The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports numerous arrests occurred over the past couple of weeks. This (Monday) morning, 38-year old Jared Eldon Finnell, of Cumberland, was arrested on charges of OWI 1st Offense and Interference with Official Acts. Finnell was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later in the day on his own recognizance.

Early Sunday morning, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 56-year old Katherine Anne Lange, of Anita, on a charge of Assault with Intent to Cause Serious Injury. Lange was released later that day on her own recognizance, but she was arrested later that same afternoon, on a charge of Violation of No Contact Order. Lange was released Monday (Today), on $500 cash bond.

Last Thursday, 34-year old Brenda Nichole Leah Kinzie, of Griswold, was arrested on a felony charge of Burglary in the 3rd Degree, and for Theft 3rd Degree. Kinzie was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $4,000 bond.

Last Wednesday, 27-year old Scott Hallie Joseph Downer, of Atlantic, was arrested by Cass County deputies, on a charge of Driving While Barred. Downer was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on $2,000 bond.

On July 17th, 23-year old Maisie Sheryl Williams, of Atlantic, was arrested on two District Court warrants for Violation of Probation. Williams was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $27,500 bond. That same day, 27-year old Mikel Ann Erickson, of Omaha, was arrested on a Cass County District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Erickson was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on $10,000 bond.

On July 15th, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested 38-year old Joshua James Reynolds, of Carson, on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Reynolds was taken to the Cass County Jail and was released later that day on his own recognizance.

And, on July 13th, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested 28-year old Michelle Lee Dougherty, of Atlantic, on an Atlantic Police Department warrant for Simple Assault. Dougherty was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on her own recognizance.

A call about a motorcycle accident Sunday afternoon in Dallas County resulted in the discovery of a deceased male from Nebraska. Sheriff’s officials say the body 29-year old Austin Welke, which had apparently been deceased for several days, was found after a caller reported seeing the wreckage at around 3:23-p.m. Sunday, in a cornfield near the intersection of Old Highway Six and Bear Creek Road, between Redfield and Dexter.

Authorities say Welke was staying in Redfield while on a work assignment. His friends reported he hadn’t been seen since July 20th. Officials say while no foul play is expected, the circumstances of the accident remain under investigation, and an autopsy has been scheduled with the State Medical Examiner’s Office.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday), issued a reports on their latest arrests. On Saturday (7/21) 37-year-old Jose Garcia, of Denison, was arrested following a traffic stop. Garcia was taken into custody on an active Crawford County warrant and charged locally for Driving under Suspension. The following evening Garcia plead guilty in front of the magistrate, and was fined, and given credit for time served. Garcia was then transferred to Crawford County Jail.

On July 15th, Shelby County Deputies arrested 62-year-old Gary Lyn McCoy. McCoy was in an automobile accident earlier that morning and transferred to Myrtue Memorial Hospital by Medivac ambulance. After being medically released from the hospital, McCoy was transferred to the Shelby County Jail without incident and charged with Possession of Controlled Substance, Prohibited Acts, and charged with Theft 5th. During the pat down process, additional contraband was found, which resulted in an additional charge of Possessing Contraband in a Controlled Facility. McCoy was held until posting bond and then released on his own recognizance the following morning.

On June 24th, 49-year-old Sherryle Jean Gorka, of rural Manilla, was arrested on an active warrant from Shelby County Court for Theft 5th Bad Check. Gorka was transferred to the Shelby County Jail and held under $300 bond until she was released on her own recognizance later that evening.

And, on June 22nd, Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 47-year-old Troy Louis Veltrop, of rural Earling. Veltrop was charged with Felon in possession of a firearm, Domestic Abuse Assault, False Imprisonment, Possession of Controlled Substance. Veltrop was transferred to the Shelby County Jail without incident and held without bond until appearance before a magistrate. The following morning, Veltrop was seen by a magistrate and held on a $12,000 cash/surety bond. Later that week, Veltrop was charged with a Violation of Probation adding an additional $10,000 cash/surety bond. On July 7th, Veltrop was charged with Violation of a No Contact Order and received an additional $1,000 bond after magistrate appearance. His total bond then amounted to $23,000.

Once again it’s that time to nominate a person in Cass County for this year’s Athena Award. The ATHENA Leadership Award — made possible locally by Deter Motor Company, in Atlantic — is presented in January at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce’ Annual Dinner. Those interested in nominating an individual can pick up a nomination packet at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, 102 Chestnut Street, or by visiting www.atlanticiowa.com. Nominations are due in September.

The ATHENA Leadership Award, developed through a grant from W.K. Kellogg Foundation, identifies eight distinct attributes that are reflective of women’s contributions to leadership: living authentically, learning constantly, advocating fiercely, acting courageously, fostering collaboration, building relationships, giving back and celebrating. These personal traits are more intuitive to women and combined with the strongest aspects of traditional leadership – taking risks, assertiveness, hard work – prepare women to be successful leaders in the 21st century.

Over 7,000 recipients around the world have been honored with the ATHENA Leadership Award since the program launched in 1982. Locally, past winners include: LaVon Eblen, Judy Marnin Leanne Pellett, Denise O’Brien, Margaret Slepsky, Glenda Farrier, Carole Schuler, Jan Kinnison, Janell Hansen, Ann Pross, Wendy Richter, Dolly Bergmann, Pat Markham, Lanette Plambeck, Kathie Hockenberry, Dr. Tressa Wilcox and Heather McKay.

Presented to leaders, woman and men, across the professional sector, the ATHENA Leadership Award is one of the most prestigious leadership awards one can receive—and Atlantic is one of the few communities in Iowa with an active ATHENA Leadership group.

Nominees must meet each of the following three criteria:

1.      Demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession

2.      Provide valuable service to improve the quality of life for others in their community

3.      Actively assist women in achieving their full leadership potential

An investigation into an accident around 4-p.m. Saturday in Mills County resulted in the arrest of a Pottawattamie County man. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 51-year old Darren Eugene Weis, of Avoca, was taken into custody for OWI/3rd offense, and Driving While Revoked for a previous OWI. Weis was also cited for Failure to Maintain Control. His bond was set at $6,000.

Officials say Weis was driving a 2014 Infinity northbound on Interstate 29, when the car entered the median near the Mills/Pott. County line. The car hit several guardrail posts before getting back onto I-29 and continuing northbound. Weis then crossed the turnaround area in the median and went south on I-29 for about one-eighth of a mile before stopping his vehicle, which had sustained major front end damage.

The person who reported the incident and another passerby detained Weis from leaving the scene, until Deputies could arrive and take him into custody. No injuries were reported.