(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests took place over the past week. Saturday morning, 38-year-old Kyle William Gustin, of Cedar Rapids, was arrested on an Adair County warrant for Harassment in the 3rd Degree. The warrant was with regard to a Sept. 2024 incident in Fontanelle. Gustin turned himself-in to the Adair County Jail, and was released on his Own Recognizance about an hour later.

Friday morning, an Iowa State Patrol Trooper arrested 40-year-old Samoeun An, of Beltsville, MD, following an incident at the I-80 westbound rest area, in Adair County. An was taken into custody for Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree, with regard to the alleged damage of a cell phone owned by a woman who was a co-driver of the vehicle the pair were in. The phone was damaged occurred during an argument about one of the parties getting paid. An was released from the Adair County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

Last Wednesday, 40-year-old Luke Daniel Hommes, of Fontanelle, was arrested by police in Adair, for an alleged violation of a No Contact Order. He was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $5,000 cash-only bond. And, on Oct. 7th, 59-year-old Adam Duane Wright, of Boone, was arrested by Adair County Deputies at the Boone County Jail. He was wanted on an Adair County warrant for Violation of Probation. Wright was being held without bond in the Adair County Jail pending an appearance in District Court.

(Atlantic, Iowa)  – The 2024 “Scrooge” Contest, sponsored by the Atlantic Chamber, benefits the Atlantic Food Pantry and those they serve. Food Pantry leader Brad Osborne says food insecurity in our community is on the rise and the need continues to be great-as the statistics illustrate.  In 2019, Osborne says, the Pantry averaged 24 households per week and 53 individuals per week being served. Today they are averaging 72 households and 216 individuals.” Over a 400% increase in our community and support like the Scrooge campaign has never been more important, according to Osborne, who says “That is the plain and simple truth.”

The contest was started in 2001 and was organized yearly by Eleanor Hoover (“Big E”). Eleanor’s daughter, Jackie Sampson, says “It is a vital part of the yearly work our Food Pantry and their committee members do and helps them fill in some of the gaps they encounter in trying to help meet the rising needs.”Sampson says financial records for the last eight-years, show during that time, over $154,150 and 29,230 food items have been raised for the food pantry. “The need continues to be very great in our community to help combat food insecurity.”

2024-09-30 GRAPH – Households per Week

2024-09-30 GRAPH – Individuals per Week

In honor of their mother, her daughters (Billie, Lori, Jackie and honorary daughter Karen), have pledged $1,000 to kick-off the contest—with each Scrooge candidate getting a jump-start toward their total. 

2024 candidates for the title of “Scrooge” include:

– Randy & Michelle Roy (Randy’s Computer)

– Graydon Schmidt (Schmidt Family Funeral Homes)

– Jeremiah Thompson (Landus/Atlantic Fire Dept)

– Ben Winford (New Life Church)

The campaign begins November 1st. The food barrel drop-off locations will be announced soon. The candidates will turn-in funds collected and non-perishable goods they have obtained, on November 26th at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce office on N. Chestnut Street. The results will be tabulated and the winner announced.  The winner will serve as the Grand Marshall for the Lighted Christmas Parade in Atlantic, in December.

Atlantic Food Pantry Donated Food Suggestions for 2024:
*canned soup (chicken noodle, tomato, cream of chicken, cream of mushroom,
vegetable beef,….)
*canned fruit (peaches, pears, applesauce, cocktail)
*beef ravioli (cans) or SpaghettiOs
*cereal (boxes) or Quick Oats (no milk needed)
*crackers (saltine)
*tuna or chicken (cans)
*macaroni and cheese
*canned corn, green beans, peas (12-15 oz. cans)
*“complete” pancake & waffle mix (no milk)
*Pancake/waffle syrup
*spaghetti and pasta sauce
*Manwich or Sloppy Joe cans

Food Items to be collected will be limited to only what is on the Food Pantry list this year as storage space is limited and food distribution to families is different due to Post-Covid.

• Food Items: 1 item = 1 point
• Monetary Donations are preferred – $1 = 5 points—checks made out to Atlantic Food Pantry

(Elk Horn, Iowa) –  The Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton School Board’s regular monthly meeting takes place in the High School Conference Room, beginning at 5:30-p.m., Tuesday (Oct. 16). Action items on their agenda include:

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors will meet in a regular session beginning at 9-a.m. Tuesday (Oct. 15), in their Atlantic Courthouse Board Room. The Board expects to receive a Monthly report from Cass/Guthrie County Environmental Health Executive Director Jotham Arber, and a Quarterly report from Cass Co. Conservation Exec. Director Micah Lee, in addition to a regular report from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken.

Action items on the Board’s agenda include:

• Approve the Rural Transit System (RTS) Joint Participation agreement with Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.
• Discuss/approve waiving the deadline and continuing to operate under the terms of the Agreement for Private Development by and Between Cass County and KLC Comes, LLC (D/B/A Bluebird Hill Event Venue.
• Discuss/approve re-establishing the compensation board.
• Discus/approve the commercial lease with Fourth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services for the premises located at 601 Walnut Street, Suite 1, Atlantic, IA.

The Board’s next regular meeting will be held Nov. 12th.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors regular weekly meeting begins at 8:30-a.m. Tuesday (Oct. 15th) in their Red Oak Courthouse Boardroom. The Board is expected to approve a Hungry Canyons Alliance project agreement in the amount of $58,830, for a portion of grade control pertaining to a project on G Avenue, north of 190th Street.

In other business, the Board will hear from Jenna Ramsey, with regard to an IEDA (Iowa Economic Development Authority) grant, and they will discuss a RenewGov support services agreement, with action on both topics as necessary.

Discussion items on their agenda include: Rescheduling the Supervisor’s regular meeting in light of the upcoming election on November 5th, as well as scheduling the General Election Canvass of votes. The Montgomery County Supervisors remind interested persons about a Summit Carbon Solutions open house on Nov. 6th, to learn more about safety, as it pertains to CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) transportation. The event takes place at McCalpin Place in Red Oak, from Noon until 2-p.m.

And Auditor Jill Ozuna will remind Montgomery County residents the First Day of early voting in the Auditor’s Office is this Wednesday, Oct. 16th, beginning at 8-a.m.

(Washington County, Iowa) – A collision between a car and a train early this (Monday) morning in southeastern Iowa, resulted in a death. The Iowa State Patrol reports the crash happened at around 1:50-a.m., in Ainsworth. Authorities say a 2011 Ford Fusion was traveling south on Spruce Avenue, when it ran a stop sign over a railroad crossing, and struck a westbound train. The vehicle came to rest in the west ditch. The driver died at the scene. Their name was being withheld, pending notification of family. The crash remains under investigation.