Trent Casey was diagnosed in March with Pre B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).  On July 29^th, Trent celebrated his “rebirthday” which signifies the day of his blood stem cell transplant. Trent and his family feel so fortunate that were able to find a matched donor for Trent right away, and now to give that gift to other patients in need! The Be The Match Registry is the national blood stem cell and bone marrow transplant registry that matches patients in need with willing donors! Over 70% of patients do not have a matched donor in their family, and thus must rely on strangers joining the Be The Match Registry to offer hope and the chance for a cure.

Trent Casey (in the blue, seen here with his family)

Joining the registry is free, simple, and fast. If you are 18-44 years old, you can visit my.bethematch.org/CaseyStrong or text “CaseyStrong” to 61474 to register and learn more!! The Casey family and friends are hosting a benefit golf tournament and live auction for Trent and his family with a live auction on July 11^th, 2021 at the Griswold Golf and Country Club.

For thousands of patients with life-threatening diseases, such as Leukemia and Lymphoma, a marrow transplant from an unrelated donor is their best or only hope for a cure.  These patients depend on the national Be The Match Registry to find a match – and a second chance at life.  While many patients do find the life-saving match they need each year, currently there are Iowans in need of a transplant who have no matched donor.  They are waiting for someone new to register.  More donors are needed to help increase the likelihood that all patients will find a match.

A simple cheek swab is all that is needed to determine if you could be the one to save one of the thousands of patients in need of a bone marrow or blood stem cell transplant.  You’ll only be contacted if you’re a match for someone in need.  We are seeking 18-44 year olds, in good health, that are willing to donate to any one in need to come out and join the Be The Match Registry. This event is open to the public.

If anyone is interested in registering but cannot attend the donor drive in honor of Trent, you can join the registry online at my.bethematch.org/CASEYSTRONG. A swab kit will be mailed to your home with instructions and a confirmation sent to you once completed.

ABOUT BE THE MATCH AND THE IOWA MARROW DONOR PROGRAM

Be The Match is the national blood stem cell and bone marrow transplant registry. This registry matches patients in need with willing and life-saving donors to cure over 80 different diseases like Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Sickle Cell Anemia. The Iowa Marrow Donor Program (IMDP) is Iowa’s Donor center for Be The Match. IMDP works with Iowan patients and donors to facilitate bone marrow and blood stem cell donations and to also recruit new potential donors to the Be The Match Registry. The Iowa Marrow Donor Program is located at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.

CRESTON, Iowa – July 8, 2021 – The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston Construction Office reports a bridge deck and joint repair project on U.S 34 west of Red Oak between Iowa 48 and Montgomery County Road M-37 will require reducing traffic to one lane controlled with temporary traffic signals beginning on Monday, July 19, until Nov. 4, weather permitting.

Work will begin on the westbound lane of U.S. 34. A 15-foot height limit and 10-foot width limit restriction will be in place during this project.

(Radio Iowa) – A Webster County woman and her boy are home safe. Twenty-five-year-old Maria Towne and her three-year-old son Nylez Styler Towne of Moorland were reported missing July 1st. A family member posted on social media saying the boy had been originally turned over to DHS early Wednesday morning but by late Wednesday morning was safe with his family.

The family member went on to say, “I hope Maria gets the help she needs.” The post then commended the Gowrie Police Department for its help. The Gowrie PD issued an update Wednesday confirming both the mother and son were found safe and they thanked the public for their assistance.

(Radio Iowa) – An Ankeny man arrested after cleaning staff saw guns and ammunition in his hotel room in downtown Chicago proposed to the woman who picked him up from jail. Thirty-two-year-old Keegan Casteel has been charged with two felony counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.

A hotel employee called police on the 4th of July after seeing a rifle and a semi-automatic pistol on the window sill of Casteel’s room. The 12th floor window overlooks Chicago’s popular Navy pier on Lake Michigan. Casteel was released after posting bond and video broadcast by Chicago TV station WLS shows Casteel, who was wearing a Kum N Go t-shirt, kneeling and making what appears to be a proposal to the woman who picked him up.

The couple did not speak to reporters and drove away.

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Dallas County was arrested on numerous charges Saturday morning, in Stuart. Guthrie County dispatch received a call at around 5:05-a.m., from a woman who locked herself and her eight-month old child in a vehicle, with the woman’s boyfriend banging on the windows. When a Deputy arrived, the woman explained she and her boyfriend, 33-year-old Triston Michael Ladwig, of Waukee, had gotten into a verbal argument earlier in the morning, so she came to the home of her mother, in Stuart.

Triston Michael Ladwig (Guthrie Co. S/O photo)

She had called 911 earlier that same morning, because Ladwig allegedly broke into the house and that he had left. The man returned though, and allegedly caused about $300 damage to the exterior back door and interior bedroom door. He also allegedly took her cell phone when she tried to call 911. A mutual friend had dropped Triston Ladwig off at the residence, and was still in the driveway. When Triston reportedly left on foot with the woman’s phone, she locked herself-into the friend’s vehicle and used their phone to call 911.

Eventually, Ladwig was located back inside the residence, and was taken into custody. He admitted to using force to enter the residence and to taking the phone from his girlfriend. He also admitted the residence was not his, and that he did not belong there. Ladwig faces charges that include:

• Domestic Abuse
• Burglary in the 2nd Degree
• Theft in the 3rd Degree
• Child Endangerment
• Obstruction of Emergency Communications, and
• Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree.

