Atlantic, IA – Cass County Auditor Kathy Somers today (Monday, 11/14), conducted a successful post-election audit of two races in the General Election.  Somers said ballots in the Grant/Anita/Lincoln/Benton/Franklin/Wiota precinct were hand counted by election workers to ensure they matched the totals reported by the ballot tabulator. The precinct was randomly selected by the Secretary of State following election day. The gubernatorial race and constitutional amendment ballot measure were audited. The results matched 100%. Post-election audits are mandatory in all 99 counties following each election.

The Cass County Auditor’s office thanks each of the poll workers and audit board members who willingly served their community by assisting with election day and the audit. Anyone interested in being a poll worker for future elections, please contact the auditor’s office at 712-243-4570.

For more information about election security in Iowa, visit the Secretary of State’s website at sos.iowa.gov. Information about casting your ballot is available at VoterReady.Iowa.gov.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports three arrests. Most recently, last Friday afternoon, 42-year-old Thomas Jefferson Pearcy, of Portland, OR., was arrested by Stuart Police near a car dealership in Stuart. Pearcy was arrested on two counts of Harassment in the 1st Degree, after he allegedly yelled at a man and woman in a vehicle whom he did not know, and threatened to harm them. When confronted by Police, Pearcy gave them a false name. His identity was determined after he was fingerprinted. Bond was set at $2,000.

On Nov. 8th at around 6-p.m., Police in Adair arrested 60-year-old Judith Ann Schmidt, of Adair, for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 3rd offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Her arrest was the result of a traffic stop. During an investigation, the Officer found in Schmidt’s vehicle, a small container in her purse, as well as two tools that had marijuana residue. She also admitted to having a pipe on her that contained marijuana. Schmidt was released a few hours later on a $2,300 cash or surety bond.

And, on Nov. 7th, at around 11:40-p.m., 32-year-old Victor Tyleak-Dommick Walker, of Brooklyn, NY, was arrested for Simple Eluding. A Trooper with the Iowa State Patrol attempted to stop a dark colored sedan on eastbound I-80 near mile marker 89, for speeding 86 in a 70 mph zone. As he approached the vehicle in his patrol cruiser, the car increased speed and began to pull away.

The Trooper activated his emergency lights and siren. The suspect vehicle exited the interstate and proceeded south on Adair-Madison Avenue for one-mile, before the car went out of control and into the east ditch. There, it entered a shallow creek and came to rest. Walker was released from the Adair County Jail the following afternoon, on his Own Recognizance.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Officials with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office report that during the first weekend of November, there were several burglaries that occurred in Neola and in the Virginia Hills area, just outside of Council Bluffs. As we’ve previously reported, on the Nov. 7th, Mills County attempted to stop a vehicle on Highway 34. A pursuit that ensued ended just inside of Council Bluffs after successful stop stick deployments. Both occupants were located and arrested.

Pott. Co. S/O Facebook page photo

Upon further investigation stolen items linked to burglaries in Neola, Virginia Hills, and Sarpy County were found inside of the suspect’s vehicle. Most of the property has been returned to the owners and the two suspects will be receiving further charges. Authorities say this is a prime example of how teamwork between agencies and different divisions pays off. They commended their colleagues by saying “Great work was done by the Mills County Sheriff’s Office and the Pottawattamie County Road Patrol and Investigations Divisions.”

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports two arrests took place, Sunday: 26-year-old Codie Exley, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a Mills County warrant. He later posted a $1,000 cash or surety bond. And, 43-year-old Jeffrey Hartley, of Glenwood, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. He was being held without bond, until seen by a magistrate judge.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – An event that’s taken place for more than 30-years in downtown Atlantic, returns Thursday evening to kick-off the holiday season. Bailey Smith, Executive Director of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, says the Grand Lighting Ceremony wouldn’t be possible without the hard work and dedication of the City’s Street Department crew.

The LED lights are wired into the power grid operated by Atlantic Municipal Utilities.

They were able to get everything up and tested before the beginning of the week. The “Jolly Old Elf” (Santa), will flip the ceremonial switch to turn the lights in the downtown corridor “on,” but there are other activities planned leading up to the flip of the switch.

Santa will arrive by firetruck at around 5:30-p.m.

In years past, Santa has occasionally arrived by helicopter, but Smith says the conditions are often not conducive to flight, so they decided the safest option was having him delivered by Atlantic Volunteer Fireman, on a fire truck. The kids will be able to visit with him in Santa’s Cabin located in the downtown Atlantic City Park. Read more about what’s in-store for the holiday’s in Atlantic, at www.atlanticiowa.com.

Pick up your Christmas brochure from area retail businesses, like the Chamber on Facebook or follow on Instagram to find dates and details to celebrate Christmas in Atlantic. You can find a complete list of activities at www.atlanticiowa.com. Capture the Christmas magic with #MyAtlanticIA and post to the Atlantic Area Chamber’s Facebook page or Instagram (AtlanticIowaFan). Contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce with any questions at chamber@atlanticiowa.com or call 712.243.3017.

(Radio Iowa) – A Webster County Detective is on administrative leave and is being investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations. According to a letter issued to defense attorneys by the Webster County Attorney’s Office, the D-C-I is investigating Webster County Detective Tom Steck. According to the letter, search warrants related to an investigation on Detective Tom Steck were conducted on Wednesday, November 9th and he was placed on administrative leave from the Webster County Sheriff’s Office.

