The attorney for an Atlantic woman accused of faking her daughter’s cancer has filed a motion for a change of venue in her trial. Online court documents show Jay Mez, attorney for 30-year old Leatha K. Slauson, filed the motion with the court, on Friday. He asserts her Nov. 12th trial should be moved due to extensive media coverage, gossip, rumors and speculation by residents in Cass County that would make selecting a fair and impartial jury impossible.

Leatha Kaye Slauson (Cass Co. Sheriff’s Office photo)

In presenting his motion, he entered into exhibit stories that aired from various media outlets, press releases that were distributed, and trial information alleging that Slauson obtained donations and other services by deception, from the community.

Earlier this month, Mez said Slauson was competent to stand trial, but unable to tell right from wrong. Online court records show Mez indicated on Oct. 1st his defense of 30-year old Leatha K. Slauson would be one of “Diminished Responsibility.”

Authorities say Slauson lied about her daughter having cancer, inserted a feeding tube into the 5-year-old girl and gave her drugs and cannabis oils. Slauson has pleaded not guilty to 20 counts, including assault, child endangerment and theft by deception. Her trial is set for next month.

A Fremont County man was arrested last week in Cass County on a sex abuse charge. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says 21-year old Michael Monroe Welch, of Sidney, was arrested Thursday on a Sheriff’s Office warrant for Sexual Abuse in the 3rd Degree. Welch was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later the following day on $10,000 bond.

And on Sunday, deputies in Cass County arrested 27-year old Jerry Thomas Chapman, of Atlantic, on a charge of Public Intoxication. Chapman was taken to the Cass County Jail where he pled guilty and was released later that day.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports a traffic stop early Saturday morning resulted in one person being taken into custody on drug charges. 20-year old Andy Brandon Clark, of Carroll, was arrested at around 2:30-a.m. on a Possession of Marijuana charge, after the vehicle he was in was stopped on Highway 71, in Audubon. Clark was subsequently released on a Recognizance Bond, and is scheduled to appear before a magistrate on Thursday.

And, 24-year old Scott Nathaniel Belew, of Audubon, was arrested Thursday evening on an outstanding warrant for Probation Violation. Belew later posted bond and was released.

DuPont Pioneer is awarding grants to Iowa communities for the purchase of grain bin rescue equipment. Among the fire departments receiving grants this year to purchase grain bin rescue equipment for use in their communities, is Audubon, Avoca, and Exira. The grants are being made available through the Pioneer community betterment program, and additional grants are still available. The 2014 donations are in addition to more than $70,000 worth of safety and rescue equipment grants donated in Iowa in 2013.

Photo: Tim Wahlert, Exira fire department; Mike Bintner, Exira fire chief; Jerry Riesgaard, Pioneer sales rep; Mike Davis, Exira fire department. (Photo provided)

Bart Baudler, business director for DuPont Pioneer in Iowa, said “Safety is one of the DuPont Core Values, and we’re pleased to continue our work with local fire departments across Iowa to provide this important, and sometimes life-saving, equipment.Grain bins pose a significant safety risk on the farm. We hope this equipment provides a functional use and increases awareness of these risks and leads people to think before entering.”

Iowa community fire departments and emergency medical teams are eligible to apply for the grants through their local Pioneer sales representatives. In 2013, grants for the purchase of grain bin rescue equipment were also awarded (locally) to Hamburg, Harlan, Lewis, and Malvern.

As the philanthropic arm of DuPont Pioneer, the DuPont Pioneer Giving Program makes contributions to community-based organizations on behalf of the business and employees. Consideration for Community Outreach grants is given to communities where Pioneer representatives, employees and customers live and work and that support quality-of-life initiatives to create an improved, sustainable lifestyle for people worldwide.

DuPont Pioneer is the world’s leading developer and supplier of advanced plant genetics, providing high-quality seeds to farmers in more than 90 countries.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports a central Iowa man was arrested Friday night at the Union County Jail. 39-year old Terry Lynn Phelps Jr., of Boone, was arrested at 10:30 PM at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County warrant for failure to appear. Phelps was being held in the Ringgold County Jail for Union County on $2000 bond.