Although the Cass County Democratic Party’s Headquarters has been open since August 29th, a Grand Opening is scheduled for Saturday, September 17th, beginning at 2 PM at 511 Chestnut in Atlantic, according to Sherry Toelle, County Chair. Toelle says she has “Invited all the Democratic Party candidates who will be appearing on the county’s ballot in November. Hillary Clinton’s campaign plans to send a surrogate for her. Patty Judge, Jim Mowrer, and Matt Paladino have been invited but their schedules have yet to be finalized for September.

Dana Kunze, candidate for the Cass County Board of Supervisors, District 4, and Scott Heldt, candidate for the Iowa House District 20, have confirmed their attendance. Snacks and refreshments will be served from 2-until 4-p.m.,” Toelle said.

The Democratic Party Headquarters will be open on weekdays from 10-a.m. until 5-p.m., and on weekends from noon-to 4-p.m. through Election Day. Campaign materials and signs for the Democratic candidates will be available as will voter registration and absentee ballot request forms.  Toelle says the County Democratic Party “Will also be having a Food Drive so, should folks wish to participate, they can bring canned goods and/or other non-perishable food items to HQ on the 17th or at other times. Also needed are paper goods, soaps and detergents, personal hygiene items, and other items that folks in need may be able to use.”

Toelle said also, “Depending on the number of items donated,” they will provide donated goods to several food banks around the county.

Police in Red Oak, Thursday night, arrested a woman on a felony, 2nd degree Theft charge for the alleged theft of a motor vehicle. 18-year old Dakota Lynn Girouex, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 8:15-p.m. and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where her cash bond was set at $5,000.

The Iowa State Patrol says a flatbed load of aluminum spilled onto Interstate 29 Thursday morning during an accident in Harrison County. A 2010 Peterbilt semi driven by 33-year old Tiras Prothro, of Chicago, IL, was traveling north on I-29 at around 5:25-a.m., when the rig veered to the left and went out of control. The semi entered the median and rolled onto its side. A load of aluminum being hauled by the rig was tossed onto the southbound lanes of I-29 when the accident occurred.

The trailer, which tipped over and came to rest across both northbound lanes on I-29, was hit broadside by a 1999 Peterbilt semi. No injuries were reported.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Three Iowa men face charges after state conservation officers say they unlawfully harvested ginseng root from state property. Court records show Kyle Jones and Brent Jones, both of Slater, and Bart Bollie of Madrid, were charged Tuesday with fifth-degree theft, unlawful possession of wild ginseng root from state land and unlawful possession of young wild ginseng.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A deputy Iowa prison warden who was fired in March has been reinstated and awarded $40,000 in back pay, a raise and additional vacation and sick time. The Iowa Department of Corrections fired Michael Kane as deputy warden of the maximum-security prison in Anamosa for alleged rules violations that haven’t been released. But the state reversed its decision last month. Kane, who appealed his firing, says he’s “glad for the outcome.”

CHARITON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a pilot has been found dead after the crash of his plane in northwestern Lucas County. The Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Thursday that the pilot had been flying alone. The Sheriff’s Office says it had been advised Wednesday afternoon by air traffic control in Des Moines that radar contact with the private plane had been lost. The plane wreckage was found around 5:30 p.m.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The American Indian tribe challenging an oil pipeline that would cross four states has some legal advantages in a courtroom, particularly the tribe’s status as a sovereign nation with long ties to the land in question. But stopping a major project like the Dakota Access pipeline after construction has begun is difficult. And even if the Standing Rock Sioux win in federal court, the end result might simply be an altered route.

SHELDON, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Department of Natural Resources investigators are investigating a fish kill along the Little Floyd River near Sheldon in northwest Iowa. The kill was reported Wednesday afternoon and initially appeared to involve a small number of fish. But a news release Thursday from the department says further investigation indicates the kill stretched at least three miles and involved hundreds of fish — mostly small chubs, minnows and suckers.

Police in Council Bluffs are investigating an incident of shots fired. Authorities say at around 8:08-a.m. Officers with the Council Bluffs Police Department responded to  the 100 block of Grant Street for a report of gunshots. Upon arrival officers discovered shell casings lying in the street in front of 140 Grant Street.

