A reminder today from Cass County Democratic Party Chair Sherry Toelle: The Cass County Democratic Party is sponsoring a Winter Clothing Drive to help secure warm clothes, winter night clothes, and blankets for residents who may not have the resources needed to purchase necessary winter clothing. Toelle asks that people “please bring new or ‘clean, gently used’ items to drop boxes across the county, now through November 15, 2019. Donations will be distributed through the clothes closets and schools throughout the county. Children’s clothing—coats, hats, gloves/mittens, boots, even socks and underwear—are especially needed as are larger sized adult clothing.”

Toelle says “We had a similar event two years ago. The response was overwhelming. We hope that people will be willing to match that response [this year].”

Drop-off sites for good, clean winter clothing (such as caps/gloves & coats) include:

Anita: Rolling Hills Bank, Library, Rusty Razor.

Atlantic: YMCA, Rolling Hills Bank, Private home at 10 E. 13th St.

Cumberland: Telephone Company, City Hall, Library, Houghton State Bank.

Griswold: Rolling Hills Bank, Telephone Company, Library, Houghton State Bank

Lewis: Library

Massena: Economy Food Mart, FN Bank

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have arrested a suspect in the fatal shooting of a man in Cedar Rapids over the weekend. Officers called to a home early Saturday morning found the wounded man, who later died at a hospital. He’s been identified as 31-year-old Wayne Jones, who lived in Cedar Rapids.

Police say officers arrested the suspect around 9:15 p.m. Sunday at a grocery store parking lot. Police say 36-year-old Jermaine Walker is charged with first-degree murder and other crimes.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CST

UNDATED (AP) — A new report says farm bankruptcies have risen in Nebraska and Iowa. The American Farm Bureau Federation report shows Chapter 12 bankruptcies rose 24% nationwide over the previous year. The report covers the 12 months ending Sept. 30. The report cited severe weather and trade disputes among the problems faced by farmers. There were 37 farm bankruptcies in Nebraska and 24 in Iowa over those 12 months _ a year-over-year increase of six in Nebraska and 10 in Iowa.

DECORAH, Iowa (AP) — Two candidates have clear momentum in Iowa with three months until the first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses. Democratic rivals Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren are offering starkly different arguments as they try to close the deal. But other top contenders including former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders aren’t going away. The jumble at the top reveals vulnerabilities for all the candidates.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Trial has been set for a registered sex offender accused of trying to sexually assault boys he lured to a Des Moines elementary school playground. Station KCCI reports that trial for 39-year-old Loren Lewis is set for Dec. 2. He has pleaded not guilty to second-degree sexual abuse, two counts of enticing a minor under 13, and assault with intent to commit sexual abuse.

AMANA, Iowa (AP) — Two people died after their vehicles collided on an icy Iowa bridge this weekend. The Iowa State Patrol says the crash happened Saturday morning on an icy bridge south of Amana, Iowa, on Highway 151.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A Minnesota college student says Krispy Kreme has told him to stop making doughnut runs to Iowa. Twenty-one-year-old Jayson Gonzalez of Champlin, Minnesota, would make weekend runs to a Krispy Kreme store in Clive, Iowa, and pack his car with boxes of doughnuts that he would deliver to customers around the Twin Cities.

But less than a week after the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported about his road trips, Gonzalez says he received a phone call from Krispy Kreme’s Nebraska office telling him to stop selling the company’s doughnuts in Minnesota. Krispy Kreme stores left Minnesota 11 years ago.

Gonzalez tells the Pioneer Press he was told his sales created a liability for the North Carolina-based company.

(A-P) — A new report says farm bankruptcies have risen in Nebraska and Iowa. The American Farm Bureau Federation shows Chapter 12 bankruptcies rose 24% nationwide over the previous year. The report covers the 12 months ending Sept. 30. The report cited severe weather and trade disputes among the problems faced by farmers.

There were 37 farm bankruptcies in Nebraska and 24 in Iowa over those 12 months — a year-over-year increase of six in Nebraska and 10 in Iowa. The highest number of farm bankruptcies was in Wisconsin, with 48. Nebraska tied for second with Georgia and Kansas.

The report cites U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that farms will bring in $88 billion in 2019 — 29% below the record set in 2013.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Trial has been set for a registered sex offender accused of trying to sexually assault boys he lured to a Des Moines elementary school playground. Station KCCI reports that trial for 39-year-old Loren Lewis is set for Dec. 2. He has pleaded not guilty to second-degree sexual abuse, two counts of enticing a minor under 13, and assault with intent to commit sexual abuse.

Police say Lewis lured an 11-year-old and 12-year-old boy to the playground on Aug. 3, and then told the boys to pull down their pants. Police say when they refused, Lewis assaulted one of the boys and attempted to perform sex acts on him

Lewis was convicted in 1997 of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse. The victim in that crime was a 10-year-old boy.

The Synergy Winds of the 34th  Army Band, Iowa Army National Guard will be performing during a FREE show at the Corning Opera House next Sunday, November 10th. The woodwind quintet is stationed in Fairfield, Iowa and the only military band in the state of Iowa. The mission of the 34th Army Band is to provide music throughout the spectrum of military operations, instill in our soldiers the will to fight and win, and foster the support of our citizens and promote our national interests at home and abroad.   The 34th Army Band is made up of citizen soldiers whose civilian occupations include teachers, salesmen, corporate management, engineers, and students.

The Unit’s numerous ensembles have extensively toured the State of Iowa performing at official military ceremonies, sporting events, parades, concerts, festivals, school assemblies, patriotic concerts, and many other events. The current focus of the 34th  Army Band has been developing smaller Musical Performance Teams (MPTs) to expand their ability to support more musical requests, both for the military and events throughout Iowa.  Current MPTs include the Concert and Marching Bands, Sidewinders Rock Band, 42 Romeo Rock Band, Scrap Metal Popular Music Group, Synergy Winds Woodwind Quintet, Ceremonial Brass MPT and Operation Groove Jazz Ensemble.

