The Cass County Conservation Staff invites you to join them on January 7th at Atlantic’s  Schildberg Quarry, for a “Soiree with the Swans.” The Schildberg Quarry is located on the northwest edge of Atlantic, on the north side of Highway 83. Conservation staffers will be on-hand giving ten-minute presentations regarding the Trumpeter Swans every half-hour, beginning at 11:00 a.m., with the last one being presented at 2:00 p.m. There will also be time to view the swans through spotting scopes and witness random swan feeding sessions.

Soiree with the Swans long sleeved t-shirts ARE STILL available for purchase! Hot chocolate, cookies, grilled hotdogs, and other snacks will be provided free of charge with donations being accepted (for swan care).

IF THE WEATHER IS “BAD” OR THE SWANS ARE NOT AT THE QUARRY…the program will be held at the Atlantic Public Library from 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. with a light lunch available. This event is being sponsored by the Cass County Conservation Board, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the Atlantic Public Library.

Police in Red Oak arrested a local man Monday on a sexual abuse charge. 43-year old Richard Eugene Darrell, of Red Oak, was charged with 3rd degree sexual abuse in connection with an assault on an unidentified victim. Darrell was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $10,000 bond.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports an Atlantic man was arrested Sunday, on a drug charge. 24-year old Aaron Lee Ihnken was taken into custody on charges of Possession with the intent to Deliver/Methamphetamine, and Possession of Marijuana. And, 44-year old Marke Wayne Rydl, of Exira, was arrested Sunday on charges of Interference with Official Acts, and Interference with a Police Service Dog. Both men were brought to the Cass County Jail, where Ihnken was being held on $50,000 bond. Official say Rydl was released on his own recognizance, Monday.
Sheriff’s officials also report the arrest last Thursday, of 45-year old Angela Renee Johnson, of Cumberland. Johnson was taken into custody on a charge of Driving While Revoked. She was later released on $1000 bond.

One person was killed and another injured, during a crash this (Monday) morning, in Carroll County. The Iowa State Patrol says 81-year old Lowell Bernard Daniel, of Glidden, died at the scene of the crash between his pickup and a semi,  northwest of Carroll. The driver of the semi, 65-year old Dennis Paul Vonnahme, of Breda, was injured, and transported to St. Anthony Hospital in Carroll.

The accident happened at around 9:15-a.m., as Daniel’s 2008 Chevy Colorado pickup was traveling west on 160th Street, and a 2002 Freightliner semi grain truck was traveling south on Granite Avenue. Officials say when Daniel failed to yield to the semi at the uncontrolled intersection, his pickup was broadsided on the passenger side. Daniel was ejected from his pickup, which came to rest in the in east ditch. Officials say he was not wearing a seatbelt. The semi came to rest in the west ditch, on its top. The accident remains under investigation.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A dry fall across the Northern Plains has helped the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers release water from the six Missouri River reservoirs to guard against a repeat of this year’s major flooding along the river. Corps official Jody Farhat says the agency should reach its goal later this month of 56.9 million acre feet of flood storage in the reservoirs. South Dakota Climatologist Dennis Todey tells the Argus Leader newspaper that there is “marginal to no snowpack” across the Plains. And December snow measurements in Montana’s mountains have been average to a bit below average in the drainage areas that feed the Missouri. Farhat says reservoirs are near the point whether they should be able to accommodate the projected runoff next spring.

Residents in a one-block radius of the Shelby County Jail in Harlan were evacuated Sunday evening, after authorities discovered an incendiary device on a suspect being booked into the jail. The Sheriff’s Office reports the device was discovered as 42-year old Alan Heath, of Harlan, was being booked into the jail on a charge of 5th degree theft.

Officials say deputies removed the device and placed it in the driveway of the jail. An evacuation of the area was conducted by Harlan Police and Fire Department personnel, and the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office was called-in to evaluate the device. During a search of Heath’s backpack, a second incendiary device was found. The Fire Marshal Office determined both devices were safe enough to be transported out of the City to be examined and destroyed.

Authorities subsequently searched Heath’s residence at 402 Broadway Street, in Harlan, but did not find any other such devices. In addition to the theft charge, Heath now faces charges which include: Interference with Official Acts (Simple Misdemeanor); Felony Possession of an Offensive Weapon; and, 2 counts of Possession of an Explosive or Incendiary Device.

Heath was being held in the Shelby County Jail on $5,000 bond.

The Atlantic Police Department reports 25-year old David Tyler Andersen, of Atlantic, was arrested Saturday on warrants for three offenses. The warrants charge Andersen with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Failure to Appear on a charge Operating a motor vehicle without proper registration, and Reckless Driving. Andersen was booked into the Cass County Jail and held pending an appearance before the magistrate.

And, 20-year old Jesse Luft, of Villisca, was arrested by Atlantic Police Sunday, on a charge of Criminal Mischief in the 5th degree. Luft was also booked into the Cass County Jail, and held pending a court appearance.

The Cass County Republican Central Committee and Auditor Dale Sunderman have released the list of sites and times for the 2012 Republican Precinct Caucuses in Cass County. The event begins at 7-p.m., January 3rd.

The following is a list of Precincts and locations for the caucus:

City of Atlantic, Ward 1, Ward 2/Grove Township, & Ward 3 – SS Peter and Paul Catholic Parish Center.

City of Atlantic, Ward 4 – Washington Elementary School.

City of Atlantic, Ward 5 – Heritage House.

City of Lewis/Cass & Bear Grove townships – Lewis Activity Center.

City of Griswold/Edna, Noble & Pleasant townships – Griswold Community Bldg.

Benton Township – Anita Community Center.

City of Marne/Brighton, Grove 1, Pymosa & Washington townships – Washington Elementary School in Atlantic.

Cities of Anita & Wiota/Franklin, Grant & Lincoln townships – Anita Community Center.

City of Massena & Victoria township – Massena City Hall.

City of Cumberland/Union township – Cumberland Public Library.

During the precinct caucuses: Each precinct caucus will elect 2 persons, both Republican residents of the precinct, to serve on the County Central Committee; Each will elect delegates and alternate delegates to the Cass County Republican Convention to be held Sat., March 10, 2012; the precincts will propose and vote on platform planks to send to the County Convention; and, they will conduct the Presidential Poll.