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Cass County Sheriff’s report on arrests from 10/22-11/9/24

News

November 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Note: The Sheriff’s Office today (Nov. 14th) has issued a correction to their press release, with regard to Crystal Branch. See below)

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on arrests that occurred between Oct. 22nd and Nov. 9th. In order from most recent to the earliest:

On November 9th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested William Edie, 53, of Atlantic, for OWI 2nd Offense.  Edie was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

On November 8th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested James Wharton, 85, of Avoca, for OWI 1st Offense.  Wharton was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

On November 7th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Mikel Erickson, 33, of Omaha, on the charge of Violation of a No Contact Order.  Erickson was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on her own recognizance.

On November 7th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Shawn Assman, 38, of Waukee, on the charge of Indecent Exposure.  Assman turned himself in on the Cass County Warrant, was booked in to jail and subsequently released after posting bond.

On November 7th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Kyle Wilson, 29, of Hancock, on the charge of Driving While Revoked.  Wilson was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

On November 5th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Dajuan Brantley, 36, of Kansas City, KS, on warrants for Theft 1st Degree, Criminal Mischief 1st Degree and Burglary 3rd Degree.  Brantley was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

On November 4th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Michelle Evans, 58, of Bridgewater, on a warrant for Animal Neglect Causing Injury.  Evans was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held.

On November 2nd, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Steven Steele, 67, of Massena, for OWI 1st Offense.  Steele was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

On November 1st, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Julius Lee, 43, of Griswold, on two charges of Sex Offender Registration Violation as well as Child Endangerment.  Lee was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

**On November 13th, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office reported an arrest of Crystal Branch where she was allegedly taken into custody, booked and held pending release after time served.  The Sheriff’s Office is correcting their post to note that Branch was NOT arrested but rather cited into court for the offense.

On October 29th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Barrett Driskill, 39, of Afton, on a warrant for his arrest.  Driskill was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his release to another agency.

On October 28th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Ianangi Kosuo, 31, of Atlantic, on the charges of OWI 1st Offense and Driving While Revoked.  Kosuo was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

On October 24th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Skyanne Christensen, 24, of Atlantic, on a warrant for Theft 2nd Degree.  Christensen was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release to another agency.

On October 22nd, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jon Steckelberg, 55, of Adair, on a warrant for Drug Trafficking.  Steckelberg was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

U.S. Capitol Christmas tree to make stop in Iowa, enroute from Alaska

News

November 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans will have a rare opportunity this week to get an up-close peek at one of the national Christmas trees without having to journey all the way to Washington D-C. Susan DeCourcy, a regional administrator with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, says the 74-foot-long spruce is being trucked more than four-thousand miles cross-country and it’ll make a festive pit stop in central Iowa.

“It’s a 54-year tradition in which there’s 154 national forests that provide a tree for the West Lawn at the U.S. Capitol,” DeCourcy says, “and so this year, the tree is coming from the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. It’s making its way across the country.” The truck carrying the giant tree will stop at the Bass Pro Shops along Interstate 80 in Altoona on Friday from 11 A-M to 1 P-M.

Photo courtesy of the Truckload Carriers Association

“People are going to be able to sign the side of the trailer that it’s on,” DeCourcy says, “and they’ll be able to see the massiveness of it.” In addition to seeing the tree, DeCourcy says staff from the N-H-T-S-A will be on hand to talk with folks about highway safety. “This is the time when people are going to start making travel plans, and we really want to make sure that people are traveling safely,” she says. “We’re going to take this opportunity to interact with people and share traffic safety messages with them.”

That will include topics like child car seats, teenage drivers, bicycle safety and pedestrian safety. The event is free.

Carroll Named Big 12 Wrestler of the Week

Sports

November 13th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Ames, Iowa – Iowa State 197-pounder Christian Carroll has been named the Big 12 Wrestler of the Week, the league office announced Wednesday. It marks the first Big 12 weekly honor by a Cyclone this season and the first of Carroll’s young career.

Carroll, in his collegiate dual debut, earned a top-15 win over Stanford’s No. 13 Nick Stemmet on Friday.

