The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports deputies responded on Nov. 21st to a single motor vehicle accident near the intersection of Highway 2 and Anna Crose, on the Southeast edge of Shenandoah.  An investigation determined 59-year old Steven Merrill Heard, of Tabor, was traveling westbound on Highway 2 in a 2005 Chevy Silverado pickup, when for reasons unknown, the pickup went into the north ditch and hit a tree, before coming to rest. Heard was transported to the Shenandoah Memorial Hospital with unknown injuries. Charges were pending. Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the accident, which remains under investigation.

Democrat Presidential candidate and South Bend Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg campaigned in western Iowa today (Monday), releasing a plan to address retirement security. He stopped in Atlantic at around 3:30-p.m. at The Venue, and spoke to a crowd of 219 people, which packed the site. Buttigieg covered numerous topics during his 15 minute speech and 30 minute Q&A session, in Atlantic.  He spoke about the freedom to “retire with dignity,” and Medicare for All who want to have access to it.

Pete Buttigieg

He says he will usher in an era for older Americans that empowers everybody to age with dignity and independence. That begins, he said, with strengthening retirement. He said those on Medicare Advantage get the option to keep their plans, and “Asking more fortunate Americans to pay their fair share.” That means an income above $250,000 be taxed at the same level to pay into Social Security. Buttigieg says that will shore-up Social Security for future generations. He says 62-million Americans lack a workplace retirement account, and over one-third have less than $5,000 set aside for retirement. He proposes a Public Option 401-k that allows workers to supplement Social Security benefits if they choose. There would be a mandatory 2-to-1 employer match on contributions into the 401-k, so the typical American, he says, would have over $500,000 in the bank to live from, as they retire. When we do that, everyone in this country will be better off.”

He also proposed a Long Term Care America program that provides every senior who needs it, a $90 per day cash benefit, to go toward to cost of long-term, in-home or facility care. He said for Iowans, that would cut the average cost of care 39% for nursing facility services, and 57% for assisted living services. He also wants the public and private sectors to work together and make sure those are quality services. He said part of that includes mandating better oversight, a fully funded Ombudsman program that allows complaints and issues to come to light, and improved access to mandate that Medicaid cover home and community-based services.

Buttigieg says those who provide those care services, are under-appreciated, under-compensated, and there are not nearly enough of them. He says that’s why we need a $15 per hour minimum wage in America. He also supports make more E-15 fuel available year around, and small refinery waiver that doesn’t go to the big refineries around the world.

The Mills County Emergency Management Agency reports Interim Mortgage Assistance is immediately available to qualified property owners of Mills County impacted by the March 2019 flooding. To qualify for the assistance those individuals must have signed up for the buyout option by October 11, 2019. The funds for Mortgage Assistance are made available through the Iowa Flood Recovery Fund and the assistance will be paid directly to the lenders. Applications must be filled out either on the Mills County Flood Page or in person at the Mills County Auditor’s Office to begin the process.

The online application will be shared across multiple social media platforms to ensure it is available and accessible to potential applicants. Property owners must provide a mortgage statement from the lender, a forbearance letter (if applicable), and tax and/or insurance statements if not paid through an escrow account, along with any other correspondence with the mortgage holder that shows a need for assistance. Qualified property owners should contact Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) by email at SWIPCO@swipco.org or by telephone at 1866-279-4720 if they have any questions.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office has reported recent arrests. Today (Monday), 39-year old Samantha Ann Brophy, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Douglas County, NE., Jail, on a warrant for 2nd Degree Theft. Her bond was set at $5,000.

Early Sunday morning, 31-year old Ashley Marie Shuck, of Elk Horn, NE., was arrested for Public Intoxication and Open Container.

Last Thursday, 19-year old Mariah Marie Pierson, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Violation of Probation. Her bond was set at $5,000.

A missing 90-year-old man from southwest Iowa was found dead Sunday at around 12:20-a.m. just north of Yuma, Arizona. Authorities say James Lewis Larson, from Sharpsburg, was last seen in Lawrence, Kansas, on Nov. 13th. He had been on his way to Yuma last week and stopped in Lawrence to visit family, prior to his disappearance. A Silver Alert was issued by the Lawrence, KS., Police Department, when Larson failed to reach Yuma, and his family could not reach him.

His body was found by Yuma County Sheriff’s Deputies and Rescue Unit, along with Civil Air Patrol Units. He was located in a wash near a trail in the Kofa Wildlife Refuge, near the northern boundary of the Yuma Proving Grounds Kofa Firing Range. His vehicle was found high centered nearby, and stuck on a ledge.

