Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer reports the arrest on Friday (Dec. 18th), 57-year old Philip Eugene Mathis, of Audubon, on a federal warrant charging him with Possession of Child Pornography and Receipt of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaging in Sexually Explicit Conduct. Mathis was transported to the Audubon County Jail and later transferred into federal custody. The Audubon Police Department was assisted in their investigation by the Department of Homeland Security, the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations, and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

And, on December 11th, 17-year old Nicholas Wilson, of Audubon, was arrested for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, and Dissemination of Obscene Material. Wilson was transported to the Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs.

Last Monday (Dec. 14th), Audubon Police arrested 50-year old Darrin Paul Asmus, of Audubon, for Criminal Trespassing, Animal Neglect and Resisting Arrest. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the arrest. Asmus was transported to the Audubon County Jail.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Sioux City area gun stores are reporting a sharp increase in sales following a recent spate of home invasions. The Sioux City Journal reports that store owners attribute the rise to a combination of local, national and international events, including the recent attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California. Another factor cited is the public pressure for tougher gun control measures.

Paul Barrett, the owner of Shooter’s Paradise, says he has seen a 30 percent rise in sales in the last month and a half, compared with the same period last year. Barrett says some customers have voiced concerns over a rash of car thefts and burglaries in Sioux City.

Three people were injured, with at least one seriously hurt, during a collision between a car and a pickup late Saturday morning on the west side of Wiota. The crash happened on Highway 83, at around 11:40-a.m., near the intersection with Northwest Drive.

LifeNet prepares to land on Hwy 6.

Photos by KJAN News Director Ric Hanson,

Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy Bill Ayers told KJAN News two people were in the white Dodge Ram pickup. One of the occupants suffered what Ayers described as “Walking wounded”-type injuries, while the other was more seriously injured. They were transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic. The other victim, a 20-year old male was in a maroon Buick Lesabre with Adair County plates. He was flown by LifeNet helicopter to a hospital in Omaha.

The collision, which was nearly head-on, appeared to happen in the westbound lane of the highway, just across the center line of the road. The accident caused the road to be blocked through 1-p.m.  Eastbound traffic was being diverted north at the intersection of Highway 6/71 east of Atlantic.

No other details are currently available early this (Saturday) afternoon. The Iowa State Patrol was in charge of the investigation.

Two people were seriously injured during a two-vehicle crash Saturday morning, in Wiota. A 20-year old male from Adair County was being transported by Lifenet to Omaha following the crash on Highway 83 near the intersection with Northwest Drive at around 11:40 am.  The vehicle involved were a maroon Buick lesabre and white Dodge Ram pickup. The driver of the pickup appeared to be an older female. The vehicle collided nearly head on in a portion of the westbound lane. Medivac ambulance, Anita fire and rescue and Wiota first responders were on scene along with the Cass County sheriff’s office and Iowa state patrol. No other details are currently available. Pictures will be posted soon.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An official has terminated Iowa’s contract with a private company that was scheduled to help manage the state’s $4.2 billion Medicaid program. Iowa Department of Administrative Services Director Janet Phipps released a report Friday night that terminates the Iowa Department of Human Services’ contract with WellCare of Iowa.

Phipps was selected by Governor Terry Branstad to review an administrative law judge’s recommendation that WellCare be dropped over allegations that it didn’t properly disclose information about fraud or mismanagement during its bid for a contract. WellCare officials have said they disagree with the judge’s ruling.

Phipps’ report upholds the state’s contracts with Amerigroup Iowa, AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa and UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley. A spokesman for Branstad says the governor’s office is still reviewing the decision.

Members of Farmers Cooperative Company (FC), in Ames, and West Central® Cooperative, in Ralston, have both approved the merger of their cooperatives effective April 1st, 2016.  West Central Board Chair and Paton, Iowa-area farmer Sue Tronchetti said  “In this merger vote, our members were presented with a rare opportunity to combine two strong, financially-stable cooperatives in a merger of equals to maintain local ownership for generations to come.”  FC Chief Executive Officer Jim Chism added “We are pleased the memberships approved the boards’ recommendation. We are confident that together, we will become an even stronger cooperative and be better positioned to help improve the economic well-being of our member-owners.”

