(Atlantic, Iowa) — Cass Health’s Senior Life Solutions team is hosting a free community walk in support of National Suicide Prevention Month on Thursday, September 19, 2024, beginning at 6:30 pm at City Park in Atlantic. The event will begin after Produce in the Park has concluded for the evening. The event will kick-off with local speakers. After the program, the walk will take place around the City Park, and the Christmas lights will be on.

Karmen Roland, RN, Program Director of Senior Life Solutions, says “We are so thankful that the city has agreed to turn on the Christmas lights in the park for this event. We hope that it helps catch people’s attention, and that it helps shed light on suicide prevention. Our goal is to raise awareness about signs that can indicate someone is having suicidal thoughts or is possibly in danger of attempting suicide, so that friends, family, and loved ones can intervene and ultimately help prevent suicide from happening.”

If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call 911 immediately. If you are in crisis or are experiencing difficult or suicidal thoughts, call, text, or chat the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

The walk is co-hosted by Healthy Cass County and Cass County Iowa State University Extension. For more information about the walk, call 712-250-8100.

(Sidney, Iowa) – The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office says an 81-year-old man from Sidney was arrested Sept. 13th, on multiple sex-related offenses. Ronald Dean Boyer is charged with:

• 4 counts of Sexual Abuse of a Child 2nd Degree, a Class B Felony
• 1 count of Sexual Abuse 3rd Degree, a Class C Felony
• 5 counts of Incest, a Class D Felony

Boyer was being held in the Fremont County Jail on a $150,000 cash-only bond.

Ronald Dean Boyer

It should be noted that a criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

(Sidney, Iowa) – The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports a woman was arrested Sunday afternoon on numerous felony charges, including Attempted Murder. Authorities say 47-year-old Sylvia Marie Hayes, of Farragut, was taken into custody without incident following an investigation into a reported disturbance in the 1000 block of Essex Avenue, in Farragut, where a woman said she was being assaulted with a baseball bat. The victim was transported to Shenandoah Memorial Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

Sylvia Marie Hayes

During the investigation deputies discovered evidence that Hayes allegedly intended to kill the victim with the baseball bat. Hayes is being held on charges that include:

• Attempted Murder, a Class B Felony
• Willful Injury, causing serious injury, a Class C Felony
• Going Armed with Intent, a Class D Felony
• Domestic Abuse 2nd Degree, an Aggravated Misdemeanor

Hayes was being held without bond, pending initial appearance with a Fremont County Magistrate.

(Sidney, Iowa) – The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports that a little after 7-a.m. Sept. 8th, Deputies arrested 38-year-old Jared William Rye, of Plattsmouth, NE, for multiple offenses near the intersection of 210th Avenue and Highway 2, in Fremont County. Deputies allege Rye rammed a vehicle and then exited his truck while displaying a knife. Rye was placed under arrest with the assistance of the Iowa State Patrol. He was charged with:

• Reckless Driving
• OWI 1st Offense
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
• Possession of a Controlled Substance
• Possession of Marijuana
• Assault while displaying a Dangerous Weapon
• Going Armed With Intent,
• and Introducing a Controlled Substance into a Correctional Facility.
  

  Jared Rye

Rye was being held on a $15,000 cash surety bond at the Fremont County Jail. Others arrested recently in Fremont County:

On Sept. 8th: Jonathan Allen Brink, age 30 of Hamburg, was arrested at 1700 Washington Street for Domestic Abuse, Strangulation. Brink was released on $2,000 cash/surety bond.

On Sept 10th: Tressa Dawn Haughton, age 41 of Hamburg, was remanded to custody pending sentencing on an order from the District Court after a guilty verdict was issued on a case in District Court. She is being held without bond pending sentencing; and, Lynn Ball, age 33 of St Joseph, Missouri, was transferred from the Pottawattamie County Jail for a Probation Violation. She is being held on a $10,000 cash only bond.

On Sept. 14th: Ashley Kay Frost, age 35 of Hamburg, was arrested for Public Intoxication at a gas station in Hamburg. Frost was released on her own recognizance.

It should be noted that a criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty

MARION COUNTY, Iowa — The Marion County Sheriff’s Office says search and rescue teams have found a body near Lake Red Rock believed to be that of a man they have been searching for. The sheriff’s office says cadaver K-9 teams found a body just after 12:30 p.m. Sunday in a wooded area east of 150th Avenue.

They say the body has been sent to the medical examiner to positively identify the man. Officials have been looking for a missing man in that area since late July.

DES MOINES, Iowa — [KCCI] – Two men are dead after a shooting Sunday morning in downtown Des Moines. According to television station KCCI, shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday, foot patrol officers in the Court Avenue Entertainment District heard gunfire near Court Avenue and Water streets.

