UnityPoint To Acquire MercyOne
UnityPoint Health and MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center have signed a letter of intent for UnityPoint Health to acquire MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center and its facilities, including the hospital, physician practices, and home care services. Hospital Officials have released a joint statement on the pending acquisition.
Scott Kizer, President and CEO of UnityPoint Health says that “as an integrated, not-for-profit health system, UnityPoint Health is deeply invested in preserving access to care throughout all our communities; recruiting, retaining and developing the best possible workforce; and providing an exceptional experience to all our patients.”
Kizer says they believe that local, community-led, not-for-profit healthcare is the best for the Sioux City Community, and that this acquisition will help support that mission.
Bob Ritz, CEO of MercyOne, stated they strongly believe the best way to maintain access to care in Sioux City, to become sustainable long-term and to ensure a smooth transition for patients and employees, is for UnityPoint Health to acquire MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center.
The acquisition is expected to be completed this summer, pending closing conditions.
Measles Vaccines Being Offered
With the first reported case of measles reported in Iowa, Floyd Valley Community Health will be offering vaccines soon in their new location. Community Health Manager Stephany Zabel says there have been no reported cases of measles on this side of the state to date, with the confirmed case in Central Iowa.
Zabel says the measles symptoms typically begin 7 to 21 days after exposure.
Floyd Valley Community Health will be offering the MMR vaccine beginning June 9 at their new location at 1080 Holton Drive.
Zabel says appointments are necessary and can be made by calling 712-546-3335.
Ten Napel Gives Crop Update
With an open planting season that had limited rain delays, Northwest Iowa crops are basically all planted. Leah Ten Napel, Field Agronomist for Iowa State Extension and Outreach says crops are developing well.
Ten Napel told KLEM the recent rain was much needed, helping activate chemicals for weed control.
Supervisors Accept Bridge Settlement
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors accepted a settlement over damages done last year to a county bridge near Struble.After a closed-door session Tuesday, the Supervisors formally accepted 100-thousand dollars in compensation for the damages done to the steel truss bridge over West Branch Creek.
Last year, a semi-trailer load of hay bales attempted to cross the bridge on 120th Street. The load clipped one of the cross-supports on the bridge, causing it and the semi, to collapse into the creek.
Supervisors Chairman Don Kass says the bridge will not be replaced.
School Food Grants
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig has announced 33 school districts have received grants to participate in the Choose Iowa food purchasing program for schools. From our area, Hinton and West Sioux Community School Districts have been awarded grants.
The one-year pilot program connects Iowa schools with Choose Iowa members to encourage school food service programs to purchase and serve food products sourced from local farmers and small businesses. Each school was eligible to apply for up to $1,000 per school building. Selected schools are required to provide a minimum one-to-one financial match.
Eligible products that can be purchased include meat and poultry, dairy products (other than milk,) eggs, honey, and produce. Funding for milk is available through a different federal program.
