WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley today (Monday), asked the head of Tyson Foods, Inc., to work with community leaders to restore jobs at the now-defunct Tyson meat processing plant in Cherokee. “I’m aware of the desire of city and county officials to see the facility occupied and operating, so that it can continue to serve the economic and employment needs of the area,” Grassley wrote to Donnie Smith, chief executive officer of Tyson Foods, Inc.

“It is my hope that Tyson Foods would work with the owner of the facility and local leaders in Cherokee to ensure that the facility can be occupied and productive again. It seems there would be mutual interest in seeing the facility occupied to restore economic vitality and livelihoods in their community.”

Grassley noted that when Tyson closed its Cherokee plant in 2014, it eliminated 450 jobs. This was a blow to the local economy, as Tyson was one of the largest employers. According to media reports, the company is locked in a lease with the property owner, and community leaders are frustrated with their inability to seek other employers to lease the facility while the building sits vacant.

“I appreciate your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you,” Grassley wrote.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — University of Iowa students will have the opportunity to include their preferred names and gender pronouns on their school record this fall. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that the university became one of the first institutions in the country to allow students to identify as transgender on their admissions application three years ago.

Assistant professor Jodi Lindley said in a video released last week that the change allows students to tell university officials, faculty and staff what name and pronouns they’d like to be used in communication and interactions.

The video includes students, faculty and staff members saying which gender pronouns they preferred for themselves. The majority use either he/him/his or she/her/hers, but others who don’t fit squarely into a male-female binary prefer they/their/theirs or ze/zem/zir.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests took place over the weekend. On Saturday, 23-year old Joseph Andrew Riesberg, of Elliott, was arrested for OWI 2nd Offense and Driving While Barred. Riesberg was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on $2,000 bond.

On Sunday, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 43-year old Todd Edward Kimpson, of Corning, on a charge of Violation of a No Contact Order. Kimpson was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the today (Monday), on $300 bond.

The Atlantic Police Department says numerous arrests to place over the past week. On Saturday, 21-year old Bryce Baker, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication. Friday, 28-year old Robert Mayfield, of Okmulgee, OK., was arrested in Atlantic on a Jasper County warrant for Lottery Ticket Fraud. On July 7th, 27-year old Damion Selders, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Burglary in the 3rd degree. Selders was arrested the day before as well, of Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

On July 4th, three people were arrested on Cass County warrants. 46-year old Dwane Bolton and 19-year old Lucas Stone, both of Atlantic, were arrested for Failure to Appear. And, 38-year old Rose Peters, of Emerson, was arrested on a warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance.

On July 1st, 50-year old Thomas Jackson, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Atlantic after he turned himself-in on a warrant for Parole Violation. All of the subjects mentioned were booked into the Cass County Jail. Jackson later posted bond, and was released.

The Atlantic Police Department has released information on four recent accidents, two of which took place Sunday. In an update to our earlier reports, officials say Devin Register, of Atlantic, was cited for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device, following an accident that happened just before 5-p.m., Sunday. Register was traveling eastbound on Highway 6 in a Buick, when he failed to yield at the stop light and collided with a southbound Chevy Suburban driven by Cynthia Koch, of Atlantic. Register complained of pain and was transported by Medivac Ambulance to the Cass County Memorial Hospital. Neither Koch nor a child in her vehicle were hurt. Damage from the crash amounted to $12,100.

A few minutes later, an accident happened at 7th and Elm Streets, when Aubrey Ewing, of Atlantic, failed to stop at the controlled intersection. Her vehicle struck a vehicle driven by Denise Lauritsen, of Exira, as she was traveling east on 7th Street. Ewing was cited for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device. Damage from the collision amounted to $2,700.

Last Tuesday evening, vehicles driven by Mandy Parks and Robyn Sullivan, both of Atlantic, collided at 7th and Olive Streets, when Parks failed to obey the stop light as she was traveling west on 7th. Her vehicle struck Sullivan’s vehicle, which was southbound on Olive. Minor injuries were reported by both parties, but no one was transported to the hospital. Damage from the collision amounted to $18,000.

And, on July 5th, a vehicle driven by Debra Williams, of Atlantic, was backing out of a private drive, when it hit a parked car registered to Blain Nolte, of Atlantic. The accident, which happened in the 200 block of Ridge Road, caused $4,000 damage. No citations were issued.