The Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent, drug-related arrests. Wednesday morning, 35-year old Leslie John Smith, of Mt. Ayr, was arrested on felony charges that include: Possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (methamphetamine); Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp, and Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.

John Leslie Smith (Photo via Ringgold County S/O)

Smith was also charged with Possession of Drug paraphernalia, and Possession of stolen property. He was being held without bond in the Ringgold County Jail, until seen by magistrate. His arrest was the result of  a joint investigation involving the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.

Authorities report also, that on the night of Feb. 24th, the Afton Police Dept. called about conducting a search warrant on a residence in Diagonal for stolen property. The search was conducted and the property was seized and turned over to the Afton PD. While inside the residence, authorities noticed drug paraphernalia and illegal narcotics. The Ringgold County Sheriff’s subsequently applied for another search warrant, was granted by the court. After conducting a search Marijuana, Methamphetamine, Prescription drugs, along with paraphernalia and items for the intent to deliver was seized.

Two people were arrested: 36-year old Nichole Ott and 34-year old David Giles, both of Diagonal. They both face charges that include: Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Possession of a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine; PCS – Marijuana; Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs; And, felony Controlled Substance charges (for unlawfully manufacturer or delivery of Meth and Marijuana, along with a felony, Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp, charge. Their bonds were set at $20,000 each.

David Giles

Nichole Ott

Helping with the search at Giles’ and Ott’s residence, was the Afton PD, Creston PD, Union County Sheriff Office, and the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office.

The Cass County Auditor’s Office reminds persons interested in filing nomination papers in advance of the June 2nd, 2020 PRIMARY ELECTION, that those papers may be filed beginning Monday, March 2nd. The last day to file in March 25th.  Nomination papers may be circulated prior to first date for filing as well as during the filing period. Nomination papers and candidate information are available at the office of the county auditor and from the secretary of state: www.sos.iowa.gov

The county positions to appear on the Cass County ballot for the 2020 PRIMARY ELECTION are: Attorney (vacancy term); Auditor; Sheriff; the District 1, District 4 and District 5 Supervisor positions.

The number of signatures required for a person’s name to appear on the ballot are as follows: Supervisor, District 1 – 14 for Republicans, 6 for Democrats; Supervisor, District 4 – 18 Republican, 7 Democrat; Supervisor, District 5 – 16 Republican, 9 Democrat;  Attorney (Vacancy), Auditor and Sheriff – 77 Republican, 38 Democrat.

For additional information, please contact the Cass County Auditor’s Office at 712-243-4570, or by E-mail auditor@casscoia.us.

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports filing rules have changed for the NOVEMBER 2020 GENERAL ELECTION.  According to the new rules, filing for NOMINATION by PETITION positions begins March 2 and ends March 20 (except for Agricultural Extension positions). The filing periods for the November 3, 2020, General Election are:

•President/Vice President: July 27, 2020 – August 14, 2020 (5:00 p.m.)

•U.S. Senate, U.S. Representative and State Office: February 24 – March 13, 2020 (5:00 p.m.)

•County Office: March 2 – March 20, 2020 (5:00 p.m.)

Monday, March 2nd, 2020 is the first day for candidates nominated by petition to file nomination papers for county-wide or township offices with the County Auditor’s office.  Last day to file is Friday, March 20, 2020.  Nomination papers may be circulated now.  Nomination petitions and other election forms (including a Candidate’s Guide to the General Election) are available at the office of the County Auditor, and also from the Iowa Secretary of State online at sos.iowa.gov.

The number of signatures needed for County Offices are as follows:

• District 1 Supervisor, 19 signatures .
• District 4 & District 5 Supervisors positions require 20 signatures (each)
• County Attorney, Auditor and Sheriff’s positions require 98 signatures per office for nomination.

These persons currently hold the aforementioned incumbent County posts: Attorney (Incumbent by Appointment) – Vanessa Strazdas; Auditor – Dale Sunderment (Republican); Sheriff – Darby McLaren (Republican); District 1 Supervisor – Stephen Green (Republican); District 4 Supervisor – Steve Baier (Republican); District 5 Supervisor – Frank Waters (Republican).

Non-partisan positions to appear on the November 3, 2020 GENERAL ELECTION ballot include:

1. CASS COUNTY SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT commissioners- three positions; and

2. CASS COUNTY AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION COUNCIL- four positions;

3. TOWNSHIP CLERK & TRUSTEES- one trustee in each of the townships of Edna and Union.

4. CASS COUNTY HOSPITAL TRUSTEE- three full term positions (4-year terms)

The number of signatures needed is as follows: Ag Extension (4-year term), Soil and Water Conservation (6-year term) = 25 signatures; Hospital Trustee (6-year term) = 50 signatures. Township Trustee and Clerks (4-year terms) = No nomination papers needed – only an Affidavit; 1 trustee, 0 clerks. Only Edna and Union Townships fill positions by election. The 14 other township’s officers are appointed by the Cass County Board of Supervisors. Incumbent township officers: Edna Township: Trustee Keith Nelson; Union Township: Trustee Delmar South

Other incumbents are:

