The Cass County Auditor’s Office reports today (Monday, Aug. 6) was the first day that candidates were allowed to file papers for the offices to be included on the General Election Ballot. Winners of the Primary Election do not need to file papers in the Auditor’s Office as they will already be included on the General Election Ballot.  The Deadline to file is August 29^th at 5:00 p.m. Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns reports that at the end of the day Monday, Dana Halder, of Atlantic, had filed papers as Nominated by Petition for the Cass County Supervisor District 3 seat.

In the Republican Primary, Halder lost by two votes to John Hartkopf after a recount of the close ballot results was requested. Halder kept his promise to run again in November, as a Republican, but by petition, in hopes of taking the seat from his opponent.

Officials with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office report 38-year old Nicholas John Brix, of Marne, was arrested last Thursday, on a Cass County Sheriff’s Office warrant for Felon in Control of Firearm (a Class-D Felony); Possession of Meth 2nd Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Brix was taken to the Cass County Jail and was released later that day on $7,300 bond.

On Monday (August 6), Deputies arrested 29-year old Amanda Lee Marholz, of Walnut, on a charge of Driving Under Suspension. Marholz was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on $300 bond.

WASHINGTON, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa father has been given nine years in prison for letting his 17-month-old daughter starve to death. Washington County District Court records say 37-year-old Anthony McCoy was sentenced Friday in Washington. He’d pleaded guilty to two counts of child endangerment and one of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Avery McCoy. She weighed just 11 pounds when she was found dead in November 2016. An autopsy said malnutrition and neglect significantly contributed to the girl’s death. Her mother, Ambrashia “Amber” Chrzan, of Wellman, was sentenced last month to 50 years in prison.

Officials with the Cass County Memorial Hospital report the 2018 Cass County Health System scholarship recipient was Tyler Steele of Anita.  Tyler was a 2015 graduate of CAM High School.  He currently is a student at Creighton University in Omaha majoring in Healthcare Administration and Policy, with minors in Public Health, Business Administration and Biology.  Brett Altman, Cass County Health System CEO, presented the award to Tyler.

Tyler Steele and CCHS CEO Brett Altman

Officials with the City of Atlantic report repairs are set to begin on the Olive Street bridge, Monday, August 13th.  The bridge will remain open to traffic, but may be reduced to one lane at times.

In an update to our earlier reports, the Iowa Department of Public Safety today (Monday) said the body of a female found late Sunday morning in Lee County, has been identified and a suspect arrested. The body of 20-year old Sadie Alverado, of Muscatine, was found on a gravel road located on 235th Avenue, south of West Point, in Lee County. Sunday evening, the Lee County Attorney’s office was briefed on the facts and circumstances of the investigation. Charges were subsequently filed on 28-year old Damian Hamann, of Morning Sun, Iowa.  Hamann was charged with Leaving the Scene of an Accident Resulting in a Death.  He turned himself into the Lee County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday.

An autopsy was set to take place Tuesday August 7th, 2018, at the University of Iowa’s Decedent Care Unit.  The case is still under investigation. This is a joint investigation by the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Division of Criminal Investigation, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County Attorney’s Office and the Lee County Medical Examiner’s Office.