The officers found three people with gunshot injuries in the 200 block of Water Street. A 29-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other adult men were transported by medics to local hospitals in critical condition. One of them, a 34-year-old man, died later at the hospital.

The two homicides bring the number of homicides this year in the capital city, to 11. Des Moines Police Department says three firearms were recovered at the scene of the shooting. Witnesses told investigators that there was a verbal argument between three men, followed by gunfire.

The shooting remains under investigation. Officials say there is no indication of any outstanding suspects.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Police in Des Moines report two Des Moines Police Department patrol officers are hospitalized after being shot this (Monday) morning (Sept. 16). The suspect is deceased.

Two Des Moines Police Department patrol officers were struck by gunfire. Both officers remain hospitalized and are expected to survive. Des Moines Police Department detectives are investigating this shooting incident. The Iowa Department of Public Safety – Division of Criminal Investigation has been requested to join the investigation.

(Radio Iowa) – Democrats speaking at a weekend rally in Iowa’s largest county say the state will be trending away from Republican dominance toward parity between the two major parties. About 500 people were at the Polk County Democrats Steak Fry fundraiser and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker was the keynote speaker. “It’s time to end the tyranny and cruelty of MAGA Republicans…Can we defeat them?” Pritzker asked and the crowd responded, “Yeah!” before Pritzker continued: “It’s not going to be easy, but it may be one of the most important fights we’ve ever fought.”

Pritzker told reporters on Saturday afternoon that there is “a real chance” Kamala Harris could win Iowa. “Iowa is on the move toward Democrats,” Pritzker said. “…It’s time for a change, so from the state legislature all the way to the congressional candidates, it’s important for people to get out to vote.”

A Des Moines Register “Iowa Poll” released Sunday found women, Iowans under the age of 45 and Iowans with a college degree have more interest in voting now compared to late this spring when Joe Biden was running. The poll shows Harris closing the 18-point gap between Biden and Donald Trump, with Harris four points behind Trump. That gain by Harris may explain why national Democrats — unlike two years ago — are spending money supporting the Democrats running in Iowa’s first and third congressional districts.

Lanon Baccam of Des Moines is challenging Republican Congressman Zach Nunn in the third district. “Folks, we have an opportunity to change the direction of this state,” Baccam told the crowd Saturday. House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst  says after Republicans banned nearly all abortions in Iowa and voted to send millions of state tax dollars to private schools, the issue set for 2024 favors Democrats running for the legislature.

“People in this state are ready for change,” Konfrst said. “I promise you that.” State Auditor Rob Sand says while Governor Kim Reynolds won by double-digits two years ago, three other statewide races and a congressional race were narrowly decided — giving Democrats a chance to flip statehouse and congressional seats from Republicans to Democrats. “As red as the establishment of the Republican Party is, this is still a purple state,” Sand said. “That is the bottom line.”

Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart told the crowd Democrats have a big opportunity to capitalize with Harris at the top of the ticket. Iowa G-O-P chair Jeff Kaufmann said Democrats can fantasize all they want, but the Republican Party of Iowa remains confident about November. Trump won Iowa by 10 points in 2016 and by eight points in 2020. The latest “Iowa Poll” found Trump with 47 percent support in this fall’s survey, conducted from Sunday, September 8th through last Wednesday.

(Iowa News Service) – A new report from AARP Iowa predicts thousands of seniors on Medicare Part D in the state will save money on their prescriptions, thanks to a cap on out-of-pocket expenses set to take effect next year. The limit is part of the Inflation Reduction Act. The report says more than 27,000 Iowans will see their annual out-of-pocket prescription drug costs capped at $2,000.

AARP Iowa’s Advocacy Manager Paige Yontz said right now, some Iowa seniors are forced to use cost-coping strategies – like not filling a prescription or skipping doses – to save money. “On average, people who reach that capped amount are going to see a savings of about $1,500,” said Yontz. “This is something that AARP really fought hard for. We knew that this would provide critical relief for Medicare enrollees here in Iowa.”

The AARP report breaks down the number of seniors who will benefit from the cap by state, age, gender, and race between 2025 and 2029.  Nationwide, the new cap is expected to mean 3.2 million people will see a reduction in prescription drug expenses.  Yontz said the cost of prescription medications is among the biggest concerns Iowa seniors face. She added that the cap will provide some cost certainty for a vulnerable segment of the population.

“Knowing that people aren’t going to pay a dime over $2,000 is just such a financial relief for so many people, regardless of their income level,” said Yontz. “There are just so many people that struggle to make ends meet, when it comes to paying for the drugs that they need.”

The cap on prescription drug costs takes effect the first of next year.