The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a total of six arrests over the past few days. 19-year old Brodie Joseph Crockett, of Malvern, was arrested at around 8:50-a.m. today (Monday) at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant for Violation of Probation. Crockett was being held in the jail on a $5,000 bond. On Sunday, 34-year old Andrew David Sake, of Omaha, was arrested on Interstate 29, for Speeding, OWI/1st offense, and Careless Driving. Bond was set at $1,000. 29-year old Katie Rose Carnes, of Red Oak, was arrested Sunday night in Montgomery County, on a warrant for Failure to Appear on a Possession of a Controlled Substance charge. He bond was set at $5,000.

And, there were three arrests on Friday: 29-year old Andrew Dean West, of Malvern, was arrested on a warrant for Assault causing bodily injury; 46-year old Julia Diann Crouse was arrested on a warrant for Violation of Probation; and, 50-year old Daren Keith Brooks, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office on a warrant for Pretrial Release revocation. Brooks was being held on $10,000 bond, while the bonds for West and Crouse were set at $1,000 and $5,000, respectively.

The Sheriff’s Office said also, no injuries were reported following two separate accidents that took place Friday. Authorities say 25-year old Devin Means, of Griswold, was driving a 2017 Nissan eastbound on Highway 34 at around 7:15-p.m., when his vehicle struck a deer on the road. And, 18-year old Samantha Moesch, of Glenwood, was driving a 2005 Toyota east on Gaston Avenue between 240th and 250th Streets, when she lost control of her car. The vehicle entered the south ditch and rolled onto its top. Moesch and her passenger were able to get out of the car on their own. Moesch was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

Red Oak Police Chief Justin Rhamy reports the pursuit Sunday evening of a speeding car resulted in a crash and several charges pending against the driver. The Chief says officers were on routine patrol at around 7:42 p.m. Sunday, when they observed a 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix GT on G Avenue near Highway 34, driving in excess of the posted speed limit. Officers began to make a U-turn in an attempt to conduct a traffic stop, when the Grand Prix sped off northbound on G Avenue, and ran the stop sign at the intersection with Highway 34.

As the car continued northbound on G Avenue from U.S. Highway 34, a significant distance between the vehicle and the Red Oak Police Department’s patrol car developed when the officer began to make his U-turn to conduct the stop. As the officer continued north on G Avenue, at approximately 180^th Street, the officer observed the suspect vehicle in the east ditch of G Avenue.

The driver, 24-year old Bubba Dwain Mitchell, of Emerson, was transported to University of Nebraska Medicine by Red Oak Fire and Rescue. A three-year-old child passenger in the car was transported to the UNMC by LifeNet Helicopter. Chief Rhamy says the injured were transported to Nebraska Medicine as precautionary measure, due to the mechanism of injury. The extent of their injuries are unknown at this time.

Mitchell is set to be charged with Child Endangerment, Felony Eluding, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Failure to have a Valid Driver’s License, Failure to Maintain Control, and Failure to Obey Stop Sign. A charge of Operating While Intoxicated (Drugged) is pending.

Red Oak Police Department were assisted by Red Oak Fire and Rescue, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit, Iowa State Patrol, and LifeNet Helicopter.

Nicholas Hunt, Chair of the Cass County Community Foundation, has announced that $32,000 was awarded to Cass County nonprofit agencies last Friday. With the grants, the Cass County Community Foundation has distributed more than $1.8 million in grants and scholarships over the last 20 years. The following nonprofit organizations, which submitted applications to the Cass County Community Foundation by the September 1^st deadline, were awarded grants by the Cass County Board of Directors:

The amount available included $3,000 from the Griswold Community Development Endowed Fund, and $500 from the Triumph Endowed Fund for Cass County. All grantees met the criteria as Cass County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions in the areas of civic, cultural, health, education and social services. Only organizations providing services in Cass County were eligible. For information about donating or establishing an individual foundation/fund, please contact any of the Board Members, or call Stacey Goodman, Iowa Foundations Director, at 800-794-3458.

Genelle Deist, Chair of the Audubon County Community Foundation, reports $46,900 in grants was awarded Nov, 2nd to Audubon County nonprofit agencies. With the grants, the Audubon County Community Foundation has distributed over $1.9 million in grants and scholarships over the last 21 years. The following nonprofit organizations, which submitted applications to the Audubon County Community Foundation by the September 1st deadline, were awarded grants by the Audubon County Board of Directors:

1. Audubon County Historical Society…$2,500 to replace windows of Nathaniel Hamlin Park Museum
2. Audubon Recreation Foundation….$21,900 for Bowling Lane Construction
3. Brayton Community Club….$20,000 for Phase 2 of Renovations
4. Exira Public Library…$2,500 for a  Fireproof Book Drop

The amount available included: $2,500 for the Exira area, from the Leon and Iva Milliman Endowed Fund; $2,500 from the Milo and Dolores Clemmensen Fund; $2,500 from the Charles T. and Kathleen K. Manatt Endowed Fund; $900 from the Audubon State Bank/Stephen Garst Endowed Fund; $1,000 is available for the City of Audubon area from the Audubon Masonic Association Endowed Fund; $450 is available for the City of Audubon from the Fred and Evelyn Nissen Endowed Fund for Audubon, and, $450 for the City of Audubon from the Merle and Norma Petersen Endowed Fund.

