The Iowa Department of Transportation says it is conducting a study of Interstate 80 and would like your input. The study will be developed and released through a series of technical reports that identify the existing conditions of I-80, the way the system is performing, short- and long-term issues, and strategies to improve the route. Each report will be accessible online as it becomes available: www.iowadot.gov/interstatestudy.

A technical report entitled “Modal Options” was recently posted to the I-80 Planning Study website.  The Iowa DOT is asking interested parties to take a few minutes to review this report and other materials on the I-80 Planning Study website.  To comment on the report (or others), go to: https://bit.ly/I80Comment.

After going missing in the aftermath of Sunday’s mass shooting in Las Vegas, a 33-year-old northwest Iowa woman who was shot in the rampage has been found dead.
According to KTIV-TV, the victim’s sister-in-law, Sarah Rowher confirms that Carly Kreibaum of Sutherland was killed in the attack at the country music festival in Las Vegas. Funeral arrangements are pending. The pastor of the Sutherland Church of Christ, John Erickson, says that they held a prayer service for Carly Kreibaum and her family on Monday night. About 60 friends and community members attended. Pastor Erickson says that they’re encouraging everyone to pray for Kreibaum’s husband, Chris, and their family. According to the pastor, Kreibaum was attending the concert on Sunday with her friends, Alison Huckaby of Sutherland and Amy Douglas of Cherokee, and got separated from them in the aftermath of the shooting. Rowher confirmed on Tuesday night that Kreibaum had died after she was shot.

(Radio Iowa)

Dale Sunderman, Cass County Auditor, reports that ballots for the Nov. 7, 2017 CITY ELECTIONS (Anita, Atlantic, Cumberland, Griswold, Lewis, Marne, Massena and Wiota) are available at the Cass County Auditor’s Office.  Absentee ballots may be requested by registered voters not going to the assigned voting site on election day, November 7, 2017.   Polls will be open from NOON to 8 p.m. for all cities in Cass County.  Voters unable to go to a voting site on election day may vote prior to election day by paper ballot either (1) IN PERSON AT THE OFFICE OF THE CASS COUNTY AUDITOR during regular office hours at the Cass County Courthouse, Atlantic, Iowa or (2) BY MAIL.

The Cass County Auditor recommends that a person unable to go to a voting site on November 7 (election day), request by mail or visit the auditor’s office as soon as they know they are aware of that fact.  For all voting centers that open at noon on election day, absentee ballots may be cast at the county auditor’s office on election day between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Deadline for voters to request an absentee ballot to be mailed is Friday, November 3rd (Iowa Code 53.2).

MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROCESS:

TO VOTE AN ABSENTEE BALLOT BY MAIL, A written request for an absentee ballot must be made on an official absentee ballot request form.

1. Deliver an OFFICIAL ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUEST FORM by mail or personal carrier to the auditor’s office.

Request forms are available at the auditor’s office or on the internet at http://www.sos.iowa.gov  The request must be signed to be valid.

2. When a request is received by the auditor, a ballot will be mailed if the person is a registered elector.  A request for a ballot to be mailed must be received by the county auditor no later than 5 p.m. Friday, November 3rd.

(If a request is received from a person not registered to vote in Cass County, the person will not be sent an absentee ballot until he/she has registered to vote in Cass County and has completed a new absentee ballot request form.  The auditor will send the person a registration form and an absentee ballot request form.  Note: the registration form must be received by the county auditor no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, November 3, 2017.)

3. Upon receipt of the ballot, the voter completes the ballot, seals it in a stamped/preaddressed Return Affidavit Envelope and signs the Voter’s Affidavit on the outside of the envelope.  The envelope is to be returned by mail or hand delivered to the county auditor no later than the close of election polls on November 7, 2017.

TO VOTE AN ABSENTEE BALLOT IN THE OFFICE OF THE CASS COUNTY AUDITOR you may stop in and request a ballot over the counter. The ballot must then be voted immediately in a voting booth located in that office.  The ballot will be sealed in an affidavit envelope by the voter, will be left at the auditor’s office, and will be retained with all other absentee ballots that are cast by mail or in person.  Last day to vote absentee in the office of the county auditor is Tuesday, November 7, 2017 no later than 11 a.m.

On election day a counting board will process/tabulate all absentee ballots.

Office hours for the Cass County Auditor are Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. thru 4:30 p.m.  (Auditor’s office will be open until 5 p.m. on October 27, November 3 and November 6)

In order to vote in this election you must be a resident of the respective city and be registered to vote. A person must re-register if that person has moved or has changed his/her name since he/she last registered.  Deadline for mailed registration forms to be delivered to the County Auditor’s office for this election is no later than 5 p.m. Friday, November 3, 2017.  A person may register and vote absentee on the same day, including election day.  The DATE FOR THE REGULAR CITY ELECTION is TUESDAY, November 7, 2017.  The polls open at NOON for all cities in Cass County and all polls close at 8 p.m.

Additional information for the November 7, 2017 CITY ELECTION:

ALL POLLING/VOTING CENTERS for all cities in Cass County will open
                           at 12 noon and close at 8 P.M.

ANITA:  The polling precinct is located at the Anita Community Center, 805 Main St.

ATLANTIC:

• FIRST WARD  –  Zion Lutheran Church, 9th St between Linn St and Oak Street
• SECOND WARD –  Atlantic Public Library, 6th & Poplar Street
• THIRD WARD  –  Cass County Community Center, 805 West 10th Street
• FOURTH WARD –  United Church of Christ, 1607 Hazel Street
• FIFTH WARD  –  Heritage House, 1200 Brookridge Circle

CUMBERLAND:  The polling precinct is located at the Cumberland Community Building, 200 W 2nd Street

GRISWOLD:  The polling precinct is located at the Griswold Community Center, 601 2nd Street

LEWIS:  The polling precinct is located at the Lewis Public Library,  412 W Main Street

MARNE:  The polling precinct is located at the Marne City Hall,   402 Washington Street

MASSENA:  The polling precinct is located at the Massena Public Library,  122 Main Street

WIOTA:  The polling precinct is located at the Wiota City Hall, 311 Center Street.

