitals, nursing homes and providers of mental health services.
Kim Weber, who leads a company that helps Medicaid patients to stay in their homes, says she’s owed $193,000 and calls the unpaid bills “downright thievery.”
A hospital in Vinton and a nursing home company in Hampton are among Iowa providers that have sued for payment of tens of thousands of dollars.
An AmeriHealth spokesman says the company continues “to diligently work to resolve any outstanding items.”
Providers say they haven’t received help from the Department of
Humans Services, which oversees Medicaid. The agency says those with claims should deal directly with the privately run program.
Floods Likely To Occur In Western Iowa
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The National Weather Service has issued flash flood warnings for west-central Iowa and northeastern Nebraska.
The service says up to 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) have fallen in the past 24 hours and an additional 2 inches (5.1 centimeters) is possible in Iowa’s Monona County and Nebraska’s Thurston County.
Flooding is possible in several communities and on Interstate 29 between mile markers 107 and 125.
The service says Wednesday morning’s thunderstorms will gradually decrease as the system leaves the area, but more storms are expected Wednesday night.
Flash flood warnings also have been issued for parts of north-central Nebraska.
Mason City Woman Pleads Guilty To Theft Of Painkillers
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A Mason City woman who pleaded guilty in a case in which prosecutors say burglarized 13 Iowa homes of patients in search of painkillers has been sentenced to more than a year in federal prison.
Federal prosecutors for Iowa say 33-year-old Samantha Jo Rogers was sentenced Monday to 14 months in prison. She had pleaded guilty in March to making false statements related to health care matters. Prosecutors dropped other charges in return for her pleas.
The thefts occurred in Cerro Gordo County. Prosecutors say Rogers accessed the private health and residence information of at least 1,900 patients and used that information to show up at patients’ homes, posing as a public health worker recovering opioid medications. On other occasions, Rogers used a crow bar to break down the patients’ doors and steal the narcotics.
