(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with Cass Health in Atlantic, Monday, said that on Friday, November 1st, Dr. Elaine Berry was presented with the Iowa Association of County Medical Examiner’s Distinguished Service Award for her 35 years of service.

Dr. Berry began serving as Cass County Medical Examiner in 1989. Throughout the first 27 years of appointment, she was the only medical examiner in Cass County aside from an occasional appointed deputy who took call on the rare occasion that Dr. Berry was out of town. Her nominator and fellow medical examiner investigator Tabetha Smith, RN, said “Being a death investigator can be emotionally, mentally, and physically strenuous, and even more so when you are unable to share the burdens of the role. She recounts memories of having to leave early from her children’s musical concerts and family holiday parties, so she could fulfill her duties to her patients and the role of medical examiner.”

In 2016, Dr. Berry was able to recruit additional help. CCHS officials say thanks to the support of other investigators sharing the duties, Dr. Berry was able to give her time to her other passions: volunteering at her church teaching Sunday school and serving on medical mission trips. Today, Dr. Berry serves as the Cass Health Chief Medical Officer, and she continues to serve in the roles of Director for Emergency Services and County Medical Examiner.

Dr. Elaine Berry (Photo provided by CCHS)

Dr. Angela Weppler said “Dr. Berry, more than anyone I know, has committed to our community in multiple ways, from EMS, hospice, and nursing home directorships to her years of service as our County Medical Examiner. I cannot think of another provider who has sacrificed more of their time and skill or who is more deserving of recognition for their service to Cass County than Dr. Berry.”

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Officials with the Mills County Emergency Management Agency said that effective 10-a.m. today (Monday, Nov. 4th), the Burn Ban which had been in-place for the entire county, was lifted, and is no longer in effect. (see the notification below).

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports five recent arrests.

On Sunday, 24-year-old Makayla Rae Smith, of Malvern, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. Bond $1,000.

Saturday evening, 39-year-old Andrew Christopher Carrera, of Omaha, was arrested for OWI/3rd offense; No Valid Driver’s License; and failure to stop or obey a stop/yield right-of-way, sign. His bond was set at $5,000.

There were two arrests Friday in Mills County: 42-year-old Matthew Edward Wallman, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on two-counts of Child Endangerment, and Harassment in the 2nd Degree. He was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail. And, 23-year-old Chase Jonathan Ives, of Bellevue, NE, was arrested Friday night at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Failure To Appear. Bond was set at $5,000.

On Oct. 30th, Mills County Deputies arrested 31-year-old Matthew Russell Archer, of Glenwood, for Public Intoxication. Bond was set at $300.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports two people were arrested on separate drug charges over the past week. On Oct. 28th, the Iowa State Patrol arrested 27-year-old Francisco Alberto Salazar-Barragan, of West Point, NE, following a traffic stop for erratic driving on eastbound I-80 at mile-marker 80, in Adair County. Upon questioning and a partial field sobriety test, Salazar-Barragan pulled a baggie of marijuana from his pocket. He was arrested for OWI/1st offense, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 1st offense. Salazar-Barragan was released the following day on a $1,000 cash or surety (C/S) bond.

On Saturday, Nov. 2nd, an Iowa State Patrol Trooper arrested 32-year-old Chelsea Michelle Kevan, of Hinckley, MN, following a traffic stop on eastbound I-80 at mile-marker 86, in Adair County. She was pulled-over for alleged reckless driving. Kevan was charged with OWI/2nd offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (A glass pipe), Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana-1st offense, being a Fugitive from Justice (an extraditable warrant from the Weld County, Colorado Sheriff’s Dept. for a traffic offense – Vehicular Eluding), and Child Endangerment. She was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $1,000 cash/surety bond on the Iowa charges, and a $500 cash-only bond on the Colorado warrant.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports also:

35-year-old Janet Pauline Osboro, of Lincoln, NE, was arrested Oct. 28th on I-80, for OWI/1st offense. Her breath alcohol content (BRac) level initially measured .307-percent. At the Adair County Jail a breath sample came in at .247-percent, or slightly more than three-times the legal level for intoxication. She was released a few hours later on a $1,000 C/S bond.  And, on Oct. 30th, 39-year-old Barrett Martin Driskill, of Des Moines, was arrested at the Cass County (IA) Jail on an Adair County felony warrant for failure to appear on charges that include: Eluding – injury, OWI, drugs or participating in a felony; and Poss. of a Controlled Substance/3rd or subsequent offense. Driskill was being held on a $5,000 cash-only bond.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) urged President Biden to stand up for families navigating the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) decision to end intercountry adoptions for those without Chinese familial ties. In the letter, the lawmakers noted that approximately 300 children in the PRC – some with various health conditions – are already paired with families in the United States, including Iowans who have been waiting in the final stages of the adoption process for years.

“We request that you act in the best interest of these children and families by urging the PRC to fulfill and uphold the commitment the country has made,” the lawmakers wrote.

“The American families that have been matched with their adoptive children are prepared to meet their long-term medical and emotional needs, and to give them the love and nurturing they need,” they continued. “Many of these children know that they have a home, which in many cases have been prepared for their arrival since the families were notified that they were matched and moving forward with the adoption process.”

 After the State Department noticed last week that the PRC may complete adoptions for families in some countries, the legislators called on President Biden to ensure such an action would pertain to the United States, too.

Read the full letter here.

(Radio Iowa) – The races in Iowa’s first and third congressional districts are considered among the few competitive U.S. House races in the country and campaign spending in the two districts has skyrocketed to at least $50 million. The data comes from AdImpact, a firm that tracks spending on TV and radio as well as digital and social media. Many mailboxes in those two districts have been stuffed with campaign appeals, too. Iowa State University political science professor Dave Peterson said it’s about motivating a very small number of voters.

