The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest last week of a Nebraska man. 29-year old Jairo Cervantes, of Omaha, NE, was arrested Nov. 6th on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Cervantes was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $5,000 bond.

And, Cass County Deputies responded to a two-vehicle accident at around 3-p.m., Nov. 10th. The collision occurred near the intersection of 590th Street and Eastland Road. Officials say a 2009 International truck with a manure spreader box mounted on the rear driven by 51-year old Mitchell Kleen, of Marne, was eastbound on Eastland Road and left the stop sign. Kleen didn’t seeing an approaching 2000 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 18-year old Cole Allen Bruns, of Elk Horn, who was traveling northbound on 590th Street.

Bruns’ vehicle struck the right side dual tires. No injuries were reported.  Damage to Kleen’s vehicle is estimated at $1,000; damage to Bruns’ vehicle is estimated at $10,000.  Kleen was cited for Failure to Yield.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports four recent arrests. Sunday night, Joshua Kenneth Wolcott, of Red Oak, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense, No SR-22 Insurance, and Driving Under Suspension. His bond was set at $3,300. Saturday morning, 49-year old Bryan William Storm, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Violation of Probation and OWI/2nd offense. His bond was set at $2,000. Last Thursday afternoon, 33-year old Dustin Lee Lingerfelt, of Tarkio, MO., was arrested at the Pott. Countyu Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Providing False Information, Fugitive from Justice, Theft in the 2nd Degree and Burglary in the 2nd Degree. His bond was set at $15,600.  Also arrested at the Pott. County Jail, Thursday, was 41-year old William Edward Frazier,Sr.  He was taken into custody on a Mills County warrant for Probation Violation. Bond was set at $5,000.

And, no injuries were reported following an accident Saturday morning, in Mills County. Sheriff’s officials say a 1999 Jeep driven by 75-year old Beverly Golden, of Council Bluffs, was traveling south on 221st Street and went out of control on the wet pavement as it came around a curve. A 2012 Toyota driven by Gregory Schultz, of Glenwood, was traveling north in the same area. As the Jeep came into his lane, Schultz tried to avoid the collision, but the left rear of the Jeep collided with the left side of the Toyota.

Afterward, the Toyota entered the east ditch and crashed through a fence. Schultz was able to drive his vehicle back on the correct side of the fence. The Jeep came to rest on the west side, about 50-yards off the roadway. The Toyota had damage to both sides of the vehicle. No citations were issued.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Facebook has chosen Des Moines as one of 30 cities for a program that helps equip small businesses with digital skills. The Des Moines Register reports that the program will help businesses build their digital presence on the social media giant.

Facebook officials say the company has invested $1 billion into supporting small businesses since 2011. In 2016, it offered similar training for small businesses in Iowa City and Altoona, where it operates a $1.5 billion data center. Aneesh Raman, who works on Facebook’s policy team, says the company’s goal is to have a lasting impact on the businesses that receive guidance. Raman says most of the 70 million businesses with a Facebook presence are small and medium firms.

Numerous 9-1-1 calls about a person driving on the wrong side of the road Sunday night in Red Oak led authorities to a disoriented, elderly woman. Red Oak Police say they were notified at around 5:45-p.m. about the 2003 Ford Taurus driving on the wrong side of the road at N. 8th and Elm Streets. Their report said people were having to drive up onto the curb to avoid a collision. Police found the vehicle driving on the wrong side of the road near 8th and Coolbaugh Streets. They stopped the driver, 90-year old Aline Fern Ecternach, of Red Oak, who did not remember driving on the wrong side of the road, and mentioned she does not normally drive at night.

Officers noticed damage to the left front side of her car, and that her side view mirror was broken off. They drove the woman home. Dispatch later advised 28-year old Chad Allen Hanseling, of Red Oak, reported a hit and run involving his 2006 Dodge Charger. Police asked Ecternach if she remembers hitting a vehicle, but she did not. She said she may have passed out for a minute, though. Hanseling advised Police that he was traveling north on N. 8th Street as he was passing Reed Street. He noticed the wrong way car and pulled over as far as possible to avoid it and even stopped, but the Taurus continued into his lane and struck his Dodge.

