(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Police Department report 10 arrests took place over the past week.

• On Tuesday, April 23rd, Officers with the A-PD arrested 30-year-old Jesse Boken, of Atlantic, for Public Intoxication.
• On the 22nd, 39-year-old Mathew Rigen, of Shelby, was arrested for Theft in the 5th Degree (Shoplifting). Rigen was cited into court and released at the scene.
• On the 21st, 34-year-old Benjamin Sonish, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI/1st offense.
• On April 20th, 37-year-old Robert Hackwell, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI/1st offense.
• There were 3 arrests in Atlantic on April 19th:
  • 63-year-old Susan Bashor, of Atlantic, and 47-year-old Amanda Bashor, of Clarinda, were arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order, and,
  • 28-year-old KR Takauo, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intox.\
• On April 18th, Atlantic Police arrested:
  • 30-year-old Chad Arbuckle, of Atlantic, for Theft in the 4th Degree
  • 30-year-old Edward Parrott, of Council Bluffs, for Simple Assault, and
  • 37-year-old Jessica Blumberg, of Atlantic, for Domestic Abuse Assault.

Each of the named individuals mentioned above (With the exception of Mathew Rigen) were taken into custody and booked into the Cass County Jail.

(Radio Iowa) – In honor of Arbor Day, community leaders in Dubuque will break ground Saturday on what will eventually grow to become a community orchard. Laura Roussell, executive director of Dubuque Trees Forever, says they’ll plant a few fruit trees this weekend with plans to add between 15 and 20 more trees over the coming few years. Roussell says, “We’re going to have apple, cherry and pear, and also some berry bushes like a honey berry, raspberry, maybe blueberry, we haven’t finalized the whole list yet.” The triangular plot of land is considered a city park, but it’s never been developed. Where some saw empty ground, Roussell saw an opportunity.

“We had this vacant lot that’s just been mowed for many, many years, and we thought, this is located in a food desert, and we thought it would be a great place to have free, fresh fruit for the people in the neighborhood,” Roussell says, “and also any leftovers would go to the food pantry.” In addition to the fruit trees, the community orchard will also include what Roussell is calling a Mowing to Monarchs pollinator garden to benefit bees, butterflies and other important insects. She hopes this orchard marks the start of something special that’ll endure for decades.

“We get volunteers that sign up to plant, weed, mulch, all of those things, so that that trees that we plant will have a long and successful life,” Roussell says. “It’s just going to be a really beautiful — and edible — addition to the neighborhood.”

The public is invited to Saturday’s 10 A-M free event at the corner of Hill and Caledonia Streets.

(Radio Iowa) – The City of Waterloo is planning to convert a long vacant Rath meatpacking plant building into almost 90 affordable apartments for seniors. Waterloo City Administrator Noel Anderson says that could free up many single-family homes for first-time home-buyers, and could mean revitalization for the city. “We need that new construction or rehabilitation of senior housing greatly in Waterloo to help open some of these existing neighborhoods for new housing opportunities,” he says.

The administration building is over 70 thousand square feet and has been vacant since 1985 when the company went bankrupt. Anderson says the building will be will converted into studio, one bedroom and two-bedroom apartments. “Sometimes it’s a matter of having more options out there for seniors will help reinvest back into those neighborhoods not only with new owners, but with a new populations,” he says.

Former Rath Meatpacking Plant in Waterloo

The city anticipates construction will get underway this summer.

(Griswold, Iowa) – The Cass County Coalition for Mental Wellness will host a Mental Wellness Panel on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at the Griswold Community Building (601 2nd Street, Griswold, Iowa 51535). A free meal will be provided at 5:30 pm. The presentation will begin at 6:00 pm. Community members of all ages are welcome to join as we discuss resiliency strategies, emotional support for our youth, and local resources for therapy and crisis situations. No pre-registration is required.

Panelists who are scheduled to share their expertise include Erika Kirchhoff, Mary-Beth Roskens, Debrenee Grajeda, Carolyn Bruck, and Melanie Fell. The panelists are local service providers with organizations that work in and around Cass County and provide assistance to local residents. There will also be booths set up to explore local mental health resources before and after the event.

If you are unable to attend in person, please join us through Zoom. The QR code is attached to the Flyer or contact Grace McAfee for the link. The Zoom call will also be confidential for those who would like the option to be anonymous. Anita and Atlantic libraries will also be satellite hosts for those unable to join the Zoom meeting from home. If you are interested in viewing the event from the library, please reserve your space by calling Grace McAfee (712-250-8170) by May 8. No meal will be provided at the library satellite locations. If you are unable to find transportation but would like to attend in person, please contact Grace to arrange free transportation by May 8.

Michelle Hartfield of the Cass County Coalition for Mental Wellness invites residents to “Come hear a panel of professionals on available resources and learn how to navigate mental health and substance abuse services in our communities. Cass County has several resources available that go underutilized. This event will give attendees a chance to learn about mental health services that are available in our backyard.”

This event is sponsored generously by the Healthy Cass County Coalition with funding from the Healthiest State Initiative Grant and Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company. If you have any further questions, please contact Grace McAfee at (712) 250-8170 or mcage@casshealth.org.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – A Public hearing was held this (Wednesday) morning in Greenfield, on a proposed Adair County Ordinance regulating the placement of Data Centers. Applied Digital has an agreement to purchase land adjacent to a substation in the 1200 block of Fallow Avenue in Adair County, for a 200-megawatt data center. During the hearing, an Adair County resident said there are too many questions about the definition of a data center and specifics regarding setbacks, water usage and other property matters.

