Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump says he raised five-point-six MILLION dollars for veterans at an event in Iowa before the Caucuses. “If we could, I wanted to keep it private because I don’t think it’s anybody’s business if I want to send money to the vets,” Trump says. Trump is blasting the media for questioning how much was raised and where the money went.

“Probably libelous stories or certainly close in the newspapers and the people know the stories are false. I’m going to continue to attack the press,” Trump said. “Look, I find the press to be extremely dishonest.” Trump held a news conference this (Tuesday) morning in New York City where he read a list of all the organizations that had received donations from the Des Moines fundraiser. Trump said Americans for Independent Living in Waterloo, the Puppy Jake Foundation in Urbandale, Support for Siouxland Soldiers and Central Iowa Shelter and Services each got 100-thousand dollar checks. A fourth donation of 100-thousand dollars is planned for Projects for Patriots in Sioux City, but won’t be released until a review of the group’s filings for non-profit status is completed.

“This money was raised during a little speech that I made rather than doing a debate — the one debate I missed,” Trump said. “It was the lowest rated debate, by the way, but I won’t say that.” Trump held an event at Drake University January 28th rather than participate in a FOX News debate with the other G-O-P candidates. Trump told reporters today his staff and some volunteers went through financial records to ensure the contributions were going to legitimate groups.

“I don’t want the credit for it, but I shouldn’t be lambasted and remember this: so out of the almost $6 million that was raised, not one penny did I take for administration costs,” Trump said. “That’s unheard of.” Trump’s January 28th event was held on the Drake University campus in an auditorium with 700 seats. Hundreds who couldn’t get in the packed venue stood outside and watched the event on big-screen T-Vs. Trump made this announcement at the end of that event.

“We just cracked $6 million. Right? Six million,” Trump said and the crowd cheered. “And we have outside a list of the organizations and folks that are going to be getting this money. We’re going to divide it up.” Trump said today (Tuesday) that some pledges didn’t come through and that’s why his final list of donations is short of that six-million dollar figure. Trump told reporters he’s “never received such bad publicity for doing such a good job.”

“It’s bothersome because I love the vets and I’ve worked hard for the vets and, as you can see, I’ve given a lot of money and raised a lot of money for the vets and I think when the press portrays it differently, the press is being very dishonest,” Trump said. The Washington Post reported the one-million dollar donation Trump announced he was making in January wasn’t made to the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation until last week.

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with the Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn say Kara McKeever of Kansas City, Missouri (& originally of Harlan), has been selected to begin as the Museum of Danish America’s Genealogy Center Manager after the planned retirement of Michele McNabb of Atlantic, this June. McNabb has served as the center’s manager and librarian for the past 14 years.

Kara McKeever

Following her graduation from Harlan High School, McKeever received her B.A. degree, Magna Cum Laude, from Drake University in Des Moines where she majored in Writing and International Relations. In 2013, she completed an M.F.A. in Creative Writing and Media Arts from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. During this period she held the position of Assistant to the Director of Creative Writing. Since then she has been the retail manager of Glacé Artisan Ice Cream.

McKeever’s roots are deep in Shelby County and the Danish immigrant experience. Her great-grandparents, Hermann and Inger Nielsen of rural Harlan, are on the museum’s Danish Immigrant Wall of Honor, and she has done research on Danish immigration in the late 19th Century. ”

McKeever will participate in the Museum of Danish America’s annual June Board of Director’s meeting, which is being held this year in Kansas City, Missouri from June 9-11. She will work with Michele McNabb over the summer as she assumes her new position.

One person was arrested following a stand-off involving a man with a large knife Monday morning, in Guthrie County. The Sheriff’s Office says 22-year old Douglas McDaniel, of Jamiaca,  was charged with Assault while Displaying a Dangerous Weapon, after he allegedly confronted with a 9-inch butcher knife, Chief Deputy Jeremy Bennett and another man. McDaniel surrendered the knife and taken into custody before being booked into the Guthrie County Jail and held on a $2,000 cash only bond.

