The Cass County Salvation Army Chapter had their Red Kettle Campaign Kickoff on Wednesday (Nov. 6th), at the China Hut Restaurant in Atlantic. Local officials say last year (2012) the Red Kettle Campaign brought in over $10,000 in donations, the largest amount ever collected for the Cass County Unit, #209.

90-percent of all donations collected stay in Cass County. The money has been used for assisting individuals with food and shelter after being stranded in the area either due to bad weather or car problems, etc. Over $9,000 was used to assist with needs in the local area. Programs receiving funds this year included:

Parents As Teachers (for meeting supplies); School Principals receiving gift cards for identified students in need; Each Cass County School district received book bags to distribute to kids; Atlantic Food Pantry for Meat; Athletic shoes for needy students participating is sports partnering with Brown Shoe Fit; The Alternative School for food and hygiene products and clothing to assist students in applying for and starting jobs and the “Shop with a Cop” and “Family Dream Christmas” gift cards.

The community has been very supportive of the Red Kettle Campaign in Cass County, and the local Salvation Army Chapter is expressing its gratitude for your ongoing support. This year, the organization welcomes a new Bell Ringing Chairman, Mark Wedemeyer. He and Dave Hancock will be instrumental in finding volunteers. Anyone wishing to volunteer to assist in the Campaign this year is asked to call Mark Wedemeyer at 712-249-0938.

Any donations that are mailed in to Salvation Army Headquarters need the notation for Iowa Unit #209 on the front of their check or on the online donation form, to be credited to the local unit. The money collected here locally stays in the community to be used to assist local community members.

A Judge in Pottawattamie County has sentenced a Council Bluffs man to five-years in prison for maintaining a drug-involved premises. 27-year old Justin Ray Smith was also ordered Thursday, to serve a two-year term of supervised release following his incarceration. On Feb. 8th, Smith pled guilty to the charge, which was the result of an investigation conducted by several law enforcement agencies into the importation and distribution of marijuana by a known drug trafficking group operating in the Council Bluffs and Omaha areas.

Marijuana was distributed by the group from May, 2009 through March, 2012. Smith maintained a residence on Monument Road in Council Bluffs, as a storage location and distribution point for the drug trafficking organization. Prior to sentencing Smith, Chief Judge James Gritzner sentenced Smith’s five co-defendants.

The following were sentenced earlier this year to terms in prison for conspiracy to distribute marijuana:

30-year old Christopher Brandt of Council Bluffs, was sentenced to 36-months in prison; 40-year old David L. Lopez, Jr, of Omaha, was sentenced to 48-months in prison and 26-year old Nicholas Barnes, of Council Bluffs was sentenced to 48-month.

28-year old Dennis Smith, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced to 84-months in prison for conspiracy to distribute marijuana and money laundering. And, 29-year old Gene Smith, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced to 41-months in prison for maintaining a drug-involved premises.

The investigation was conducted by seven law enforcement agencies and prosecuted by the U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports an Audubon County man was sentenced Thursday to two and a-half years in prison for possessing a firearm after a felony conviction. 51-year old Randy Eugene Doss, of Exira, was also ordered to serve two-years of supervised release once he completes his 30-month sentence.

On August 1st, Doss plead guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. The charge was the result of a June 12th, 2013 search by law enforcement of Doss’ home in Exira, during which a loaded .410 shotgun was discovered near the front door of the residence.

The investigation was conducted by officers with the Council Bluffs Police Department, U-S Marshall’s Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by the U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

An historical organization in Adair County has received a national award for its efforts at restoring a nearly 120-year old building in the heart of downtown Greenfield. The National Trust for Historic Preservation presented its Preservation Honor Award for the restoration of the Warren Cultural Center in Greenfield, to the E.E. Warren Opera House Association. The project is one of 18 award winners honored by the National Trust during its 2013 National Preservation Conference in Indianapolis, IN.

E.E. Warren Opera House in Greenfield

Attending on behalf of the E.E. Warren Opera House Association was Board President Nancy Queck and Catherine Howe, former vice-president. Co-recipients are Greenfield Chamber of Commerce and Main Street; INVISION Architecture; the Iowa State Historic Preservation Office; and Lang Construction Group.

The National Preservation Awards are bestowed on distinguished individuals, nonprofit organizations, public agencies and corporations whose skill and determination have given new meaning to their communities through preservation of our architectural and cultural heritage.

In the face of a declining economy, the community of Greenfield took action to preserve the historic E.E. Warren Opera House. Built in 1896, the Romanesque-inspired building was a local landmark for decades, but eventually time took its toll and the building was showing its age. When Greenfield was made a Main Street Iowa community in 1996, the town redoubled its efforts to preserve the Opera House.

Led entirely by volunteers, the E.E. Warren Opera House Association raised $4.5 million. The project’s diverse mix of private and public funding – including state and federal historic tax credits – enabled an expert rehabilitation. The project also catalyzed several other downtown rehabs, including a boutique hotel and new restaurant.

The winners of the National Preservation Awards will appear online at www.PreservationNation.org/awards.

Police in Red Oak report an animal skull valued at $300 was stolen sometime this past week from a garage off of B Street. The victim of the crime said a 30-by-30-inch bull skull that was attached to the garage was taken sometime between Nov. 5th and 8th. The incident remains under investigation by the Red Oak Police Department.