The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports one person was seriously injured during an accident near Anita, Friday. The collision happened at the intersection of White Pole Rd and 725^th Street.  Authorities say Melanie Jo Lewis, of Anita, was traveling eastbound on White Pole Rd driving a 2005 Chrysler Pacifica, and had slowed to turn left onto 725^th Street.  Fernando Perez Castaneda, of Blue Springs, MO, was driving a 2018 International Semi-tractor trailer and traveling east, when he entered the west bound lane and attempted to pass Lewis’s vehicle.

During the pass, the semi struck the driver’s side of Lewis SUV, causing it to enter a field to the north. The semi came to rest in the north ditch, with the trailer blocking the west bound lane of White Pole Road.  Lewis suffered serious injuries, and was transported by Cass County EMS to the Anita Airport, where she was transported to the hospital via Life Flight. Castaneda was uninjured in the accident.

(Radio Iowa) – Cedar Rapids Police say it appears an 18 year old shot and wounded a man who was assaulting a relative early Sunday morning. Thirty-four-year-old David Rafael Walker was shot in the leg and got to a Cedar Rapids hospital in a private vehicle. Walker was treated, released and is now in the Linn County Jail. He’s been charged with assault causing bodily injury.

Cedar Rapids Police got 911 calls around 5 a.m. Sunday about a man assaulting a woman and gunshots. Police found a 21-year old woman had been injured and their preliminary investigation determined one of her relatives, an 18 year old, shot at Walker during the assault.

A news release from Cedar Rapids Police indicates the investigation continues, to determine if any additional charges will be filed in connection to the incident.

HARLAN, IA, September 13, 2021 – The Alzheimer’s Association is inviting Western Iowa area residents to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s by participating in the Harlan Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday, September 18th.   The Harlan Walk to End Alzheimer’s helps to support the Alzheimer’s Association’s critical research, care and support across Iowa. The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.

Event details are as follows:

• When: Saturday, September 18, 2021
• Registration: 9 a.m.
• Walk: 10 a.m.
• Where: Pioneer Park, 1304 Pine St  Harlan, IA 51537.

Or walk from home anytime!   

Register and donate at alz.org/walk to get the most out of Walk day and support the fight to end Alzheimer’s. Download the Walk to End Alzheimer’s app to participate at home in your neighborhood.

More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease – the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, more than 18 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In Iowa alone, there are more than 66,000 people living with the disease and 73,000 caregivers.

(Radio Iowa) – A retired lieutenant of the Fire Department of New York who was trapped twice inside the World Trade Center was the keynote speaker for Saturday night’s September 11th attacks remembrance ceremony at the Clear Lake Fire Department. Joe Torrillo was forced to retire in 2004 due to a brain injury and says while he was disappointed that his career as a firefighter was over, he wanted to help build patriotism in America.  “I wanted to be happy again. I wasn’t being selfish, but I wasn’t happy anymore. I promised myself that I would spend the rest of my life making our country the ‘Reunited States of America’.

Joe Torillo (Facebook/File photo)

Going across the country, resurrecting patriotism and keeping the memory alive of all the victims who died and those who gave their lives in the greatest rescue effort that was ever witnessed by anybody on earth.” Torrillo says he can’t understand what has happened in the 20 years since 9-11 with patriotism in the United States.

Torrillo says he wants to make sure the memory of what happened on 9-11 never fades away.

Torrillo had moved from being an active firefighter to the department’s fire safety education office in 1997 and was on his way to a press conference at the Fisher-Price headquarters in the World Trade Center when he diverted to his old fire company headquarters across the street to assist after the first plane hit. While he was involved in the rescue operation, the south tower fell, burying alive Torrillo with a fractured skull, broken ribs, broken arm, crushed spine and heavy bleeding. After finding Torrillo, he was removed from the rubble and was being treated when the north tower collapsed, burying him alive again.

(Atlantic) Officials with Cass Health, in Atlantic, Monday (today) report Dr. Seann Atkinson, DO, was recently selected as an Iowa Hospital Association (IHA) “2021 Hospital Hero.” Dr. Atkinson will be recognized in October during the IHA annual meeting, which will be held virtually. The Iowa Hospital Heroes award is presented to those who have performed a heroic deed or tirelessly given of their time, talent, and expertise to improve their organization and the world around them. These leaders exemplify honesty, integrity, humility, courage, and commitment.

