Forest City, Iowa — Forest City-based Winnebago Industries has unveiled a concept motorhome that is electrically powered. Read more
Council Awards Downtown Construction Contracts
Sheldon, Iowa — The Sheldon City Council dispensed with the agenda for their meeting Wednesday in short order, just under 30 minutes. Read more
House GOP Proposes Four Bills To Expand Mental Health Services
Des Moines, Iowa — House Republicans in Des Moines are proposing a series of steps to address gaps in Iowa’s mental health system, including state spending to add 46 psychiatric beds at the state Mental Health Institutes in Cherokee and Independence. Republican Representative Ann Meyer says that’s a 50 percent increase in treatment beds for critical cases.
She says there’s no estimate yet on the cost. Meyer, who is from Fort Dodge, says the issue came up in conversations with law enforcement and with constituents as she campaigned.
One initiative would have the state spend one-point-two MILLION dollars to support a dozen psychiatrists-in-training from the University of Iowa who’ll be working at the two Mental Health Institutes and at the Iowa prison system’s intake center in Oakdale.
Meyer says there are not enough spaces in substance abuse treatment programs for people who’re self-medicating to deal with their mental health issues and some hospitals are not accepting suicidal patients.
Meyer says she met one young woman who was desperate to find help for her homeless brother who was suffering from PTSD — and Meyer saw the man on the street a few minutes later.
House Republicans are also proposing a loan repayment program for psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and therapists who can prescribe medication. The plan would require the medical professional to agree to practice in Iowa for five years, which Meyer says will hopefully mean they’ve put down roots and will stay in Iowa.
Poll Worker Day Coming Up; Sioux County Elections Administrator Says They Need More People
Orange City, Iowa — The way our election system is set up means poll workers from both major parties are needed to get people their ballots and help in other ways at the polls. National Poll Worker Recruitment Day is coming up on January 25th, and Sioux County Elections Administrator Kalyn Decker is using the opportunity to recognize the need for election workers in the county. Read more
Sioux Center Turf Dome Project Gets Grant From Perdue Farms
Sioux Center, Iowa — The indoor turf facility planned in Sioux Center has just received another grant. Last month, the Enhance Iowa Board awarded a half-million-dollar Community Attraction and Tourism (or “CAT”) grant for the facility. Now a major Sioux Center employer is giving $10,000. Read more
School Board Presents Their Initial Bargaining Proposal To Teacher Union
Sheldon, Iowa — In a very short meeting Wednesday morning, the Sheldon School Board met in special session to present their Initial Collective Bargaining Proposal to the Sheldon Education Association, the union that represents the school district’s teachers. Read more