The State Democratic Party Convention was held on Saturday, June 18th, lasting until the early hours of June 19th. Five delegates from Cass County attended: Mike Young of Griswold, Cheryl Wessels of Anita, and Melissa Warren, Gerard O’Rourke, and Sherry Toelle, all of Atlantic. The Iowa Democratic Party Platform was voted on and ratified by a majority of the delegates attending the convention.

National delegates were chosen for each Presidential candidate. Other positions that were voted on included the Presidential electors, Democratic National Committee members, State Affirmative Action Chair, as well as the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Constituency Caucus groups. Sherry Toelle, Cass County Democratic Party Chair, was elected Vice-Chair of the newly-formed Seniors and Retirees Caucus, earning her a seat on the State Central Committee.

In a statement, Toelle said “I am very pleased to have been elected to the Seniors/Retiree Caucus. I worked with seniors throughout my career as a social worker and have grave concerns for seniors and retirees who are forced out of their homes due to finances and health issues. I hope that I can continue to make a difference in the lives of seniors. Should anyone have generic issues that they would like to discuss with me, I would appreciate their contacting me.”

The Democratic National Convention will be held in Philadelphia from July 25th through the 28th, culminating in the nomination of the Democratic Presidential candidate.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa officials will allow work on a four-state oil pipeline to go forward after the company submitted a plan to avoid disrupting an American Indian burial ground.

Department of Natural Resources spokesman Kevin Baskins said that Texas-based Dakota Access LLC was given an amendment on its permit to dig at Big Sioux River Wildlife Management Area.

Instead of a trench, the pipeline will be built about 85 feet underground using special boring equipment, Baskins said.

State Archaeologist John Doershuk said the company’s plan is satisfactory, but Indigenous Environmental Network organizer Dallas Goldtooth says his group opposes the decision to allow construction to go forward.

The $3.8 billion, 1,150-mile pipeline spans four states. The Iowa section still needs permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors is set to meet for a regular session on Wednesday at the Adair County Boardroom at the Courthouse.

On their agenda is discussion on a courtyard permit, decat grant draw down, township clerk wages, and conservation transfer resolution.

They also will hear a report from County Engineer Nick Kauffman and sign final vouchers for RCB Projects in Lee Township.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Monday of Melissa Joann Wilson at 12:00pm on a Union County warrant for 3rd degree theft.  Wilson was picked up in the Pottawattamie County Jail and transported to be held for Union County in the Ringgold County Jail.  Wilson is being held on $2,000.00 bond.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office released details on one recent arrest, an accident, and a couple of citations on Tuesday.

The arrest was made on Sunday at 5:54pm at Highway 34 and 380th Street.  Deputies arrested 54-year-old Rodney Gene Lukehart of Red Oak for Driving While Revoked. He was taken into custody and held on $1,000 bond.

A single vehicle accident was reported at 12:59pm Monday at 250th Street and Barrus Road in Mills County.  A 2004 Pontiac driven by 18-year-old Haley Carman of Council Bluffs was traveling eastbound on Barrus Road approaching 250th Street when the vehicle went onto the shoulder on a curve. Carman over-corrected and the vehicle spun around and ended up backwards in the southeast ditch up against a tree. Carman was taken by Silver City Rescue to Jennie Edmundson Hospital.

The Sheriff’s Office also issued a citation Sunday to Joan Armstrong of Bellevue, NE for No Valid Driver’s License.  They also cited Shialea Cozad of Glenwood on Monday for Driving Under Suspension.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports the arrest of a Page County man on Monday at approximately 9:15pm. Deputies from the Page County Sheriff’s Office arrested 25-year-old Justin Leo Powers of rural Page County on warrants for Harassment 1st Degree and Simple Assault.  Powers was held on no bond at the Page County Jail until seen by a judge.

Justin Leo Powers

The Creston Police Department received a call on Monday at 11:12am from a Creston resident that someone had taken a Window Air Conditioner and old Red Wagon from the front porch of her residence at 102 S. Spruce Street.  The theft occurred sometime between 4:00pm Saturday and 11:00am Monday.  The loss was estimated at $200.

w/Chris Parks.

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A Manning woman was killed and a Wall Lake man injured in a two vehicle accident on Monday in Carroll County.

The Iowa State Patrol responded to the accident which occurred at 8:50am Monday on Delta Avenue north of 300th Street.  After investigation it was determined that a 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by 62-year-old Sue Ellen Vaughan of Manning was traveling northbound on Delta Avenue and crossed the center line colliding head on with a 2010 Chevy Silverado driven by 71-year-old Elroy Allen Huisenga of Wall Lake.

Vaughan was pronounced dead at the scene and Huisenga was taken to Manning Regional Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The investigation into the accident continues.

An Audubon woman was arrested today (Tuesday) on drug charges after a traffic stop.  The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of 30-year-old Jamie Carine Christianson around 2:00am Tuesday on charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Resisting Arrest. Christianson was stopped on Highway 71 near 280th street and K-9 Axel was deployed at the scene and detected narcotics.

Christianson was taken to the Audubon County Jail and held on $1,000 bond.