A woman from Council Bluffs died following an accident Sunday morning, and authorities believe a medical condition may have been the cause of the crash. 90-year old Ardeth Paulson was found unconscious and not breathing following a single-vehicle accident that happened at around 7:40-a.m. near the intersection of S. 7th Street and Willow Avenue. Rescue crews arrived on the scene and administered CPR before rushing the woman to Jennie Edmundson Hospital, where she died a short time later.

A preliminary investigation determined Paulson’s 2000 Pontiac Grand Am was traveling southbound on South 7th Street and had departed the Roadway to the East before striking a sign post. The vehicle came to rest on the East parking approximately 75 feet North of Willow Avenue.

The accident remains under investigation by the Special Operation Unit.

The cold weather of winter is the time to plan for future gardens. The Cass County Master Gardeners group is again offering grant money to be used in the 2016 growing season, to encourage gardening to grow food and/or beautify local communities. The money may also be used for gardening education purposes. The David Williams Master Gardener Grants are offered to honor the many years of service Master Gardener David Williams provided as a long-time volunteer, with the Master Gardener program and other community organizations, including a term as Cass County Master Gardener president in 2012.

Any Cass County not-for-profit group or individual may apply. Schools, churches, libraries, 4-H clubs, Scouts, and individuals working to improving their communities can use the money to begin or improve gardens or landscaping, or to provide education for their members or the public. To ensure the money is helping a wide variety of community organizations, groups who were funded by 2015 grants will not be eligible to apply in 2016. Each grant has a maximum value of $300. The application must also include plans for teamwork and sustainability. Consideration for the environment is also an important selection factor.

Applications must be received by Thursday, March 31st for consideration. They may be submitted by mail or email. Grant recipients will be informed of their selection by the end of April. For more information, or with questions, call the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132, email keolson@iastate.edu, or stop by the Extension Office at 805 W. 10th St in Atlantic. You may also contact committee members Carolyn Hartman, Donna Reimers or Connie Pettinger. Application forms can be picked up at the Extension Office, or printed from the Cass County Extension website- www.extension.iastate.edu/cass.

The Master Gardener program trains volunteers to develop their knowledge and skills in horticulture. These volunteers then give back to their communities through gardening service and education. The program is available in all 50 states and Canada through land grant university Extension programs such as Iowa State University. Education courses are available throughout Iowa on a regular basis. For more information on the program, or to sign up for our next class starting in August, contact Cass County Extension Program Coordinator Kate Olson, at 712-243-1132 or keolson@iastate.edu.

The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has announced that Michele McNabb, M.A., M.L.I.S., of Atlantic, is the winner of its 2016 Genealogy / History Achievement Award.

McNabb is being recognized for her exemplary service, support, leadership, and contributions to the field of genealogical and local history librarianship. She will officially receive the award June 26th at the ALA Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, just days before her planned retirement.

McNabb has served as the Museum of Danish America’s Genealogy Center Manager and Librarian in Elk Horn, Iowa since 2002. Since the center’s opening in 1996, its staff and volunteers have assisted many individuals in finding links to their Danish immigrant past and have located lost relatives for both Danish and American researchers.

Michele McNabb

Throughout her career, Michele has presented internationally at numerous workshops and seminars. Next, she is to be the main presenter for a Scandinavian Genealogy Retreat at Omaha’s Swanson Library in early April.

RUSA is the foremost organization of reference and information professionals who make the connections between people and the information sources, services, and collection materials they need. Since 1993 its Genealogy / History Achievement Award has been given annually and is sponsored by ProQuest. The award presents a citation and $1,500 to a librarian in order to recognize professional achievement in genealogical and historical reference and research.

Learn more about the association at www.ala.org/rusa. The Museum of Danish America Genealogy Center is located at 4210 Main Street in Elk Horn, Iowa. More about the museum and its Genealogy Center can be found at www.danishmuseum.org.

A Pottawattamie County man faces a trio of charges following incidents that occurred Saturday evening and later that same night. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says just before 8-p.m. Saturday, they received a complaint from a resident in the 100 block of E. 5th Street in Villisca, that 25-year old Devin Alexander Davis, of Council Bluffs, was involved in an altercation, and had brandished a knife during the incident.

Deputies were initially unable to locate the man, but just before 11-p.m., Police in Red Oak conducted a traffic stop in the 200 block of Linden Street, and found Davis inside. He was arrested for Carrying Weapons, with regard to the complaint in Villisca. Davis was also arrested for Interference with Official Acts, for his conduct during his arrest. He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,000 bond.