The Cass County Conservation Board invites you to enjoy the 24th biannual Halloween Hike, on Saturday, October 28th, as you follow a trail where your “Unhuggables” will greet you!  Starting at 7:00 p.m. small groups will depart from the Camblin Addition of Sunnyside Park every ten minutes. Kids twelve and under are encouraged to arrive early to get their faces painted. The last group will depart at 8:10 p.m. and all hikers are welcome to enjoy free tasty treats and warm drinks after their hike. It is not our intent to scare or frighten anyone, but to educate and entertain people of all ages.

Pre-registration is required for this FREE event, please call 712-769-2372 or email lkanning@casscoia.us to make your reservations. If you leave a message please leave name, phone number, how many is in your group and what time you wish to depart on the hike! We are looking for volunteers for this event as well. This hike is sponsored by the Cass County Conservation Board.

(Press Release)

It may not have been “The Great Pumpkin,” but A pumpkin was stolen from a residence in Creston, earlier this week. Creston Police say a woman residing in the 200 block of N. Cherry Street reported late Tuesday morning, that someone had stolen a lighted pumpkin ornament from her home. The loss was estimated at $80.

New Atlantic School District Superintendent Steve Barber is settling into his job. Barber, who replaced Mike Amstein as Superintendent, talked about some changes that have come to the District, other than himself, and some new teachers.  (Click on the left side of the audio bar to listen)

And, while the Cass, Inc. building is primarily being used for the EOC and Link Programs, Barber says there’s room for so much more.

The two programs housed there now, he says is perfect for those students who might not be comfortable or productive in a regular classroom environment.

Barber says their focus will be engaging students and their parents in conversation at a younger age, to give them a sense of career direction by the time they graduate, and to provide them with the educational tools needed to meet their goals.

The Glenwood Police Department reported two arrests took place Tuesday. 26-year old Damian Blaine, of Glenwood, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault, and was being held in the Mills County Jail without bond , until seen by magistrate judge. And, 44-year old Gregory Shaplin, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Theft 2^nd degree (for the alleged theft of a Motorcycle), His  bond was set at $5000 cash or surety.

The Union County Sheriff’s Department reports 26-year old Nathan Allen Vicker, of West Des Moines, was arrested on Tuesday night at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. Vicker was arrested on two Union County warrants for probation violation.  He was being held in the Union County Jail on $10,000 bond.

The man who was the subject of the best-selling book and movie “Catch Me If You Can,” was in Iowa Tuesday teaching people how to spot and avoid scams. Frank Abagnale was a scammer who was caught and then became an adviser to the F-B-I and others on how to avoid scams. He visited Iowa on behalf of A-A-R-P and it’s program to educate members. They started to search around to see where you could get information to help consumers deal with all these scams that were going on — and there were no services anywhere with government or outside of government — so they started what was called Fraud Watch Network,” Abagnale says. “And they contacted me to see if I would be their ambassador to set up the program, talk about the things and go out and speak to people.”

Abagnale says he focuses on educating people. He says he’s a big believer that education is the most powerful tool to fight crime. “So if you can explain to someone the most common scams going on, then when they get that phone call, that e-mail, they’ll know not to do what they are asking them to do because they already understood how it worked.” Abagnale says his approach is simple. “The simple solution to all of these scams is a simple two words: stop, verify,” Abagnale says.

He says there is pressure by the scammers to act quickly and that’s why he says it’s important to stop and verify. “No matter who the caller is, everything is based on you have to do this immediately, has to be done now, right away. The urgency of the call right away is a red flag,” Abagnale says. “So even if it is the I-R-S…you hang up the phone, you look up the I-R-S in the phone book and you call and ask if they made that call. Simply, if you live by those two words — you won’t get conned.”

While he talks with A-A-R-P members, Abagnale says the advice works for people of any age. “If they’re asking you to part with some money or some information, and they’re asking you to do it immediately, then you need to check. So if it says it’s your bank’s credit card company, then you hang up and you take your wallet out and you get your credit card out and there’s an 800-number on the back and you call customer service and you ask them if they made that call. And of course they didn’t,” he says. “So that’s all I ask people to do no matter who they are — young, old or otherwise — is to stop and verify. There’s nothing wrong with being a little skeptical.”

Abagnale between the ages of 16 and 21 successfully posed as an airline pilot, an attorney, a doctor and cashed millions in fraudulent checks before turning it around to help catch those committing fraud. Abagnale says his notoriety from the book and movie probably helps him get his message across a little better. He spoke at an event in Johnston last night.

(Radio Iowa)

AMES, Iowa (AP) – An Ames pediatrician has entered the Democratic race to oppose U.S. Rep. Steve King in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District. John Paschen announced his candidacy Tuesday, saying that lawmakers should put aside politics “to pass bills and solve real problems.” He says that if he were elected to the U.S. House, he’d focus on fixing the broken health care system, bringing new jobs to the 4th District and reforming immigration laws.

Paschen has been president of the Child Abuse Prevention & Education Council and is chairman of the Story County Board of Health. The three other Democrats who have entered the race are bus driver Paul Dahl, of Webster City, Spencer councilwoman Leann Jacobsen and former baseball player J.D. Scholten, of Sioux City.

The 4th District covers northwest and north-central Iowa.