The Cass County Democratic Party held its convention on Saturday, March 12th. Party Chair Sherry Toelle said all 50 delegates were seated and there were several observers. Toelle said “It was a great crowd and, despite all that you hear about supporters of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders and the candidates’ close race, the discourse was civil and respectful.” She said also, “It was emphasized that, whichever candidate eventually won the nomination, we need to come together as a Party to support our nominee in November. “

Five delegates were elected to move on to the Democratic Party’s District and State Conventions: Gerard O’Rourke, Don Sonntag, and Sherry Toelle, all of Atlantic, and Ray Nath and Cheryl Wessels, both of Anita. Numerous alternates were elected in case any of the delegates would be unable to attend either or both of the upcoming conventions.

Photo courtesy Sherry Toelle.

Representatives for convention committees were also elected: O’Rourke—Credentials, Jodi Spencer—Rules & Nominations, Susan Hulsebus—Platform, and Casey Symonds—Arrangements. Rusia Salapa and Kimberlee Spillers, both of Atlantic, were named Co-Chairs of the Affirmative Action Committee. Representatives from the Jim Mowrer and Desmund Adams Congressional campaigns also spoke to the convention.

City officials in Griswold posted on their social media site Friday, that the Griswold Cemetery had been hit by vandalism. The damage was found Friday. A sign in the area designated for infant and youth burials was broken in half.

If you have any information on who may have perpetrated the damage, contact Griswold City Hall at 712-778-2615.

Image from the City of Griswold’s Facebook page.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports two, recent arrests. On Friday, 45-year old  John Leon Lynn Bowen, of Villisca, was arrested on Highway 34 for Driving While Revoked. His bond was set at $1,000. Also arrested Friday, was 35-year old Jeanie Louese Bowen, of Villisca. She was taken into custody on a warrant out of Montgomery County for Probation Violation. Bond was set at $5,000.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Saturday night, of 19-year old Carlos Ivan Cortez, of Lenox. Cortez was taken into custody at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on a Union County warrant for possession of drug paraphernalia. He was being held in the Union County Jail on $300 bond.

And, an Urbandale man, 31-year old Nickolas Jay Wilkinson, was arrested last Thursday night at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County warrant for probation violation. Wilkinson is being held in the Union County Jail on $2,000 bond.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports deputies arrested a man from Orient on drug and weapon charges, Friday night. 63-year old Mark Stephen Miller was taken into custody at around 9-p.m. at 2702 300th Street, after a search warrant was executed at the residence.During the search, meth and methamphetamine drug paraphernalia were found, along with marijuana and other drug paraphernalia. Also located in the home was a .22 caliber bolt action rifle and a .38 Special revolver. As a convicted felon, Miller was not allowed possession of those weapons. He was charged with Possession of weapons by a felon, Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 2nd offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense, and two counts of Possession drug paraphernalia. Miller was released from custody Friday afternoon, after posting $5,000 bond.

31-year old Barrett Martin Driskill, of Afton, was arrested at around 1-p.m. Thursday, in Orient on a Madison County warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault/2nd offense. Driskill was cited in Adair County and then turned over to Madison County authorities.

The Sheriff’s Department says also, Stuart Police arrested 24-year old Christopher John Showalter, of Ottumwa, Thursday evening. Showalter was arrested for Possession of a stolen vehicle and Possession of a vehicle without the owner’s consent. His bond in Adair County was set at $5,000. In addition, Showalter was being held on a warrant out of Wapello County. That same evening, 20-year old Felicia Marie Thomas, of Ottumwa, was arrested by Stuart Police on a warrant out of Appanoose County for Failure to Appear in court. She was later transported to meet with an Appanoose County Deputy, and placed into their custody.

Officials say 63-year old Judy Ann Sammons, of Orient, was cited Saturday afternoon at the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of Marijuana. She was released after being cited. And, an Atlantic woman was arrested March 8th by police in Adair, on a charge of Trespass. 40-year old Michaelle Lyn Johnston was later released on $300 bond.

Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green and Cass County Emergency Management Manager Mike Kennon have announced the tornado sirens will be tested weekly in Atlantic, beginning this Friday, March 18th. The sirens will be tested at Noon each Friday to ensure they are in working order in preparation for the severe weather season, and the statewide tornado drill set for next Wednesday, March 23rd.

A new siren was purchased for a location off west Highway 6 near SWIPCO, and a couple of other sirens have been replaced over the past few years. During the tests, City of Atlantic personnel will be placed near each of the sirens to ensure they are operating properly during the first few tests of the season. Spot checks will be conducted throughout the rest of the storm season as well, but officials say they are relying on citizens living near the sirens to report to the Police Department if they notice a siren functioning differently than normal, or not at all.