Douglas McDaniel

The incident began when deputies were called at around 9-a.m., to conduct a welfare check on a woman residing at 301 1st Avenue, in Jamaica. When Deputy Bennett arrived, he was asked to stand-by when Rodney Hennigar spoke with his daughter in the home. McDaniel, who was in the home, confronted Hennigar and the Deputy shortly thereafter. The confrontation was followed by the brief stand-off.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports a Polk County man was arrested Sunday evening following an accident investigation. Officials say 35-year old Israel Medina, Jr., of Des Moines, was charged with OWI/1st offense, after deputies responded to a car-versus-deer accident at around 7:40-p.m. Sunday, on Oxford Road. Medina was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance.

And, Saturday afternoon, Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a one-vehicle accident on Quincy Road approximately ¼ mile east of 740th Street. A 2002 Chevy Tahoe driven by 32-year old Erich Sean Johnson, of Massena, was eastbound on Quincy Road when Johnson lost control of the SUV, which slid into the north ditch, rolled once and came to rest on its wheels. Johnson was transported to CCMH by Cumberland Fire Department. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $10,000; damage to fence line is estimated at $2,000. The incident remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol.

(Noon News)

The Cass County Sheriff’s office reports two recent drug-related and numerous other arrests. Officials say as the result of a traffic stop on westbound I-80 Monday, deputies arrested 31-year old Bradley Blake Wittman, of Flagstaff, AZ, and 23-year old Michael A. DiCicco, of Imperial Beach, CA. The men face felony charges that include: Possession with Intent to Deliver (less than 10 grams of) LSD; Possession with Intent to Deliver (more than 5 grams of) Meth/MDMA, and Failure to Affix Drug Tax Stamp. They were also charged with Possession of Xanax/1st Offense, Possession of Psilocybin Mushrooms/1st Offense, Possession of Marijuana/1st Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Dicicco was also charged with a count of OWI/1st Offense. Both men were taken to the Cass County Jail where they remain held on $100,000 bond each.

On May 26th, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 20-year old Sierra Deziree Weston, of Atlantic, on charges of Possession of Methamphetamine/1st Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Weston was taken to the Cass County Jail where she was released the following day on her own recognizance.

Sunday, Cass County deputies arrested 21-year old Brian Edward Kenshalo, of Atlantic, on a charge of OWI/1st Offense. Kenshalo was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.

Monday, 20-year old Sarah Jo Porter, of Cumberland, turned herself in at the Cass County Jail on District Court warrants for four counts of Probation Violation. Porter was released later that day on $2,000 bond. That same day, 54-year old Russell Alan Shearer, of Griswold, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear to Serve Jail Time. Shearer was taken to the Cass County Jail where he is completing his sentenced time.

(Noon News)

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, is expected to act on approving a Resolution “Authorizing bids for the 2016 Street and Alley Improvements.” The projects were finalized for the Fiscal Year 2016 Capital Improvement plan. Slightly more than 1.085-million dollars for the projects will be financed by the 2016 bond. $500,-thousand dollars will be used from the Local Option Sales Tax Capital Improvement Streets fund to pay for the remaining projects.

Those projects include:

• 10th St. from Sunnyside Lane to the Hospital Drive (3″ Hot Melt Asphalt [HMA] Overlay).
• Olive St. from 7th to 10th (3″ HMA)
• Maple St. overlay from 9th to 10th
• Birch St. overlay from 2nd to 3rd
• Walnut/Elm alley from 4th to 5th
• 3rd to 4th St. alley (Chestnut to Poplar)

The Alley’s include those from:

• 4th to 5th Sts. (between Walnut & Elm)
• 3rd to 4th Sts. (between Oak & Hazel)
• 8th to 9th Sts. (between Chestnut & Walnut)
• 2nd to 3rd Sts.(Between Maple & Linn)
• 8th to 9th Sts. (Between Maple & Linn, and Poplar to Locust)
• 7th and 8th Sts. (Between Poplar & Locust)
• Alley by Gade Insurance
• All alleys and downtown parking lots.

Among other business on their agenda, the Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, will hear from the City’s new Landscape Architect intern (Matt Iekel) with regard to a practical beautification plan, including detailed layouts and cost-estimates. And, they will act on the following City of Atlantic commission/board re-appointments:

• Keith Harlan, to the Airport Commission
• Doug Seemann and Christina Bateman, to the Board of Adjustment
• Steve Teague, to the Cable Television Commission
• Lucas Mosier, to the Community Promotion Commission
• Jim Crall and Janice Dickerson, to the Library Board
• Ken Kelly and Katrina Sonntag, to the Planning & Zoning Commission

And the following new appointments:

• Christina Bateman, to the Planning & Zoning Commission & Board of Adjustment
• Rod Christensen, to the Cable Television Commission.
• James Northwick, to the Library Board.

