(Radio Iowa) – A site in the basement of a Cedar Rapids school is serving breakfast and lunch to children and adults after Hy-Vee pulled out of their neighborhood. Wellington Heights Neighborhood Association president Eric Gutschmidt says he was proud of local leaders for putting the funding to work during an emergency.

The City of Cedar Rapids, Linn County and Teamsters Local 238 funded the site. Meghan Dittmar manages the school district’s only free meal site which city leaders hope will lessen the blow of the grocery store closing.

The meal site will run until August 16th, one week before school starts. City leaders are actively looking into how to replace the now-closed grocery store.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – On Thursday, July 25th, 2024, the Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors visited the Cass County Fair in Atlantic to learn more about this week’s schedule of events, what the fair has to offer, and the community’s support.

Liz Denney, Fair Food Stand Superintendent and Fair board member, shared about what her different roles are around the fair, which are a year-long commitment. For 27 years, Denney has had the privilege of working in the 4-H Food stand, and she enjoys every moment of it. With the help of two other assistant superintendents, Mike McDermott and Derek Sanny, she helps out by lining up volunteers to run the food stand and explaining the different required duties. Denney also shared about the different lunch specials that the 4-H Food Stand serves such as chicken & noodles on Friday, ham balls or lamb on Saturday, Windsor chops on Sunday, and a roast beef dinner on Monday.

Ambassadors from Left to Right: Kyle Lenderman, Alisha Wagner, Steve Tjepkes, Jennifer McEntaffer, Jim Kickland, Lana Westphalen, Jeremy Butler, Elaine Otte, Dolly Bergmann, Bailey Smith, Scott Bennett, Liz Denny, Krysta Hanson, Julie Waters, Jeff Christensen, Anne Quist, Chirs Parks, Tori Gibson, Bill Saluk, Kelsey Beschorner

Another important aspect that was shared was how important the community’s support to the food stand is, as it helps continue to keep the Cass County Fair free. The Cass County Fair is the only 100% free county fair in the state of Iowa, which is something that the Fair Board and others involved are proud of. The many contributions and generous support to keep the fair the best that it can be is deeply appreciated, as it also helps continue the great nightly entertainment and add improvements to the grounds. New to the fair this year, are two electronic screen TVs in the Food Stand featuring sponsor information, entertainment, show schedules, weather and more. Also new to the Food Stand this year, macaroni and cheese and brisket macaroni and cheese has been added to the menu.

For more information about the Cass County Fair, visit their Facebook page, Cass County Fair – Iowa or call the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132. The Fairgrounds are located at 805 W 10th Street in Atlantic.

(Radio Iowa) – A northeast Iowa hospice center is piloting a new healthcare model for patients with dementia. Cedar Valley Hospice is one of about 400 care facilities nationwide unrolling a new program aimed at improving care for at-home dementia patients. Michaela Vandersee, the Waterloo center’s executive director, says the program’s focus will be a step toward better treatment for rural Iowans.

The program is a new approach to provide both healthcare and reimbursement resources for patients and their in-home caregivers. Vandersee says dementia is all-too common in the region, and support in rural areas has been sparse.

Vandersee estimates an additional 12-hundred patients will be eligible for assistance across the center’s 15-county area, as part of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid’s GUIDE program.

(Grant Leo Winterer, Iowa Public Radio)

(Clarinda, Iowa) – The Page County Sheriff’s Office has released  a report on arrests that took place between July 14th & 25th:

7/14/2024 Dillion Warren Decker (28) of North English Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for violation of probation.
7/16/2024 Jules Lee Daniel Gould (30) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail to serve time. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office.
7/18/2024 Dena Jean West (42) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for theft.
7/18/2024 Blas Rendon Luevanos (23) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for violation of probation. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office.
7/19/2024 Amy Jo Liles (37) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail to serve time.
7/21/2024 Bryan Scott Casey (44) of West Des Moines Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for violation of probation. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office. Arrested at the Polk County Jail.
7/21/2024 Maria Jean Mullenberg (21) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail to serve time.
7/22/2024 Nicholas Alan Haidsiak (39) of Coin Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for disorderly conduct, public intoxication and assault on law enforcement officer.
7/23/2024 Justin Leo Powers (33) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for criminal mischief.

7/24/2024 Amy Jo Liles (37) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail to serve time.
7/25/2024 David Dale Morelock (38 ) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for failure to appear. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office.
7/25/2024 Aaron Dwayne McGinnis (31) of Red Oak Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for OWI.

A charge is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

There were also 18 people cited for Speeding and/or other other traffic/moving violations. Four people were cited for Minor In Possession of alcohol:

• Noah Robert Comer of New Market Iowa.
• Jacob David Earl Cook of Yorktown Iowa.
• Caden Michael Butt of Clarinda Iowa.
• Syndsay Christine Maurer of Corning Iowa.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Friday (today) released a report on arrests that occurred between July 5th and 24th.

On July 24^th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested James Cisar JR., 63, of Atlantic, on a warrant for Harassment 3^rd Degree.  Cisar Jr. was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

On July 23^rd, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Tahni Roberts, 39, of Harlan, on the charge of Public Intoxication.  Roberts was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on her own recognizance.

On July 19^th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jeremy Seufert, 48, of Anita, on the charge of OWI 1^st Offense.  Seufert was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance; Also arrested on the 19th, was 19-year-old Alex Rush, of Griswold, on warrants for Burglary 1^st Degree, Assault Causing Bodily Injury and False Imprisonment.  Rush was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

On July 18^th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Shea M. Young, 35, of Atlantic, on a warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault – 1^st Offense.  Young was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

On July 16^th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Nshimirimana Wilson, 22, of Omaha, NE, on a warrant for another agency’s hold.  Wilson was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond; and, 44-year-old Kantauo Mark, of Atlantic, was arrested on a warrant for Probation Violation.  Mark was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

On July 15^th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Samantha Wehrli, 33, of Atlantic, on a warrant for Failure to Appear.  Wehrli was taken to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release after time served.