Chief Green and Mike Kennon remind citizens that the “Outdoor Warning System” is just that. It is meant to alert persons outside of impending danger. While many citizens can hear the sirens inside their homes, the sirens are designed to warn persons outdoors.

As part of Severe Weather Awareness Week, March 21st through the 25th, the Statewide Tornado Drill will be held March 23rd. The day begins at 10-a.m. with a mock Tornado Watch given over NOAA Weather Radio. At 10:15-a.m., a mock Tornado Warning will be issued. The All-Clear will be given at around 10:30-a.m. In the event actual severe weather threatens the listening area, the Tornado Drill will be rescheduled or cancelled.

Citizens, business owners and schools are urged to use the drill as an opportunity to determine and practice your plan of action in the event an actual tornado alert is issued.

MOORHEAD, Iowa (AP) – Rural communities in Siouxland are struggling to find new Emergency Medical Services personnel as teams shrink due to the lack of new workers or volunteers. The Sioux City Journal reports that fire stations in Moorhead and other communities in Monora County cite the drain of youth from rural communities as the primary factor for the lack of new recruits.

Monona County Sheriff Jeff Pratt says the shortage has slowed response time since fewer people can stop what they’re doing to come to the aid of someone who’s sick or injured outside of town. Moorhead has a population of about 230 people. It’s nearly a half hour drive to the nearest hospital in Onawa. Pratt says the issue will be discussed at a public meeting Wednesday in hopes of working toward a solution.

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer reports six arrests have taken place over the past few weeks. Most recently, on Sunday, 22 year old Daylan Gene Kleen, of Audubon, was arrested for Driving While Barred and a Failure to Appear Warrant from Pottawattamie County. Kleen was transported to the Audubon County Jail and held. That same day, Audubon Police arrested 57 year old Karla Jo Anderson, of Audubon, for a Probation Violation Warrant out of Woodbury County. Anderson was transported to the Audubon County Jail and held.

On Saturday, Audubon Police arrested 35 year old Angela Marie Cerda, of Audubon for Theft 5th degree. Cerda was also arrested Feb. 22nd for an alleged incident of shoplifting. In both cases she was cited and released on promise to appear later, in court. On March 7th, officers in Audubon arrested  22 year old Kaz Ryan Cozad, of Lamoni, on a warrant for Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs. Cozad turned himself in and was released on promise to appear later, in court.

On Feb. 27th, 29 year old Spencer Gordon Heuton, of Audubon, was arrested for Driving with a Suspended License and Failure to have a valid Motorcycle License. Heuton was released on promise to appear later, in court.

A total of five people were hurt in two separate ATV accidents over the weekend, in Pottawattamie and Union Counties. Lt. Rob Ambrose, with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, told KJAN News a child’s ATV driven by 24-year old MacKenzie Belnap, of Council Bluffs, and his passenger, 31-year old Jessica Grogan, of Audubon, veered off the road at around 11-p.m. Sunday and went into a ditch before hitting or sideswiping a barbed-wire fence. Belnap and Grogran rode the machine back to Walnut before calling for help. They were transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic for treatment. A report on their conditions was not available.

Belnap was cited for Operating an ATV with more persons than it was designed to carry, operating an ATV on a Highway, and Failure to Maintain Control. The accident happened near 500th and Western Avenue, on the northwest side of Walnut.

The other accident happened at around 2:45-p.m. Saturday, in Union County. The Sheriff’s Office says a Polaris Razor ATV/UTV driven by 17-year old Quinton Scadden, of Creston, was traveling across a bridge on 245th Street, when the vehicle went out of control. The UTV rolled over and came to rest on its wheels facing east, on the north side of the road. Scadden, who was wearing a shoulder & lap belt, suffered minor injuries. He was transported to the Greater  Regional Medical Center in Creston, by ambulance. 21-year old Kaytlynn Scadden, of Creston, was riding in the unenclosed passenger/cargo area, and ejected from the UTV when it rolled. She was flown by helicopter to the Creston Hospital/ A third passenger, 14-year old Jack Frey, of Creston, who was belted into a passenger seat, suffered minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to the hospital.

Officials with the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency say the light rains in the forecast today will not be enough to stop the potential for fire to spread rapidly. The Fire Danger category will remain “HIGH” until at least Thursday morning, when the next update is expected.

After today and tomorrow, winds and very low relative humidity will combine with the sunshine to rapidly dry the dead vegetation, again, making for dangerous fire conditions.

The National Weather Service is forecasting very dry and very high fire condition for later this week.
The Shelby County EMA says you should remember to call your controlled burns in to the EMA Communications center at (712)- 755—2124, and, contact your local Fire Chief.