“The sweet spot for campaigns and for candidates is at this point to identify people who are unlikely to participate unless they are pushed a little bit, but if they do participate are going to vote for that candidate,” Peterson said, “and that’s where the targeting really goes.” Drake University political science professor Rachel Paine Caufield said research shows mailings that target infrequent voters who’d be inclined to support a candidate are effective.

“Those kinds of campaign activities can be very effective in mobilizing people to go vote and activating them if they’re on the fence and maybe deciding whether or not to take time out of their Tuesday. They might say: ‘Oh, you know what, I should go do this, this is important,’” Paine Caufield said. “…Some people may have received campaign mailers that appear to almost shame them for their voting record or share their neighbor’s voting records. There is research demonstrating that that is actually a pretty strong mobilization tactic.”

The two professors made their comments during a weekend appearance on Iowa Press on Iowa PBS.

Drake University professor Rachel Paine Caufield and Iowa State University professor David Peterson on the Iowa Press set. (Iowa PBS photo)

Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks, an eye doctor, is in a tight race in the first congressional district. She said during a campaign stop in Oskaloosa that reauthorizing the Trump-era tax cuts will be a priority if she’s reelected. “People need to know their paychecks will get smaller if we do not pass the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2025 because tax brackets will automatically go up,” Miller-Meeks said. “Also in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (of 2017) was doubling the child care tax credit.”

Democrat Christina Bohannan, a University of Iowa law professor who ran against Miller-Meeks in 2022, said that campaign laid the groundwork for this one. “We really just hit the ground running again this time and added more volunteers, you know, more of a field operation to get out in a grassroots way to Iowa and it’s worked,” Bohannan said during an interview with Radio Iowa. Bohannan started her Saturday meeting with volunteers in Clinton County. “We have knocked nearly 100,000 doors across this district,” Bohannan said. “It is so close…and what we know is that it all comes down to turnout in these last few days. That is the absolute key.”

Miller-Meeks campaigned in Muscatine and Davenport on Sunday. “Scott County is our largest county, so certainly Scott is a very important county for us, but every county is,” Miller-Meeks said. “…Their votes matter. Their voices matter.” The other closely watched congressional race in Iowa is in the third district where Republican Zach Nunn is seeking a second term in the U.S. House. Lanon Baccam, the Democrat running against Nunn, said his campaign’s volunteers have been focused on reaching voters for one-on-one conversations.

“It’s an unreal number,” Baccam said Saturday during an interview in his campaign office in Windsor Heights. “We have been operating over the last several weekends over 5000 doors a day. We have that many volunteers out knocking doors at this point. That’s huge for us in the final stretch here.” Nunn has been telling supporters his race is at the center of the battle for partisan control of congress. “We have a real opportunity with now a very clear and proven record,” Nunn said during an interview with Radio Iowa. “Being able to get out there and have your voice heard is more than just about the election. It’s more about what the next two years are going to look like in America.”

Iowans may still vote early today (Monday). Check with your county auditor for times and locations. Election Day voting opens at neighborhood precincts at 7 a.m. tomorrow.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa)- Officials with Connections Area Agency on Aging have announced their 6th Annual “Secret Santa for Seniors” program is underway. The program that ensures older adults, especially those who are vulnerable and isolated, receive a little holiday cheer during the busiest season of the year, began November 1st. If you or someone you know needs assistance, or if you would like to adopt a senior or donate to the program generally, please reach out to Connections AAA at 800-432-9209 (Extension 8132), or email info@connectionsaaa.org. Together, we can make a significant impact this holiday season.

Connections Area Agency on Aging is dedicated to building strong support for older Iowans and their family caregivers. Throughout the year, Connections collaborates with local organizations to better serve older adults, their caregivers, and our communities. The intent is to create healthier and safer living environments for seniors, whether at home, in nursing homes, or in assisted living facilities.

In 2021, 44.4% of Iowans aged 65 and over lived alone (source: Iowa Data Center). Our program focuses on older adults with little to no family support, ensuring that they experience the joy of the holiday season. Given the rising cost of living, many older adults rely on fixed incomes. This year, we are prioritizing gift cards, allowing program participants to purchase food, personal items, or enjoy a special dinner or treat at local businesses they frequent.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports a man was arrested Saturday on an OWI charge. 28-year-old John Duffy, of Glenwood, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. He posted a $1,000 bond and was released.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A Vietnam War veteran has received the medal he earned, five decades after the war ended. Dan McDowell served in the Marine Corps and finally received his medals last Friday, during a ceremony at the Indian Creek Nature Area auditorium in Cedar Rapids. KCRG reports one of his awards was the Purple Heart, for being wounded in combat. His wife, children and grandchildren attended the ceremony.

Dan McDowell said he was grateful he did not suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), like so many veterans of war have, despite the intensity of combat. He said he was grateful his family was able to be with him when he was presented with his medals.

(Buckingham, Iowa) – A church in the east-central Iowa town of Buckingham was  recently vandalized by spray paint, with profanity and disrespectful images. The Tama County Sheriff’s Office posted on social media, Saturday: “Well, it seems like this rural Buckingham church has caught the attention of some budding “artists” who decided that spray painting on the side of the church was their best creative outlet. To the masterminds behind this masterpiece: congratulations on proving that a lack of intelligence can indeed lead to poor life choices. If you thought this was “cool”, all it really shows is how desperate you are for attention. Our communities deserve better, and we’re committed to keeping it that way!”

Suspect vehicle in the vandalism case

Image edited to blot-out vulgar language

The Sheriff’s Office posted images of the graffiti and a suspect vehicle, and is asking the public for information leading to the identity of the vandals.