Le Mars Couple Files Lawsuit Against Orange City Hospital For Death Of One-Year Old Son
(Orange City) — An October 19th, 2021 trial date has been set for a Le Mars couple who have filed a malpractice negligence lawsuit against Orange City Area Health System, the Orange City Area Health Foundation, and Doctors Cynthia Pals and Marie Moeller. The lawsuit involves the death of one-year old Shawn Cook, the son of Jason and Lauren Cook. According to court
records, the one-year old Shawn Cook who was born on December 4th of 2016 in Orange City was seen by Dr. Pals on December 7th, 2017 for the one-year wellness check-up. Apparently, the boy suffered from a persistent wheezing.
Pals noted a possible cold, allergic reaction, respiratory syncytial virus or asthma as possible causes. The doctor had prescribed steroids for the child with a return visit in a couple of weeks. The child was seen by Moeller at the Orange City clinic during the follow-up visit. Lauren Cook told the doctor there was no improvement with her son’s wheezing. Moeller’s plan for
treatment was to initiate an inhaler for asthma. Court records state that Lauren Cook was instructed to take her son to the Emergency Room if she felt the condition had worsened. The parents then brought their son to Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars on January 17th, 2018 for continued and worsening wheezing. Floyd Valley Healthcare officials ordered a chest x-ray
and showed a blockage from a swallowed foreign object. The one-year old boy was transferred to Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls later that same day.
Surgery was performed on the boy to remove the a four-centimeter metal bracket lodged inside the boy’s esophagus, but pus was also observed flowing from the esophagus. According to the lawsuit, no culture was ordered to analyse the pus. The one-year old was placed on a heart-and-lung bypass machine on January 27, 2018. Three days later, he underwent additional
surgery. An infectious disease expert was not consulted until February 1st of 2018, and Shawn died three days later from sepis, a condition caused by the body’s response to an infection. The plaintiffs are accusing the hospital, the foundation, and the doctors of negligence for failing to properly respond to signs and symptoms consistent with a swallowed foreign object or other upper airway obstruction in a pediatric patient.
Piece Of Cake To Compete In Regional “Open 4 Business” Competition
(Le Mars) — Later this afternoon, Michelle Bomgaars, the owner of the Piece of Cake bakery in Le Mars, along with her daugter Samantha and Assistant manager of the business, will be visiting with judges about their business for the “Open 4 Business” competition. The program is part of Main Street Iowa organization through the Iowa Economic Development Authority, and its purpose is to identify small businesses wanting to grow their business.
Bomgaars says the judges will be asking questions in relationship to the Piece of Cake business, and what are the future plans for the business?
Bomgaars says she wants to renovate the store-front facade if selected as a finalist.
Piece of Cake has been in business in Le Mars for seven years. Bomgaars says the business originally started from her home. She says her niche marketing of selling cupcakes and specialty cakes has followed families for their highlights of life.
Bomgaars says they expanded the business by offering cookies and dessert brownies and bars, and also offering a salad bar and sandwiches for lunch.
The Piece of Cake owner says the goal, if they win and are able to receive grant money is to renovate the front entrance, plus purchase additional coolers.
Bomgaars says a face-lift would be inviting to their customers. Piece of Cake has a bit of a reputation to uphold as The Browns Century Theater and Get Branded 360 have both qualified to the state finals in past “Open 4 Business” competitions. Bomgaars says they have received some suggestions and advice as to get the judges’ attention to move on to the state round.
The Piece of Cake owner says she does feel confident heading into today’s round of competition.
Piece of Cake employs eight people and their business marketing area has expanded beyond just Plymouth County. Bomgaars says last year Piece of Cake created graduation cakes for seniors representing 30 different schools, and she says she has delivered cakes for special occasions up to two hours away.
On June 1st, Piece of Cake will learn if they have qualified for the state round of competition.
