Coordinators of a grant related to local farmers markets are looking for public input. The Cass County Local Food Policy Council received a USDA grant late last year to support and promote farmers markets as access points for local grown food. The grant committee is in the process of holding community meetings to get ideas and suggestions from interested local residents and businesses.

Organizers have already met with groups in Anita and Massena to discuss support for community farmers markets. The Atlantic community meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 15th, from 4:30 to 6 PM in the meeting room at the Atlantic Chamber. Anyone interested in supporting or helping with local markets like the “Produce in the Park” project that has happened for the last two summers is welcome to attend to learn more and give their input.

Those who are unable to attend are still welcome to contact organizers LaVon Eblen, Lora Kanning at Cass County Conservation, Teddi Grindberg at the YMCA or Kate Olson at the Cass County Extension Office to share ideas or express interest in being involved with the project.

Traffic was at a standstill for miles this (Saturday) morning on Interstate 80 between mile markers 60 and 70, both east and westbound, due to a multiple vehicle accident at around 10:15-a.m. on I-80 eastbound at the 67-mile marker. Numerous fire and rescue personnel and law enforcement officers were on the scene directing traffic. A large grass fire near the accident scene was put out by around 11:15-a.m. At least one lane of eastbound I-80 was reopened as of 11:35-a.m.

There’s been no word on any injuries.

Looking onto I-80 from the 710th Street Bridge in Cass County, between Anita and Wiota. Ric Hanson photos.

UPDATE 11:15am: Interstate 80 is shut down between the 60 and 70 mile markers due to a multi-vehicle accident and fire in the area.  Please use caution and try to avoid the area.

Several vehicles are reported to have been involved in a crash on Interstate 80 in Cass County Saturday morning. According to dispatch reports, at least 10 vehicles crashed near the 67-miler marker eastbound, between the Wiota and Anita exits. A large fire was also reported between the 62 and 67 mile markers causing traffic to stop on the interstate.

Numerous ambulances have been called to the scene. The number of injuries are unknown. Westbound traffic was in the process of being rerouted at the 70-mile marker and is backed up at least a couple of miles.

The accident was reported at around 10:15-a.m.

No other details are available.

An Avoca man was sentenced Friday, April 11, 2014 is US District Court for failing to register as a sex offender. 29-year-old Sergio Maldonado-Butler of Avoca was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose to 12 months and 1 day imprisonment for failing to register with the sex offender registry. Judge Rose also ordered Maldonado-Butler to serve a five-year term of supervised release following incarceration.

In August of 2013, law enforcement was called to a disturbance involving Maldonado-Butler, and during the investigation determined that Maldonado-Butler was required to register as a sexual offender based on a 2005 conviction for rape in the State of Oregon. On December 5, 2014, Maldonado-Butler entered a guilty plea to failing to register with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office as required when he began residing in Avoca. Maldonado-Butler had resided in Avoca, Iowa for approximately six months without registering.

The investigation was conducted by the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Marshal’s Service, and the case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

US Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt announced the sentencing Friday, April 11, 2014, of 37-year-0ld Jeramie L. Reazer of Omaha, Nebraska to 21 months imprisonment for failing to register with the sex offender registry by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose. Judge Rose also ordered Reazer to serve a five-year term of supervised release following incarceration.

In May of 2013, law enforcement determined that Reazer had been residing in Mills County, Iowa, for approximately a month without registering with the Mills County Sheriff’s Office as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

Reazer was required to register with the Mills County Sheriff’s Office as a result of a conviction for Sexual Assault in the Third Degree in Douglas County, Nebraska in 2005. On November 25, 2014, Reazer entered a guilty plea to failing to register when he began residing in rural, Mills County.
The investigation was conducted by the Douglas County Nebraska, Sheriff’s Office and the United States Marshal’s Service and the case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call reporting shots fired at a residence in Hamburg early Saturday morning.  The call was received at approximately 12:37am Saturday morning from a residence at 3048 250th Avenue in Hamburg.

The homeowners said they were sleeping when a bullet was fired from outside their home, entering the bedroom window, and landing at the foot of their bed.  No injuries were reported and a fired bullet was recovered from the home.

Deputies are looking for a Ford Super Duty Extended Cab pickup with cab lights that was seen leaving the scene.  Anyone with information is asked to call the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office at 712-374-2424.

w/ Chris Parks

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The Red Oak Police Department and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office both reported an arrest on Friday night.

Red Oak Police report the arrest of 30-year-old Zachariah Michael Holland of Red Oak on a charge of 5th Degree Theft.  Holland was arrested in Red Oak at 10:08pm Friday, April 11th and was being held at the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on $300 bond.

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Officials report the arrest of 47-year-old Lori Jean Jansky of Red Oak for OWI 1st Offense.  Jansky was arrested at approximately 10:26pm Friday, April 11th and was booked in to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $1,000 cash bond.

Warmer temperatures combined with strong winds and dry conditions lead to more brush and wild-land fires across the state. These types of fires can pose a serious threat to lives and property. The National Fire protection Association (NFPA) has reported over 59 million acres have been burned by wildfires in the past decade. While Iowa is not known to have large wildfires like those that regularly affect western states, our state is still prone to dangerous brush fires created by dry conditions, strong winds and low humidity.

To prevent the spread of brush fires and other debris, the Iowa Fire Marshal’s Office suggests keeping in mind:

Check for county burn bans, city restrictions and with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Air Quality before conducting any open burning; Never burn on dry and windy days; Have water and tools on hand to extinguish anything that may escape the burn area; Do NOT burn alone, always have another person with you; Do NOT leave a fire unattended; Call 911 immediately if a fire does get out of hand.

And, if you have questions about outdoor fire safety, contact the Iowa Department of Public Safety – State Fire Marshal Division at (515) 725-6145 or e-mail at fminfo@dps.state.ia.us.

The State Medical Examiner’s Office Friday, released details on the cause of death of a man found in a burned out car in Guthrie County on March 30th. Dr. Julia Goodin determined 64-year old Bobby Jo Knapp‘s cause of death to be from multiple cuts of the upper and lower extremities, complicated by smoke and soot inhalation.The manner of death will be certified as Suicide.

Knapp’s body was found inside a burned out vehicle after the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a person who discovered the car. Upon arriving at the scene, the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office discovered a body inside the vehicle. The Honda Accord had been borrowed from Knapp’s friend in central Iowa. The investigation was conducted by the Guthrie County Sheriff’s office, Division of Criminal Investigation and the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s office.

Knapp had been released from a federal prison near Duluth, Minn., on March 25th. He failed to report for an automatic check in with the U.S. Marshall’s office the next evening. The office had issued a warrant for parole violation after Knapp failed to check in. Knapp was the former owner and operator of the Equitable Building in downtown Des Moines. He’d been sentenced in 2011 to 41 months in federal prison for violating asbestos laws during his renovation of the building.