(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has issued a report on 11 arrests made from November 24th through Monday, Dec. 5, 2022.

• On December 5th, the Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Michael Martens, 58, of Lewis, on the charge of Assault while Displaying a Dangerous Weapon. Martens was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.
• On December 4th, Samuel Haag, 23, of Cumberland, was arrested for Driving while Revoked. Haag was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held until his later release on his own recognizance.
• On December 3rd, Justin Eblen, 44, of Cumberland, was arrested in Cass County for Criminal Mischief 2nd, Trespassing and Harassment 3rd Degree. Eblen was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.
• There were four arrests in Cass County on November 30th:
  • Zeth Petersen, 26, of Audubon, was arrested on a warrant for Theft 4th Degree. Petersen was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.
  • As previously mentioned, Cass County Deputies, following a pursuit that began in Griswold, arrested 40-year-old Sherri Young, of Griswold, on charges that include: Eluding, OWI 1st Offense, Domestic Abuse Assault causing bodily injury, Domestic Abuse Assault – 1st Offense, Reckless Driving, Failure to Maintain Control and Leaving the Scene of an Accident. Young turned herself in to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held.
  • Dylan Thomas, 20, of Atlantic, was arrested on a warrant for Violation of Probation. Thomas was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.
  • And, Marshall Fischer, 33, of Atlantic, was arrested Nov. 30th on warrants for Failure to Appear and Driving while Barred. Fischer was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.
• On November 28th, Barrett Driskill, 37, of Des Moines, was arrested in Cass County, on a warrant for Failure to Appear. Driskill was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.
• On November 27th, Deputies arrested Perry Dooley, 38, of Des Moines, on warrants for Forgery, Theft 2nd and Burglary. Dooley was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.
• On November 25th, Maycee Shaner, 21, of Avoca, was arrested on a warrant for OWI 1st Offense. Shaner was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on bond.
• And, on November 24th, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Jessica Craddock, 44, of Shellsberg, on the charges of Theft 1st, Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Craddock was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans are being warned about a new text message scam involving E-B-T cards, which are used to distribute government benefits like food assistance, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. Ashlee Kieler, a spokeswoman for the Iowa Attorney General’s office, says the texts may look convincing. “We’ve received several complaints now from Iowans who have been receiving text messages that claim to be about their EBT card, saying that their EBT card is locked and that you need to call this number to get it unlocked,” Kieler says. “We know that those messages are not coming from Iowa HHS. They are indeed scams.”

She says Iowans should never share their card number or PIN with anyone and notes, government agencies will never request such information by text. If you get one of these suspicious messages, what should you do? “Basically, nothing,” Kieler says. “They should not reply to that message. They should delete the message. They can report it to our office. They should also report it to the Federal Trade Commission, which can be done online.”

Kieler says this scam is particularly serious because those who receive benefits rely on these funds to feed their families. The scammers, she says, are heartless crooks. “They’re probably looking to get your number and your PIN for your card, if you happen to have a card. Some of these messages are going to Iowans that don’t have EBT cards,” Kieler say. “They can drain those cards if they have all that information and there’s no way to get that money replaced.”

If you fell victim to an EBT scam, Kieler says to file a report with your local law enforcement agency.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Work on rehabilitating the West 6^th Street Bridge in Atlantic, is finished. The Bridge, located over the East Nishnabotna River, is officially open. Work on bringing the bridge back to it’s legal load rating of 80,000 pounds began last year, when the City of Atlantic and Cass County entered into a 28-E (cost sharing) agreement.

The repair process primarily included work on the bridge abutments and replacing the steel beams.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday (today), held a public hearing on the First Reading of a Proposed Ordinance regulating the placement of hazardous liquid pipelines on property located in the unincorporated areas of Adair County. The question was raised during the hearing, if having an Ordinance would prevent pipelines, especially the proposed Carbon Dioxide transport pipeline, from happening in Adair County. Board Chair Matt Wedemeyer said the Board can’t prevent it, especially if officials with Navigator CO2 Ventures, which has proposed the project, decides to execute the process of Eminent Domain.

