Former Le Mars nursing home administrator accused of financial exploitation, elder abuse
A former Le Mars nursing home administrator has been accused of financially exploiting her stepfather who was residing at the home she worked at.
According to state records, the niece of a 76-year-old resident at a Accura Healthcare of Le Mars facility filed a complaint last month with the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing, alleging that she was notified by her uncle’s bank of fraudulent charges. According to state inspectors, the charges were found to be checks written by his stepdaughter, identified as Katrina Bruner, totaling more than $32,000. Bruner had power of attorney over some of her stepfather’s affairs.
The niece of the resident also reported concerns about the care of her uncle at the facility, culminating in a protective order being issued against Bruner on March 30th of this year. In a written petition for relief from elder abuse from the niece, she alleged that Bruner used the fraudulent checks to pay for a home remodel, to pay off credit card debt, and to fully pay off the resident’s new car.
According to court documents, Bruner filed a joint agreement with the niece in May and agreed to relinquish power of attorney, while a investigation is still ongoing. No criminal charges have been filed against Bruner as of the writing of this story.
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Le Mars Chamber accepting applications from nonprofits for Shop for a Cause
The Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications from local nonprofits for this year’s Shop for a Cause recipients as part of the Chamber’s annual Holiday Promotions.
Shop for a Cause is one of several Holiday Promotions events that the Chamber says is designed to encourage the community to shop locally throughout the holiday season. Each year, the Chamber’s Business Promotions Committee “partners with local businesses to create fun events, special promotions, and incentives that keep holiday shopping in Le Mars while giving back to our community.”
The nonprofit selected as this year’s Shop for a Cause recipient will receive a monetary donation raised through local shoppers and participating businesses during the promotion. Nonprofits that are Chamber members are encouraged to apply by Friday, September 25th.
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Today is National Poll Worker Recruitment Day
Today is National Poll Worker Recruitment Day, and the state of Iowa is hoping to bring in more poll workers ahead of November’s elections. Woodbury County auditor Michelle Skaff says they can use some help for the rural precincts and communities before the mid-term election.
Skaff says poll workers must be registered to vote in their county to serve on Election Day.
The poll workers are paid and they work a long day on Election Day.
One of the poll worker’s key tasks is to make sure the person receiving a ballot is registered to vote in Iowa.
Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate’s office will host a free webinar tomorrow at 11am on the Secretary’s website for those interested in becoming a poll worker. You may also apply to be a poll worker on the state or county election websites.
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