The redshirt freshman exploded for two takedowns in the opening minute of the match to set an early tone, and added a reversal and a third takedown in the second period, to secure a comfortable 11-7 decision over Stemmet.

The win moved Carroll up in several wrestling outlets’ rankings, most notably, in FloWrestling’s where he went from unranked to the No. 13 197-pounder nationally.

Iowa State is back in action Friday, Nov. 15 against Navy in Hilton Coliseum at 7 p.m.

Cyclone Men’s Basketball Signs Four

Sports

November 13th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger announced Wednesday the signings of four preps for the 2025-26 season. The fourth signing day under Otzelberger, the class ranks as the best in school history. It is the second time in four recruiting cycles that Otzelberger has turned in a Top 10 class in the country.

The Cyclones signed Macari Moore (6-3 | Guard | Ann Arbor, Mich. | Huron), Xzavion Mitchell (6-6 | Forward | Oshkosh, Wis. | Oshkosh North), Jamarion Batemon (6-3 | Guard | Milwaukee, Wis. | Milwaukee Academy of Science) and Killyan Toure (6-3 | Guard | Pamiers, France | Brewster Academy).

The class is rated No. 8 nationally by 247sports and Rivals and No. 9 by ESPN. It is the top ranked class in the Big 12 by all three organizations.

Moore was the first to commit to the class, ranking as a Top 25 guard by 247sports and Rivals. He is ranked No. 134 overall by 247sports and is the second-ranked player from Michigan in the class. He helped Huron to a 23-5 record as a junior, which included a trip to the state semifinals. He played for The Family on the Nike EYBL Circuit this past summer. He led Huron to the district title with the go-ahead basket in overtime, a game in which he scored his 1,000th career point.

“Macari gets in the paint, making plays for himself and his teammates,” Otzelberger said. “He is a physical, downhill playmaking guard. He takes tremendous pride in being a physical, on-ball defender and he can rebound the basketball well from the guard position. He’ll make an immediate impact on our program with his character and work ethic.”

Mitchell is a consensus four-star recruit by 247sports, Rivals and ESPN. He is the 11th highest-ranked signee for Iowa State in the modern era. Mitchell is ranked No. 55 by Rivals, No. 70 by ESPN and No. 129 by 247sports. He is a Top 25 forward by 247sports and Rivals, while 247sports ranks him the No. 4 player in Wisconsin. He played for Team Herro on the Nike EYBL Circuit this past summer, while also participating in the NBPA Top 100 Camp. He was named the Nike EYBL Session II MVP, averaging 28.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game.

“Xzavion is a versatile, big wing who has the ability to attack off the dribble,” Otzelberger said. “He has mismatch ability and can really help facilitate offense. He’s somebody that has been a great rebounder and defensively he has tremendous versatility with an ability to guard all positions on the floor. He’ll make an immediate impact on our program with his toughness and consistency.”

Batemon is a consensus four-star recruit by 247sports, Rivals and ESPN. He is the sixth-highest-ranked signee for Iowa State in the modern era. Batemon is ranked No. 41 by 247sports, No. 63 by ESPN and No. 92 by Rivals. He is the top-ranked player in Wisconsin from 247sports, while also ranking as the No. 5 guard in the country. He played for Power 5 on the Adidas 3SSB Circuit, averaging 22.2 points per game. He was 7-of-11 from downtown in a 92-77 win over Compton Magic.

“Jamarion has great long-range ability but is also terrific at attacking the closeout and getting downhill as a playmaker,” Otzelberger added. “He’s an elite scoring guard, who has range as soon as he steps on the court. He takes tremendous pride in guarding the basketball and picking guys up full court. He’ll make an immediate impact on our program with his discipline and daily focus.”

The latest Cyclone from Brewster Academy, Toure is originally from Pamiers, France. With his recent arrival to the United States, Toure is not in any national rankings, but is listed as a three-star recruit by Rivals. He played in the French ProA U21 League, averaging 10.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists for ASVEL Basket Lyon-Villeurbanne. He also participated in the 2023 NBA Basketball Without Borders Europe, where he earned Defensive MVP honors.

