Cass County 4-H is hosting the 4-H County Convention on Sunday, November 12th.  The annual awards program will begin at 2:00 PM at the Cass County Community Center, and is being organized by the 4-H Youth Council and Youth Action Committee.

At County Convention, members and leaders of all fourteen 4-H clubs in Cass County will be presented on stage to receive recognition. Record book project awards will be announced and recognition will be given to members who did outstanding project work throughout the year. Local club leaders will be recognized for their service to the 4-H program.

Special recognition will be given to 4-H clubs for exceptional community service projects, herdsmanship at fair, 4-H Endowment Fund contributors, and promotional activities during National 4-H Week. Club officers will also be recognized for their excellent work.

Shelby Van Horn, Cass County Youth Coordinator, says “This is a great event for 4-Hers to receive recognition for their accomplishments.  We will also be recognizing community members and businesses for their continued 4-H support. Without those individuals, our 4-H program would not be as strong.”

This year there are 27 Clover Kids who have completed 3rd Grade and moved into 4-H. A Clover Kids Graduation ceremony will be held to recognize those members, and help them transition into the 4-H program. This is a new event taking place this year and we are thrilled to have so many young members excited about 4-H!

4-H’ers serving on the 2016-2017 Cass County Youth Council are Claire Smith, Myah Rubio, Katie York, Eric Plagman, Emma Penton, Heather Freund, Cody McCreedy, Cole Jipsen, Hannah Richter, Sydney Steffen, Grace Hansen, Ashely Freund, Megan Behrends and Victoria Krogh. Graduating members will be recognized and final activities of the day will be the announcement and installation of the 2017-2018 Cass County 4-H Youth Council.

Parents, relatives, friends and 4-H supporters are invited to attend this celebration and recognition event for Cass County 4-H members and leaders.

(Press Release/Cass Co. Extension)

ADEL, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say they’ve charged an 18-year-old woman whose twins were seen wandering naked near a busy state highway in central Iowa. Court records say Jasmine Teed is charged with two counts of child endangerment. The records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for Teed.

Police were sent to a house along U.S. Highway 6 in Adel around 9 a.m. Thursday. Police say witnesses reported seeing someone herd the unclothed 2-year-olds back in the house after they were spotted near the highway. An officer entered the house and called out but received no answer. The officer reports finding Teed asleep in a bedroom.

The children have been placed with relatives.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports deputies have arrested 25-year old Kenneth Michael Martinez (no town of residence reported). Martinez was taken into custody Wednesday, for Possession of a Controlled Substance Hydrocodone/1st Offense (a Serious misdemeanor). Martinez was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $1,000 bond.

(Update – no serious injuries) Emergency personnel from Atlantic and Marne responded just before 11:30 this morning to a report of a semi tractor trailer rollover accident on Interstate 80 in Cass County. The accident involved a semi that rolled into the north ditch off I-80 westbound, just west of Exit 54 (The Marne/Elk Horn exit). A passenger in the rig was said to have had minor head and leg injuries.

The truck was not blocking the roadway. The trailer was fully loaded, but it’s not clear products it was hauling.

Photo courtesy Mike Kennon, Cass County Emergency Management Director

Iowa Republican Congressman David Young will make a stop in Massena, Saturday. Actually, just a little bit east of Massena, when he talks with the owners and staff at McCunn Specialty Firearms. Co-Owner Kevin McCunn told KJAN News Young wants to explore more about the legal sale of bump stocks. Kevin’s son and MSF Co-Owner Brice McCunn was the person who suggested Young should stop by.

The issue about bump stocks came about following the concert shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada, where, according to law enforcement, the shooter used a bump stock to rapidly open fire on his victims below. Adding a bump stock to a rifle increases the fire rate for a rifle – the number of rounds that can be fired per minute – to a fire rate similar to a fully automatic rifle.

Kevin says this is likely the first time Congressman Young has been in Massena, so they’re looking forward to his visit.

(He said Young was supposed to have stopped by last year at about this same time, but that was when a Urbandale Police officer Justin Martin and Des Moines Police Sgt. Tony Beminio were shot to death during the early morning hours of Nov. 2nd, 2016.)

It’s not clear if Young will fire a weapon equipped with a bump stock, but McCunn Specialty Firearms has an indoor shooting range for target practice. Iowa’s 3rd District Congressman is expected to stop by the store at around 1:30-p.m. The public is invited to stop by as well, and check out the facility, as well as speak with David Young, as time allows.

The store is located at 74980 Richland Rd, or just east of Massena, on Highway 92.

AVOCA, Iowa (AP) — A judge is expected to hand down her verdict today (Friday) in the second trial of a man who’d been convicted of killing a woman at his western Iowa home. The Daily Nonpareil reports that prosecution and defense lawyers tussled during their final arguments Thursday over whether Robert Reynolds had drunkenly hallucinated that 64-year-old Patricia Kinkade-Dorsey was possessed by a demon when he shot her. Reynolds was convicted in November 2014 of killing Kinkade-Dorsey after a night of drinking at his and his wife’s Oakland home. Kinkade-Dorsey was a friend of his wife.

The Iowa Appeals Court later ordered a new trial, ruling that the trial judge erroneously changed the first trial’s location. Judge Susan Christensen has said she’ll have the verdict in the second, non-jury trial read today (Friday).

The Atlantic Police Department reports three people were arrested, Thursday. 24-year old Albar Garza, of McAllen, TX, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 20-year old Kaylee Sharp, of Atlantic, was arrested for Theft in the 2nd Degree. And, 27-year old Garrett Cooper, of Atlantic, was arrested for Harassment in the 3rd Degree. All three subjects were booked-into the Cass County Jail.

Clarinda Police, Thursday night, arrested a man for 1st degree Harassment. 47-year old Marvin Lee Harness, Jr., of Clarinda, was arrested without incident at around 9:30-p.m. at his home in the 500 block of N. 16th Street. Harness, Jr., was taken into custody after he allegedly threatened to kill a person. The alleged threat happened during a domestic quarrel involving Harness, Jr., and a 36-year old female, that occurred earlier Thursday evening.

Harness Jr. was being held at the Page County Jail without bond until seen by a Magistrate. Police reports have been submitted to the offices of Page County Attorney Carl M. Sonksen for review regarding the filing of formal charges.