Cass County Health System officials report a new family medicine practitioner will begin serving the Atlantic Medical Center next Monday, Aug. 8th.  Dr. Edna Becht recently completed her family medicine residency at Memorial Family Medicine in South Bend, Indiana. She will provide comprehensive family medicine services, including obstetric care. She and her husband, Ed Schneiders, have recently moved to Atlantic.

Dr. Edna Becht

Dr. Becht said in a statement, “I was really looking for an opportunity where I can provide the full scope of family medicine, and Atlantic Medical Center is set up just for that.” Dr. Becht grew up in Indiana. She attended Indiana University where she received bachelor’s degrees in French in 2006 and in Biology in 2007. She went on to earn a master’s degree in Biology from Indiana University-Purdue University in 2008. Dr. Becht graduated from Des Moines University with a Doctor of Osteopathy in 2013.

In addition to caring for patients at Atlantic Medical Center, Dr. Becht will be on staff at Cass County Memorial Hospital. To schedule an appointment, call Atlantic Medical Center at 712-243-2850.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a burglary and theft. Today (Wednesday), a Pacific Junction woman reported an incident of 2nd Degree Theft occurred Tuesday afternoon at a location on Depot Street. And, two Pacific Junction residents reported an incident of 3rd Degree Burglary occurred on July 27th at a location on Hobbit Avenue. Additional information concerning the incidents is not available, and both incidents remain under investigation.

Authorities in Cass and surrounding counties remain on the lookout for a motorcycle reported stolen Tuesday night, from Atlantic. Atlantic Police Officer Nathan Kinney says the black Yamaha XJ-700 was stolen sometime between 7:30-p.m. Tuesday and 6:45-a.m. today (Wednesday). The cycle has Iowa license plate CV 6705.

Photo courtesy the Atlantic Police Dept. (Officer Nathan Kinney) – note: saddlebags not shown in this pic.

The bike has fringe on the handle bars, a nickel seat button and is equipped with saddlebags. The keys were not in the ignition, and the handle bars were not locked. If you see this motorcycle, call your local law enforcement agency.

A Democratic state senator says he’s hopeful the Iowa Legislature will take action next year to help make the state’s roads safer for cycling. Nine people have died while biking in the state so far this year. That’s the most in any year since 2010. Senator Joe Bolkcom of Iowa City, says he feels distracted drivers are part of the problem.

“I think it’s probably time that we look at ending cell phone use in cars unless it’s hands-free…stopping texting, Facebooking, emailing,” Bolkcom said. Last week, Governor Branstad pledged to recommend ways the legislature can help make Iowa’s roads safer for cyclists as well as motorists. The governor’s comments followed the latest cycling death in the state, a week ago Sunday, when a Florida man participating in the annual RAGBRAI ride was struck from behind near Glenwood and killed before joining the official route.

“The tragedies of these lost lives is really going to move this along,” Bolkcom said. “I hope that we can move with something on distracted driving on cell phone use.” Bolkcom made his comments (Tuesday) on Iowa Public Radio’s River to River program.

(Radio Iowa/IPR)

ARCADIA, Iowa (AP) – A western Iowa parade drew complaints from some not amused by a makeshift jail cell holding a man wearing a Hillary Clinton mask. The Carroll Daily Times Herald reports two men built the cell on a trailer, then towed it Saturday in the parade celebrating the Arcadia Fire Department’s 100th anniversary. Inside was a man wearing an orange jail jumpsuit and Hillary Clinton mask. A sign reading “Hillary For Prison” was displayed.

Children were encouraged to throw water balloons at the cell. Kyle Julin, of nearby Manilla, drove an ATV pulling the cell, which he and a friend built. Some in Arcadia, a city of 500, laughed but others groaned. Carroll County Democrats Chairman Tim Tracy called the display “sad.” Julin says he wasn’t worried some were offended.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) – A December trial has been scheduled for a northwest Iowa man accused of stabbing to death his sister. Court records say an attorney for 33-year-old Thomas Bibler entered not guilty pleas Friday to murder and related charges. Bibler’s trial is set to begin Dec. 13th. He was arrested June 11 after a short standoff at his Le Mars apartment. He’s accused of fatally stabbing 27-year-old Shannon Bogh at her Le Mars home.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections report an inmate at the Fort Des Moines Work Release Facility was listed as escaped, Tuesday. Dept. spokesman Fred Scaletta says 30-year old Michael Joseph Frazier was placed on escape status after he failed to return to the Ft. Des Moines facility from his place of employment.

Frazier was transferred to Work Release June 22nd. He was serving a 15-year old sentence out of Warren County for 3rd degree kidnapping and possession of a firearm as a felon. Frazier is a white male, 6-feet tall, weighing about 196-pounds.

DOC file photo of Michael Frazier.

He had black hair, hazel eyes and numerous tattoos, including those on his back, the right side of his chest, right forearm, and neck. Both ears are pierced, and he has a scar on his right forearm.

If you see Frazier, contact your local law enforcement agency or 9-1-1.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two men were arrested Tuesday. 44-year old Todd Edward Kimpson, of Corning, was arrested on a charge of Violation of Protective Order. Kimpson was taken to the Cass County Jail and was released later that day on $300 bond. And, 59-year old Carl Eugene Perkins, of Omaha, was arrested in Cass County on a Polk County warrant. Perkins was taken to the Cass County Jail and released to Polk County authorities later that day.