“Killyan is a dynamic, open court playmaking guard,” Otzelberger said. “He’s somebody who operates best in transition, seeing the play a step ahead. He takes tremendous pride in guarding the basketball and being disruptive. He’s proven to defend at a high level and has the maturity of playing high-level basketball overseas. His work habits and maturity will help him make an immediate impact on our program.”

Kaleb Johnson Named Walter Camp Semifinalist

Sports

November 13th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa junior running back Kaleb Johnson has been named a semifinalist for the 2024 Walter Camp National Player of the Year award, it was announced Wednesday by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

Johnson, who is also a Maxwell semifinalist, is having a record-breaking year for the Hawkeyes. He has tallied a school-record 126 points this season, via a school-record 21 total touchdowns. Johnson (6-foot-0, 212-pounds) has rushed for 20 scores, which ties Shonn Greene’s single-season record set in 2008. Johnson has rushed for 1,328 yards in 10 games in 2024, the second-most in the country and seventh most in program history.

The native of Hamilton, Ohio, has scored at least one touchdown in 10 straight games — the longest stretch in school history. He has seven games this season with two or more rushing touchdowns, believed to be the most in a single season in program history.

Former Hawkeyes CB Desmond King and QB Brad Banks were finalists for the prestigious awards in 2015 and 2002, respectively.

Semifinalist voting for the Maxwell Award begins today and will close on Nov. 23. Three finalists for each award will be announced on Nov. 26 and a finalist round of voting will take place at that time. Eligible voters include Maxwell Football Club members, NCAA head football coaches, sports information directors and selected national media.

The Walter Camp Player of the Year will be voted on by the 134 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors later this month. Three finalists will be announced on Nov. 26, and the 58th recipient of the Walter Camp Player of Year award will be announced on Dec. 12.

Iowa (6-4, 4-3) returns to action Saturday, Nov. 23 at Maryland. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. (CT) in College Park, Maryland. The game will be televised on BTN and broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network.

Kaleb Johnson | National Rankings
Total Touchdowns: 2nd (21)
Rushing Yards Per Game: 2nd (132.8)
Rushing Touchdowns: 3rd (20)
Total Points scored: 3rd (126)
Rush Yards Per Carry: 6th (7.06)
All-Purpose Yards: 8th (143.7)

Kaleb Johnson | 2024 Honors
Maxwell Award Semifinalist
Walter Camp National POY Semifinalist
Doak Walker Watch List
CBS Sports, Sporting News, The Athletic Midseason All-America
Doak Walker National RB of the Week (Sept. 24)
Big Ten Co-Offensive POW (Sept. 23)
Big Ten Offensive POW (Nov. 4)
Senior Bowl Co-Offensive National POW (Oct. 14)
UI September Male Athlete of the Month

Women’s Basketball Inks Two in 2025 Recruiting Class

Sports

November 13th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State women’s basketball and head coach Bill Fennelly announced Wednesday the signing of Class of 2025 members Reese Beaty and Freya Jensen. Beaty hails from Jamestown, Tennessee while Jensen is an international recruit from Denmark.

“We are excited to add Reese and Freya to the Cyclone women’s basketball family,” said Fennelly. “They provide more skill and versatility to add to our roster for next season.”

Reese Beaty · Guard · 5-8 · Jamestown, Tenn. (York Institute)
Beaty was the second-ranked prospect out of Tennessee for her class. A two-time team captain, Beaty has helped York Institute to an 87-17 record in the last three seasons with three appearances at the State Tournament, including a 2022 runner-up finish. As a junior, the point guard averaged 17.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Beaty is a multi-sport athlete for York Institute as well, claiming state titles in the shot put (2022, 2023) and discus (2023) and setting a TSSAA Class A State record in the shot with a mark of 42-9.25.

Fennelly on Beaty…
“Reese fits what we look for in a point guard. She is a talented player who has the toughness to play in a leadership role.”

Freya Jensen · Guard · 5-10 · Risskov, Denmark (Risskov Gymnasium)
Jensen is a two-year starter and a three-year player as she enters her fourth year for the Aabyhoj IF Senior Women’s Team. She has helped her team to a 4-1 start this season. Jensen was named “Young Talent of the Year” in the best Danish league in 2024. Competing for the 2024 U18 European Championship, Jensen averaged 16.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game while shooting a 35 percent clip from behind the arc. She has helped her team to championships at the 2024 Lundaspelen Tournament, the 2022 and 2023 Göteborg Tournaments and the 2023 Scania Tournament. She was named the MVP at each tournament.