Board member Jodie Hoadley said having an Ordinance regulating where the pipeline is allowed to go, is the best protection the County has right now.

Craig Schoenfeld of CR3 Connect, a Clive-based lobby firm that represents Navigator, says there’s been no discussion about running a pipeline through Adair County, and if that were to be the case, they want it to be a collaborative effort.

He said if the project does go forward, they are years away from any sort of development with regard to construction. A map provided to the Des Moines Register, however, indicated the pipeline would be fully operational by 2025, and shows the route would traverse Adair County. Schoenfeld said that’s only a prospective route, not a precise route. Supervisor John Twombly preferred to move forward with the Ordinance.

The Board approved a motion to waive the second and third readings, and passed Resolution #39 approved on the final reading. Board Chair Matt Wedemeyer.

In September, the Adair County Board of Supervisors sent the Iowa Utilities Board a letter, saying the board is not opposed to the purpose or construction of the pipeline, but is opposed to eminent domain being used “as a way of achieving it.” As mentioned, none of the three proposed pipeline routes run through Adair County, but there are nearby ethanol plants in Menlo and Corning. If those facilities are connected to a carbon capture pipeline in the future, the route would likely pass through Adair County. Navigator’s petition, filed with the Iowa Utilities Board, calls for a $3.2 billion underground hazardous liquid pipeline across 33 counties in Iowa, including Story and Polk, to capture carbon dioxide emissions from ethanol and other industrial agriculture plants in Iowa.

In other business, the Board received an update from Adair County Auditor Mandy Berg, with regard to TIF Values.

Berg informed the Board also, that they have not yet received a quote on the Eagle Migration Software, but they hope to have all the related information for the Board’s meeting, next week.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Department of Agriculture, Tuesday, said 140,000 birds will be destroyed because of a bird flu outbreak in Iowa. The Department of Agriculture reported outbreaks in two commercial turkey flocks in Sac and Cherokee counties. These are the first bird flu flare-ups in Sac and Cherokee counties since the spring. Forty thousand turkeys in Sac County and 100,000 turkeys in Cherokee County will be destroyed.

To date, more than 15 million birds across the state have been destroyed because of the bird flu this year. Across the country, that number is now up to about 53 million, making this outbreak worse than those in 2014 and 2015.

(OMAHA, Neb.) — Federal prosecutors in Nebraska, say a man from Pottawattamie County (IA) was sentenced to prison in connection with the placing of explosives outside an Omaha, NE., home. 61-year-old Ricky A. Wynn, of Council Bluffs, was given 24 months in prison for transporting explosive devices with the intent to injure. Once his term of imprisonment is complete, Wynn will begin a three-year term of supervised release.

According to court documents, on Jan. 30, 2022,  Omaha police and fire fighters responded to a residence near 39th and Y Streets, on a report of multiple suspicious packages. An investigation revealed there were 13 explosive devices, 12 of which were Molotov cocktails that were found around a vehicle and detached garage at the residence. The last device contained an energetic powder, nails and screws and it appeared the wick to the device had been lit but failed to detonate.

Federal prosecutors said the people living there previously had a protection order against Wynn.

Des Moines, Iowa – State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald is reminding Iowans about College Savings Iowa’s Year-End Giveaway. “This holiday season, unwrap your child’s future by entering to win a $5,290 College Savings Iowa contribution,” said Fitzgerald. “Visit Iowa529Contest.com by the end of the year to register.” Any Iowan over the age of 18 can register for a child in their life.

“Saving for the child in your life is one of the most important things you can do,” commented Fitzgerald. “Having a dedicated education savings account lets your children know you believe in their dreams. It’s a gift you can’t unwrap, but it might just be the most valuable gift of all.” To date, College Savings Iowa participants have withdrawn more than $4.5 billion to pay for qualified education expenses.

College Savings Iowa is the state’s direct-sold 529 plan and helps families save for the rising costs of higher education on a tax-advantaged basis. Funds in an account can be used for tuition, room and board, books, computers, supplies and other qualified education-related expenses. The student you’re saving for can attend any eligible education institution, including two- and four-year colleges, apprenticeship programs and trade schools. Additionally, Iowa taxpayers can deduct up to $3,522 of their contributions from their state income taxes in 2022.

