(Radio Iowa) – Whenever a person’s life is lost, there’s an opportunity for lives to be saved — if that person was a registered organ and tissue donor. Heather Butterfield, spokeswoman for the Iowa Donor Network, says their final figures are in for 2022, during which she says many hundreds of lives were transformed by generous gifts from donors. “In 2022, we had 115 deceased organ donors in the state of Iowa that generously gave 347 organs for transplant,” Butterfield says. “Additionally, we have 979 tissue donors and every single tissue donor has the opportunity to heal and enhance the lives of 50 to 300 people.”

Since 2018, she says the state’s donor network has experienced a 62-percent increase in the number of organ donors as well as a 40-percent rise in the number of organs transplanted.  “There are more Iowans registering as organ and tissue donors,” Butterfield says. “We’re also seeing more opportunities with advancements in medicine and healthcare and in the organ donation field. There’s just a greater opportunity for people to donate.” She says the Iowa Donor Network coordinates with hospitals, transplant centers, E-M-S providers, medical examiners, and other healthcare partners to maximize donation opportunities.

“Anyone of any age can register to be a donor here in the state of Iowa,” Butterfield says. “Of course, the most common way is at the DMV, but if you check your license and you don’t have the word DONOR on the front, you can visit our website, IowaDonorNetwork.org. It takes less than three minutes and you can register to save lives.” Still, the transplant wait list is long. She says there are more than 105-thousand people nationwide in need of a life-saving organ transplant, including 625 Iowans.

ATLANTIC, IA (January 19, 2023) – Produce in the Park’s Sweetheart Market has been scheduled for Saturday, February 11 from noon to 3:00 PM at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA in Atlantic. This is a new and highly anticipated location for the winter farmers market because the Nishna Valley Family YMCA will be offering free activities for kids during the market. Additionally, Pim’s Thai food truck will be in the parking lot selling their popular Thai Food. Sweetheart Market is held the Saturday before Valentine’s Day, so shoppers can pick up Valentine’s Day themed sweets, baked goods, and gifts, in addition to farmers market favorites premium local produce, meats, jams, seasonal candles, crafts, art, jewelry, and bath and body products.

Sweetheart Market vendors confirmed as of January 19 include:

• Smudge
• Bridgewater Farm
• Brun Ko Farm
• Miss NiNi’s Fine Desserts
• Noble Provisions
• The Kringle Man
• DezaRae Farm Soaps,
• Ter-Bear Honey
• Johnna Joy Designs
• Midwest Candles by Brit,
• Wud Bi Tek
• Creekside Crystals and Crafts
• Frosting Inc.,
• Spirits of the Faire
• Sweet Sisters Vegan
• Donna’s Jewelry
• Unicorn Clouds
• Studio Samantha
• Sugar Mamma Cookie Co., and
• Pim’s Thai Food Truck.

Sweetheart Market 2023 will offer both in-person shopping as well as pre-ordering. Pre-order will be available through www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com from February 1- 9. Preordering is an excellent option for customers who want to plan on a particular food item—such as Valentines cookies—as well as customers who are short on time to shop at the market.
Some vendors, such as Miss NiNi’s Fine Desserts, will only be offering pre-ordered products.

Produce in the Park continues to accept vendor applications to Sweetheart Market and Spring Celebration Market (April 6). For more information visit produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com or
contact Market Manager Brigham Hoegh at produceintheparkatlanticiowa@gmail.com or 712- 249-5870.

Sweetheart Market is sponsored by the Atlantic Community Promotion Commission, Cass County Tourism, First Whitney Bank and Trust, Cass Health, Gregg Young Automotive of Atlantic, and the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. 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.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports there were three arrests on Tuesday and another arrest this past Monday. Officials say on Monday (1/16/23), 33-year-old Matthew Stevens, of Lewis, was arrested on a warrant for Failure to Appear. Stevens was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

Those taken into custody on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, include:

55-year-old Bernard Ewertz III, and 47-year-old David Headley, both of Log Lane Village, CO. Each was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Drug Trafficking. Ewertz was additionally charged with being a Felon in Control of a Firearm. Both men were booked into the Cass County Jail, and held. Separately, 40-year-old Zachary Frank, of Atlantic, was arrested Tuesday, on a warrant for Theft 4th Degree.  Frank was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

All criminal charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in the court of law.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has issued an update on a rollover accident that we previously reported on with limited information. Authorities say that at around 3:10-p.m. Wednesday (January 18th, 2023), deputies and area first responders were called to the intersection of Highland Road and Indian Creek Street, for a single vehicle rollover accident.  Upon investigation it was found that a 2018 GMC Yukon, being operated by Madison Darnell, of Hancock, was traveling East on Highland Road.  Darnell lost control of the vehicle due to slick roadway conditions, and the vehicle entered the south ditch, tipping to it’s side.

The vehicle had five occupants who were all transported via EMS for medical evaluation.  At the time of the accident and during subsequent investigation, it was reported that all injuries were considered to be minor and non-life threatening.  The vehicle sustained significant, totaling damage.