ATLANTIC—The Cass County Health System (CCHS) Foundation is hosting their annual gala on Saturday, March 28th at the Atlantic Golf & Country Club. The gala is a fundraiser for the CCHS Foundation’s 2020 campaign to purchase a C-arm, which is used to provide real-time x-ray images.

Dave Chase, CCHS Foundation Treasurer, says “The mission of the CCHS Foundation is to support Cass County Health System. Our project this year helps get important diagnostic imaging equipment into the hands of providers who are caring for us, our family, and our neighbors.” The theme of this year’s gala is “Wild, Wild West.” Attendees are encouraged to wear western wear like boots, hats, jeans, etc. The evening includes dinner, dessert auction, and entertainment.

CCHS Foundation Director Dawn Marnin says “Our entertainment this year is ‘The Family Feud’ with four fun families, and we will have DJ services from Chaos Productions, too.” Tickets to the event are limited and available through table sponsorships. For more information, please call Dawn Marnin at 712-243-7409 or visit casshealth.org/donors/2020-gala to view the details or pay online.

(Radio Iowa) — The National Weather Service is set to release its first spring flood forecast later this week — and southwest Iowa officials are worried there will be more flooding this spring. Forecasters already say the amount of snow pack in the eastern Dakotas is a concern. Fremont County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Crecelius expects more flooding in his area. “It all goes into the Missouri River up there and it, ultimately, comes down here,” he says.

Crecelius says the recovery from LAST spring’s historic flooding is still underway. “There’s still people in need f things. I’ve still got people coming in once in a while looking for stuff,” he says. “We’ve got a number of people displaced that are no longer in our county.”

Soil in the Missouri River Basin is saturated and cannot handle more rain or snow melt according to the National Weather Service — putting the region at higher risk of
flooding. Forecasters say tributaries to the Missouri River are likely to flood in western Iowa.

(Reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Katie Peikes)

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports his office received a complaint Friday, from the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS), in reference to an alleged incident of child abuse at a residence in Page County. During the investigation five minor children were taken into protective custody and turned over to the DHS for temporary placement. 36-year old Aaron Duwayne Childs, and 32-year old Elizabeth Renee Peek, both of Yorktown, were arrested. 

Both faces charges that include Felony Child Endangerment (A class D felony), and Assault causing bodily injury (a serious misdemeanor). Childs was also arrested on a Page County Warrant for Driving while license suspended / revoked – failing to appear for court. The incident in question allegedly took place at Thursday, at a residence in Yorktown. Both Peek and Childs have posted bond and were released pending further court proceedings.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports two people from Osceola were arrested Friday night, on Union County warrant for Violation of a Protective Order. 42-year old Ronald Dean Spurgin and 32-year old Ashley Sheehan were arrested at the Clarke/Union county line. In addition being taken into custody on the warrant, Sheehan was charged with disorderly conduct.  Spurgin was released from the Union County Jail on a promise to appear in court. Sheehan was released from the Adams County Jail, also on her promise to appear.

Authorities report also, 22-year old Kendal Leanne Hartman, of Afton, was arrested Sunday afternoon, for domestic assault. Hartman was being held for Union County in the Adams County Jail, while awaiting an appearance before a Judge.

A call about a disturbance between a man and a woman in Avoca, Saturday evening, resulted in the arrest of 48-year old Mark Allen McNary, of Avoca. Authorities in Pottawattamie County say McNary was being held in the Pott. County Jail on $12,300 bond, on charges that include: Going Armed with Intent; Harassment in the 1st Degree – Threaten Forcible Felony; Interference with Official Act, and Public Intoxication.

At around 12:22-a.m. Saturday, 59-year old Robert B. Levermann was arrested following an investigation into a reported impaired driver on Interstate 80, south of Underwood. Levermann was taken into custody for OWI/1st offense. Friday afternoon, 41-year old Keith Clifford Nelson,of Papillion, NE., was arrested in Pott. County, following a reported erratic driver in the area of Magnolia Road and I-80. A deputy caught up with the suspect vehicle, a 2012 Chevy Traverse, and following an investigation, arrested Nelson for OWI/2nd offense.

