(Radio Iowa) – An inmate from the Webster County Jail in Fort Dodge enjoyed a short taste of freedom this weekend after escaping Saturday and being caught Sunday. Forty-three-year-old Jordan Mefferd of Fort Dodge escaped the jail by propping open a third-story exit door to the jail late Saturday night and using sheeting to climb down the alley. The car Mefferd was driving was later found in Otho and a chase was then pursued back to Fort Dodge.

Police used stop sticks which then deflated one of the tires to the car. Police then arrested Mefferd and a passenger 27-year-old Destiny Sumpter. Mefferd was charged with felony eluding and felony escape while Sumpter was charged with violation of probation and aiding and abetting felony escape.

ATLANTIC, IA (December 13, 2021) – Produce in the Park’s Christmas Market is now accepting preorders at  www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com. Pre-orders will be accepted through Monday, December 20. Christmas Market 2021 will also offer in-person shopping, but some products—such as Miss NiNi’s pies and cheesecakes and Pomodoro Fresh Italian Food Truck’s take and bake meals—are only available pre-order.

Christmas Market is being held Thursday, December 23 from 3-7 PM at the Cass County Community Center (805 W. 10th St. Atlantic, up the hill from the fairgrounds). Christmas Market offers an excellent variety of premium homegrown and homemade products. The holiday farmers market is being held just two days before Christmas, so shoppers can enjoy delicious local foods on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day—including a variety of sweet treats, desserts, produce, meats, and more—in addition to handmade stocking stuffers, gifts, and decorations.

Christmas Market Vendors:
Vendors offering pre-ordering only:
• Miss NiNi’s Fine Desserts – Handmade pies and cheesecakes in over 10 flavors
• Harrisdale Farmstead – Produce (squash, pie pumpkins, garlic)
Prepared food vendor (take and bake meals offered pre-order only):
• Pomodoro Fresh Italian Food Truck:
o Homemade pasta, sauces, sandwiches, salads and dessert offered on-site.
o Take and bake meals for two or four offered pre-order only (Chicken Alfredo, Lasagna,
Spaghetti and Meatballs).
Vendors offering pre-ordering and in-person shopping:
• Bridgewater Farm – Organic produce (spinach, beets, potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots,
kohlrabi, garlic, turnips), eggs, and meat
• Brun Ko Farm – Beef, pork, chicken, lamb, granola, suet blocks, cookies, and desserts
• Erickson Foods – Produce, syrups, fruit butters, and jellies
• Frosting Inc. – Cupcakes, cookies, hot cocoa bombs, and more
• Johnna Joy Designs – Jewelry and more
• Kingwood Farm – Goat milk soap, detergent, bath shreds, lotion. Pasture-raised pork, eggs,
beef
• Kringle Man – Danish kringle, cream horns, Danish letters, Danish pastries
• Noble Provisions – Beef
• Smudge – Bath and body products, soaps, and candles
• Sweet Sisters Vegan – Vegan health and beauty products
• The Pet Bistro – Dog and cat food and treats; cat toys and beds
• TJ’s Kitchen – Wine bread pastries
Vendors offering in-person shopping only:
• Connie’s Creations – Hand-crocheted dishcloths, hats, hot pads, and more
• DeLaine’s Designs – Doll clothes
• DezaRae Farm Soaps – Goat milk lotions and soaps
• JD Crafters – Items made using a laser and CNC router and a lathe, including Christmas and table
ornaments, signage, cutting boards, coasters, serving trays and catch all trays, and more
• Mandy’s Sweet Tooth Confections – Homemade pies, sugar cookie bars, cupcakes, cookie trays,
candy barks and fudge, savory pretzels and snack mix, and other assorted desserts
• Slightly Sassy Orchid Designs – Tumblers and signs
• Wud Bi Tek – CNC laser carvings and cuttings

Christmas Market is made possible by sponsorships from the Atlantic Community Promotion Commission, First Whitney Bank and Trust, Camblin Mechanical, Cass County Tourism, Cass County Farm Bureau, the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, Meyer and Gross, and Smith Land Service. Produce in the Park thanks customers for masking and distancing at indoor markets. For the latest information on Christmas Market, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook
(www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/) or sign up for the Produce in the Park newsletter at www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com.

(Radio Iowa) – A representative of the 19 state-licensed casinos in Iowa says lawmakers may debate legalizing online casino gambling — but NOT during the 2022 legislative session. Six other states (Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia) have already authorized online casinos. Iowa Gaming Association president and C-E-O Wes Ehrecke says the concept is still in its embryonic stage.

“We don’t envision any legislation coming forward, but if it is, we’re going to be neutral,” Ehrecke says. “We have some of our members that support looking at it. There are others that are opposed. They have questions and thoughts and so this is going to need to evolve over the next year or two before any serious legislation or consideration would happen.” It became legal for Iowans to place SPORTS bets online on August 15th of 2019. Ehrecke says he doesn’t expect making online casinos legal as well would lead to the demise of the brick and mortar operations in the state.

“It’s not just gaming,” Ehrecke says. “It’s the dining, the hotels, the comedy clubs — the variety of things that are within a casino, plus the concerts and conventions and the like. We’ve really created premier destinations in 19 places.” But Ehrecke says analyzing the record in the six states that have legalized online casinos will be key. He says there’ll be questions of how online gaming revenue compared to in-person wagering and whether foot traffic declines significantly in casinos.

“Is it going to be something that’s worthwhile like when we’re having our blizzards in the wintertime and things like that, so there’s just a variety of things — and how to structure it properly,” Ehrecke says. “You know, where’s the appetite for Iowans and legislators to want to have this as an option?”

Ehrecke made his comments during an appearance this weekend on “Iowa Press” on Iowa P-B-S.

(Elliott, Iowa) – Two people were injured during an ATV rollover accident Sunday afternoon, west of Elliott. The incident happened near 2166 110th Street, at around 4:20-p.m. A medical helicopter was requested at the scene. Additional information is currently available.

[Updated 12/13/21) (Elliott, Iowa) – Firefighters from Elliott and Red Oak were dispatched to a residential structure fire at approximately 1:40-p.m., Sunday.  The flames were reported at 600 Elm Street, the residence of Steve & Jessica DeLage and their son, Dax.  Griswold and Grant Fire Departments were called to offer mutual aid in the form of water tankers and additional fire fighters.

According to Griswold Fire Chief J.C. Wyman, the family had safely evacuated the structure prior to firefighters’ arrival. The house was a total loss. Strong winds fanned the flames through the two-story house. Crews were on the scene for about three-hours. The cause of the blaze was not immediately known.

Elliott house fire 12/12/21. (Photo submitted)

Other agencies assisting at the scene included the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and the Red Cross, along with the Cass and Montgomery County Emergency management agencies.