The City Council meeting takes place in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall, beginning at 5:30-p.m., Wednesday.

Sheriff’s deputies in Page County, Friday, arrested 26-year old Jeffrey Roy Davison, of Clarinda. Davison was wanted on a warrant for Contempt of Court associated with the Violation of a No Contact or Protective Order. During the arrest Davison was also charged with Interference with Official Acts.

Jeffrey Roy Davison

He was transported to the Page County Jail where he was being held on a $300 cash bond.  Clarinda Police assisted deputies in conducting the arrest.

The Atlantic Police Department reports nine people were arrested over the past week. On Monday, 20-year old Sarah Porter, of Cumberland, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Violation of Probation. Porter was booked into the Cass County Jail and then released on bond.

The following persons were booked into the Cass County Jail following their arrest:

On Sunday, Atlantic Police arrested 29-year old Michael Medina, of Atlantic, for Domestic Abuse Assault (by impeding airflow). And, 26-year old Tyler Mills, of Atlantic, was arrested on a warrant for Eluding.

Last Saturday, 20-year old Tyler Osborn, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for 5th degree Theft (Shoplifting), and 27-year old Justin Cooley, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Theft in the 3rd degree.

On Friday, 25-year old Devin Register, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Simple Assault. On Thursday, 25-year old Joshua Olwell, of Atlantic, was arrested for Harassment in the 2nd degree, Reckless use of a firearm, and Carrying a Weapon. And, 23-year old Tanor Jimmison, of Clarinda, was arrested for Driving While Barred and OWI.

On May 23rd, 39-year old Kevin Millam, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault causing injury.

The group Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is working on a long-term way to remember soldiers who served in the Union Army.  Highway 6, which runs from Council Bluffs to Davenport was named the Grand Army of the Republic Highway in 1947, but many of the road signs proclaiming the highway’s name have vanished. Dan Rittel is leading the campaign to get support from small towns along the highway to put up new signs.

“It’s overwhelmingly positive. I haven’t had any negative reaction yet. Most of these towns are eager, I think they see it as a way to honor their local veterans as well as veterans at large,” according to Rittel.  When the project is finished, motorist along the route will see signs featuring a gold star, will designate Highway-6 as the “Grand Army of the Republic Highway.”

“It’s not really kind of in the forefront any more. It’s basically just honoring these veterans and the work that they did after the Civil War,”  Rittel says. There will be nearly 60 signs, so travelers through places like Anita, Brooklyn and Wilton, will know they are driving down the Grand Army of the Republic Highway.

(Radio Iowa)

Atlantic, Iowa – The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Master Gardener program is again offering a summer webinar series in 2016. The series is free, and open to anyone interested in attending to learn more about the benefits of shade in landscape, tree problems and native garden insects. In addition, Master Gardeners who attend will gain educational hours for attending. The Cass County Extension office in Atlantic will be one of the host sites for these two-hour webinars in June, July and August of 2016.

Details for the summer webinars at the Cass County location:

• Tuesday, June 14 at 6:30 PM – Got Shade? ISU Extension and Outreach horticulturist Denny Schrock will teach participants how to utilize shade plants in the landscape while focusing on plants native to Iowa.
• Tuesday, July 12 at 6:30 PM – Getting to the Bottom of Tree Problems with Lina Rodriguez-Salamanca, ISU Extension and Outreach plant pathologist and diagnostician with the ISU Plant and Insect Clinic. Participants will become familiar with some of the common symptoms of tree problems and learn what to keep an eye out for.
• Tuesday, August 9 at 6:30 PM – What’s all the Buzz About? Nathan Brockman is the curator of the butterfly wing of Reiman Gardens at Iowa State University. Attendees will learn about insects native to Iowa and what to do to increase the enjoyment of these six-legged garden visitors.

To register, contact the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132 or email keolson@iastate.edu. The webinars are free of charge and open to anyone who may be interested.

(Press Release from Cass County Extension)