All grantees met the criteria as Audubon County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions in the areas of civic, cultural, health, education and social services. Only organizations providing services in Audubon County were eligible. The Audubon County Community Foundation was established in 1997 and works with individuals, families, businesses and organizations to create charitable funds that address the changing, vital community needs and interests. Donating to a charitable fund helps your neighbors today AND you help build a stronger community tomorrow. Not only that, you may be eligible to receive a 25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit for donations, in addition to any Federal tax benefits for which you may qualify.

The Audubon County Community Foundation invests and administers these funds and distributes grants to deserving, qualified nonprofit organizations. Board members of the Audubon County Community Foundation are: Chair, Genelle Deist of Audubon; Vice Chair, Joel Hoegh of rural Brayton; Secretary/Treasurer, Barbara Johnson of Audubon; Bob Blomme of Audubon; Shelley Burr of Audubon; Steven B. Hansen of Audubon; and Joseph T. Rasmussen of Exira.

For information about donating or establishing an individual foundation/fund, please contact any of the Board Members, or call Stacey Goodman, Iowa Foundations Director, at 800-794-3458.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests. At around 9:40-p.m. Friday, 41-year old Steven Edward Messerli, of Carson, was arrested at a residence in Carson, in connection with an ongoing, belated harassment report. Messerli was taken into custody and then released on a citation for Harassment by communication/intimidation, with regard to a female acquaintance. At around 2:25-p.m. Friday, 48-year old Thomas Shawn Johnson, of Stanton, was served at the Pott. County Jail, with a warrant for Failure to Appear on a Probation Violation charge. Johnson was then turned back over to the custody of jail staff.

And, a vehicle that was seen trying to drive out of a ditch Sunday morning at 370th Street and Highway 6 in Pott. County, was stopped and the driver arrested. 23-year old Jena N. Burns, of Gretna, NE., was arrested at around 4:50-a.m., for OWI/1st offense.

(Radio Iowa) — With Election Day tomorrow (Tuesday), Iowans are being reminded about the importance of civility as we reach the end of a long political season. Scott Raecker (RACK-er) is director of the Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University in Des Moines. The center is sponsoring the “Show Some Respect” campaign which urges people to be kind and think before speaking out, especially on social media.
“One of the things we suggest is being honest with ourselves and with others, both with the information we get and distribute, making sure it’s from a reliable source,” Raecker says. “There’s a lot of stuff out there that may not be factually correct. We have a responsibility and accountability of only passing on things and working on things we know.”

While it’s easy to get into a war of words on Facebook with people who hold differing opinions, strive to be tolerant of other’s points of view. “Quite candidly, there’s probably only a handful of people who haven’t decided who they’ll be voting for and we may not change people’s minds,” Raecker says. “Respect people and their opinions. They’re passionate about their pieces just as I am about mine — and seek to understand.”

Also, do your best to not launch into a political argument if you know it may hurt someone’s feelings. “Many people have already made up their mind or they will be making up their mind and you don’t want to do something that’s going to damage relationships,” Raecker says. Take time to learn about the candidates and the issues, getting information from reliable sources. He adds, don’t rely on negative ads or social media to research the candidates, but instead, learn about the candidates from non-partisan sources.

MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) — A private school in southeast Iowa is on the verge of closure despite a recent enrollment increase. The Hawk Eye reports that Iowa Wesleyan University in Mount Pleasant needs to raise more than $2 million for its spring semester and at least $4.5 million to stay open for another year. If the university fails to raise the funds, current seniors hoping to graduate in the spring would have to transfer to another university at the end of the fall semester.

University officials are searching for additional funding sources and partnerships. Officials are also meeting with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, higher education partners and regional business and community leaders to look into alternatives to closure. The board of trustees will discuss the university’s future during a closed meeting Nov. 18.

GARNER, Iowa (AP) — A northern Iowa man has been given five years in prison for using a belt to spank a 4-year-old child. Hancock County court records say 33-year-old Charles Pennington, of Mason City, was sentenced late last month after pleading guilty to felony child endangerment . A criminal complaint says an investigation began in March after officials were notified about severe bruising on the boy’s buttocks, lower back and upper legs. Other children in the household told Britt police the child was beaten with the belt for “getting in trouble.”

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports that on Monday, November 26^th the Clarinda Police Department will begin “Operation Blessing” 2018. This community project embodies the spirit of Christmas by helping to make sure every child in Clarinda receives a gift on Christmas day. Retired Police Chief Joe Newton and retired 911 Communications Supervisor Diane Newton will be managing the program again this year. Children, ages infant-through seventeen (18) may be signed up for involvement in the program by calling the police department records office during regular business hours at 712-542-2194, extension 203 (records office). The caller will be asked to provide the child’s name, age, sex, address and two gift requests per child. Names of children can be submitted beginning Monday, November 20^th and will be accepted through Thursday, December 20th.

Cash donations in c/o of Operation Blessing 2018 can be delivered to Chief Brothers at the police department or mailed to the Clarinda Police Department, Attn: Operation Blessing, 200 South 15th Street, Clarinda, Iowa 51632. Cash donations will be used by the Clarinda Police Department to purchase gifts for the children. If you wish to purchase a specific gift for a child, please contact the Clarinda Police Department and ask to speak with Joe and Diane Newton regarding purchasing a specific requested gift item(s).

Families will be contacted by the Clarinda Police Department when the gift items are ready to be picked up. If a family is unable to pick up the gifts, uniformed officers of the Clarinda Police Department will deliver the gifts.