A task force made up of members from three southwest Iowa law enforcement agencies and the FBI, conducted an undercover operation that netted six arrests, Wednesday. According to the Omaha World-Herald, the FBI’s Lost Innocence Task Force – which targets juveniles involved in prostitution — worked in conjunction with the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, to arrest the six individuals in a prostitution sting at a local hotel. The location of the operation, which was conducted Wednesday afternoon, was not disclosed.

Officials say a 31-year-old man from Lincoln, NE., was arrested after soliciting an undercover female officer posing as a prostitute. Five Omaha women between the ages of 21 and 44 were also arrested. Each was taken into custody on a charge of suspicion of prostitution. All of the suspects were booked into the Pottawattamie County Jail.

The task force which conducted the sting, included officers with the Council Bluffs Police Department, along with deputies from the Pottawattamie, Mills and Harrison county sheriff’s offices, and the FBI.

A Red Oak woman wanted on a Cass County warrant for failing to pay child support, faces additional charges following her arrest Thursday afternoon, in Red Oak. Authorities say 50-year old Casey Renee Bates faces a Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charge, after she confessed to having a syringe and a marijuana pipe in her purse, as she was being questioned. Her arrest took place after Red Oak Police received a tip Bates, who was wanted on a valid Cass County warrant, was located in the 1600 block of North 2nd Street late Thursday afternoon. Bates was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

Officials with ISU Extension say Cass County residents are being encouraged to participate in a new Iowa State University Extension and Outreach initiative – “Mid Life & Beyond: The Whole Picture.” The Mid Life & Beyond program helps communities talk together and find ways to make their community a place where people want to live during mid-life and beyond.

The average retirement age nationally is now 62 with a life expectancy of 78 years.  The 2010 census showed 50.2% of Cass County residents were over the age of 45, so this is very timely initiative for our county. Kate Olson, Cass County Extension Program Coordinator, says  “Cass County is setting up study circles to consider action for our future.”

Local study circles begin on Tuesday October 23rd in Atlantic, and Thursday October 25th, in Anita. They will be held from 3:30 to 5:30 PM in both communities, once a week for four consecutive weeks. There is no cost to participate and all interested local residents are encouraged to be involved. The study circles will be comprised of diverse groups of no more than a dozen people each, who will meet for four, 90-minute sessions. Each group will set its own ground rules to share responsibility for quality discussion. They’ll be led by an impartial, local facilitator who will manage discussion, but not teach the group. Discussion will include personal stories, and a look at some thriving communities.

Register for the Atlantic or Anita Study Circles by calling ISU Extension in Cass County by calling 243-1132 or emailing keolson@iastate.edu by Monday October 22nd. More information about the statewide program is available at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/midlifeandbeyond/

The Page County Sheriff’s Office says no injuries were reported following two separate accidents earlier this week. Officials say 16-year old Jacob Baker, of New Market, was cited for Failure to Maintain Control following an accident Wednesday afternoon, east of Clarinda. The teen was driving a 2001 Ford Ranger pickup east on 210^th Street and rounding a curve, when he lost control. The pickup left the road and entered a ditch, where it struck some trees head-on. Officials say the truck sustained $5,000 damage, and was considered to be a total loss.

The second accident in Page County happened Tuesday morning, southwest of Clarinda. The Sheriff’s Department says 33-year old Aaron Roberts, of Clarinda, was cited for Failure to Maintain Control, after the 2009 Chevy straight truck he was driving left 230^th Street, entered a ditch and rolled onto its passenger side and slid to a stop. Damage to the truck, registered to Snap On Tools, in Kenosha, WI., was estimated at $50,000. The vehicle was considered to be a total loss.