For details about the Plan, visit CollegeSavingsIowa.com to read the Program Description

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department say no injuries were reported following a collision Tuesday evening at S. Sumner Avenue and Adams Street. Authorities say a 2019 Chrysler Pacifica mini-van driven by 40-year-old Joshua E. Smith, of Creston, was stopped at the controlled intersection facing northbound on S. Sumner, at around 5:52-p.m., when his vehicle was struck from behind by a 2002 Buick Century. The driver of the Buick, 21-year-old Deren M. Fry, of Greenfield, told Police that he dropped his cell phone, and when he reached down to retrieve it, he didn’t have enough time to stop.

Fry was cited for Failure to Provide Proof of Insurance. Damage from the collision amounted to $5,000 altogether.

(Radio Iowa) – A movie based on the World War Two German POW camp near Algona will premiere Friday in Algona and Forest City. The movie “Silent Night in Algona” focuses on the prisoners in Algona from September through December of 1944. Forest City’s Jim Brockhohn appears in the movie as Uncle Joe. “These three producers from Wisconsin they’ve had to threaten for several years where I’d take it and so they finally got produced. They did film for days here in Forest City and Heritage Park and Heritage Park was gracious enough to donate some uniforms and let let them use the buildings and then we found majority of it in Algona and Whitmer and so is a three week shooting every day except they’re off on Sunday. So we actually started the end of October and then we finished up into towards the end of November”

Brockhohn helped director director Tony Hornus cast the parts for the movie– leading to many locals in the cast. “So what I do is I call that person up, see if you’d be interested in doing the film and then I got that actor in contact with Tony and they went from there then,” he says. “They then auditioned for Tony and Tony would select them and the people I did send to him, he did select them all and put them in the movie.” He says they also asked him to bring some extras and he did that, so there are some of them from Forest City in the movie. Much of the movie was filmed in Heritage Park in Forest City and the original barracks were also in the movie.

“The barracks they use have been at Heritage Park for all these years and so — or for many years I’m not sure when they got them — but Heritage Park acquired them, so they took the barracks from here and took them Algona and built the barracks house there and use the original barracks,” Brockhohn says. Brockhohn says there was a tremendous amount of work put into the attention to detail from uniforms to cars. He says Forest City residents didn’t fill all the spots in the movie. “Even though we had some from Forest City they’ve recruited people from Texas from L.A. from New York and all the states around, and even Wisconsin. And so they had professional actors from all over, it is wonderful,” he says.

The Algona camped housed around 17-hundred prisoners. A nativity scene created by some of the prisoners while in captivity in Algona in 1945 has drawn visitors to the community for many years.

(Radio Iowa) – Volunteer firefighters are vital in Iowa, especially in our rural areas, but they’re retiring in droves and new recruits are direly needed to join the ranks. Members of the Iowa Firefighters Association plan to appeal to state lawmakers in the upcoming session to help get more people interested in volunteering. The association’s past president Jason Barrick, who serves on the Iowa Falls Fire Department, says new incentives are needed at the state and local level. “You’re not going to get rich off of being a volunteer fireman,” Barrick says. “That is not why anybody does it. Most departments in Iowa are absolutely unpaid. There are some volunteer fire departments that do have the benefit of getting paid but even at that, they’re averaging probably, each fireman, maybe $1,000 to $1,500 a year.”

Barrick says one recruitment possibility is to try and reach young people at the high school level. “There’s some programs out there that we call cadet programs or junior firefighter programs that just bring young kids aware of what the fire service can do for them and where it can take them in life, both personally and professionally.” The cadet programs work, Barrick says, and he’s seen the results first-hand. “We had one a few years ago here in Iowa Falls,” Barrick says. “It was very strong and we have eight fire members on currently now that were in that junior program back ten years ago.”

The Iowa Firefighters Association has about 15,500 members, while there are 269 volunteer firefighter departments in Iowa.