Dr. Atkinson was nominated by a patient, the family member of a patient, and several colleagues. Most notably, Dr. Atkinson was recognized by Cass Health Board Chairman Ned Brown, who credits Dr. Atkinson with saving his life by quickly diagnosing an aortic dissection. Brown said “I remember him telling me that I was in trouble, but he was so calm. He didn’t seem panicked, just very straightforward. He was thorough; he was certain of the diagnosis. He saved my life.”

Dr. Sean Atkinson

Dr. Atkinson is a board-certified family medicine physician who joined Atlantic Medical Center in October 2011. Dr. Atkinson grew up in Ankeny, Iowa, and graduated from Iowa State University and Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center. After completing his residency in Rapid City, South Dakota in 2004, he practiced with the Regional Health Physicians in Sturgis for seven years.

Dr. Atkinson provides the full scope of family medicine care, with the exception of obstetrics. In addition, he performs routine outpatient endoscopy procedures, including EGDs and colonoscopies.

The broadcast News at 8:05-a.m., from Ric Hanson.

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(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, Cass/Atlantic Development Corp. and Cass County Extension have partnered together to offer a county-wide leadership program, “Leading Cass County”, that focuses on cultivating the next generation of community leaders. Bailey Smith, Executive Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, says “Leading Cass County is a program developed by ISU Extension and Outreach and the University of Wisconsin Extension. It’s designed to seek out emerging leaders within your county and teach them skills they need for interacting and working together to promote sustainable community development while also preparing them for positions of public influence and decision-making.”

The program, launched in the fall of 2019, is an 8-month course, meeting the second Tuesday of each month, that focuses on a different topic each session. Participants will interact with local leaders and learn about Cass County resources during community tours and presentations. Class sessions and tours will rotate around the county, showcasing the diversity of services the county has to offer. Class sessions will be held from 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM, followed by lunch and community tours from 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM. A certificate will be awarded to participants who successfully fulfill the requirements of the leadership program.

Topics include: Community Leadership; Agriculture & Conservation; Economic Development; Local Government, Crime & Safety; Healthcare & Social Services; State Government, and a Graduation ceremony. Tuition is $350 per participant and will cover the entire program, tours and lunch.

By the end of the program, four core skill sets will be learned:

• Understanding community leadership and your community
• Identifying issues and framing ideas
• Building social capital
• Mobilizing resources for community action

Smith says “We were really pleased with the support we received, county-wide, from businesses and participants in 2019. We graduated 18 students in March of 2020 and look forward to having a full class again for the 2021-2022 year. The goal of this course is to mold young leaders that may be “hiding” throughout the county and give them the resources and confidence to become an active member of their community, stay here for the long haul and work towards making Cass County a great place to live and do business in.”

More information and a detailed list of monthly topics and tours can be found at www.atlanticiowa.com. Applications are due by noon September 15, 2021 by email to keolson@iastate.edu. Applications can also be found at the Extension, Chamber and Cass/Atlantic Development offices. “Leading Cass County” is sponsored by Atlantic Municipal Utilities, Camblin Mechanical and Cass County Health System.

The Creston Police Department reports two arrests from over the weekend. Authorities 62-year-old Gerald Knorr (Who has no known address), was arrested 8-a.m. Friday at 200 W. Howard Street, for Disorderly Conduct and Simple Assault, stemming from an incident on Sept. 9th. Knorr was cited and released from the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Summons to Appear on both charges.

And, Sunday afternoon, 29-year-old Richie Rodriguez, of Creston, was arrested on a Polk County warrant for Failure to Appear on an original Violation of Probation, charge. Rodriguez was being held without bond in the Union County Jail, pending a hearing, and while awaiting transfer to Polk County.

The 7:07-a.m. broadcast News from Ric Hanson.

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DES MOINES, Iowa — Des Moines Police are working to solve the city’s seventh homicide of the year. KCCI reports officers were called at around 8:35 p.m. Sunday, to the 900 block of Randolph Street to investigate a report of a dispute. Arriving officers found the body of a 42-year-old woman.

“Observations at the scene indicated that this was not a death due to natural causes,” Des Moines police said through a news release. Police said witnesses are being interviewed and evidence is being examined in the case.

This is the seventh homicide investigation of 2021 in the city.