The letter was mandatory — it states that Detective Steck is currently the subject of a criminal investigation.

The Board’s of Supervisors in Adair, Cass, Montgomery and Shelby Counties will hold their separate, regular weekly meetings, Tuesday morning.

The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors get things rolling at 8:30-a.m., with a Canvass of the General Election votes. During their regular meeting, the Board will act on several matters, including:

• Setting the date for a public hearing for a Petition for Rezoning filed for a property at 2663 U Avenue, in Villisca, otherwise known as Lots 15 & 16 in south Villisca, and to change the zoning designation from Residential to Commercial.
• Setting the date for an upgrade of 222nd Street from a “Level B”- to a “Level A”- grade road.
• and, action on ISAC Soil Compaction, as necessary.

The Adair County Board meets at 9-a.m. at the courthouse in Greenfield. On their agenda, is: a Canvass of the 2022 General Election, and a report on the FY21 & FY22 Adair County Memorial Hospital Audits. Jeff Labarge with the Lions Club/Greenfield Main Street organizations, with regard to Holiday Decorations and a Courtyard Use Permit. Veteran’s Affairs Commissioner John Schildberg will discuss VA matters with the Board, and Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman will present an Engineering Agreement pertaining to the SW Townline Road Improvements. Kauffman will also discuss adding the N33 Orient bridge replacement project to the current budget, and a repair proposal for the W31 Harrison bridge.

In Cass County, the Supervisor’s meeting begins at 9-a.m. at the courthouse in Atlantic. On their agenda is a canvass of the 2022 General Election results, and reports from Cass/Guthrie County Environmental Health Director Jotham Arber, as well as Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken. The Cass County Supervisors will act on passing a Resolution amending the County Five-year (Bridge/road) Construction Program, and on a approving a request to extend the Crooked Creek 5C pipe-replacement project contract’s specified completion date of Nov. 15, between Jorgensen Dirtworks LLC and the County.

And, the Shelby County Board of Supervisors will meet 9-a.m. Tuesday, at the courthouse in Harlan. On their agenda is:

• A report from the Wellness Coordinator on the Wellness participation program.
• Action on a Utility Permit: 2022-11-12 NIPCO.
• Safety Coordinator Jake Holloway will discuss and the Board is expected to take action on a County Employee seat belt policy and return to work policy.
• Shelby County EMA Coordinator Alex Londo, who will discuss a report on radios.
• Action on a 28-E agreement with the Iowa DOT.
• Action on a matter pertaining to West Central Development.
• and approval of a Resolution in support of a County-wide EMS system.
• The final order of business in the Shelby County Supervisor’s meeting, is a Canvass of the Nov. 8th, General Election.

(Davenport, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports 33-year-old Demon Deonte Daniels, who was convicted of Domestic Abuse Assault-3rd or Subsequent Offense in Scott County, failed to report back to the Davenport Work Release Center as required Thursday evening. Daniels is a black male, height 5’10”, and weighs 220 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on October 19, 2022.

Demon Daniels

Persons with information on Daniels’ whereabouts should contact local police.

Atlantic, Iowa — Officials with the Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) are welcoming a new Grants Specialist. Mary Auten will work to ensure that complex rules established by state and federal funding agencies are followed to maximize the impact of investments in our communities, reduce the administrative burden on our member communities, and increase the likelihood of future funding into our region.

Auten said in a press release, “I have spent most of my career doing work that many other companies can do, and I am excited for the opportunity to fulfill a specific need for our communities that helps people and communities directly. I understand how important it is to maintain compliance with programs and regulations, and I am happy I get to help people and our southwest Iowa communities thrive by using the skills I have gained throughout my career.”

Mary Auten

Auten lives in Casey (Iowa). She is a graduate of Coon Rapids high school and completed her degree through William Penn University. She spent most of her career working in banking and insurance and most recently she was with Wells Fargo home mortgage. SWIPCO Executive Director John McCurdy said “Almost all of the programs that we work with at SWIPCO come with an enormous amount of rules attached. They should, because they are public funds. But, they can be hard for our communities to follow, so it’s great when you can add someone like Mary to your team who has a wealth of experience working on complex administrative problems, with a great attention to detail, and also the passion for the region that you’ve got to have to be successful in this type of work.”

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Police Department reports numerous arrests and/or citations took place over the past few weeks. Most recently:

• Last Saturday (Nov. 12), 35-year-old Rinanten Amo, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication, and, 23-year-old Logan Russell, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, and Driving While License denied or revoked.
• On the 7th, 24-year-old Ason Pisalil, of Atlantic, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct.
• On Nov. 6th, 28-year-old Nicholas Renner, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault, Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
• 75-year-old Rose Henderson, of Anita, was cited into court and then released November 4th, on a charge of Theft in the 4th Degree (Shoplifting); and, 36-year-old Sapas Ramisin, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intox. and Disorderly Conduct.
• Atlantic Police arrested 31-year-old Dillon Harry, of Orient, on Nov. 3rd. He was charged with OWI/1st offense.
• On Nov. 1st, 39-year-old Darryl Gillett, of Orlando, FL, was arrested for Public Intox.; and, Laura Jurchen was cited into court for Assault causing bodily injury, and then released at the scene.
• And finally, on October 18th, Atlantic Police cited Stephen Foote, of Atlantic into court, for Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree.