Authorities in Mills County say one person is dead and another was taken into custody following a shooting Saturday night, in Glenwood. During a press conference Sunday afternoon, officials said 18-year old Kathryn Weber was found shot outside of the Linwood Estates assisted living center, where she worked, when police were called at around 6:30-p.m. Saturday. The Mills County Attorney’s office says officers found Weber bleeding and lying on the ground when they arrived. She wasn’t responsive and died before she could be taken to a hospital.

Following an investigation, 27-year old Mark Alan Troutman, of Sylvania, OH, was arrested at the Western Inn in Glenwood, just before 8-p.m.  Troutman faces a  felony 1st degree murder charge in connection with the incident. He was being held in the Mills County Jail on $5 million bond.

Investigators say anyone with further information about the incident should call the Glenwood Police Department at 712-527-4844.  Glenwood Police, officials with the Iowa DCI and Mills County Attorney’s Office assisted in the death investigation.

Shooting suspect Mark Troutman

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The space used to treat patients at a now-closed state mental health institute in southwest Iowa is reopening under new management. The Iowa Department of Corrections is expected to sign a contract this month with a company to lease four wards at the facility once known as Clarinda Mental Health Institute. Zion Recovery Services, which offers substance abuse treatment, wants to expand its residential services.

The three-year contract could complicate any effort to reopen the space as a state-run mental health facility. The Iowa Supreme Court is in the midst of reviewing a lawsuit that challenges Gov. Terry Branstad’s decision last year to close the institute along with a facility in Mount Pleasant. Attorneys for plaintiffs in the lawsuit want the closed centers to reopen.

Authorities in Glenwood say one person was taken into custody as a result of the investigation into the shooting on the night of September 17th, 2016. In  a press release, Police Chief Eric Johansen said the investigation is ongoing and they will be releasing additional information at a press conference later today (1-p.m.), along with representatives from the Mills County Attorney’s Office and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

Investigators request that anyone with further information about the incident to contact the Glenwood Police Department at 712-527-484

At least 320 people are needed to participate in a week-long Bible Reading Marathon that begins Monday, in Atlantic. Sheryl Iekel, event organizer, says the bible will be read on the east lawn of the Cass County Courthouse from 7-a.m. until 7-p.m. each day, Monday through next Sunday. Persons wanting to partake in reading a segment of the bible will do so in 15-minute blocks of time, beginning with Genesis and ending in Revelation.

Time may be shared or anyone may sign-up for more than one segment. In addition to readers, 80 assistants are needed for two-hour shifts, to help with registration and other matters. To participate, call or text message Sheryl Iekel at 712-249-6120, or e-mail cassbiblereading@gmail.com. Include your name, the number of people in your group who are participating, contact information and how you would like to help and/or time preference to read.

The Cass County event was approved by the Board of Supervisors earlier this month. It’s part of a 99-County Bible Reading Marathon that began with an April 26th proclamation by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad that encouraged Iowans to read the bible in front of all the courthouses in the State. The first sessions took place June 30th through July 3rd at some 50 courthouses around the State. Branstad, in his proclamation, also encouraged “Individuals and families in Iowa to read the Bible on a daily basis each year, until the Lord comes.”

The Cass County Democratic Party is sponsoring a Food Drive to help stock the shelves of county food banks. County Chair Sherry Toelle (Tell-ee) said “While we generally have done this drive in the weeks preceding the holidays, this year—due to the elections—we are holding the drive earlier than usual. People can drop non-perishable food items, household supplies, paper products, and personal care products at our Atlantic Headquarters at 511 Chestnut during regular working hours through October 15th.”

Toelle said also, “We will then distribute the items to food banks across the county. Like our school supply drive, this is a non-partisan activity that we choose to sponsor to help the needy throughout the county. We welcome donations from any citizen or group.”

Questions can be directed to Sherry Toelle at 243-4861 or the Cass County Democratic Headquarters at 243-7771.