The Cass County Civil Service Board will meet Tuesday afternoon in the Board Room at the Cass County Courthouse. On the agenda for their 2-p.m. meeting is action on identifying a list of 10 potential hires from a field of 18 applicants, and the certification of the Civil Service List to Sheriff Darby McLaren, followed by public input.

Montgomery County Emergency Management Director Brian Hamman reports the City of Villisca is under a Boil Water Order until further notice due to a water main break. The incident occurred Sunday. Anyone with questions is asked to call the Villisca City Hall at 712-826-2282

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Monday, released a report on recent arrests. Officials say two people were arrested last Friday (Nov. 29th). 44-year old Wade Michael Rich, of Anita, was arrested on a charge of OWI 2nd Offense. Rich was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance. And, 35-year old Kendra Gail Cruz, of Griswold, was arrested on charges of Disorderly Conduct and Interference with Official Acts. Cruz was taken to the Cass County Jail where she pled not guilty before the magistrate and was released the following day.

On Wednesday, November 26th, deputies in Cass County arrested 19-year old Lydia Renae Tobak, of Omaha, on a Cass County District Court warrant for Violation of Probation. Tobak was transported to the Cass County Jail where she is being held on $5000 bond.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office Monday released information about arrests deputies made over the past week. Last Friday 33-year old Peggy Sue Gurney, of Red Oak, was arrested following a traffic stop. Gurney was charged with Driving While Revoked. Her bond was set at $1,000.

On Nov. 28th, 26-year old Eric Ryan Young, of Omaha, was arrested on a charge of OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000. On Nov. 27th, 28-year old Keith James Charlier, of Blanchard, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office on two-counts of Assault with a weapon. Bond was set at $4,000.

And, of Nov. 26th, 36-year old Matthew Clark Lippert, of  Glenwood, was arrested on a charge of Domestic Abuse with injuries (for which there is no bond), two-counts of Assault with Injuries, and Burglary in the 1st degree. Bond for the latter charges was set at $27,000.

(12-p.m. News)

Authorities in Corning, Monday, released additional information about a double drowning incident that took place Saturday in a farm pond near Prescott. During a press conference held the at Corning Fire Station, Emergency Management Director/Corning Fire Chief Donnie Willett and Adams County Sheriff Alan Johannes said they received a call from Tom and Lisa Frey, of Prescott, at around 5:34-p.m., with regard to their adopted, missing boys, ages eight and nine. The brothers had been playing on the family farm at 1623 Vanilla Avenue, when they failed to return to the home.

Corning Fire Chief/EMA Mgr. Donnie Willett (Left) & Adams County Sheriff Alan Johannes.

Willett said the parents discovered a hole in the ice and called 9-1-1. Numerous emergency crews were notified, including Adams County Fire & Rescue, the Corning, Prescott and Creston Fire and Rescue Departments, Deputies with the Union County Sheriff’s Office, and Union County Rescue, the Iowa State Patrol and the Midwest Regional Dive Team. But it was a dive team from the Creston Fire Department equipped with ice water recovery gear, who found the boys. Some of the boys’ clothing was found on top of the ice near the hole in the center of the pond.

The hole was located about 20-yards from shore. The body of one of the boys was found under the ice. The other body was found about 20-minutes later. Willett said the ice near the shore was about 2 ½ inches thick, but near the center, where the boys fell in, it was so thin you could punch a whole in it with your fist. The water at the point where they fell in was about 10-to 12-feet. Resuscitation efforts began immediately, and the boys were flown from the scene by helicopter to a trauma center.

Sheriff Johannes had some advice for anyone thinking about venturing onto the ice at this time of year. Make sure the ice is thick enough. In order for it to be strong enough to support a person, there should be a number of days of below freezing temperatures that will enable the ice to form a thick layer.

Powers Funeral Home in Creston has identified the boys as Nate and T-J Frey. Funeral arrangements are currently pending. The boys’ father owns the Creston Livestock Auction. The family has requested privacy from the public and the media.

The Atlantic Police Department reports the arrests of two North Dakota residents on theft and forgery charges on November 27th.  25-year-old Nicolas Olson and 28-year-old Kristina Schrupp both of Fargo, North Dakota were arrested and charged with Theft 5th Degree and 9 counts of Forgery.  Both were transported to the Cass County Jail and booked in and held.  The Atlantic Police Department was assisted by the Iowa State Patrol.