Firefighters from Harlan and Shelby were called to the scene of a truck fire at around 630th and Ironwood Road this (Monday) afternoon. The incident took place at around 3:34-p.m. The truck, which was fully engulfed in flames, was said to be in a partially combined field about three-miles west of the Harlan Municipal Airport. The fire had also begun to spread to the field. No injuries were reported.

No injuries have been reported after a pickup truck rear-ended a school bus this (Monday) afternoon. The accident, which was reported at around 3:40-p.m., took place on 550th Street (Highway 48), a little over two-miles north of Griswold. No other details are currently available, but again there are no reports of injuries.

Cass County Youth ages 12-to 17 can discover pheasant hunting for FREE, during the Pheasants Forever member guided hunt, on Sat., Oct. 20th.

Pictured: 2011 Cass County Pheasants Forever Youth Hunt. Courtesy Lora Kanning.

The event will be held at Hansen Outfitters in Anita.  Cass County Conservation officials say the group will leave the Atlantic Hy-vee parking lot at 7:30-AM, and will return at approximately 12:30- PM. Lunch will be provided.

There are limited youth spots available. The deadline to sign up is October 17^th 2012.  Call Jason Jordahl at 243-7988 to sign up, and for more information.  Interested youth must have taken a Hunter’ Education Course in order to participate in the event. A shotgun may be provided if a youth does not have access to one. If this is the case, you are asked to mention that, when signing up.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports numerous arrests over the past week. On September 25th, 23-year old Alexander Paul Dvorak, of Atlantic,  turned himself in at the Cass County Sheriff’s Office on a District Court Warrant for Probation Violation. Dvorak was being held at the Cass County Jail on $5,000 bond. That same day, 23-year old Jennifer Rene Dellaca, of Atlantic, was arrested on an Atlantic Police Department warrant for Child Endangerment. Dellaca was taken to the Cass County Jail where she was released the following day on $2,500 bond.

On September 28th, 40-year old Michael Eugene Boggs,  of Atlantic, was arrested on charges of Domestic Abuse 3^rd or Subsequent Offense, Assault on a Police Officer, and Interference with Official Acts. Boggs was taken to the Cass County Jail and was released the following day on $10,000 bond. Also on Sept. 28th, deputies in Cass County arrested 53-year old Terry Lee Ranney, of Massena,  on a charge of Simple Assault. Ranney was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on $300 bond.

On Saturday, 35-year old Joshua Lynn Hemminger,  of Atlantic,  turned himself in to the Cass County Jail on Sheriff’s office charges of Child Endangerment and OWI 3^rd Offense. The charges were the result of a motor vehicle accident that occurred on June 6th, 2012. Hemminger was released the following day on his own recognizance.

And on Sunday, 37-year old Daniel Ray Lung,  of Massena, was arrested on a charge of Domestic Abuse Serious. Lung was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released today (Monday), on his own recognizance.

The Atlantic Police Department reports the arrest on Friday, of 19-year old Jessica Cooper, of Atlantic. Cooper was taken into custody on a charge of Serious Assault. No other details about the incident are available. Cooper was booked into the Cass County Jail.

(12-p.m. News)

A gambling hall in western Iowa that shut down last summer should be reopening before the end of the year. Widespread flooding of the Missouri River forced the closure of CasinOmaha last June near the town of Onawa, about halfway between Omaha and Sioux City. The casino is owned by Nebraska’s Omaha Tribe. Tribal leaders say flood damage will be repaired and the casino will have a new look and a new name when it reopens. It’ll be the Blackbird Bend Casino. Construction is getting underway this month and the plan is to have the facility operational in late December.

(Radio Iowa)

Shelby County Emergency Manager Bob Seivert said today (Monday), that the Fire Danger level in the County will remain in the “HIGH” category through at least Thursday, October 4th. The Fire Danger rating in Shelby County is based on input from local fire chiefs and the Emergency Manager, and weather factors.

Controlled Burns should only be conducted with the knowledge of the local Fire Chief.  Open burning is discouraged. Seivert said last week, that he expects the Fire Danger to remain High throughout the month of October.

After apologizing to his victim, her family, his wife and family, the Anita Community School District and the court, a Cass County man was sentenced today (Monday), to a total of four-years in prison on two-counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor by a School Employee. But Fourth Judicial District Judge Greg Steensland suspended 65-year old William Glenn Foulkes‘ sentence,  and instead ordered the man placed on supervised probation for a period of two-years. Foulkes will reside at a Residential Correctional Facility (RCF) for at least six-months, beginning when space becomes available at the facility.

As part of his sentence, Foulkes will be placed on the State’s Sex Offender Registry for a period of 10-years. He must have no criminal law violations during his two-years of supervised probation, successfully complete a Sex Offender Treatment program of four-to six-months, and submit a DNA sample for profiling purposes. He will also be required to make restitution to the victim (with whom he is allowed no contact for a period of five-years), and be required to pay fines amounting to $650, plus court costs and related fees.

Foulkes, his voice choking up, told the court he apologized to his family for “The embarrassment and pain” his actions have caused. He apologized to the court for his “Inappropriate and illegal behavior and actions.” Foulkes said “I know I have let a lot of people down,” and that he hopes everyone will begin the process of healing.

Foulkes’ Attorney, F. Montgomery Brown told KJAN News he thinks the sentence was a “Just resolution, given Mr. Foulkes’ history and lack of prior criminal record, his military service.” He said also the sentence was “fair,” and “Sufficient to protect the public.” Brown said Foulkes is a low risk to re-offend and that the incident “Appears to be an abhorrent behavior on his part.” The judgement says Foulkes has 30-days to appeal the sentence if he so chooses, but  that is not expected to happen. The Appeals bond was set at $10,000, but all other outstanding bonds were exonerated. Foulkes will remain free pending his placement in the RCF.

Foulkes, a former Anita Community School District teacher pled guilty to the charges on September 4^th, in a voluntary plea agreement, in exchange for a felony charge of Sexual Exploitation, and 47 other Aggravated Misdemeanor charges of Sexual Exploitation being dropped.

Foulkes admitted to kissing a juvenile female on numerous occasions while teaching the student in a math program, from August 2009 until November 11th, 2010. He resigned from his teaching position in November 2010.