Also arrested Friday afternoon, was 25-year old Joeli Mariene West. The woman was arrested in the lobby of the Pott. County Jail, on warrants charging her with Domestic Abuse Assault with a dangerous weapon/1st offense, and Theft in the 5th Degree (for property/loss valued at under $300).

The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office said today (Monday), that a stand-off with an armed man last Wednesday, ended peacefully after about two and a half hours. The sheriff’s office received a 9-1-1 call at around 2-a.m. on Feb. 5th, about shots fired in the 100 block of West Iowa Street, in Lenox. By the time deputies arrived, the suspect, John Fraley, of Lenox, had barricaded himself in his residence and would not come out of the residence against orders given by Deputies.

John Fraley

Adams and Ringgold County Deputies arrived on scene and secured the surrounding area. Iowa State Patrol Negotiators were requested, and arrived on scene soon thereafter. After Deputies and Negotiators were able to get Fraley to surrender, a search warrant was executed at his residence. During the search, Iowa Dept. of Public Safety Narcotics Officers were called, and assisted in the execution of the warrant.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Warren Varley, a Democrat Adair County farmer and attorney, announced today (Monday), that he is running for the Iowa Senate in District 10,  which covers all of Adair and Guthrie Counties; most of Dallas County; four townships in northeast Cass County; and Union Township in Polk County (including Polk City). The seat is currently held by Republican Jake Chapman, from Adel.

Warren Varley

In a statement announcing his bid for the District Senate seat, Varley said he’s running “Because we need new leadership at the Capitol.” He said also, “Instead of focusing on political games and partisan bickering, we need a new State Senator who will work to revitalize all parts of Dallas, Guthrie, Adair and Cass counties. I am committed to helping create good jobs, expanding access to affordable health care, and improving education and opportunities in our small towns and rural areas.”

Varley has more than 25 years of experience as a main-street business owner in Stuart. His bio says he’s a leader in rural economic development across the district, and was elected president of Midwest Partnership and Stuart Enterprise for Economic Development. He has also been active in numerous community organizations, including Project Restore Foundation, Stuart Library Foundation, Adair County Farm Bureau, and Adair County Memorial Hospital Board.

He says if elected, he’ll work to: Ensure that farmers and other rural Iowans are part of the discussions about improving water quality and natural resources; Expand access to broadband, high-speed internet service; Increasing the state’s investment in public K-12 schools so that more school districts are not forced to close and consolidate; and Expand access to affordable health care and mental health care.

SIOUX CITY – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports 25-year old Keenan Ivory Aldrich, a Native American male, 5-feet 11-inches tall, weighing 188 pounds, failed to report to his workplace while under the supervision of the Sioux City Residential Treatment Facility earlier this (Monday) morning. Aldrich, who was admitted to the work release facility on Jan. 6th (2020), had previously been convicted of Willful Injury Causing Serious Injury and other crimes, in Woodbury County.

Keenan Aldrich

Persons with information on Aldrich’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Officials with the Creston Police Department report two men were arrested over the past few days on drug and weapons-related charges. Both arrests were the result of search warrants executed on residences in Creston. Authorities say Sunday night, 44-year old John Neely, a resident of 511 S. Pine Street, was arrested with the assistance of Union County Sheriff’s deputies. Neely was taken into custody on two felony charges: Dominion/Control of a Firearm by a Felon (A Class-D felony), and Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCS) wih the intent to sell or manufacture/Methamphetamine – under 5 grams (a Class-C felony). Neely was being held in the Union County Jail while awaiting a bond hearing.

And, at around 7:30-a.m. Friday, 47-year old Wesley Tolley, of Winterset, was arrested by Creston Police at 314 N. Division Street in Creston, again with the assistance of sheriff’s deputies, on felony charges of: Dominion/Control of a Firearm by a Felon (A Class-D felony), and Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCS) with the intent to sell or manufacture/Methamphetamine – under 5 grams (a Class-C felony). He was being held in the Union County Jail on a $15,000 bond associated with the felony charges, and on two warrants: One from Adair County, for Failure to Appear on an original charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd or subsequent offense ($5,000 bond). The other warrant was out of Madison County, for Violation of Parole – for which there is No Bond.