Manure spills found in Crawford, Davis counties; no dead fish reported
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating two separate instances of manure that spilled from transport tankers, neither of which resulted in a fish kill.
DNR said in a news release that manure spills were reported Tuesday in Davis County near Lake Wapello State Park and Monday in Crawford County near Denison. According to the release, clean-up efforts were underway and the spills were contained.
DNR staff responded Tuesday to the incident in Crawford County, where a manure tanker had rolled down an embankment and into a streambed north of Denison near 240th Street the night before.
A bolt broke on the manure tanker hitch, causing it to travel down the embankment and spill an estimated 750 gallons of manure into Buffalo Creek, according to the release.
When staff arrived at the site, the creek had been dammed to stop manure from traveling downstream and bales had been set out to soak up the manure. DNR said “quick actions taken by the applicators” to construct the dam prevented the spill from spreading.
DNR said no dead fish were observed and cleanup efforts were underway, with crews on site pumping manure and contaminated water out of the creek. The release said soil in the area will be excavated “as needed.”
The manure came from the confinement operation owned by Jerrod Johannsen – Johannsen #2, in Crawford County. DNR said enforcement action for the facility will be evaluated following the spill investigation.
Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a manure spill into Buffalo Creek, pictured here as it flows under Iowa Highway 39 in Crawford County.
Spill outside of Lake Wapello
DNR received notice Tuesday that a semi tanker hauling manure had overturned near the entrance of Lake Wapello State Park on Eagle Boulevard.
An estimated 6,000 to 6,500 gallons of manure spilled from the tanker into a road ditch, according to a DNR news release. Park staff constructed a dam in the ditch to stop the manure from entering PeeDee Creek.
The department said the manure was being pumped from the ditch into another manure tanker to be used for land application.
There were no impacts to PeeDee Creek or to Lake Wapello State Park and no dead fish were observed in the creek, according to DNR.
The manure was being hauled by Bontrager Hauling, LLC.
HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
Lewis Central volleyball sweeps Denison-Schleswig to advance to regional semifinal
Denison-Schleswig's Miley Kilnoski (11) serves during a 4A Region 6 first round volleyball match against Lewis Central on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026.
Denison-Schleswig's Malana Gillmor (8) serves during a 4A Region 6 first round volleyball match against Lewis Central on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026.
Denison-Schleswig's Miley Kilnoski (11) passes the ball during a 4A Region 6 first round volleyball match against Lewis Central on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026.
Denison-Schleswig's Alejandra Contreras (9) hits an attack against Lewis Central's Kiersten Houston (4) during a 4A Region 6 first round volleyball match on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026.
Denison-Schleswig's Malana Gillmor (8) reaches over Kynlee Schwarte (15) to hit a ball back in play during a 4A Region 6 first round volleyball match against Lewis Central on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026.
Denison-Schleswig's Alejandra Contreras (9) serves during a 4A Region 6 first round volleyball match against Lewis Central on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026.
Denison-Schleswig's Maya McMinemee (20) keeps the ball from going out of bounds in front of the Monarchs bench during a 4A Region 6 first round volleyball match against Lewis Central on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026.
Lewis Central rolled past Denison-Schleswig in a 3-0 sweep (25-10, 25-10, 25-10) in Tuesday’s 4A Region 6 first round match to advance to face Bishop Heelan in a regional semifinal.
LC head coach Mike Bond liked the Titans’ focus throughout the match.
“I liked how the girls played,” Bond said. “They came out, played focused. They took care of business on their side of the net, and that's what I wanted out of tonight, really, was to make sure that they were focused throughout the whole match
The Titans (26-11) broke a 4-4 tie in the first set with a 12-0 run, and led by at least 11 points the rest of the way to take the set 25-10.
The Titans carried that momentum into the second set, slowly extending their lead to as many as 15, winning the second set by an identical score to the first.
In the third set, the Titans led 5-4 before a 13-2 run created some separation and forced a Monarchs timeout. LC finished out a set three win by, again, the same score (25-10).
Each set followed nearly the same story: LC would lead just 6-4 through the first 10 points, before pushing ahead with four or five straight points, forcing a Denison-Schleswig timeout (9-4 in set one, 9-5 in set two, 10-4 in set three), before extending that lead to 10-12 points and forcing another Monarchs timeout (15-4 in set one, 16-6 in set two, and 18-6 in set three) before finishing in exactly the same place, with a 25-10 win for LC.
The Monarchs played better than Bond expected, especially early in sets, which forced the Titans to make the most out of their serves.
“Well, what I saw tonight was they played a lot better than what I've seen them on film, so I'm going to give them credit,” Bond said. “They passed the ball way better than what I saw on film. I thought that we could just serve them and get more points than we did out of our serve.”
In the end, though, the Titans were able to keep D-S mostly out of system behind five aces from Maryn Arkfeld on the service line.
“All year long (she’s) been able to serve really well for us,” Bond said. “So she was able to keep that up for us tonight. Nice part about it is she was able to string a whole bunch together.”
For Arkfeld, the focus in practice has been “consistency,” while it helps the points keep rolling.
“It really helps us get points going,” Arkfeld said, “and it's nice because then we get a bunch of kills.”
And in attack, Brooke Nelson led the way with nine kills, followed by Peyton Brehmer and Emary Cooper, who had six kills each.
“That's been a great trio all year,” Bond said. “So it doesn't surprise me as (to) where that was. And again, kudos to (Denison). They were ready. They had some really nice blocks early on. We made some adjustments to that just in our approach, and once that was there, then I don't think they got a block after we made that adjustment.”
“I think the last week or two, I've been working a lot on seeing the block,” Nelson said. “I know, like especially last minute when you have to make that sudden choice of where I want to go. So I think I've been working on just seeing the block, and tonight I really did that.”
Lewis Central advances to the 4A Region 6 semifinals Thursday in Sioux City against Bishop Heelan, the only loss for the Titans in MRAC play this year.
Denison-Schleswig (2-24) 10 10 10 — 0
Lewis Central (26-11) 25 25 25 — 3
87,000 Iowans face Medicare Advantage plan cancellations. Here's what to know
Iowa officials are warning more than 87,000 Iowans they face cancellation of their Medicare Advantage or Part D plans for 2027.
In the lead-up to the Oct. 15 open enrollment start date, Iowa's Senior Health Insurance Information Program and Senior Medicare Patrol notified Iowa Medicare beneficiaries of the plan cancellations and changes.
The state insurance division programs, which provide information about Medicare and protection against fraud and abuse, are advising affected Iowans to find new coverage options before the Dec. 31 deadline to avoid coverage gaps.
"It’s more important than ever that Iowa Medicare recipients open and read mail from their Medicare plan to understand changes to their coverage and explore their 2027 options," Kristin Griffith, director of the programs, said in a news release. "SHIIP-SMP is stepping up to empower Iowans with the knowledge, confidence, and support they need to find coverage that best serves them at the lowest possible cost."
More than 1,700 Pottawattamie County residents face Medicare plan cancellations
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people 65 and older, as well as some younger people with disabilities. Medicare Advantage plans are alternatives to traditional Medicare coverage. Offered by private companies, they include some additional benefits.
Every year, plans may change benefits, premiums and services, or terminate their contracts with Medicare, resulting in plan cancellations.
One of the major changes Iowans will see in 2027 is the termination of Medicare Advantage plans that provide in-network coverage with the Mayo Clinic. The change was the result of the cancellation of both Wellmark and Medica's Medicare Advantage preferred provider organization coverage, according to SHIIP-SMP.
Iowans with canceled plans qualify for a "guaranteed issue" right, allowing them to switch to Original Medicare and purchase an available Medicare Supplement, or Medigap, policy. The switch will come without medical underwriting, barring insurers from denying coverage or charging higher premiums due to pre-existing conditions.
The state urges Iowans to open all mail as plans send notices about coverage changes.
"Having the ability to switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare with guaranteed issue is a rare opportunity that isn't typically available to Medicare Advantage enrollees," Griffith said. "It is vital for Iowans to weigh all their options given these significant changes."
Here's what to know about plan cancellations and finding new coverage.
Key Medicare enrollment deadlines to know
These are the dates Iowa Medicare beneficiaries should know during open enrollment:
- Oct. 15 — Medicare open enrollment for 2027 begins.
- Dec. 7 — standard open enrollment deadline for comparing and selecting 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D plans.
- Dec. 31 — deadline for individuals losing their plan to select new coverage without experiencing a gap in coverage beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
- Feb. 28 — deadline for those whose plans were canceled to make changes under a special enrollment period.
Which plans will be canceled in 2027?
Iowans facing plan cancellation have two options: find a new Medicare Advantage plan or switch to Original Medicare. SHIIP-SMP advises Iowans to keep their plan non-renewal notices received through the mail as proof of their options.
Some plans completely cancel coverage for everyone in the plan, while other plans may make service area reductions and stop coverage for members in specific counties.
Coverage has been completely canceled for Iowans under:
- AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC IA-1 HMO-POS H5253-209.
- Humana Full Access PPO H5216-411.
- Medica Advantage Preferred PPO H8889-011.
- Medica Advantage Select PPO H8889-015.
- Medica Advantage Solution PPO H8889-009.
- Medica Advantage Value PPO H8889-010.
- (Wellmark) Blue Medicare Advantage PPO H5900-001.
- (Wellmark) Blue Medicare Advantage Valor PPO H5900-006.
Coverage has been canceled or changed for Iowans under the following Medicare Part D plans:
- Aetna SilverScript Choice (S5601-050).
- HealthSpring Extra Rx (S5617-375). This plan is moving its members to HealthSpring Assurance Rx, resulting in a $117.10 premium increase in 2027. Current enrollees may either enroll in a new drug plan or move to HealthSpring Assurance Rx coverage.
A full list of plan terminations by county due to service area reductions can be found on the SHIIP website at shiip.iowa.gov under the "Understand Coverage" tab.
Resources and information for finding coverage
Ahead of the open enrollment deadline, SHIIP-SMP is offering self-service resources and 1-on-1 counseling for Iowa Medicare beneficiaries. Here are the resources Iowans can access:
- Online self-service resources. The SHIIP-SMP website offers answers to frequently asked questions and instructional video guides on creating a Medicare.gov account using the Medicare Plan Finder tool and comparing Part D or Medicare Advantage plans.
- 24/7 National Helpline. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227) for help comparing plans.
- Local one-on-one assistance. Visit the "Find a Counselor" page at shiip.iowa.gov or call 800-351-4664 to connect with a local SHIIP-SMP site. Counselor availability is limited and appointments fill up quickly.
