Nov. 10--OTTUMWA -- Ottumwa and southern Iowa now know who can help "Johnny" after he marched home.

A community-based outpatient clinic is the answer.

The Iowa City Veteran Affairs Medical Center broke ground Monday at the future site of the Ottumwa Veterans Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), 1009 E. Pennsylvania Ave.

The site is the area just east of Ottumwa Medical Clinic's driveway.

Joe Mulcahy, chairman of the Wapello County Commission on Veterans Affairs and, for the past 20 years, commander of the Disabled American Veterans, Chapter One, said the CBOC has "been a long time comin'."

"The center is great! It's been in the works since 1994, and I was one of them working on it back then," he said.

Mulcahy applauded the efforts of Kirt Sickels of VA Public Relations and U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack.

"Kirt's a good guy and he and Congressman Dave Loebsack took on this issue," he said.

Mulcahy was also "very pleased with these two individuals" who formed a company to get the clinic to Ottumwa.

Martin Helgerson and Jim Vogt, who formed Terrace Hill Properties, partnered with Dr. Paul Scott, president of the Ottumwa Medical Clinic.

"Lots of veterans will come to the clinic who probably wouldn't go to VA before because of the time involved to go," Mulcahy said.

VA Iowa City Health Care System Director Barry Sharp said citizens will soon see the hard work that has taken place.

"The new center is the result of strategic planning for several years," Sharp said. "This is one of nine clinics that will be under the Iowa City VA Center. Winter will be here soon and having the clinic here will minimize travel needs."

Sharp said the center's location is "fantastic" and gestured toward Ottumwa Medical Clinic and Ottumwa Regional Health Center.

"We'll have lots of opportunities for sharing," he said.

In addition to being the primary medical site, the CBOC will also offer mental health services, radiology and counseling, whether it's for psychological problems or to quit smoking or substance abuse.

Loebsack commended Vogt, Helgerson and Scott for their efforts and said the new Ottumwa VA clinic had plenty of support.

"I'm serious when I say there was an obvious lack of partisan behavior," Loebsack said. "Veterans are the one area in D.C. where legislators are true to bipartisanship."

Cindy Toopes can be reached at (641) 683-5376 or via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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