(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City of Atlantic’s Personnel and Finance Committee will meet 1:30-p.m. Monday at the offices of Snyder and Associates (1800 W. 22nd St., Atlantic), to discuss with the City Engineer, the Splashpad Project. The Committee will seek a recommendation with regard to the Project, and separately, pose questions about the placement of the Atlantic Entrance Sign.

In other business, the Committee will discuss and act on a recommendation to partner with Snyder and Associates Engineers, for a series of New Development Conceptual Designs.

Des Moines, IA – State Auditor Rob Sand is encouraging Iowans to become watchdogs in their organizations and communities as part of International Fraud Awareness Week, November 12-18, 2023.

“The Auditor’s Office is the taxpayer’s watchdog. We want every Iowan to be a watchdog and we want them to bark if they suspect fraud or misuse of tax dollars in their organizations and communities,” said Sand. “Tips from people who want to see their tax dollars used as intended and for the greater good, lead to the majority of the investigations by the Auditor’s Office.”

Since taking office in 2019, Sand has uncovered nearly $29 million in fraud and misuse of taxpayer funds, including $21 million in CARES Act dollars. That’s more than any other Iowa Auditor of State. In addition, the Government Accountability Office and the Federal Trade Commission estimate federal agencies made $247 billion in improper payments, and consumers lost $8.8 billion in 2022 alone.

Sand will be joined by representatives from the Des Moines Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners at a news conference to highlight the latest forms of fraud and fraud prevention efforts in the public and private sectors, as well as unveil a week-long campaign to spread fraud awareness.

“We hope to unleash watchdogs across the state,” said Sand. “By fighting fraud together, we can better sniff out the scammers and help Iowans hold onto their hard-earned money.”

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold FY 2024-25 Budget Workshop meetings this week in their Board Room located in the Cass County Courthouse, in Atlantic. The sessions are viewable through Zoom via the link or call-in number, both posted at the bottom of this story.**

The tentative schedule of meetings with Department Heads is as follows:

**Join Electronically:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2899195216?pwd=R0hSa2FOOTh0NUdra1ZSdVhVWHpMUT09
Meeting ID: 289 919 5216
Passcode: 012064
Call In:
312-626-6799, press *9 to indicate you wish to speak.

(Creston, Iowa) – Creston Police report two separate arrests took place, Saturday. At around 2:28-p.m., 37-year-old Sean Cody Stauffer, of rural Creston, was arrested at S. Elm and Clarke Streets, on charges that include Driving while Suspended, and Interfere with Corrections Official w/out injury or damage. Stauffer was taken to the Union County Jail and later released a $600 cash or surety bond.

And, at around 9:46-p.m., Saturday, Creston Police arrested 45-year-old Dale Lee Shatto, of Creston. Shatto taken into custody at his residence and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault/1st Offense – Causing Bodily Injury. He was transported to the Union County Jail and held without bond until seen by a Magistrate.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the driver of a vehicle that backed into a concrete barrier at a BP gas station was arrested Friday night, for OWI/1st offense. Authorities say at around 11:19-p.m., Deputies observed a 2011 Chevy Traverse strike the barrier. Deputies pulled into the BP to contact the occupant of the vehicle, to check on their welfare. As they pulled into the parking lot, Deputies saw the SUV begin to move forward and backward a few times before coming to a stop.

When Deputies made contact with the driver of the vehicle, they noticed open containers of alcohol in the cup holders. The driver was identified as Orlenis Matos-Azaharez. Matos-Azaharez admitted to having consumed five beers, and was showing strong signs of being impaired, according to the report. Deputies continued with their investigation, and ultimately booked Matos-Azaharez into the Montgomery County Jail on the OWI charge.

Bond was set at $1,000.

GUTHRIE COUNTY, Iowa — [KCCI] – Letting good food go to waste is something Grant Sheeder can’t stand by and watch. So when one of the producers he uses at Guthrie County Quality Meats had extra, unprocessed beef, he decided to put it to use. Until Nov. 20, Sheeder is seeking nominations for at least 10 needy families.

