(DES MOINES, Iowa) – Iowans receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) should be aware of some key changes to the program beginning in October.

Nearly all SNAP beneficiaries will see a modest increase in benefits this month to account for a recent federal government review of the SNAP program that considers, among many factors, the increasing cost of eating a healthy diet and the changing eating habits of Americans.

The update resulted in an approximate 27 percent increase in benefits. However, this change takes place at the same time a pandemic-related increase will end. The December 2020 COVID-19 federal relief bill included a 15 percent increase in SNAP benefits from January through September 2021.

“The net result of the changes is that most Iowa families will see a $12 to $16 increase per person each month,” said Janee Harvey, Administrator for the Adult, Child, and Family Services Division at the Department of Human Services. “These changes are permanent and aren’t tied to pandemic programs.”

The changes will happen automatically, and recipients will see the increased benefits on their EBT cards in October.

For more information about Department of Human Services food assistance programs, including how to apply for benefits, visit https://dhs.iowa.gov/food-assistance.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has released information on four recent arrests.

On September 24th Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 29-year-old Anthony Rey Asay of Atlantic for public intoxication. Asay was taken to Cass County Jail and later released on his own recognizance.

On September 27th, Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested 52-year-old Richard Dean Fineran of Atlantic on a Cass County warrant for violation of probation.  Fineran was transported to Cass County Jail and was later released on his own recognizance.

On September 28th Cass County Sheriff’s Officials arrested 19-year-old Seth William Max Stephenson of Wiota on a Cass County warrant for violation of probation.  Stephenson was transported to Cass County Jail where he later posted bond.

Also on September 28th, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 29-year-old Brian Richard Rodriguez of Bettendorf on a Cass County warrant for failure to appear.  Rodridguez was transported from Scott County Jail to Cass County Jail where was later sentenced and released.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office on Friday released details on two recent accidents.

The first accident occurred on September 21st. Deputies responded to an accident on Highway 148 east of Massena. A 1998 Peterbilt semi-tractor trailer was traveling eastbound on Highway 148 when he struck a low hanging wire owned by Alliant Energy. No injuries were reported and the semi sustained minor damage.

The second accident occurred on September 27th on Richland Road, approximately 1/3 mile east of 750th St. near Massena.  Mary Ann McKee was traveling westbound on Richland Rd driving at 1999 Ford F250 pickup. McKee attempted to pass a tractor towing a manure spreader, lost control of the vehicle and rolled The vehicle landed on a fence on the north side of the road.  McKee was transported to Cass County Memorial Hospital and later transported to UNMC by Life Flight with serious injuries.

A Villisca man was arrested early Friday following a traffic stop. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 22-year-old Jonah Lee Kirsch of Villisca at approximately 7:58 a.m. on Friday for Driving While Barred. He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,000 bond.

The Cass County Conference Board met on Thursday evening in the Cass County Courtroom to discuss an insurance coverage situation for two former employees. A majority of Mayors, School Boards, and Supervisors voted in favor of continuing their coverage through the end of the year.

Coverage for the two was set to expire on October 31st and they would of had to pay out of pocket to keep coverage for November and December. The two employees were let go during restructuring of duties and a number of those involved at the meeting thought it was the right thing to do to extend the benefit. The county will absorb the cost of coverage for the remainder of the year for approximately $9,200. The money will come out of the Assessor’s budget.

A separation agreement with the coverage included is being drafted and will be given to the former employees to sign.

Two people were taken to the hospital following a collision at the intersection of Oxford Road and 690th Street in Cass County on Thursday. The accident occurred shortly after 5:00 p.m. as a 2012 Chevy Silverado was westbound on Oxford and ran the stop sign at 690th. The truck struck a 2018 Honda Civic that was southbound on 690th.

Two occupants in the Honda were flown by helicopter to an area hospital to receive treatment for unspecified injuries. The driver of the Chevy received no injuries and walked away from the scene. One of the vehicles ended up in the ditch and the other in a field near the intersection.

No further details or names are known at this time.

The Creston Police Department reports three arrests over the past 24-hours.

On Thursday at 3:46 a.m. Officers arrested 30-year-old Anthony Roger Cross of Creston at the intersection of Fremont and Pine Streets. Cross was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a Controlled Substance Methamphetamine-3rd Offense, Controlled Substance Violation, and Failure to Affix Drug Tax Stamp. Cross was taken to the Union County Jail and held on $35,000 bond.

Also on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. Officers arrested 31-year-old Andrew Justin Kerwin of Creston at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. Kerwin was charged with OWI-1st Offense and held on no bond until seen by a Magistrate.

Early Friday at 1:26 a.m. Creston Police arrested 27-year-old Charles Kegan Lohoff of Creston for Possession of Controlled Substance-Marijuana 1st Offense, OWI-1st Offense, and Carry Weapon While Intoxicated. Lohoff was later released after posting $300 bond.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors met for their end of the month session on Thursday morning in the board room at the Cass County Courthouse. The board had two major points of discussion during the meeting.

The first discussion was with regard to continuing a 28E agreement with the Iowa DNR in regard to well coverage in the County. The County Sanitarian representative was in attendance to clear up some questions in regard to what wells are covered and what the rules should be throughout the County.

The next major discussion topic was in regard to the impending closure of the Willow Heights mental health and disability facility. Southwest Iowa Mental Health and Disability Services Region CEO Suzanne Watson was in attendance to talk about the transition process. Work is in progress to find new homes for the current Willow Heights residents. There has been a push from the Federal level to integrate resource center residents into smaller, community based, residential settings. The Board expressed their desire to find a new tenant to operate the Willow Heights facility as it operates now. Watson warned that it would probably be tough to find another operation that wants to come in unless staff is retained and they would need to properly vet any new operator to assure quality care. The board is going to continue to look for a new operator if possible.

(Radio Iowa) The latest drought monitor reflects the lack of rain we’ve seen in the state in September. The D-N-R’s Tim Hall some areas that were in D-1 moderate drought have now moved to the D-2 severe drought category.

Only about 24 percent of the state is reporting NO drought conditions — down from about 25 percent last week. Hall says we shift at the end of September from the growing season — or “water year” concerns to the subsoil moisture concerns.

He says the need to bank moisture for next year varies across the state.

Hall says one positive is the plants are not pulling water from the ground and the cooler weather leads to less moisture lost from evaporation.

He says there can be replenishing rains in October and November — but the odds get worse deeper into fall.

Halls says 2020 was also a dry year — so the state started out behind and hasn’t been able to fully replenish the groundwater through this year.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of 37-year-old Kaleb L. Wagaman of Bedford on a valid Montgomery County Warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault-1st Offense. He was arrested at 11:00 p.m. on Thursday night and taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 bond.