The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports five arrests over the past week. Three of the arrests took place on Sept. 23rd:

• 41-year old Christopher Dean Harrison, of Greenfield, was arrested for Domestic Assault with Injury, after he allegedly grabbed his 43-year old girlfriend by her shoulder during an argument on August 17th, causing her collar bone to be broken. His arrest was the result of an investigation into the incident, and a visit from law enforcement and DHS personnel, who were looking into an alleged case of child abuse. Harrison was released from custody Sept. 24th on a $1,000 cash or surety bond (C/S Bond).
• 42-year old Jeffrey Lee Simpson, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Winterset Sept. 23rd, on a warrant out of Johnson County, Kansas, for (Felony) Possession of Methamphetamine/1st offense, Possession of Marijuana and/or THC- 1st offense, and Possession of Drug paraphernalia. Simpson remains held without bond in the Adair County Jail, pending extradition to Kansas.
• and, 40-year old James Bernard Block, of Cumberland, was arrested Sept. 23rd, also in Winterset, for Driving While Barred. He was cited and released at the scene.

On Sept. 21st, 35-year old Christopher Coy Edwin Chaney, of Fontanelle, was arrested by Adair County Deputies, for Domestic Assault, after he allegedly struck a woman in the face during an argument, leaving a bruise under her right eye. Chaney was released the following day on a $1,000 C/S bond.

And, on Sept. 20th, 56-year old Aleatha Sharon Yarrington, of Bridgewater, was arrested for simple Assault in connection with an incident involving her guardian/juvenile grandson. She was released on her Own Recognizance the following afternoon.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports one person was hurt during a single-vehicle accident Thursday, about six-miles northwest of Clarinda. Authorities say 31-year old Chasity Nichole Zaiger, of rural Essex, was driving a 2002 Jeep Liberty westbound on 190th Street near L Avenue, when the SUV went out of control and entered the south ditch. The vehicle then flipped end over end before coming to rest on its side. Zaiger managed to get out of the vehicle and call for help. She was transported to the Clarinda Regional Health Center by Clarinda Ambulance service for examination and treatment of undisclosed injuries..

Authorities say her SUV sustained about $5,000 damage. Zaiger was cited for No valid driver’s license. The Page County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Clarinda Fire Department and the Clarinda Ambulance service.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has released information on an accident and a recent arrest. Officials say at around 2:47-a.m., Saturday, Deputies responded to a single-vehicle accident on I-80 in Cass County. A 2021 Freightliner driven by 24-year old Hassan Abdirahman Yahye, of St. Paul, MN, was westbound on I-80 in a construction zone, when the vehicle took evasive action to avoid a motorcycle and ended up in the median. The rig came to rest against the steel cable barrier. No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $14,000; damage to the steel barrier is estimated at $1,000. No citations were issued.

And, on Friday, 53-year old Rex Dean McDermott, of Atlantic, was arrested on a charge of Public Intoxication. McDermott was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on $300 bond.

Officials with the City of Atlantic, today (Monday), issued a statement with regard to nuisance properties: “In an effort to continue cleaning up Atlantic and creating a safe, healthy community, the Atlantic Police Department will be working in conjunction with Atlantic Code Enforcement Officers, in locating and eradicating nuisances. These nuisances can include dilapidated buildings, compounding trash piles, unmowed grass, junk vehicles, improperly parked vehicles, and more.”

The City says “Officers may be seen in residential areas viewing “nuisances” [mentioned]. Over-parked vehicles, junk/broken down vehicles being stored in the yard, vehicles being stored on non-approved or not-hard surfaces, tall grass and piling trash, are examples of the nuisances that will be addressed by either Atlantic Police Officers of Code Enforcement Officers.”

The City encourages residents to “Please take a moment to survey your property and check for items that may be of concern. Officers investigating potential violations will give ample notice through abatement procedures of what the concern(s) is/are, how to resolve the issue(s) and how soon the problem area(s) must be resolved. Officials say “Officers may write municipal infraction citations if the owners continue to disregard the opportunities to fix and abatable issues.

Anyone with questions or concerns should contact the Atlantic Police Department at 712-243-3512.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A judge is refusing to block a Republican-backed Iowa law that makes it harder for county officials to process absentee ballot applications and more likely that incomplete requests won’t be fulfilled. In an opinion released Monday, Judge Lars Anderson rejects arguments by a Latino civil rights organization and a Democratic Party group that the law is an undue burden on the fundamental right to vote.

The ruling is another victory for Republicans who want to limit absentee voting, which begins next week in Iowa. Republicans have already invalidated tens of thousands of absentee ballot applications in three counties.

Des Moines, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Insurance Division report 60-year old Dwight Jay Roberts, of Indianola, faces one count of Insurance Fraud – Presenting False Information, and one count of Theft 2nd Degree. Both are Class-D Felony offenses. The charges are the results of an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau that began in July, 2019.

According to criminal complaints filed by the Insurance Fraud Bureau, Roberts made false statements in connection with a disability insurance claim and received insurance benefits due to these false statements. On September 23, 2020, Roberts was charged and released with a promise to appear in court.

Iowans with information about insurance fraud are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau at 515-654-6556.

Shelby County Election Commissioner Mark Maxwell reminds voters in his county and elsewhere, that:

• Iowa absentee ballots cannot be placed in the mail system until October 5th.
• In person absentee voting will be available at the Courthouse on October 5th.
• Many groups are sending out absentee ballot requests. The Shelby County Auditor’s office does not send out absentee ballot requests unless we are asked to by the voter.
• Many groups are sending out registration forms. The Auditor’s office in Shelby County does not send out unsolicited registration forms.
• Get your current voter registration information or track your absentee ballot at SOS.IOWA.GOV use the voter information tab or link.

Maxwell says “There are approximately 8,000 voters in Shelby County and over 2,200 have requested absentee ballots so far.  This election will break all absentee request records and ease election day crowds at the polls.  This puts much more labor into the election process before election day, this was the hope of my office, public health officials and voters to ease any congestion at the polls on election day November 3rd.”

Maxwell says “In your search bar type IOWA SOS BALLOTT this should bring up the information  needed to see the progress of your absentee request and ballot.”