Sheriff’s Officials in Montgomery County say a Red Oak man faces a Felony charge of Criminal Mischief in the 2nd degree, in connection with an October 1st incident in the Montgomery County Jail. 32-year old Michael Parsley allegedly damaged a sprinkler system in the jail. The damage was in excess of $1,000. Parsley continues to be held in the jail, on $5,000 cash bond. He was sentenced to 30-days in jail on October 1st, after being found guilty of a Serious Misdemeanor charge of Theft in the 5th degree. His arraignment on the Criminal Mischief charge will take place October 29th.

Steve Pelzer, superintendent of the CAM Community School District, was a nominee for the 2012-13 Iowa Superintendent of the Year award sponsored by the School Administrators of Iowa. Dan Smith, the association’s executive director, said “SAI is pleased to recognize leaders who are dedicated to advancing student achievement by providing students a quality education.”   Nominated for the award by his peers, Pelzer will be recognized at SAI’s awards banquet August 6, 2013, along with Carlisle Superintendent Tom Lane who was recently selected as the recipient.

Superintendent Pelzer said it is an honor to be recognized by your peers for such a prestigious award. Pelzer said also, that he’s “Always believed that it takes a great team to provide a solid education in today’s ever-changing society. We are blessed with a great educational staff and support personnel here at CAM. As a district, CAM continues to be proactive in providing our staff and students with the tools needed to maximize and expand our educational programs.”

Pelzer has been superintendent for the CAM District since 2011. Prior to becoming the superintendent at CAM, he served as superintendent at the former Anita Community School and superintendent and principal at the former C & M Community School District. SAI, a statewide organization founded in 1987, represents more than 2000 Iowa educational administrators. The mission of the organization, is to support, encourage and develop Iowa’s educational leaders and learners.

Crime victims who want to know when a registered sex offender moves locations, or anyone who wants information on sex offenders moving into our out of designated areas, can now register for real-time notifications through a new addition to the state’s sex offender registry website.

Sample text message from “Offender Watch” (DPS provided image)

The new option, called “Offender Watch,” enables crime victims and others to receive a confidential automatic notification via phone or text message of a registered sex offender’s change in residence when the offender notifies the state of the change.

An email notification system has been available for several years. The addition of the mobile notifications gives users the ability to stay with information as they move. Offender Watch also notifies users when a convicted sex offender moves in or out of an area defined by the user.  Registered users can set up a “watch” using an address and a specified distance around that address.  Users will receive text, voice, or email notices each time a registered sex offender moves into or out of that area, or moves to a new location within that area.  Users may also create watches based on a city, county, zip code, or a specific registrant or group of registrants.

The Iowa Sex Offender Registry was established by law in 1995. Currently, more than 5,700 convicted sex offenders are registered on the Iowa Sex Offender Registry.  In fiscal year 2012, offenders registered more than 3,400 address changes. To sign up for Offender Watch or learn more about the Iowa Sex Offender registry go to www.IowaSexOffender.com.

The Cass County Chapter of the American Cancer Society is seeking decorators for it’s 26th Annual Festival of Trees to be held November 29 through December 2 at the Catholic Parish Center in Atlantic. Caryn Barbero-Just, Project Chair, says “It’s hard for some people to think about Christmas in October, but the registration deadline is November 17, which is only five weeks away!”

Festival of Trees is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Individuals, businesses, and organizations lend their time and talents to create seasonal displays of trees, wreaths, quilts, vignettes and/or collections for the public to enjoy.  Many decorators use Festival as an opportunity to honor a loved one, advertise a business, showcase an achievement, announce an event, do a service project, share a pastime/collection, or just get together. Organizers suggest looking through the pictures from the last four Festivals on their Facebook page, Festival of Trees! (Atlantic, IA), for ideas.

Set up times for the event will be Tuesday, November 27, from 10am-8pm and Wednesday, November 28, from 10am-2pm. No decorating is allowed after 2pm on Wednesday. There is no fee to participate and the displays are not sold. Anyone interested in participating can contact Barbero-Just at 254-0989 or casscofestivaloftrees@hotmail.com for more information.