The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports no injuries occurred during a two-vehicle accident on September 21st.

At 2:28 p.m. Deputies were dispatched to Highway 71, south of Boston Road for a two-vehicle accident. After investigation it was determined that a 2010 Acura RDX with a trailer, being operated by Septhan White of Lanham, MD, was traveling south on Highway 71 and attempted to make a u-turn on the roadway. A 2022 Chevy Traverse operated by Cody Irlmeier of Exira was behind the Acura as it began it’s U-turn and tried to steer left to avoid collision. The Traverse did end up striking the front driver portion of the Acura with it’s front passenger side.

No injuries were reported at the time of the accident but the Traverse and Acura sustained approximately $3,500 damage each.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has released details on a September 17th accident that claimed the life of a Lewis man. At approximately 3:53 a.m. on the morning of the 17th Emergency Responders were called to the area east of 590th and Yankton Road near Griswold for a single vehicle accident.

Deputies determined that a 2014 Chevy Impala was traveling east on Yankton Road, east of 590th and for unknown reasons lost control and entered the south ditch. The Impala continued in the grass ditch and eventually came to a rest in the embankment of a small creek. The operator of the vehicle, Levi Glover of Lewis, was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the vehicle was transported to an area hospital for injuries sustained during the accident.

The vehicle sustained severe damage and was a total loss.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has released details on arrests dating back to September 13th.

On September 27th, 2022, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested 34-year-old Joanna Seagler of Massena on a warrant for Harassment 3rd Degree. Seagler was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held.

On September 24th, 2022, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested 39-year-old Ronan Fredrick of Atlantic for Public Intoxication. Fredrick was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

On September 22nd, 2022, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested 33-year-old Jennifer Dellaca of Atlantic on two warrants for Failure to Appear. Dellaca was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release.

On September 21st, 2022, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested 21-year-old Sierra Parker of Atlantic for OWI 1st Offense. Parker was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on her own recognizance.

On September 19th, 2022, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested 31-year-old Derrick Behlers of Atlantic on two warrants; Failure to Appear and Theft 5th Degree. Behlers was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release to another detention facility.

On September 19th, 2022, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested 35-year-old Reciever Berdon of Atlantic on a warrant for Failure to Appear. Berdon had turned himself in to the Cass County Jail and was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

On September 13th, 2022, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested 33-year-old Matthew Loyd Stevens of Lewis on two warrants; Violation of a No Contact Order and Arson 1st Degree. Stevens was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

The Atlantic Police Department has released details on arrests dating back to September 17th.

On September 17th Officers arrested 35-year-old Kisaou Stephen of Neosha, MO for Public Intoxication. Stephen was taken to the Cass County Jail and booked in and held.

On September 18th 65-year-old Jeri Eilts of Atlantic was cited and released for Theft 5th Degree.

On September 19th 35-year-old Jenny Clark of Atlantic was arrested for Violation of Probation. She was booked in and held at the Cass County Jail.

Also on September 19th 24-year-old Jeff Edgar of Atlantic was arrested for Public Intoxication. He was booked in and held at the Cass County Jail.

On September 21st 22-year-old Curclund Vanaernam of Atlantic was arrested for Simulated Public Intoxication 1st Offense. He was booked in and held at the Cass County Jail.

Also on September 21st 35-year-old Kisaou Stephen of Atlantic was arrested for Failure to Appear. He was booked in and held at the Cass County Jail.

On September 22nd 19-year-old Caleb Fulk of Atlantic was arrested for Burglary 3rd and Possession of Stolen Property. He was booked in and held at the Cass County Jail.

On September 24th 26-year-old Glove Kovac of Atlantic was arrested for Public Intoxication. He was taken into custody, booked in and held at the Cass County Jail.

On September 25th 28-year old Nicholas Renner of Atlantic was arrested for OWI 2nd Offense and 2nd Degree Theft. He was taken into custody, booked in and held at the Cass County Jail.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Dustin Michael Adkins, age 39 of Council Bluffs, was sentenced on September 20, 2022 to 132 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

On September 17, 2021, law enforcement stopped Adkins for a traffic violation in Council Bluffs. Adkins initially eluded officers and a bag containing methamphetamine was thrown from the vehicle. Adkins was arrested and the methamphetamine was recovered. Adkins possessed a total of 90.43 grams of methamphetamine.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department, Pottawattamie County Sheriff Department, and Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Stormy Shaye Cole Trucke, age 29 of Harlan, was sentenced on September 7, 2022, to 42 months in prison following his plea to a charge of Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm.