Authorities in Arizona are currently looking into the circumstances surrounding the death.

(Radio Iowa) — A missing Monticello man was found dead this weekend. Monticello Police say the body of 67-year-old Jay Hanken was discovered in a stretch of Kitty Creek in a remote section of Monticello not far from his home, Sunday morning a little before 11. Family and friends had reported last seeing Hanken last Tuesday night. A cause of death has not been determined — but foul play is not suspected.

(Radio Iowa) — The man accused of stealing money from a Le Mars bank last December — and using a rented truck as the get-away vehicle — has been sentenced to 12 years in prison. Phillip White pleaded guilty in June to two federal charges involving robbing the bank. White was ordered to pay restitution cost of more than $16,000 to the Iowa State Bank, and more than $5,000 to the U-Haul company. Law enforcement officials were able to apprehend White and his accomplice, Karen Merrick, a short-time after the robbery. The pair used an U-Haul truck as their get-a-way vehicle. Merrick has also pleaded guilty to being an accomplice of the bank robbery. She will be sentenced at a later date.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have released the names of two people shot — one fatally — in Waterloo. The Waterloo Police Department identified the dead man Monday as 19-year-old Marquavion Brown, who lived in Waterloo. Police say he died at a hospital after the shooting Saturday evening. The wounded man is being treated. He’s been identified as 21-year-old Quintorey Kemp. Officers found the men with several gunshot wounds near a parked car with shattered windows. No arrests have been reported.

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports two Omaha residents were sentenced Friday in Council Bluffs U-S District Court, for their roles in a methamphetamine operation. 29-year old Colby Dunn, of Omaha, was sentenced to 100 months in prison (8.3-years), and 36-year old Laura Rauch Anderson, also of Omaha, was sentenced to 60 months (5-years) in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine in the Southern District of Iowa, and elsewhere.

Their sentences were the result of a lengthy investigation by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force. The investigation revealed methamphetamine was brought into the Omaha, Nebraska area from Mexico and then transported to various location in Nebraska and Western Iowa for distribution.

Among those who were previously sentenced to prison as part of the investigation: Bernave Navarrete and Chris Rouse were sentenced to 20-years; Joseph Brown, Jackie Thielen and Jessica Snavely were sentenced to ten years; Brandy Kumpula was sentenced to eight years in prison; Chase Richard received a 15-year sentence; and William LaBenz was sentenced to five years.

Among those who sentences are pending, is Omar Martinez, and Manda May Rowell. The matter was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force; Omaha Police Department; Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force; Council Bluffs Police Department; Harlan, Iowa Police Department; Shelby County Sheriff’s Department; and the Lincoln, Nebraska Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Three Veterans of the U-S Army from Atlantic, were taking part in a “Ruck March” today (Monday), as part of an awareness effort with regard to veteran suicides. Casey Swanson was one the trio marching, carrying a ruck sack of personal belongings, and carrying the American Flag and one other, special item. KJAN News caught up with him, Ryan Beach and Brad Fager about 4-miles east of Wiota on White Pole Road.

(He said they picked-up to game ball for the Iowa-Nebraska football game, in Menlo. It was being carried to Lincoln, NE. over the next couple of days to raise awareness of the number of veterans lost each day to suicide.)

Ruck March east of Wiota (11/25/19 – Ric Hanson photo)

All three Atlantic man served from about 2009-to 2013. University of Nebraska-Lincoln and University of Iowa Student Veterans are part of the “Ruck March” from Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City to Memorial Stadium for the Nov. 29^th Hawkeyes-Cornhusker game, in Lincoln. The 322-mile march began Nov. 20^th.

The leg of the trek he was on ended at the Atlantic public Library. The ball was set to be handed-off to others who will continue the journey westward.

The walkers are being divided into shifts of roughly 20-miles each. Each team member was asked to carry 20-pounds of personal belongings to signify the 20 veterans who is lost to suicide each day. Swanson described his personal items being brought with him on the trek.

(Two Purple Hearts on the back of his bag for injuries he suffered overseas, some water, and a couple of combat books.)

He said most motorists passing them have been positive, honking and waving. Others were speeding by. Fortunately, two vehicles, one ahead and one behind the trio, were serving as an escort. More information is available at www.ruckfilm.com, or on the Facebook page The Things They Carry Ruck March.