• Cass Co Hospital Trustee – Nathan Brown, Leanne Pellett and Linda Pelzer.
• Soil & Water Conservation District Commissioner – Curt Behrends
• Soil & Water Conservation District Commissioner – Chase Wheatley
• Soil & Water Conservation District Commissioner – Ray Wilson
• County Agricultural Extension Council – Julie Aupperle
• County Agricultural Extension Council – Darrin Petty
• County Agricultural Extension Council – Marcy Jo Dorsey
• County Agricultural Extension Council – Jody Steffen

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

The Cass County Auditor’s office.  Phone: 712-243-4570; Email: auditor@casscoia.us

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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CLINTON, Iowa (AP) — The Timken Co. is planning to move auger production to Clinton from across the Mississippi River in Fulton, Illinois. Timken Drives is a subsidiary of North Canton, Ohio-based Timken. Last week it was awarded $250,000 direct financial assistance by the Iowa Economic Development Authority. The project is expected to generate $1.4 million in new capital investment and create up to 84 jobs. Officials say Timken Drives makes agricultural conveyor chains and auger assemblies at the Fulton plant and needed to make room for manufacturing more chains. It is unclear when the company intends to move the auger operations to Clinton.

The City Council in Walnut will hold a Special Meeting at the Walnut Community Center, beginning at 5-p.m. today (Thursday). On the agenda, is a Public Hearing on the Proposed Fiscal Year 2020-21 City Property Tax Levy, including discussion on the proposal. The hearing will be immediately followed by Council action considering the Possible Adoption of a Resolution Approving the Maximum Tax Dollars from Certain Levies for the City’s Proposed FY 2020-21 Budget, and discussion on the Budget.

The Creston Police Department today (Thursday), said three people were arrested on separate charges, Tuesday. 57-year old Rodney Earl Bell, of Creston, was arrested late Tuesday morning at his home, on two outstanding warrants out of Union County. Bell was being held in the Union County Jail on a $2,000 bond. Tuesday afternoon, 33-year old Michael Eugene Matherly, of Creston, was arrested for Assault on a Police Officer. The charge stems from an incident that took place in the 300 block of N. Spruce Street, in Creston. Matherly was being held on a $1,000 bond. And, 46-year old Jay Eldon Rains, of Creston, was arrested Tuesday evening, for Violation of a No Contact Order. He appeared before the magistrate and was released on his Own Recognizance.

Creston Police said also, a man residing in the 500 block of Wyoming Avenue reported Sunday, that someone vandalized his vehicle by means of large scratches in the paint. The incident happened sometime between 5:30-and 6:45-p.m., Sunday, while the vehicle was parked outside of the man’s residence. And, last Friday, a man residing in the 700 block of N. Oak Street, in Creston, reported that his garage had been broken into. The loss was estimated at $400. Among the items missing was: Various drywall tools; various electronic equipment; some mail, and other, miscellaneous items.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (Telegraph Herald) — A Dubuque-based furniture manufacturer is considering moving some production of a signature product to Mexico and Asia. Flexsteel Industries Inc. CEO Jerry Dittmer told the Telegraph Herald the possible change in production of Flexsteel’s blue steel spring would be part of an effort to expand the company’s global footprint and shorten its long lead times for customer delivery. Dittmer says the movement of some production is not a done deal, but the plans have been shared with union representatives. Flexsteel says its patented blue steel spring is “at the core” of Flexsteel’s furniture quality.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa’s colleges and universities are warning legislators of a looming “cliff” or drop off in student enrollment. The decline is projected to be about seven percent, starting in the 2024 academic year. While that’s partly due to a decline in Iowa’s fertility rate, Iowa College Aid Commission executive director Mark Wiederspan says a growing percentage of Iowa K-through-12 students are minorities — and only 55 percent of black and Latino students who graduate from an Iowa high school currently enroll in college. “Take what we are providing you as the best-case scenario,” he says. “It is likely that the decline could be greater than what we are projecting right now.”

University of Northern Iowa president Mark Nook says there are already 15-thousand unfilled jobs available in Iowa, most of which require technical skills gained through some sort of training or a degree beyond high school. “If we’re going to see a decline in our college enrollments and our economy is going to continue to accelerate towards more and more technology, this is a biggest issue for our workforce and our economy than it is for our higher education institutions,” Nook said. “Our higher education institutions are going to be part of the solution because we’re going to work very hard to get more and more of those students into higher ed and ready for those jobs.”

There’s a projected decline in college enrollment in nearly all 50 states. Central College president Mark Putnam says Iowa’s colleges and universities are building relationships with K-through-12 students in Iowa, to make the jump to college seem like the natural progression. “If we’re not in there, a bigger barrier can grow because people see us as being separate from them,” Putnam says. Northeast Iowa Community College president Liang Chee Wee says online classes could expand the number of students who could enroll — but there are pockets of the state where that is not feasible. “Now, when you’re in the school setting, everything is okay,” Wee says, “but some of our students, when you go home, the spinning cycle will be there.”

More than 228-thousand students were enrolled in Iowa colleges, universities and community colleges in 2018/2019 academic year.