The 34th Iowa Army National Guard Band will start playing at 1:30-pm next Sunday, as people arrive for the Veteran’s Program at 2-p.m. Featured during the program is Michael Wilson’s One Man One War art exhibit, and Corning Center for Fine Arts Poppy installation. Synergy Winds will perform as part of the program and play TAPS at the Poppy Field in Central Park.

Other Corning Opera House upcoming events include Christian Pop Artist, Josh Wilson on November 16; Joseph Hall’s Elvis Christmas Rock & Remember on December 7; and Music of Vince Guaraldi & Peanuts by Donovan Johnson and friends. For more information contact Executive Director, De Heaton at 641-418-8037 or www.CorningOperaHouse.com.

Listed as Travel Iowa’s number one Christmas destination, downtown Atlantic lights up six blocks with nearly 200,000 lights for the holiday season. “Christmas in Atlantic kicks” off Saturday, November 9th, with the Holiday Open House beginning at 9 AM. Visit local businesses to get a holiday sneak peek and enjoy treats, giveaways and special promotions. Participating locations include: Aunt B’s, Bonnesen’s, Brown’s Shoe Fit, Cappel’s Ace Hardware, Hanson’s Fine Jewelry, Jazzercise, The Franklin Market, The Picker’s Parlor, The Uppercut & More Boutique and Something For You.

Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bailey Smith says also, that for the third year, the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce will be offering AtlantiCash at a discounted price as part of their Holiday Promotion, sponsored by First Whitney Bank & Trust. Smith said “We wanted to think of something exciting to get people out shopping local. What better way than to offer AtlantiCash, which can only be spent in Atlantic, at a discount.” Two years ago, she said “We sold $10,000 in 20 minutes. Last year, we sold $15,000 in eight minutes. The goal this year is to sell $30,000, all of which goes back into Atlantic businesses.” For one day only, community members can come to the Chamber on Saturday, November 9th and buy a pack of $100 in AtlantiCash for $80, a 20% discount. Community members may purchase up to three packs. The discounted AtlantiCash will be available from 9 AM – 12 PM.

The Holiday Promotion is also sponsored by Hy-Vee, Olsen Fuel Supply, Brown’s Shoe Fit, Brymons Interiors, Fareway, Outfitters Outlet Store, Something For You and Unique Salon & Spa.

The Annual Grand Lighting Ceremony, sponsored by Atlantic News Telegraph and Precision Concrete Services, will be Thursday, November 21st at 5-p.m., at the Historic Rock Island Depot in Downtown Atlantic. There will be free hot cocoa, and the Atlantic Hy-Vee will be serving free hot dogs for the community to enjoy. Santa will have a special arrival on his helicopter, weather pending, at 5:30-p.m., to turn on the lights and see children in his cabin from 6- until 7:30-p.m. Nov. 21st, at the City Park.

Prior to the Lighted Parade on December 7th, visit Santa in his cabin where you can enjoy hot cocoa and popcorn, as well as horse-drawn carriage rides from 3-to 5:30-p.m. Visit www.christmasinatlantic.com for Santa’s full holiday schedule. Santa’s Cabin is sponsored by the Atlantic Rotary Club. The Lighted Parade and Fireworks will be December 7th, starting at 6-p.m. If you or your group/organization wishes to be in the parade, please submit your entry to the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce by calling 712-243-3017 or emailing chamber@atlanticiowa.com. Pre-registration is not required, but is encouraged. The Lighted Parade and Fireworks is sponsored by A.M. Cohron & Son.

Join the Chamber for a Holiday Concert and Angel of Christmas on December 8th, at the First United Methodist Church, starting at 3-p.m. Submit your nominations for Angel of Christmas to the Atlantic Area Chamber by November 22nd. The Angel of Christmas is sponsored by Cass County Health System. Don’t forget to pick up your Christmas Brochure from area retail businesses, “like” the Chamber on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter, to find dates and details to celebrate Christmas in Atlantic. Capture the Christmas magic with #MyAtlanticIA, and post to the Atlantic Area Chamber’s Facebook page or Instagram (AtlanticIowaFan).

Employees from at least three area businesses were temporarily evacuated Saturday evening in Boone, after a train derailed, causing damage to some vehicles in the Union Pacific parking lot.  KCCI-TV reports the incident happened at around 6-p.m. near the Boone Hy-Vee store in the 1100 block of 8th Street. An estimated nine cars derailed from the track. No injuries were reported.

Authorities say there was a smell of natural gas in the area, but at last report the source was unknown. Employees with the Hy-Vee, Dollar General and O’Riley’s Auto Parts stores were evacuated.

The incident remained under investigation.

A fire started at a grocery store in Ogden sometime between 8-and 9-p.m., Saturday, grew to be so large and hot, that it became visible on a Weather Service satellite. According to reports, flames at the “Ogden Mart” on W. Walnut Street, shot 50-feet into the air. At least one wall of the building had collapsed overnight. Crews were still battling the blaze early this (Sunday) morning. There was no one in the building, and no injuries have been reported.

The Ogden Iowa grocery story fire during the evening of Saturday November 2 was hot enough to display on GOES-16 satellite imagery. This image was from 9:36pm CDT. The brighter, more yellowy colors depict the satellite sensing warmer temperature

The National Weather Service reports the fire was hot enough to display on GOES-16 satellite imagery. The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 16 has 16 different channels to sample all sorts of different atmospheric phenomena.