Then, just before midnight, Davis was charged with Criminal Mischief in the 2nd degree, for causing damage to his jail cell. His bond was subsequently increased to $5,000. Davis remained in the Montgomery County Jail this (Sunday) morning.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

NORA SPRINGS, Iowa (AP) — Protesters have promised to picket outside a recently-opened exotic dance club in Nora Springs every night it’s open. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that several people protested Friday night outside the Pole Barn Theater. They held picket signs reading “Women Are Not For Sale” and “Real Men Don’t Exploit Women.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A longtime southern Iowa sheriff has resigned amid allegations that he sexually harassed employee, courthouse workers, witnesses and crime victims. The Des Moines Register reports that Decatur County Sheriff Bert Muir resigned Friday. The 66-year-old Muir denied the claims and said the county board’s move to have him removed from office was politically motivated.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Police say one person has been shot at a Cedar Rapids grocery store parking lot, but is expected to survive. Television station KCRG reports that the shooting happened around 9:20 p.m. Friday at Jim’s Foods, with multiple people reporting the shooting to 911. Responding officers found blood in the lot, but no victim. A short time later, authorities say a 24-year-old man was reported at a local hospital with a gunshot wound to his leg.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Burlington police have interviewed more than dozen people but have no suspect or motive in Wednesday’s fatal shooting of a local teenager. The Hawk Eye reports that 16-year-old Kedarie Johnson’s body was found late Wednesday night in an alley. Johnson was a junior at Burlington High School.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating the latest of what residents in one western Iowa neighborhood believe is a series of dog poisonings dating back years. The Daily Nonpareil reports several dogs have died mysteriously along Rosebud Lane just outside Council Bluffs in the last six years.

The latest being investigated by the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office is that of a golden retriever puppy belonging to the father of Tara Campbell of Council Bluffs. A trip to Campbell’s eastern Nebraska veterinarian after it became six Tuesday showed the dog had anti-freeze crystals in its urine. The dog later died.

Sheriff’s investigators are testing refried beans found in the yard where the puppy had been tethered.

Campbell says she has had two other dogs die suddenly in the last six years.

Police in Council Bluffs arrested a man wanted on a warrant for robbery, early Saturday morning following a traffic stop. At around midnight,a Council Bluffs Police Officer spotted a stolen black Ford Ranger occupied by two adult males, northbound on S. 8th St from 2nd Ave. The Officer followed the vehicle while other officers moved into position to assist. Once in position, officers performed a felony traffic stop in the 100 block of S. Main St where the vehicle was pulled over.

Both occupants were taken into custody without incident. The driver was identified as 34-year old Korey C. Wettengel, of Council Bluffs, and was found to have a valid Robbery 1st warrant through Council Bluffs Police. The passenger was questioned and released. Wettengel was transported to Pottawattamie County Corrections where he was booked on the Robbery 1st warrant and a Theft 2nd.

Korey Wettengel

Police in Council Bluffs say a man was safely talked-down from jumping off a bridge there early this (Saturday) morning. At about 1:25-a.m., officers were called to the Ave G viaduct in reference to a male jumping from a moving vehicle. While officers were en route, the caller advised the male had climbed over the ledge of the bridge and was
threatening to jump off. Officers arrived on scene and found the male on the outside of the chain link fence at the Northwest end of the bridge.

Officers began speaking to the man in an effort to talk him down as he was threatening to jump. An officer was able to grab the male’s left arm and talked him into climbing over the concrete barricade to officers. He was then transported to Mercy Hospital by Council Bluffs Fire Department for medical treatment and
psychological evaluation.

If you’re a farmer or are involved in the agriculture industry, you should plan on attending Iowa State University Extension and Outreach – Shelby County’s Farmer’s Coffee, March 22nd at 9:30 a.m.  Extension and Outreach Farm Management Specialist Shane Ellis will present a market outlook for both crops and livestock.

The event takes place at the Shelby County Extension Office, 906 6th St. in Harlan, and will include hot coffee and refreshments, the latest ag news, and a visit with Shane Ellis. There is no cost to attend. The informational meeting is for anyone who is involved in the agriculture industry.

Call the Shelby County Extension and Outreach Office at (712)755-3104 for more information.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 4 recent arrests.

On Thursday at 11:00am deputies arrested 27-year-old Andrew Dean West of Malvern on 2 warrants for Violation of Probation.  West was taken into custody and held on $10,000 bond.

Also Thursday at 7:42pm deputies arrested two individuals at the same location.  Deputies arrested 21-year-old Dylan Wayne Thorne of Glenwood on a warrant for Child Endangerment and Gathering.  Thorne was arrested on Garfield Lane along with 22-year-old Destiny Renae New who was arrested on the same warrant.  Both were taken into custody and held on $5,000 bond each.

On Friday deputies arrested 36-year-old Christina Mae Robbins of Glenwood for OWI 1st Offense.  Robbins was arrested on 221st Street at 12:30am and was held on $1,000 bond.