He was released from the Guthrie County Jail July 5th, on a $9,000 surety bond.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Thursday, issued a report on arrests dating from June 28th through July 8th. Early this (Thursday) morning (7/8), 37-year-old Brad Michael Young, of Council Bluffs was arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 191, outside of Portsmouth.  Upon further investigation, Young was charged with Operating while intoxicated 1st offense, open container driver, failure to have valid driver’s license, controlled substance violation, failure to affix drug tax stamp, and prohibited act penalties.  He was transported to the jail and held on a $13,300 cash/surety bond.

This past Tuesday, two male subjects were arrested following a traffic stop along the 1400 block of Highway 191.  Authorities say 27-year-old James Andrew Eugene Cross, of Elk Horn NE, and 21-year-old Marc Anthony Aviles, of Omaha NE, were taken into custody after the K-9 unit was deployed and narcotics were found.   Cross was charged with two counts of possession of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful possession of prescription pills, and felon in possession of a firearm.  Cross was being held in the Shelby County Jail on a $5,000 cash/surety bond. Aviles was charged with possession of controlled substance and was being held on a $2,000 cash/surety bond.

On Monday: 56-year-old Michael Allen Pitt, of Logan, was arrested following a traffic stop along Highway 59 south of Highway 37. Upon further investigation, Pitt was taken into custody for possession of drug paraphernalia. He later posted a $300 cash bond, was and given a future court date.; 58-year-old Robert James Allmon, of Harlan, was also arrested Monday, following a traffic stop along Highway 44 and Oak Rd.  Allmon was charged with two counts of possession of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and prohibited act penalties.  He was released from the Shelby County Jail the following morning, after posting the required $4,300 surety bond.

On Independence Day, 40-year-old Bryan Christopher Heller, of Avoca, was arrested in Shelby County following a call for a disturbance between two parties.   Upon further investigation, Heller was charged with Domestic abuse assault, driving while barred habitual offender, possession of drug paraphernalia, and operation vehicle without consent.   Heller being held in the Shelby County Jail on a $4300 cash/surety bond. Last Saturday, 33-year-old Joshua Adam Derengowski, of Shelby, was arrested following a call for a disturbance between a male and female party in Shelby.  Upon further investigation it was determined that Derengowski had allegedly assaulted a woman, causing her to lose consciousness.  He was charged with felony domestic abuse with strangulation and was transported to the jail, where remains held on a $20,000 cash/surety bond.

June 29th, 42-year-old Curtis Reinold Schutt, of Panama, was arrested following a call to Highway 191 south of Portsmouth for an accident between a tractor and car.   Upon further investigation it was determined the operator of the car was found to be intoxicated. Schutt was charged with operating while intoxicated 2nd offense. He was taken to jail without incident and held under bond until he was able to post the required $2000 surety bond and given a future court date.

And, on June 28th, two females were arrested following a traffic stop near F-32 and Peach Road in Shelby County.   19-year-old Haley Marie Briggs and 41-year-old Lisa Marie Briggs were taken into custody.   Lisa Briggs was charged with two counts of possession of Controlled substance, prohibited acts, possession of drug paraphernalia. Haley Briggs was charged with prohibited acts, operating while intoxicated 1st offense, possession of controlled substance, operating a non-registered vehicle, and no financial liability.  Both women were transported to the Shelby County Jail and released the following morning on their own recognizance. Lisa Briggs will be continue to be held in jail for failure to serve a past due 20-day jail mittimus.

(Atlantic, Iowa – 8:a.m.) – This past fourth of July weekend, there were numerous displays of fireworks across the City of Atlantic, some of them quite spectacular. Others were not so impressive, such as the City’s paid fireworks display July 4th near the Little League Complex across from KJAN. By most accounts, the display lasted less than 15-minutes. Mayor Dave Jones addressed the matter, and complaints about citizen displays infringing on the rights of their neighbors, during Wednesday’s meeting of the Atlantic City Council.

Jones said the Atlantic Volunteer Fire Department is NOT responsible for fireworks. J&M Displays is responsible. Fire Department personnel were simply on-hand in case something went wrong. With all the displays taking place around town, Councilman Dick Casady was a bit confused as to which display he saw had been sponsored by the City.

Councilperson Grace Garrett was among those who thought the City sponsored display was “pretty short.” Councilman Gerald Brink asked why the display the City paid for was so short. City Clerk Barb Barrick said they were expecting more than what they got. Fire Chief Tom Cappel, she said, concurred.

Brink said, “If it’s not adequate, we should do something to at least make the show decent.” Mayor Jones said the City should draft a letter to the company who was hired to shoot-off the fireworks expressing our disappointment, and have the Fire Chief send it to J&M Displays. Councilman Jim Behrens suggested there may have been an issue with the computer-controlled display. In years past, fireworks were set-off manually, he said, making the show seem longer. Computer controls can last as long as needed, but if there was an issue with the programming, it could have set them off in rapid fire, instead of a more normal pattern.

Behrens said at the Fire Department meeting Tuesday night, they discussed other issues that popped up the Sunday night at the Little League Complex, as well as matters pertaining to the Wild Willy’s Fireworks Demonstration event on June 12th. The issues boiled down to a lack of communication.

He said “Next year we need to take a deeper look into allowing somebody to shoot fireworks off on City property.” With regard to Parks and Rec Department personnel being on-hand Sunday night, Behrens said they apparently were not asked to be there.