Damage from the collision amounted to $1,800.  The report showed no citations were issued.

Shelby County Emergency Management officials report the Fire Danger level in the County will remain MODERATE this week, at least through Thursday morning, when the next report comes out. Persons planning a controlled burn of brush, fields or other field/ditch type material, should notify their local Fire Chief.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former Iowa assistant attorney general plans to challenge the Republican state auditor in next year’s midterm elections. Rob Sand, a Democrat who served with Attorney General Tom Miller between 2010 and earlier this year, announced his candidacy for state auditor Monday against incumbent Mary Mosiman.

Sand gained attention in the AG’s office for prosecuting a jackpot scandal that involved a former lottery programmer admitting to rigging computers that enabled him to pick winning numbers in several lottery games. Sand also prosecuted fraud related to the state’s film making tax credit program. Mosiman was appointed state auditor in 2013 following the resignation of former State Auditor David Vaudt. She was elected to a full four-year term the following year.

A hearing is set to take place 1:30-p.m. in Red Oak, for a man accused in a fatal Red Oak shooting. Online court records show the attorney for 39-year old Kevin Duane Staley, of Red Oak, filed a motion last week on his behalf, asking for a change of venue. The attorney cited extensive media coverage surrounding the case. Staley is charged with Voluntary Manslaughter in connection with the October 11th, fatal shooting of 27-year old Devin Alexander Davis, of Villisca. Records indicate Staley is claiming self-defense.

Red Oak Police Department were called to the 200 block of East Grimes Street at around 4:17 a.m. on October 11th, for deceased person. Their initial investigation determined Davis died from a single gunshot wound. A more in-depth investigation revealed Staley had been in a confrontation with Davis earlier in the morning that culminated in the shooting. Later that same day, a  search was executed at Staley’s home and he was placed under arrest.

He remains in the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on a $100,000 cash bond.

A call to authorities about an armed robbery in Harlan early this (Monday) morning, resulted in the arrest of a man for making a false report. Harlan Police say 45-year old Richard Green, of Harlan, an employee of the Settle Inn and Suites was arrested for 4th Degree Theft and False Reporting. His bond was set at $1,000. Harlan Police and Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to the business a little after 3-a.m. today (Monday), where an armed robbery was said to have occurred.

Green told authorities he was robbed at gunpoint and the robber had fled the area. Authorities set up a perimeter and deployed the Cass County K-9.  During an interview, Green’s story changed and he confessed to taking the money, which he put inside his coat. He also admitted making up a story about the armed robbery.

A company that makes wind blades in central Iowa will begin manufacturing bus bodies as well, adding hundreds of jobs. T-P-I Composites started producing wind blades in Newton nearly 10 years ago. Now, Newton Development Corporation Executive Director Frank Liebl says they’ll be making composite bus bodies for California-based Proterra, Incorporated. “Fortunately, for Newton, TPI decided to open a second facility. They’ll be leasing about 100,000 square feet at the former Maytag Plant Two,” Liebl says.

The supply agreement requires TPI to provide Proterra with up to 3,350 bus bodies over a five-year period. The Newton bus manufacturing operation is expected to be up and running in the first half of next year with 75-to-100 employees.”Eventually, the plan calls for three-year employment numbers that will exceed 350,” Liebl says.

T-P-I currently employs nearly 1,100 people in Newton at the plant that makes wind blades. Liebl says the bus bodies will be taken by semi to Proterra factories in South Carolina and California to be finished out. Proterra designs and manufactures battery-electric vehicles.

(Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office will be closed on Friday, November 17th, from 8 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for training purposes. It will re-open at 1:00 p.m. and stay open until 4:30 p.m.