Each will receive $1,800 worth of ground beef, packaged into 300 ounce-and-a-half servings. To nominate someone, email info@gcqualitymeats.com with their name and the reason they deserve the donation.

In a social media post Saturday, Sheeder said “We had another Guthrie County producer call this morning and has graciously gifted 2 whole pigs to this cause! We will gift them in 1lb packages of ground pork to several families in need! This family has also asked to remain anonymous, but we can’t thank these producers enough for their generosity!”

Guthrie County Quality Meats is a Custom/State inspected meat locker. For updates on the meat giveaway, follow their Facebook page, Guthrie County Quality Meats.

(Dubuque, Iowa) – An accident in Dubuque Saturday evening claimed one life, and resulted in three people being hurt. The Iowa State Patrol reports the crash happened at around 5:46-p.m. on the northbound U-S Highway 61 bridge on the Iowa/Wisconsin State Line.

According to the report, a 2021 Toyota RAV4 SUV struck a wheelbarrow in the travel portion of the inside lane. Two occupants of the vehicle exited to assess the damages, when they were struck by a 2011 Kia Forte. One person died at the scene. Two people were transported by Dubuque Fire to UPH Finley Hospital, while a third was flown by UIHC Aircare to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. No names have been released,

The accident remains under investigation. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by Dubuque Police, Fire/EMS, the Iowa Dept. of Transportation; Dubuque County Medical Examiner, and others.

(Rural Muscatine County, Iowa) – A crash south of Nichols in southeast Iowa, Saturday morning, resulted in one person dead and two others injured. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the accident happened around 6-a.m. on Highway 70 at 200th, in Rural Muscatine County.

Officials say a 2015 Ford Explorer crossed the center line of the road and stuck a southbound 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. The driver of the car was not wearing a seat belt and died at the scene from their injuries. The Patrol says that person was from West Liberty.

A passenger in the Malibu, a 4 year old child,who was restrained in a car seat, and the driver of the SUV, were injured. They were transported by West Liberty Ambulance to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, in Iowa City.

No names had been were released at the time of the report.

WEST DES MOINES, IA – Mediacom Communications is offering $60,000 in scholarship support for high school seniors who plan to obtain further education. The scholarship program is in its 23rd consecutive year and Mediacom’s investment will award $1,000 World Class Scholarships to 60 high school seniors.

Scholarship recipients are given the flexibility to use the financial awards to support post-secondary college costs or vocational training from an accredited institution starting in the fall of 2024. Award selection is based on academic achievement and leadership accomplishments.

Applications for Mediacom’s World Class Scholarships are available online: mediacomworldclass.com. Information has been sent to all high schools in areas where Mediacom delivers its high-speed internet services. High school officials are asked to encourage seniors to submit applications on or before the January 31, 2024 deadline.

Applicants do not have to be Mediacom customers but must live in the 22-state area served by Mediacom’s fiber-rich broadband network. A complete list of communities in Mediacom service areas is included with the online application. Inquiries may be sent to scholarship@mediacomcc.com.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston, today (Saturday), released information about an accident that took place at around 8:55-p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9th, at Irving and Elm Streets. Authorities say during their investigation, 44-year-old Rodrick Darnell Rand, of Creston, told officers he was traveling north on Elm Street in a 2006 Chevy pickup, when a 2008 Toyota Yaris went through the stop sign. Rand said he attempted to brake and swerve to avoid a collision with the car, but contact was made between the front of the pickup and the driver’s side rear of the car, driven by 17-year-old Prestyn Thomas Perkins, of Creston. The collision caused the car to spin around.

Perkins told Creston Police pretty much the same story, except that he said he stopped at the intersection and looked both ways before proceeding through the stop sign. He claimed he did not see the pickup truck. Damage from the collision amounted to $2,000. Both vehicles were driven away from the scene.

No injuries were reported, and no citations were issued. The Police report however noted Perkins failed to yield from a stop sign. They cited driver inexperience as a contributing factor in the crash.