No known injuries or property damage resulted from the incident, which remains under investigation by the Criminal Investigation Division. Anyone with any information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers (712) 328-7867 or Criminal Investigation Division (712) 328-4728.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports three central Iowa men were charged with theft for allegedly harvesting ginseng roots on state managed lands along the Des Moines River valley over the Labor Day Weekend. Officials say it is illegal to harvest ginseng from all state-owned and state-managed land, and most county conservation board owned land.

53-year old Bart Bollie, of Madrid, 55-year old Kyle Jones, of Slater and 28-year old Brent Jones, also of Slater, were each charged with fifth degree theft, unlawful possession of wild ginseng root from state-managed lands, and unlawful possession of young wild ginseng. The DNR is asking for restitution and liquidated damages equal to 150 percent of the value of the ginseng, which is $292.50 from each individual. Bollie, Jones and Jones are set to appear in Dallas County court on September 12th.

All three men had valid Iowa ginseng harvester permits. Officers seized 406 illegally harvested ginseng roots, including 41 roots that did not meet legal harvest age, and the digging tools. The DNR says Ginseng plants must have three or more prongs and a flowering or fruiting stalk with red fruits in order to be dug up. Once dug up, the roots must have at least five stem scars to be harvested. Roots with less than five stem scars must be carefully replanted in the same location.

Most of the ginseng collected in Iowa is exported to countries in Asia, with a small portion going to cities along the west coast, like San Francisco. The price of ginseng fluctuates based on the strength of the Asian economy and lately that price has been down. Last year, average quality ginseng roots would bring $500-$600 per pound, and high quality roots up to $750 per pound.

Ginseng may be harvested from September 1 to October 31 from private land with permission from the landowner, and harvesters must have a valid ginseng harvester permit. Permits are available for $37 anywhere hunting and fishing licenses are sold.
There are currently 154 permitted Iowa ginseng harvesters.

(12-p.m. News)

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports a Cass County woman plead guilty today (Thursday), to a charge of Theft in the 5th degree. The charge against 43-year old Cherie Lea Petty, of Atlantic, was the result of an investigation into a check written to a business in Audubon County, in May. Petty was fined after entering her guilty plea.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Council Bluffs officials are celebrating the expansion of its public internet program and planning to spread free Wi-Fi throughout more of the city. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports the effort’s second phase was unveiled Wednesday at a school athletic complex located in the 2 1/2-square-mile section of the city where people have free internet access.

At a news conference, students logged onto the internet to check their email and surf the web. The program is being offered through a collaboration of several organizations, including the city, school district, Iowa West Foundation and Google.

David Fringer, the school district’s chief technology officer, says organizers will expand the program in 10 phases, with the next implemented this fall. Private sponsors are paying the $850,000 cost of the first three phases.

(Update 9/9/16 – The Iowa Secretary of State’s Office said [with regard to Lund’s statement as to when campaign signs may be placed on property]There is not a law that specifies how early or late campaign signs can be displayed.   There were restrictions years ago but a court ruling that cited the First Amendment removed them. )

The election season has emotions running high on all fronts, including from the presidential candidates themselves. In Atlantic, a yard sign erected at 3^rd and Maple Streets, has drawn complaints from citizens for its vulgarity.

The sign, which reads “Trump that “B****, before it’s too late,” is with regard to the Trump/Clinton presidential race. City Administrator John Lund tells KJAN News there is nothing in the Zoning Ordinance that allows the City to call for removal of the sign, but there are restrictions on when those signs can be placed, and common sense should prevail with regard to the language.

(Edited for content)

Lund says political signs are not allowed to be placed in yards within the City Limits more than 60 days prior to, or 10 days after, an election, meaning if the property owner in question takes it down now, it could be put back up on Saturday. A new ordinance being drafted is coming, but in the meantime, “People should have a little decency in their standards, and think up what they’re putting up there.”

Lund says in October, the Code will be changed to state “Indecent/vulgar images, or offensive language are not permitted on signage within City limits.” He says there have been some complaints about the sign.

He said he’ll talk with the home owner and ask him to remove the sign, which Lund says is “Not family friendly.” He said also, the end of the election season can’t come soon enough. “It’s a hyper-partisan situation right now. I’ll be glad when the election is over. I think everyone will be.”