The leaders of the Cass County Democratic Party have presented the Atlantic Food Pantry with a collection of food and paper goods. The items were donated during a food drive among members of the group. Chair Sherry Toelle, and Vice-Chair Kathleen Kerns dropped-off the donations.

Toelle said in a press release that “Due to the recent shredding of the safety net by the current US Congress, more people are having a difficult time making financial ends meet.” She went on to say “We, as Democrats, believe that it is important for us to help empower people and to give back to the community. I was very pleased by the response to our food drive. No one in America should go hungry, especially during the holidays. We want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving.”

A report about a stolen car from rural Mills County Wednesday afternoon, led to a chase that ended near the Missouri River and the arrest of a soggy suspect. According to the Daily NonPareil, 23-year old Jamie Kennedy, of Council Bluffs was taken into custody on suspicion of first-degree theft, eluding police, a warrant for probation violation and a host of other traffic violations that occurred during the pursuit.

Authorities say that at around 12:15 p.m., Mills County dispatchers alerted Pottawattamie County law enforcement about a stolen vehicle that was determined to be at 16th Street and West Broadway in Council Bluffs. As officers spotted the vehicle the OnStar Company was able to disable the car as it reached the I-480 bridge.

Officials say Kennedy fled on foot and headed toward the river and at one point he crawled into the river, but when a K-9 officer – with police dog in tow – called for Kennedy surrender himself, the suspect complied.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have released the name of a woman who died when her car plunged into a lake following a high-speed chase with West Des Moines police. Police say 51-year-old Brenda Lea Hatfield, of Des Moines, died after her car went into the water early yesterday. An officer reported that her car was driving recklessly and that he tried pulling her over.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in central Iowa say a man faces multiple charges for biting a deputy and trying to avoid arrest. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says 18-year-old Devin Joseph Emery Enos was stopped yesterday for driving a stolen vehicle and that he bit the deputy who was trying to place him in custody. Among the charges he faces are theft and assaulting a police officer and causing injury.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is bestowing the Congressional Gold Medal, its highest civilian honor, on American Indians who used their native language to outwit enemies and protect American battlefield secrets during World Wars I and II. Among those at today’s ceremony in the U.S. Capitol building were members of Congress, the military and 33 tribes from at least nine states, including Iowa.

RED OAK, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a 57-year-old southwest Iowa man accused of dousing a 22-year-old female acquaintance in gasoline and threatening to set her on fire has surrendered to authorities. Red Oak police say William Wayne Elliot turned himself in this morning and is being held in jail. Authorities say he forced the woman into his basement before pouring the gasoline on her.