Fennelly on Jensen…
“Freya is an outstanding shooter and scorer at all levels. She has played a lot of basketball at a high level internationally as well.”

Iowa State safety Jeremiah Cooper on preparations for Cincinnati

Sports

November 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Iowa State safety Jeremiah Cooper says there is a sense of urgency as the Cyclones prepare for Saturday night’s game at home against Cincinnati. After starting the season 7-0 the Cyclones have dropped games to Texas Tech and Kansas.

The ISU defense was steamrolled in the first half against Kansas and communication issues were a reason.

Cooper says led by quarterback Brendan Sorsby says Cincinnati has a dangerous offense.

With the finish line of a long regular season in sight Cooper says the key is taking care of your body and trying to stay fresh.

Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield previews Iowa State

Sports

November 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield says the Bearcats must protect the football Saturday night at Iowa State. Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby threw an interception and fumbled twice in last week’s loss to West Virginia.

Satterfield says the Bearcats hope to get the run game going to open up the pass game.

Former Cyclone linebacker coach Tyson Veidt is in his first season as Cincinnati’s defensive coordinator and has installed the 3-3-5 defense. Satterfield says the similarities don’t end there.

Iowa DC Phil Parker on the Hawkeyes’ struggling defense

Sports

November 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

When the Iowa coaches break down what has been a disappointing season they can start with a veteran defense that has underachieved. Hit by the big play early in the season the run defense has withered on the road. In the last three road games opponents have averaged just under 209 yards on the ground and only punted a total of three times.

That’s Hawkeye defensive coordinator Phil Parker. Poor tackling has been a big issue against the run and on the edge.

Parker says the Hawkeyes have done a better job limiting explosive plays but chunk plays are an issue.

Parker admits the expectations were high for the defense coming into the season.

The Hawkeyes are 6-4 and return to action at Marylande on November 23rd.

Thomas Baer, MD Receives Iowa Family Physician of the Year Award

News

November 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa)  – Officials with the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital & Clinics in Red Oak, have announced Dr. Thomas Baer, a dedicated family physician from Malvern, has been honored as the 2024-2025 Iowa Family Physician of the Year by the Iowa Academy of Family Physicians. The award was presented during the installation and awards ceremony held on November 7 at Prairie Meadows Event Center. The Iowa Family Physician of the Year award is presented to one outstanding physician in Iowa who best exemplifies the tradition of the family doctor and epitomizes the finest standards of family medicine.

Dr. Baer graduated from the University of Iowa College of Medicine in 1989 and completed his residency at the Lincoln Medical Education Foundation in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1992. He currently serves the Malvern community.

Dr. Thomas Baer is presented with the 2024-2025 Iowa Family Physician of the Year award by the Iowa Academy of Family Physicians.

One nomination letter praised Dr. Baer’s deep commitment to his patients and his innovative approach to overcoming healthcare barriers: “Dr. Baer understands the challenges of accessing healthcare and will do whatever is necessary to address it. He noticed that some patients struggled to come in during the week, so he opened his clinic for two additional days each month to accommodate those who could not visit during regular hours. Dr. Baer’s dedication extends beyond the clinic; he is an advocate for community involvement, recognizing that a strong community contributes significantly to the well-being of its members. Dr. Thomas Baer is not just a physician; he is an integral part of the Malvern community.”

Family physicians like Dr. Baer undergo extensive training beyond medical school, which includes a three-year residency and comprehensive education in various aspects of medicine. This training equips them to care for patients at every stage of life and in diverse areas, including pediatrics, geriatrics, internal medicine, psychiatry, surgery, obstetrics, gynecology, and community medicine.

The Iowa Academy of Family Physicians, representing over 1,700 members, is a constituent chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians, which is one of the largest medical specialty societies in the United States with a membership of more than 129,000 family physicians, family medicine residents, and medical students.