(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests. On March 16th, 20-year-old Lucas Robert Swanson,  of Elk Horn, NE, was arrested on a Cass County (IA) warrant for the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Extortion and Harassment 1st.  Swanson was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was being held on $250,000 bond.

And, Cass County deputies arrested 32-year-old Kirstin Gail Winters, of Sioux City, March 16th, on the charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance.  Winters was transported to Cass County Jail, booked and later released on her own recognizance.

The previous day (March 15), 24-year-old Marty Delanie Pelzer, of Griswold, was arrested on charge of OWI 1st Offense.  Pelzer was transported to Cass County Jail here he was booked and later released on his own recognizance.

And, on March 12th, 2023, 41-year-old Daniel Phillips Faulkner Jr., of Casey, was arrested by Cass County Deputies, on charges of OWI 1st Offense and Driving Under Suspension.  Faulkner was transported to Cass County Jail where he was booked and later released on his own recognizance.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has released information about three separate accidents.

Authorities say that on Friday, March 17, 2023, Deputies responded to an accident at 5th and Olive Streets, in Atlantic.  James Richard Cisar, Jr., of Atlantic, was driving a 2006 Chevy Cobalt eastbound on 5th Street.  As he approached the intersection of 5th and Olive St, his car collided with a southbound 2016 Kia Optima, driven by Jennifer Lynn Conrad.  No medical attention was needed at the scene.

On March 9th, 2023, at around 7:30-am., Cass County Deputies responded to a four vehicle accident on Highway 92 and 710th Street, near Massena.  Officials say Micheal Ann Rimel, of Massena, was traveling eastbound on Hwy 92 driving a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee.  The SUV slid and crossed the center line due to the adverse weather conditions. It struck a 2017 Ford Fusion driven by Erin Ann Propp, of Melbourne.  A 2003 Dodge Ram pickup, driven by Michael Jay Kaloides, of Greenfield, traveling westbound and slowing to avoid the collision, when he was struck from behind by a 2013 GMC Terrain driven by Kaitlyn Sue Wilson, of Fontanelle.  Kaloides was transported to Cass Health by Massena Rescue. No other injuries were reported.

And, less than an hour later (at 8:21-a.m) Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a single-vehicle accident near 608 Marne Road, in Marne.  Amber Nicole Scott, of Avoca, was driving a 2019 Ford Expedition eastbound on Marne Rd when the SUV began to slide on the roadway due to the weather conditions.  The Ford slid off the right side of the roadway and struck a garage located at 608 Marne Rd. No injuries were reported.

(Audubon, Iowa) – The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on March 10th, of 30-year-old Krystal Frock, from Humboldt. She was arrested on a warrant for Violation of Probation. Frock appeared before the magistrate and was held on a $5,000 cash only bond.

(Radio Iowa_ – Believe it or not, Monday marks the first day of spring, and it’s also the start of Poison Prevention Week in Iowa. Tammy Noble, a registered nurse and spokeswoman for the Iowa Poison Control Center, says once people launch into their spring cleaning projects, the risks rise of someone, often a child, being exposed to powerful household cleansers.

“We’re focusing on trying to remind people that when poisons happen, we’re here for you. Poison centers are always available 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Noble says. “And poisonings happen to people of all ages. So it’s not just something that we have to worry about with kids.” The Sioux City-based poison center suggests parents can prevent poisonings by storing chemicals in a locked cupboard, not just under the sink. Noble says they should be out of a child’s reach.

“Last year, we had over 23,000 human exposure calls, so people in Iowa that had some type of an exposure to poison,” Noble says. “Sixty-four-percent of those involved a medicine, and when you look at what’s the top medicine that people have exposures to, it’s pain medicine.”

Learn more at the website Iowa Poison-dot-org (iowapoison.org). Noble suggests putting the hotline in your smartphone’s contact list so it’s always handy — at 1-800-222-1222.