In June 2021, officers responded to a domestic disturbance call at Trucke’s residence and observed drug paraphernalia. Officers obtained a search warrant and located a loaded firearm, assorted ammunition, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. Trucke is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony conviction and as a drug user.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Harlan Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Jason Lauran Kinman, age 40 of Council Bluffs, was sentenced on September 20, 2022, to 25 years in prison following his plea to charges of Distribution and Production of Child Pornography and Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. Kinman must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

In July 2021, a concerned family member made a police report after finding Kinman in a car with a 13-year-old girl in the backseat with him. Officers obtained Kinman’s social media history and found that Kinman was communicating with several minor females in an inappropriate sexual manner, including requesting naked photos or videos from them, and sending sexual photos and videos of himself and other minor females. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Kinman’s residence in Council Bluffs and seized electronic evidence. A forensic examination identified numerous images of child pornography.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Internet Crimes Against Children, and Council Bluffs Police Department investigated the case.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Kevin Charles Kersten, age 53 of Harlan, was sentenced on September 7, 2022, to seven years in prison following his plea to a charge of Receipt of Child Pornography. Kersten must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

In February 2021, the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force received several cybertips that an IP address uploaded child pornography files. A search warrant was executed at Kersten’s residence, which was linked to the IP address. Electronic devices found at Kersten’s residence were seized and forensically analyzed. While conducting this investigation, officers obtained another cybertip that the IP address linked to Kersten had again uploaded child pornography. A second search warrant was executed at his residence and additional electronic evidence was seized. The forensic examination located images and videos of child pornography on Kersten’s electronic devices.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Harlan Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force investigated the case.

ATLANTIC, IOWA — The Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) is happy to welcome Mindy Jensen to our staff in the role of Communications Coordinator. Mindy will oversee community outreach, public engagement, and media communications for SWIPCO and SWITA. She will work to increase awareness of public transit services in order to better connect the people of the Southwest Iowa region to employment, school, and wherever they need to go.

“I have lived in Southwest Iowa the majority of my life and I am passionate about being part of an organization that helps people here every day,” said Jensen. “This position offers me an opportunity to make a difference by getting the word out about the countless ways this organization makes our region a better place to live.”

Jensen is a graduate of Atlantic High School and has a bachelor’s degree in Intercultural Communications from Dana College. She has many years of experience working with the public and setting up services for community members through her role as a community-based case manager. She is also an accomplished photographer.

“Mindy is a great addition to our team. Also, she has over 15 years of experience connecting our disabled friends and neighbors to community services as a case manager. Couple that with her training and experience as an effective communicator and I have great confidence that she’ll do a wonderful job better connecting us to our members and clients,” SWIPCO Executive Director John McCurdy said.

ATLANTIC, IA – The Atlantic Lions Club is back at Produce in the Park this week with free putt-putt golf. People of all ages are invited to enjoy mini golf, but you don’t have to play to enjoy it. It is a treat to see all the clever ways kids use the golf clubs to hit the ball and their persistence and concentration while
the work to get a hole in… 20?

In addition to free mini golf, this week at the market in the park visitors will find live music, a guest chef, visiting organizations providing helpful information and activities, and lots of delicious, fresh, local produce. Free taste tests of snack peppers will be offered to all. Snack peppers are sweet, crunchy peppers that come in a variety of colors and take almost no preparation—a win for anyone. While many shoppers are most familiar with green peppers, many folks find yellow, orange, or red peppers to be their favorites. As long as they aren’t specific hot pepper varieties, yellow, orange, and red peppers tend to be sweeter. Thursday is a great chance to taste tests peppers at the park. Cooler weather is on its way, and produce shoppers are reminded to get peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and green beans while
they’re still in season.

This week’s food trucks are Pim’s Thai and Zipp’s Pizzeria. Zipp’s will be taking orders for both whole pizzas and individual slices all evening (earlier in the season Zipp’s only offered whole pizza orders at the end of the market). Zipp’s will be offering their full menu of whole pizzas and will also be bringing frozen
pizzas to the park this Thursday.

All visitors to the park age 18+ are encouraged to enter this week’s free drawing. In addition to a dozen farm-fresh eggs sponsored by the Cass County Local Food Policy Council, one lucky winner will receive six cupcakes from Frosting Inc. Both prizes will be redeemed at next week’s October 6 Produce in the Park.