(Winterset, Iowa) – The Winterset Police Department reports the body of a local man missing since Jan. 18th, 2024, was discovered inside of a vehicle that was submerged in a Howard County, Arkansas lake, August 4th. Authorities say with the assistance of a dive team, a Ford Taurus with Iowa license plates was recovered from Gillham Lake,  a 1,370-acre reservoir, located in Howard and Polk Counties, in Arkansas. Inside the vehicle, was the body of 25-year-old Joshua Graham-Caskey, from Winterset.

Graham-Caskey went missing following a 9-1-1 call he placed to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center. He and his vehicle were last seen on video at a gas station in Mena, Arkansas, on January 19th, 2024. The car was found about 30-minutes south of Mena. The Howard County, AR Sheriff’s Department said there was no evidence of foul play.

(Creston, Iowa) [Updated Tue. afternoon with injuries/citations issued] – A Creston man complained of pain and possible injuries following a collision Monday morning between an SUV and a pickup truck. The accident occurred at around 10-a.m.

According to Creston Police, a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by 38-year-old Jason Smith, of Des Moines, was stopped southbound on Lincoln Street at the red-light controlled intersection with Townline Street. Smith told police he waited for a period of time, but the light did not turn green. When he proceeded to turn left onto Townline, his SUV was struck by a 2016 Chevy pickup, driven by 32-year-old Zackery Carstensen, of Creston, as the pickup was heading west on Townline. Carstensen had a green light.

The vehicles collided, causing a police estimated total of $13,000 damage. Carstensen complained of pain but was not treated at the scene or transported to the hospital. Police say Smith was cited for Failure to Obey a traffic control device and Failure to provide proof of insurance.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Montgomery County, today (Tuesday) approved the designation of Snyder and Associates Engineers, to serve as inspectors during construction of the Summit Carbon Solutions carbon transport pipeline. Supervisor Donna Robinson read a statement to that effect….

The arrangement stipulates pipeline representatives and its contractors must submit related records to the County-specified inspectors.

Payment for the inspection services will be the responsibility of the pipeline company, regardless of whether or not the line is constructed.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday), approved (by a vote of 4-to 1) an amended resolution for the one-time use of $95,000 from accrued Valley Business Park fund interest, for use by CADCO’s Revolving Loan Fund, to support local economic development. The funds were originally expected to be $60,000. CADCO Executive Director Jennifer McEntaffer….

Supervisor Wendy Richter – who was opposed to the amended resolution – questioned the expenditure of most of the interest from the fund for one entity, such as CADCO.

Board Chair Steve Baier explained…

Cass County BOS 8-6-24

Richter then asked if the funds would specifically be used for Atlantic, or spread-out among the communities in Cass County. McEnfaffer responded…

In other business, the Board approved the EMS Advisory Council’s recommendation that a Public Measure on the November 5^th General Election Ballot. Board Chair Steve Baier…

Supervisor Steve Green wanted to make sure Cass County residents understand that if the measure is approved by the election, the funds raised by the levy and Iowa Income Surtax, will not be used for anything other than EMS purposes.

The Board discussed remaining ARPA request priorities during their meeting, Tuesday (today). Steve Baier said there is about $70,000 left in the fund. No action was taken at this time. A resolution will be prepared for the Board’s meeting on August 20^th.

They approved a bid for, and awarded a contract to Gus Construction in the amount of $646,492, for a RCB (Reinforced Concrete Box) culvert project on 620^th Street, in Cass County. The project will be south of Atlantic and east of Lewis, about one-quarter of a mile south of Newport Road.

The Board received a regular report on the county’s secondary roads department maintenance and activities from Engineer Trent Wolken, a monthly report from County Community Services Director & Mental Health Advocate Debbie Schuler. A report from County Conservation Director Micah Lee was not available at this time.