A Henry County woman is suing Jefferson County Health Center (JCHC), alleging she was paid significantly less than a male colleague while working as a surgeon there.

Dr. Beth Zielinski, who served as a general surgeon for JCHC from 2013 to 2024, filed her lawsuit July 24 in Iowa District Court for Jefferson County. She claims she was paid $105,000 less per year than another surgeon, Dr. Scott Stoeger, despite performing the same work. The suit also alleges that Stoeger received additional bonuses and benefits she was not offered.

According to documents provided to the court, attorneys for JCHC, they admit the pay difference but argue that the surgeons did not perform identical duties, citing Stoeger’s “additional skillsets” and production levels as justification. The hospital also acknowledged paying Stoeger a signing bonus, retention bonuses, and student loan assistance that Zielinski did not receive.

Zielinski further contends that her replacement, Dr. Edward Ortell, was hired at a higher base rate than she earned. She accuses JCHC of violating Iowa and federal laws prohibiting wage and sex discrimination. The lawsuit seeks a jury trial, damages, and legal costs.

The case is ongoing.

DES MOINES, Iowa – A Marshalltown woman was sentenced to six months in prison on August 14, 2025, for diverting controlled substances for her own use and falsely noting the administration of controlled substances in patient records.

According to public court documents, Amanda Nicole Manatt, 37, was employed as a registered nurse in the emergency room at Unity Point Marshalltown Hospital, Marshalltown, Iowa, where in 2023 she diverted controlled substances (fentanyl, hydromorphone, and morphine). She obtained controlled substances in patients’ names, documented them as administered to the patients, and then took them for her own use. In December 2023, Manatt’s employment ended at Unity Point Marshalltown Hospital. In January 2024, Manatt obtained employment as a nurse at the emergency room at Mary Greely Medical Center, where she again obtained controlled substances (hydromorphone) in patients’ names, recorded them as administered to the patients, and then took them for her own use until her employment ended in April 2024.

Court records reflect that in some cases patients experienced pain due to Manatt’s taking the controlled substances prescribed for them. In other cases, Manatt took controlled substances from patients in excess of what they needed. Manatt’s false statements in the medical records resulted in billing health care benefit programs for controlled substances not actually administered.

After completing her term of imprisonment, Manatt will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Manatt was also ordered to pay $5,258.20 in restitution, a $5,500 fine, and a $300 special assessment.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), the Tama County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa Insurance Fraud Bureau investigated this case.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board has approved significant funding for projects aimed at boosting manufacturing, recreation, and innovation across the state — including a $65 million expansion in Mount Pleasant, a new sports complex in Keosauqua, and a large-scale bio-manufacturing facility in Boone.

$65 Million Expansion at ContiTech in Mount Pleasant
ContiTech USA, LLC — part of the global Continental AG family — will construct a state-of-the-art compounding center in Mount Pleasant. The new facility will include production, warehouse, and office space, supporting the company’s production of air spring and anti-vibration systems, coated fabrics, conveyor and drive belts, hoses, and more.

The expansion represents a $65 million capital investment and is expected to create 50 new jobs, each with a qualifying wage of $21.50 per hour. To support the project, the IEDA Board awarded ContiTech a $1 million forgivable loan and tax benefits through the High Quality Jobs program.

Recreation Boost for Keosauqua
The City of Keosauqua, in partnership with Engage Keosauqua, Inc., will receive $144,000 from the Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) program to create a new sports area. The $481,761 project will feature courts for tennis, pickleball, basketball, and bocce ball — revitalizing local recreation and offering new amenities for both residents and visitors.

The CAT program provides funding for projects that enhance the quality of life in Iowa by supporting the construction of recreational, cultural, educational, and entertainment facilities.

This Strategic Infrastructure Program supports large-scale projects that provide competitive advantages for Iowa’s private sector or fill infrastructure gaps that the public and private sectors have not addressed. More information can be found at opportunityiowa.gov.

On Wednesday evening, nearly 60 community members from across Southeast Iowa gathered at the First Presbyterian Church in Mt. Pleasant for Building Toward Change—an evening of strategy, collaboration, and action aimed at shaping a stronger, more connected future.

The event, organized by the Henry County Democrats, brought together four speakers whose expertise spans education, public health, environmental advocacy, and sustainable agriculture.

• Aaron Williamson, Mt. Pleasant Community School Board member, answered questions in a personal capacity about the challenges facing Iowa’s schools, underscoring the need for transparency, community engagement, and adequate funding to ensure strong public education.
• Katie Reuter, Director of Henry County Public Health, outlined the importance of addressing mental, physical, spiritual, and environmental needs as part of a whole-community approach to wellness.
• Wally Taylor, representing the Sierra Club Iowa Chapter. Wally shared stories from Iowa’s ongoing battles to protect air, water, and land. His message urged climate-smart leadership and sustainable policy-making.
• Jonathan Lawrence, Education Program Director at the Iowa Farmers Union, highlighted the vital role of local farmers and regenerative agriculture in improving public health, protecting the environment, and securing the state’s food future.

Audience members engaged actively throughout the evening, posing thoughtful and challenging questions. The evening served not only as a platform for sharing ideas but also as a reminder that lasting change is built through community involvement, collaboration, and a willingness to tackle difficult conversations head-on.

The Henry county board of supervisors met in regular session on the morning of Thursday, August 14 at the Henry County Courthouse. All three supervisors were in attendance. Promptly at 9am Chairperson Marc Lindeen called the meeting to order.

Henry County Engineer Jake Hotchkiss gave an update on what his crew has been working on. An important item to note is the concrete patchwork on Goodyear Road (Old Highway 34). Drivers will notice traffic lights helping to direct traffic since it will be down to one lane. The crew will move along the road various times throughout the next few weeks completing the work. Hotchkiss also mentioned, if you drive through Salem often, you may notice some more speed limit signage to remind you to slow down. And lastly, county crews are mowing throughout the county for the third time this year since the amount of rainfall has kept the grass and weeds growing.

Next on the agenda was Planning and Zoning Director Joe Buffington to discuss the false allocation of a $10,000 bonus. Sitting down with a printed list of all his pay disbursements dating back to his start with the county in 2002, Buffington stated:

“This topic of $10,000 to me bonus or otherwise has been brought up multiple times over the past year or so and I just think it’s time to make it clear that I haven’t at any time received $10,000 bonus or any other payment of $10,000 in the 23 years that I’ve been here….That’s all it is, I’m here to make it clear….This is every pay disbursement I’ve had since I started in 2002…  In fact, I’ve had the lowest raises of any department head in the county. If someone has information that I’ve received $10,000, bring it out right now, I’d like to see it. If not, I’d like it put to bed.”

No one presented evidence supporting the false allocation, Chairperson Lindeen asked for the clarification to be reflected in the official meeting minutes.

Public hearings on two different matters concluded and discussion to consider a move for the Henry County Supervisors office began. Chairperson Marc Lindeen mentioned the possibility of moving the supervisor’s office and meetings to the Henry County Emergency Management Building at 900 West Washington Street in Mount Pleasant. No final decisions were made by the Supervisors regarding the move, but the motivation for moving is to better accommodate the number of people in attendance, to increase security of those in attendance, and to utilize the advanced technology set up to aid in meeting communications.

Public comments were accepted, and the meeting adjourned at 10:05 a.m. There will be no supervisors’ meeting next Thursday morning due to the ISAC (Iowa State Association of Counties) Conference.