IDPH Reports Daily High 21 COVID-19 Deaths, 595 Cases
(Des Moines, IA) — State health officials are reporting a daily high of 21 COVID-19 deaths in Iowa. A total of 485 Iowans have now died from the coronavirus. The Iowa Department of Public of Health says there are 595 new confirmed cases, bringing the state total 18-thousand-256. Three-hundred-93 Iowans are hospitalized with COVID-19, 109 patients are in intensive care and 66 are currently on ventilators. Nearly 99-hundred people are no longer in isolation.
Big Spike in Buena Vista County COVID-19 Cases
(Storm Lake, IA) — More than 400 new COVID-19 cases are confirmed in northwest Iowa’s Buena Vista County. Storm Lake has two Tyson meat processing plants, but Governor Kim Reynolds today said no business in the county has a confirmed outbreak, which is considered to be when ten percent
of the workforce is either out sick or tests positive for coronavirus.
Reynolds said, “at this point they have not met the criteria, but you know we’re testing to make sure that we understand what the scope of that is and how we can start to isolate those that are testing positive, immediately start the case investigation.” One of the state’s Test Iowa drive-through sites for COVID-19 screenings has been operating in Storm Lake since mid-May.
Tyson Foods said it “will disclose verified test results, once complete data is available with health and government officials, team members and other stakeholders.”
Sioux Center Begins “Test Iowa” Site
(Sioux Center) — During her daily COVID-19 briefing, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds again emphasized the importance of testing for the coronavirus.
Starting Wednesday, Sioux Center is the latest site for the state-run “Test Iowa” program. Marshalltown and Burlington will begin testing on Thursday. Cory Nelson serves as the C-E-O for the Sioux Center Community Health. He tells of the location for the “Test Iowa” testing.
The Sioux Center middle school is located at 950 4th Avenue Northeast.
Nelson shares Reynolds thoughts regarding the importance being tested for the COVID-19 virus.
Nelson is not certain of the method being used for the Test Iowa program, but he says at the Sioux Center hospital they have used a nasal swab testing with a good percentage of accuracy.
The Sioux Center hospital executive says results are usually known within a couple of days.
Nelson says the Sioux Center hospital has conducted 213 tests so far, since the start of the COVID-19 virus, and he shares the results from those tests.
Nelson says so far, there have not been any deaths associated with the COVID-19 virus from the Sioux Center hospital. Nelson says if anyone should encounter any of the symptoms with the coronavirus, they should consult with their physician.
Sac County Authorities Investigating Deadly ATV Accident
(Sac City, IA) — Authorities in Sac County are still investigating a deadly A-T-V accident that happened more than a week ago. The sheriff’s office says 17-year-old Ryan Stephens of Sac City was killed in the May 18th crash. Deputies say Stephens was the passenger on A-T-V driven by Kele Robinson that lost control and struck a tree in Hagge Park. Robinson and Stephens were both thrown from the machine. Stephens was taken to a Sac City hospital where he died three days later. Robinson was transferred to a Sioux City hospital with life-threatening injuries. Investigators are trying to determine whether drugs or alcohol were a contributing factor.
Man Accused Of Murdering Fort Dodge Past To Have Competency Hearing Next Week
(Fort Dodge, IA) — The 36-year-old man accused of murdering a Fort Dodge pastor returns to court for a competency hearing next week. A psychiatrist at the Iowa Medical Classification Center in Coralville has concluded Joshua Pendleton has been restored to competency. He faces first-degree murder and
robbery charges in the October death of the Reverend Allen Henderson of St. Paul Lutheran Church. The 64-year-old pastor died after a confrontation with Pendleton. His family says Pendleton had stopped taking his medications for a severe form of schizophrenia during the six months before Henderson was
killed.
Woman Found Dead Inside Her Grimes Home Died Of Natural Causes
(Grimes, IA) — Authorities have investigated the death of 35-year-old Melanie Scheuring for more than a month only to determine she died of natural causes. Scheuring was found dead inside her home in Grimes April 19th after emergency responders were called to the location. Her 46-year-old fiancé was present at the time. Officials haven’t said what caused the death – other than to rule out foul play.
