(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic High School will host a Youth Mental Health Symposium on Monday, October 25th, from 5:00-7:45 PM. All middle school and high school students, parents, and members of communities in Cass County, are invited to attend. The free event will include a meal sponsored by area businesses, door prizes, and free childcare. Motivational speaker Joe Beckman will talk about the importance of human connection at a time when loneliness is at an all-time high, and a series of short presentations will be given on issues affecting students today, including anxiety, healthy relationships, and mental health awareness. Organizations from Cass County and across the state will be at the event providing resources to students,
parents, and community members.

Atlantic High School Counselor Sarah Rose says the event addresses a critical need. “We are seeing a huge need for awareness about mental health in our community at all age levels; students and families are struggling more than ever. We need to reduce the stigma, offer support, and we hope this event will start those conversations,” commented Rose. A large donation was made by the Atlantic Community School Foundation to cover the cost of the speaker. Several sponsors donated to cover the cost of the meal: Full Circle Therapy, ZION Recovery Services/Southwest Iowa Mental Health Center, Therapy Place, and Cass County Health System.

Attendees will be entered into drawings for gift card door prizes donated by the participating organizations and the Family Crisis Support Network. Doors for the event open at 5 PM with a community resource fair and a series of optional 10-minute presentations in the high school gym. At 6:30 PM a light supper will be served in the commons while Beckman shares his message with attendees. Childcare will be provided onsite for the duration of the event.

While there is no cost to attend and pre-registration is not required, those needing childcare are encouraged to RSVP to the High School by calling 712-243-5358. For more information
on this event, including sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, please reach out to Sarah Rose, Alyssa Dovenspike, or Heather McKay at 712-243-5458. To slow the spread of COVID-19, masks are encouraged and will be available at the door.

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Cass County Mental Health Symposium details:
Where: Atlantic High School (1201 E. 14th St., Atlantic, IA 50022)
When: Monday, October 25, 5:00-7:45 PM (Resource fair and ten-minute presentations from
5:00-6:30; meal with keynote speaker 6:30-7:45)
Who: All middle-school and high-school students, parents, guardians, and community
members in Cass County.
Cost: No cost! Free meal, free childcare, and door prizes (such as gift cards and wellness
baskets).
Childcare: Those needing free childcare are asked to RSVP to Sarah Rose at
srose@atlanticschools.org or 712-243-5358.
For information on community wellness events or resources, follow Healthy Cass County on
Facebook @HealthyCassCounty.
Healthy Cass County is a community-focused volunteer network formed to promote the
health and well-being of Cass County residents. Reach out to Cass County Wellness
Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at bhoegh@iastate.edu or call 712-249-5870 for more
information. Healthy Cass County welcomes participants from across Cass County.

(Red Oak, Iowa) — Police in Red Oak report a man was arrested Monday evening on a felony weapons charges. Authorities say 52-year-old Vernon Brinkley Warf, of Red Oak, was arrested at 101 East Prospect Street, for Possession of a Firearm/Ammunition by a domestic abuse offender – a Class D Felony.

His bond at the Montgomery County Jail was set at $5,000.

Vernon Warf

(Radio Iowa) – Abby Finkenauer of Cedar Rapids, one of the Democrats competing to run against Republican Senator Chuck Grassley next year, says as a member of the U.S. House she voted to raise the government’s borrowing limit during the Trump Administration and Grassley should do the same during the Biden Administration. Last week, Grassley voted against raising the so-called debt ceiling. Finkenauer says that vote is an example of the dysfunction in Washington.

“This is the type of stuff that’s just absolutely ridiculous right now…’Oh my gosh, are Republicans going to do this? Are Democrats going to do this?’ and in the meantime they’re worried about whether they’re going to be able to get their Social Security check or not,” Finkenauer says. Finkenauer says these kind of procedural battles have to stop.

“You’ve got Iowans, you’ve got people across the country watching and they’re going: ‘Wow, this is why Washington, D.C. doesn’t function,'” Finkenauer says. “They want a government that actually works and things like this, obviously, we should be looking at and making sure that we can do the work versus continuing to play politics time and again.” The Senate’s Republican leader has said the G-O-P will not provide the votes to raise the government’s borrowing limit again when the next deadline approaches in December.

Finkenauer says she voted to pay the government’s bills during her term in the U.S. House and will do so again if she’s elected to the U.S. Senate.

(Radio Iowa) – Sioux City police are looking for suspects in a shooting Sunday that left four injured. The shooting happened around 3:30 a-m at a downtown after hours club. Police determined there was a dispute between two groups of people in the club that resulted in gunfire. A man was critically wounded in the chest.

Three other victims showed up later at two local hospitals with gunshot wounds and were treated and released. Police have not released any names and say they are receiving limited cooperation from the victims.

DES MOINES – Today (Monday), Governor Kim Reynolds announced that $200 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding is now available for grants offered through the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) to improve broadband access for Iowans.

Last month, Gov. Reynolds and OCIO announced the awardees of the latest $100 million state-funded Empower Rural Iowa Broadband Grant Program. Due to the overwhelming need and interest in the program – OCIO received 178 applications requesting a total of $300 million – the State of Iowa is using $200 million in federal funds to build upon it.

This new grant program allows communications service providers, including telecommunication companies and local governments, to apply for up to 60 percent of their broadband project costs in eligible areas of the state. Communications service providers are encouraged to apply for a grant to install broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved locations.

“Broadband has never been more important for our future. I continue to hear from Iowans who still lack access to the broadband speeds necessary to start a business, telework, or connect with a healthcare provider,” Gov. Reynolds said. “With this additional investment, we have invested more than $300 million this year alone on bringing future-ready broadband to rural and unserved areas of our state.”

Questions about the opportunity may be submitted to the OCIO beginning on October 15, 2021. Applications may be submitted to the OCIO from October 25, 2021 through November 22, 2021.  Further information about the grant process for this funding opportunity is available on the OCIO website at https://ocio.iowa.gov/empower-rural-iowa-broadband-grant-program-notice-funding-availability-007 

(Mitchellville, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Corrections, Monday, reported the death of a female inmate. Stephanie Leigh Davis was pronounced dead at 2:16 p.m. on Sunday, October 10, 2021 at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women. Davis was 59 years old at the time of her death. An autopsy will be performed.

Davis had been serving a 15-year maximum term for the crimes of Habitual Offender from Dallas County. Her sentence began on September 28, 2020.