CRESTON, Iowa – March 17, 2023 – Drivers on Iowa 92 between Lyman and Griswold will need to plan on following a detour route so construction crews can replace a bridge on the roadway. Beginning on Monday, March 27 to Thursday, Aug. 31, weather permitting, drivers will follow a marked detour route using U.S. 71, Cass County Road G-43, Cass County Road M-56, and Iowa 48.

Help keep everyone on the road safer. Drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, you should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

CLIVE, Iowa — A southwest Iowa man said he had to take a second look at his ticket after winning a $10,000 lottery prize. “I took a double-take and was like, ‘No way, I won $10,000!'” Lynn Young told officials Thursday as he claimed his prize at lottery headquarters in Clive. Young, 51, of Elliott, won the third prize of $10,000 in the Iowa Lottery’s “Hit The Jackpot!” InstaPlay game. He bought his winning ticket at Tiger Mart, 708 Main St. in Griswold and uncovered the big prize when he got out to his vehicle.

Young, who works for a fertilizer company, said his first thought after winning was getting home safely and hiding the ticket until he could claim his prize. “I was excited about it and I was nervous,” he said. “The only thing I could think of was put it in my billfold, get out of town, get home and hide it.” Young said he plans to use his winnings to retire debt and save.

Hit The Jackpot! Is a $30 game that features eight top prizes of $250,000, 40 prizes of $10,000 and overall odds of 1 in 2.97. The InstaPlay product combines features from instant-scratch and lotto games. InstaPlay tickets are called “scratchless” because they have no security coating that needs to be removed to determine the prize won. And rather than having supplies of tickets printed in advance like those in traditional scratch and pull-tab games, InstaPlay tickets are printed on demand from the lottery terminal.

InstaPlay games range in price from $1 to $30. For more information, visit ialottery.com.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County 4-H Endowment committee would like to thank everyone who attended or donated to the Cass County 4-H Endowment during the Pancake Supper and Silent Auction on March 7th. This was a record setting year of attendees and donations.

Over 600 individuals were served pancakes, a record-breaking number from recent years.  We had 18 Silent Auction items donated by community businesses and all 11 of our 4-H Clubs. Many also donated directly to the Cass County 4-H Endowment fund or through the silent auction items.

Total net proceeds from pancakes, direct donations, and the silent auction was over $4,500.00. Thank you to all who ate, donated, or bid on the silent auction items to help make that happen.

Proceeds from the 4-H Pancake Supper directly benefit the Cass County 4-H Program. All funds raised go to the Cass County 4-H Endowment. The 4-H Program Development Fee is $30 per youth each year to enroll. Instead of having individual 4-H’ers and families take on that expense, the Cass County Extension Council and the 4-H Endowment Committee pick up this cost. The Cass County 4-H Endowment also offers grants for youth to attend 4-H camps or conferences outside of Cass County, encouraging them to take their 4-H experience to the next level. They also offer scholarships to graduating senior 4-Hers and help support programs in the county like STEM and Clover Kids.

If you are interested in donation toward the Cass Count 4-H Endowment Fund you can stop in the office at 805 W 10th Street in Atlantic. Donations can also be made on the Iowa 4-H Foundation website, https://www.iowa4hfoundation.org/en/ways_to_give/.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has unanimously passed a bill requiring insurance companies to cover the cost of replacing child safety seats that are damaged in accidents. Some insurance companies deny coverage if a child was not in a safety seat at the time of the crash or if the automobile’s owner cannot provide receipts or a photo of the seat. Representative David Young of Van Meter says that doesn’t make sense. “Current law says that up to the age of six that you have to have child safety seats or restraint systems within your,” Young says. “This essentially becomes part of the car.”

Representative Keenan Judge, of Waukee, says it’s an important bill. “I’ve heard from constituents, believe it or not, about this bill — how happy they were,” Judge says. “And being the proud grandfather of two, my wife insisted we buy one of these expensive car seats.” Child safety seats range in price from 40 or 50 dollars up to a few hundred dollars. Booster seats for older children are less expensive. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends replacing a child’s car seat following a moderate or severe crash, even if it appears the seat was not damaged.