On July 12^th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Christopher Klimantas, 35, of Omaha, NE, on warrants for Theft 2^nd Degree and Possession of Theft Detection Removal Device.  Klimantas was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later transfer to another agency.

On July 11^th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Cole Benton, 33, of Hamlin, on a warrant for Failure to Appear.  Benton was transported to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

On July 10^th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Rebecca Klinghammer, 32, of Griswold, on warrants for Child Endangerment and Assault causing Bodily Injury.  Klinghammer was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on her own recognizance.

On July 10^th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Chad Arbuckle, 30, of Elk Horn, on a warrant for Theft 4^th Degree.  Arbuckle was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release.

On July 9^th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Rex McDermott, 57, of Elk Horn, on a warrant for OWI 3^rd or Subsequent Offense.  McDermott was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

On July 5^th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Harley Finazzo, 29, of Omaha, NE, on the charge of Public Intoxication.  Finazzo was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

RED OAK, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) report that at around 10:30-p.m. Thursday, July 25, 2024, the Red Oak Police Department received a call from an individual requesting assistance at an apartment complex on West Reed Street in Red Oak. Responding officers found a 48-year-old male suffering from a stab wound. The victim was medically treated by the Red Oak Fire Department and later transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska for further medical care.

A suspect in the incident, 32-year-old Miguel Ramone Martinez, was taken into custody without incident by the Red Oak Police Department and transported to the Montgomery County Jail.  He faces a charge of Willful Injury, a Class C Felony.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation. This is an ongoing investigation. No additional information will be released at this time.

Note:  A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. 

(Radio Iowa) – The Ankeny-based Casey’s convenience store officially announced the acquisition today (Friday) of 198 stores in the southern U-S that includes 148 in Texas and 50 in Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. . Casey’s is purchasing the CEFCO convenience stores for more than $1.145-BILLION dollars. Casey’s C-E-O Darin Rebelez talked about the purchase in a conference call for investors. “This acquisition will quickly expand Casey’s presence in Texas, a very attractive market for Casey’s, in addition we’ll be able to expand our footprint further into the South as well,” he says.

Casey’s had already owned 22 stores in Texas and will have 29-hundred stores overall once the acquisition is complete. Fikes Wholesale owns the stores and Rebelez says they will fit well with their operation. “Acquisitions this size and strategic fit do not come along very often. And we seize the opportunity to add these large, high quality stores to our network. The fit between fives and cases is outstanding,” Rebelez says. “CEFCO’s large format stores average over 48-hundred square feet. comparable to the news stories at Casey’s builds today.”

He says the Texas stores are mostly in smaller towns in the Dallas to San Antonio to Houston triangle. The Florida stores are mainly in the panhandle area. CEFCO is known for its chicken, and Rebelez says they plan to remodel the kitchens to bring in Casey’s pizza. “CEFCO has done a really nice job of building their own food business and they have kitchens and a lot of their stores, so that should make the integration process go a little smoother for us. But still we see that as our biggest synergy. Fuel it’d be the next largest synergy that we have,” according to Rebelez.

(Casey’s photo)

CEFCO has a fuel terminal that is included in the agreement. Rebelez says the plan is to put the Casey’s name on the stores. “It would be our intention over the next couple of years as we are able to remodel that we would rebrand these stores to Casey’s. There are a handful of stores that have some Q-S-R ours and they’re, they’re under franchise agreements and so we’ll have to navigate that and that’s not unusual,” he says.

Rebelez says they acquisition will help them meet the goal they set in 2023 to expand by 350 stores in half they time they had expected. The acquisition should be completed by the end of this years.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns, today (Friday), said the filing period for candidates for Non-party political organization (NPPO) and Non-Affiliated persons for the upcoming General Election to be held November 5, 2024, are as follows:

• Non-Party candidates and Township Trustees- August 5^th-August 28th
• Soil & Water Commissioners and Agricultural Extension-August 5^th – August 28th
• Hospital Board of Trustees- Anytime with a deadline of Wednesday August 28^th.

County positions open are:

1. Board Of Supervisors District 1, District 4 & District 5
2. County Auditor
3. County Sheriff
4. Edna Township Trustee
5. Union Township Trustee
6. Soil & Water Commissioners (3)
7. Hospital Board of Trustees (3)
8. Ag-Extension (4)

For more information and for the number of signatures required for each office, please contact the Auditor’s office at 712-243-4570. Anyone interested in running as an NPPO or Non-Affiliated candidate or any of the positions listed above for the General Election may pick up Nomination Papers and Affidavits of Candidacy in the Auditor’s Office, located at 5 W 7^th Street, in Atlantic, from 8:00 a.m. till 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or at https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/electioninfo/general/index.html (Iowa Secretary of State website)

Absentee ballot request forms are available online at https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/electioninfo/absenteeinfo.html ( Iowa Secretary of State website) or in the Cass County Auditor’s Office.  The registered voter must request the application form themselves, you may not request on behalf of another registered voter.  Request forms can not be returned to the auditor’s office until August 27, 2024.  Last day to request a ballot to be mailed is Monday, October 21, 2024.

Please contact the Cass County Auditor’s Office with any questions regarding absentee voting or candidate filings.