Texas Governor and Republican presidential candidate, Rick Perry, met with voters in Council Bluffs this (Tuesday) morning. Perry told the standing room-only crowd at a downtown restaurant that he’s the only “authentic” conservative in the presidential race. “Why should you have to settle for anything less than the real deal to go to Washington D-C and to represent your values and work for you in Washington. I mean, look, I got all the respect in the world for the front-runners in this race, but ask yourself, if we replace a Democratic insider with a Republican insider, you think we’re really going to change Washington D-C? No way,” Perry said. Perry touted his home state’s efforts to secure its border with Mexico, saying such a model is needed at the national level.

But one state cannot enforce our nation’s entire immigration law, that takes a nationwide effort, and that’s the reason it’s going to take a president who knows there is no such thing as homeland security until there is border security,” according to Perry.  Perry said if elected, he’ll close the border between the U-S and Mexico within one year. He also called for balanced budgets and less government in voters’ lives. Two other G-O-P candidates, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul, are also set to visit western Iowa this week. Gingrich will be in Sioux City Thursday. Paul has a town hall meeting planned in Council Bluffs.

(Radio Iowa)

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer says the Page County Sheriff’s Office “Operation Blessing” was a success this year, thanks to everyone who donated to to the program.  Palmer says without the support of the individuals, organizations, and groups who unselfishly gave to this program it would not be possible.  He added that year after year, people have continued to support this program. From the money donated this year, the Page County Sheriff’s Office provided Christmas gifts to 24 families.  That means 66 children in Page County received presents for Christmas this year from Page County Sheriff’s Office Operation Blessing program.

Palmer said he wanted to express a sincere THANK YOU from everyone at the Page County Sheriff’s Office for the support shown by citizens in the area who helped to make the program a success.  He also gave a special “shout out” to retired Sheriff Mike Williams, for his continued assistance with this program, which Palmer says is expected to continue, in the years to come.

A former Atlantic resident was arrested Christmas Day on a theft charge. The Atlantic Police Department reports 32-year old Blue Ryan Rutherford, of Ottumwa, was arrested for 5th Degree Theft  (Shoplifting). Rutherford, who has a lengthy history of arrests in Cass County, was booked into the Cass County Jail and held, pending a court appearance.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Department says no injuries were reported following a collision Monday, southwest of Anita. The accident happened on White Pole Road (Highway 6), at about 730^th Street. Officials say 65-year old Michael Roger Rasmussen, of Exira, was westbound on White Pole Road in a 2006 Chevy Silverado, and attempting to make a left turn onto 730th Street, when he was hit by a 1991 Oldsmobile 88, owned and driven by 58-year old Gerald Jay Lindberg, of Casey. The collision happened as Lindberg was attempting to pass Rasmussen’s pickup. Damage from the crash amounted to $4,000. No citations were issued. 

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office also reports two arrests occurred on Monday, Dec. 20^th. 25-year old Bryan Stanley Curtis, of Audubon, was arrested December 20^th, on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear. Curtis was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on $1000 bond.  And, 20-year old Jesse Allen Allen Luft, of Villisca, was arrested on a charge of Domestic Abuse/Simple Assault. Luft was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was being held on $1000 bond. He made his initial appearance in court last Thursday and entered a plea of Not Guilty to the charge. The date of his trial has not yet been set. Luft also pled guilty Thursday, to a charge of Consuming Alcohol in a Public Place. He was fined $100 plus court costs.

A regional commander of the U-S Army Corps of Engineers says we’re in a “very dangerous time,” with weakened levees and dams after the summer-long flood of the Missouri River. Brigadier General John McMahon, commander of the Corps’ Northwest Division, says floodwalls all along the river in western Iowa and eastern Nebraska were significantly damaged by the many months of rising, rushing water.

“The big concern now is the winter weather and also how much runoff we’re going to have as the construction season unfolds that might interfere with that,” General McMahon says. “There’s lots of unknowns. We’re very vulnerable with respect to the condition of the levees now.” Critics say there was a serious lack of communication between key governmental agencies and community leaders in threatened areas prior to the start of flooding this spring, and McMahon says he does not want to see a repeat.

McMahon says, “We’re going to have to work very closely together and communicate well and keep everybody informed as we go through this very dangerous period of time.” The Corps estimated in September that it would cost more than 500-million dollars to repair the many miles of levees, earthen berms and other structures that were damaged in the prolonged flooding. That dollar figure is continuing to grow.

“We currently know of $630-million in repairs, mainly focused on the levees and some on the dams,” General McMahon says. “We’re still assessing the dams and I expect a report from our Omaha district by the end of this month. There’s also additional assessments to the navigation channel.” While work is underway on levee repairs, he says little more can be done until next year and possibly, not before the spring flood season starts up again. 

(Matt Kelley/Radio Iowa)

No fewer than four separate law enforcement agencies cooperated in a chase and the arrest early Sunday morning, of a woman who faces numerous moving violations, in addition to an OWI charge. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office told KJAN News 44-year old Laura Sue Sturdy, of Orient, was taken into custody after a roadblock was set-up in Montgomery County.

Officials say Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy Kyle Quist was on patrol at around 11:30-p.m. Saturday, when he observed a vehicle weaving on the road near 630th and Upland Road. When he attempted to stop the vehicle, it sped-off and ended up near the intersection of Highway 71 and old Highway 34, in Montgomery County, a little over 30-minutes later, when authorities set up a roadblock.

Sturdy was taken into custody without further incident. She was brought to the Cass County Jail on a Class D Felony charge of eluding. In addition, Sturdy was charged with OWI/1st Offense, and Reckless Driving.  The woman was released from custody after posting a $5,000 bond Sunday morning.

Assisting the Cass County Sheriff’s Office in the pursuit and arrest, were officers with the Atlantic and Red Oak Police Departments, and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.