Each membership met Iowa’s state voting requirement for a successful cooperative merger as certified by independent auditing firm of Gardiner Thomsen. To approve a merger, Iowa law requires at least 50 percent of each membership (plus one) to vote, with two-thirds of those casting ballots voting in favor of the merger. West Central President and CEO Milan Kucerak will become the CEO of the newly formed cooperative.

The unified cooperative, to be known as Landus Cooperative, will be led by current West Central President and CEO Milan Kucerak and be headquartered in Ames. The board of directors will be made up of nine directors from each cooperative for equal representation. More information on any changes will be provided in coming months as integration plans are finalized.

Together, West Central and FC have more than 70 grain, agronomy and feed locations in 26 Iowa and three Minnesota counties. According to World Grain magazine’s Grain and Milling Annual, Landus Cooperative will become the seventh largest grain company in North America based on storage capacity and have shuttle-loading access on all seven major Iowa rail lines.

w/ Chris Parks

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The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of a Red Oak man for Theft on Friday.  At 7:31pm Officers arrested 41-year-old Troy Alan Myers for 5th Degree Theft on North Broadway Street in Red Oak.  Myers was taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and is being held on $300 cash bond.

Officials with the Cass County Health System (CCHS), says the Foundation’s 2016 Annual Campaign is now underway with a goal of raising $54,000 to purchase two critical pieces of patient care equipment. Dawn Marnin, CCHS Foundation Director
“Our plan is to purchase a new coagulation analyzer for the Laboratory and a ventilator for Respiratory Therapy. We’re determined to be the best rural hospital in the country, which means we are committed to staying at the cutting edge of technology as medical care advances.”

The coagulation analyzer performs more than 400 PT/INR tests each month, which is a test to measure how quickly your blood clots. This machine is essential for patients who have been on the medication Coumadin or Warfarin, and it’s also used before surgeries to reduce the risk of unexpected bleeding during surgery. The coagulation analyzer can also be used to detect blood clots.

CCHS employees Mitch Whiley, MLS (ASCP) and Chelsea Johnson, MLT are shown working together in the laboratory. The CCHS Foundation 2016 Campaign funds will go towards the purchase of new equipment for the department.

Mitch Whiley, MLS (ASCP), Director of Laboratory Services noted, “This analyzer will bring some exciting new technology previously not available at our facility. We are thankful for the community’s support so that we can continue to provide excellent care for our patients.”

The second piece of equipment that the Foundation is fundraising for is a new ventilator. For critically ill patients, a ventilator can take over the work of breathing. The ventilator that CCHS will purchase is a versatile model that can be used on all patients—from newborns on up—and it can be used for both non-invasive and invasive therapy. It’s also very portable, making it easy to quickly transport to a patient in need.

The CCHS Foundation was established in 1968 to support the hospital’s mission by funding services, programs, and equipment. For more information or to make a donation, contact Dawn Marnin, CCHS Foundation Director, at 712-243-7409, dmarnin@casshealth.org or via the CCHS website, www.casshealth.org.

The Cass County Democratic Party will hold a fundraiser at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic on Saturday, January 2, 2016. Officials say s full luncheon will be provided, starting at 12:30-p.m. The cost of admission is $25 per person, with funds raised to be used by the local party to help cover expenses of the upcoming caucus and election seasons.

Sherry Toelle, Cass County Democratic Chair, is requesting RSVP’s to her by December 28th. “We want to make sure we have enough food and enough seating for everyone but people are still welcome to attend without a reservation, if they are unable to RSVP by the 28th.”

Presidential candidate Governor Martin O’Malley of Maryland will speak during the event at 2-p.m., January 2nd. Invitations have also been sent to the two other Presidential candidates Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders but neither has confirmed as of this date (Dec. 18th). Iowa Senatorial and Congressional candidates as well as local candidates have also been invited to the event.

This is the first event in Cass County at which any of the Democratic Presidential candidates will have attended. Contact Sherry Toelle at 243-4861 with any questions about the event.