(Clarinda, Iowa) – Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports the Sheriff’s Department’s “Operation Blessing,” which strives to make sure every child in the rural areas of the County receives a Christmas gift, will be slightly different this year, from years past. Sheriff Palmer says “We will be taking requests from November 12, 2022 through December 10, 2022. This is to hopefully ensure that requests for gifts can be filled without running into a shortage of items to purchase.”

The Page County Sheriff’s Office “Operation Blessing program covers children from birth to age 14, who reside in the communities of Shambaugh, Braddyville, College Springs, Yorktown, Coin, Blanchard, and Northboro as well as the rural areas, of Page County. The child must be a resident of the aforementioned communities, or rural Page County. The requests must come from a parent or guardian of the child and can be called into the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 712-542-5193, or reported in person by the parent or guardian at the Page County Sheriff’s Office located at 323 N 15th Street in Clarinda, IA. Each child will be given a first and second choice. It is suggested that a toy and clothing be requested.

Anyone wishing to donate money to the Page County Sheriff’s Office Operation Blessing program can either stop by the Page County Sheriff’s Office or mail the monetary donation to the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 323 North 15th Clarinda, Iowa, 51632. Monetary donations are taken year-round at the Office. The Page County Reserve Program started Operation Blessing in the mid 1980’s to ensure that every child in the rural areas of Page County had the opportunity to receive a gift at Christmas. It has continued every year since for almost 40 years. In these times, the program is adapting. Department deputies and staff will be delivering gifts just prior to Christmas Eve.

Sheriff Palmer says “Our current times are to say the least trying and unsure. We as an Office strive to find some normalcy for the children of our County in these unsure and trying times. I would once again like to thank everyone for their donations and support of the program throughout the years, for without monetary donations, this program would not be able to continue.” He thanks also the staff at the Sheriff’s Office / Jail for their assistance in everything they do with this program. He says they go above and beyond with the call taking, shopping, wrapping and organization of this program. They along with the organizations, businesses, and individuals who donate make this program a success every year. THANK YOU!!!

May everyone have a joy filled and safe Holiday season.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests over the past few weeks. On Oct. 24th, 39-year-old Andrew Grieshaber, of Cumberland, was arrested on the charges of Burglary 2nd Degree and Criminal Mischief 3rd Degree.  Grieshaber was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond. And, on Oct. 22nd, Deputies arrested 38-year-old Fernando Villa-Diaz, of Atlantic, on the charge of OWI 3rd Offense.  Villa-Diaz was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

This past Tuesday (11/1), 38-year-old Megan Schroder, of Griswold, was arrested for OWI 2nd Offense.  Schroder was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held until her later release on her own recognizance. And, on Wednesday Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 53-year-old Randy Rush, of Atlantic, for OWI 2nd Offense.  Rush was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held until his later release on his own recognizance.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report a woman was arrested at her home Wednesday morning. 51-year-old Crystal Alaine Conley, of Creston, was charged with Attempted Burglary in the 3rd Degree. She was taken to Union County Jail and posted bond.

Wednesday night, 18-year-old Rowan Davis Pope, of Creston, was arrested at a residence in the 900 block of N. Division Street. He was charged with Violation of Probation.  Pope was being held without bond in the Union County Jail, until seen by a Judge.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans heard dire warnings last month about the possibility of rainbow fentanyl showing up in kids’ trick-or-treat bags, but Emily Murray, spokeswoman for the regional U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency office in Omaha, says they had no reports of the drug appearing anywhere in the five-state area. “DEA agents have yet to see or seize rainbow fentanyl, I think that’s important to know,” Murray says. “We’re not naive enough to think that it’s not out there but DEA agents have not seized it. State and locals were reaching out, working with them to kind of see what they’re seeing, but Halloween has come and gone and we have not seen the rainbow fentanyl.”

Murray says the rainbow fentanyl comes in a wide array of colors and is the same, dangerous drug as regular fentanyl. “The fake pills that you’re seeing that are blue and made to look like oxycodone or Xanax or Adderall, any of those prescription medications, now it’s just that they’re coming across in rainbow colors,” Murray says. “They might be targeting a younger audience with that, but it’s also a marketing ploy, too, when you’ve got something that looks a little bit different. It’s new. It’s exciting because it’s a bright color.” Iowans need to know, Murray says, that while fentanyl can be a killer, so can many other pharmaceuticals.

“The only prescription medication that they should be taking is the one that’s prescribed specifically for them,” she says. “We don’t want anyone to take a legitimate prescription medication that’s not coming from their doctor and filled at a pharmacy. Always be cautious. It’s the same messaging that we tell students or tell kids you know, don’t take something when you don’t know where it’s coming from.” A state report says 258 Iowans died of opioid overdoses last year. Murray says meth is still the number-one illegal drug being seized in the region.