Adair County farmer Randy Caviness has wind turbines on his land, and is concerned about stopping progress and losing the opportunity to bring in jobs.

Others mentioned similar concerns, along with the affect on property values.

One of Applied Digital’s owners, Nick Phillips, said he was surprised at the amount of “Pushback” in the community since the data center was first proposed. He spoke about increasing property values and the investment in the county it would bring, along with jobs.

He addressed also, the question about the property setback.

Former State Representative and Adair County property owner Clel Baudler, urged the Board not to “Over-regulate private industry.”

Supervisor John Twombly said the County Attorney recommended the Board take no action, due to possible legal repercussions. Supervisors Jodie Hoadley and Matt Wedemeyer agreed there’s nothing they can do to stop Applied Digital, but there should have been a better plan for property setbacks. The Supervisors voted 3-2 against a motion by Board member John Twombly NOT to pass an ordinance regulating data centers on the 1^st reading. Wedemeyer made, and the Board passed, a motion to modify the wording in the draft proposed ordinance in setbacks and the definition of a commercial building, and have a public hearing on the second and possibly third consideration, on May 8^th at 9:15-a.m.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Officials with the Glenwood Police Department report four Glenwood residents were arrested this (Wednesday) morning, on drug charges. Authorities say:

• 52-year-old Bret Samuelson was arrested for Possession of a controlled substance 3rd offense (Bond $2,000).
• 50-year-old Edwin Rogers was arrested for 3 counts child endangerment, Gathering, 2 counts of possession of controlled substances and poss. of drug paraphernalia (Bond $23,300).
• 43-year-old Crystal McCann was arrested for 2 counts child endangerment, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia (Bond $12,300). And,
• 18-year-old Jasmine Cadena was arrested for possession of a controlled substance (Bond $1,000).

(Creston, Iowa) – A woman from Union County was arrested Tuesday on a warrant out of Clarke County. The Creston Police Department reports 47-year-old Karina Lynn Wilkinson, of Creston, was arrested at 302 N. Pine Street at around 10-a.m., on the warrant charging her with two-counts of Failure to Appear. Wilkinson was transported to the Clarke County Jail and held without bond until completing the terms of her March 14th court-ordered jail sentence.

(Logan, Iowa) – Additional information is being released in connection with a Harrison County homicide investigation. According to an arrest affidavit, the victim of the murder was identified as 53-year-old Douglas Manley, who was found dead inside his rural Harrison County home. The Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner has ruled Manley’s death as a homicide caused by blunt force trauma.

Court documents say Manly and 22-year-old Sebastin Reece O’Brien, were moving furniture Sunday when they got into a fight. Investigators said O’Brien told them he punched, kicked and hit Manley with dresser drawers.

As we previously reported, Deputies in Harrison County found O’Brien Sunday afternoon south of Modale, after he crashed a pickup that belonged to Manley. When deputies went to Manley’s house, they found blood smeared on the front door and said the door appeared to be forced open.  They found Manley dead at the top of the stairs. Investigators said he had face and head injuries. Deputies said O’Brien was intoxicated and combative when they interviewed him.

O’Brien is charged with first-degree murder, a Class-A felony. He’s being held without bond, and scheduled to be in court for a preliminary hearing May 1st.

(Radio Iowa) One of the world’s most deadly forms of cancer is the focus of an event in central Iowa this weekend that will gather survivors from across the state, as well as advocates and loved ones of those who’ve died from it. The Purple Stride Iowa walk will be held Saturday at Raccoon River Park in West Des Moines. Ryan Dwars, of Iowa City, is a three-year pancreatic cancer survivor and he’ll be giving a speech during the event’s opening ceremony.

“The Purple Stride event is to help those that are impacted by pancreatic cancer,” Dwars says. “It’s a way to give tribute to family members that may have been lost due to pancreatic cancer, but it’s really to raise public awareness and funds to hopefully have some better treatment options, resources and scientific research.” Symptoms of pancreatic cancer are often vague and can include abdominal or mid-back pain, unexplained weight loss, jaundice, loss of appetite, indigestion, changes in stool and new-onset diabetes. After some minor back pain grew and gradually spread into his chest, Dwars went to the E-R and was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at age 36.

“Luckily, I was able to catch it soon enough which — a lot of people aren’t quite that lucky,” Dwars says. “My uncle was battling pancreatic cancer at the time as well, too. He has since passed. I was able to have surgery, but then I’ve still been battling it because it’s come back a couple other times, so I’m on my third chemo regimen.” The five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is just 13-percent. It’s estimated more than 66-thousand Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year, and nearly 52-thousand will die from the disease this year, making it the third-leading cause of cancer death in the U-S. Dwars, a special education teacher at Iowa City West High School, says he’s faced a variety of challenges since being diagnosed.

“The chemo drug that I was on at the time, there was a shortage of that and I wasn’t going to be able to get it,” Dwars says. “We helped advocate and find the drug to be able to bring that to our local hospital, and not just to help myself but also to help about 50 other patients that were going to miss their chemo treatment because of a drug shortage.”

Saturday’s annual Purple Stride event is the only one in Iowa, and it’s among about 60 nationwide. The Iowa goal is to raise 145-thousand dollars toward a national goal of 19-million, in order to help change the lives of people facing pancreatic cancer and advance progress against the disease.