The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two Pottawattamie County residents were arrested Saturday on drug charges, following a traffic stop. 21-year old William Dunlap, Jr.,  of Council Bluffs, was taken into custody on charges of OWI 1st Offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Driving Under Suspension. And 20-year old Robyn Lynn Spitler, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance. Both were taken to the Cass County Jail. Spitler was released the following day on $1000 bond; Dunlap was released later the following day on his own recognizance.

Starting today (Monday), fans of Travel Iowa on Facebook can cast their vote to determine the best pie in Iowa. Through Thursday, March 5, two pies will face off head-to-head in the “Tasty Eight” round. The slices receiving the most votes in each matchup will move on to the Final Four round, which starts Tuesday, March 10. The top two pies from those competitions will face off in the championship round to determine the best pie in Iowa. The winning slice will be announced on Saturday, March 14 – or Pi Day, mathematically speaking.

Although there will only be one ultimate pie champion, everyone who votes also wins. The winning restaurant will provide a special offer to each participant.  Competing pies and restaurants include:
· Triple Fruit Pie, Picket Fence Café, Guttenberg
· Peanut Butter Pie, The Sanctuary, Shenandoah
· Coconut Cream Pie, Coffee Cup Café, Sully
· Sour Cream Raisin Pie, Country Junction, Dyersville
· Chocolate Cream Pie, Cronk’s Café, Denison
· Cherry Pie, Crouse Café, Indianola
· Lemon Meringue Pie, O’Farrell Sisters, Okoboji
· Rhubarb Custard with Streusel Topping, Ox Yoke Inn, Amana

Tourism in Iowa generates more than $7.75 billion in expenditures, employs 65,400 people statewide and generates $353.9 million in state taxes.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Two Iowa lawmakers plan to introduce a bill that would change state law and keep confidential the identities of those who own permits to carry firearms. The Des Moines Register reports that the proposal is aimed at preventing the release of any information that could link a person to his or her gun permit, including names, addresses and dates of birth. Current Iowa law allows public access to such permit records.

Sen. Steve Sodders, a State Center Democrat, says it’s unnecessary for people to know if others have guns in their homes. He says the public would still have access to general statistics, like the number of firearms purchased each month. Rep. Matt Windschitl, a Republican from Missouri Valley, says lawmakers are still working out the legislation’s details.

Authorities in Union County report an Adams County woman was arrested Friday, on a warrant. The Sheriff’s Office says 48-year old Carolyn R. Cook, of Prescott, was arrested on a Union County warrant for theft in the fourth degree. Cook was booked into the jail and later released on $1000 bond.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office also reports a hit-and-run, property damage accident happened Saturday afternoon, in Afton. Authorities say a 2014 Lincoln Navigator was legally parked on Kansas Street and was backing out of a parking stall at around 3:15-p.m., when an eastbound pickup truck made contact with the left rear side of the SUV. The pickup left the scene.

Damage to the SUV, driven by 61-year old Judy Hoakison, of Creston, was estimated at $2,000. Hoakison was not injured during the accident.

The Atlantic Police Department reports three, recent arrests. On Sunday, 49-year old Tracy Auerbach, of Chariton, was arrested on an OWI/1st offense charge. Auerbach was booked into the Cass County Jail.

On Saturday, officers with the A-PD arrested 28-year old Christopher Castillo, of Atlantic, on a Cass County warrant for Violation of Probation. And, 26-year old Jeremy Blagdon, of Atlantic, was arrested Saturday for Disorderly Conduct, and Assault on a Police Officer. Both men were booked into the Cass County Jail.

The Cass County Emergency Management Agency has officially rolled-out a county wide mass notification system. Last month, we told you the County was in the final stages of preparing for the launch of the system, which uses Inspiron Logistics’ Wireless Emergency Notification System (WENS). Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon says Cass County now has the ability to send residents important updates during emergencies. The Cass County Emergency Notification System will allow County officials to provide residents with critical emergency notifications and instruction in an efficient and timely manner.

Cass County EMC Mike Kennon talks about the Mass Notification System at the Board of Supervisor’s mtg. Feb. 11, 2015.

Kennon says “This is an opportunity for our residents to receive critical information and instruction during an emergency. This new tool allows us to augment other notification systems through which emergency information can be shared with our residents. This system can provide communication at a time when it is most needed, allowing emergency responders to focus on aiding a well-informed community.”

While all land line phones have been entered automatically into the system, registration will be required for residents wanting to receive emergency alerts via cell phone, email or pager. At registration, residents will be allowed to customize how they will receive messaging and what types of messages they would like to receive. As of now, Cass County Emergency Management, Communications Center, Sheriff’s Office and Atlantic Police Department can disseminate messaging. There is also a potential to expand the system to include other towns, groups or organizations with a Public Safety justification.

The system is fully integrated with NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). This allows for automated weather notifications to all subscribers; including tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, flash flooding and other notifications issued through NOAA. Officials can target each message to an unlimited number of groups – everything from notification of all residents of a specific town to mobilizing volunteers throughout the County. Officials can also contact residents based on specific geographical locations using a mapping feature, sending messages to those within select neighborhoods when needed.

To register, residents can go to http://entry.inspironlogistics.com/cass_ia/wens.cfm and sign up by entering their cell phone, e-mail and/or pager number, city and zip code. There are also links located on the Cass County homepage (http://www.casscountyiowa.us/) or the Cass County EMA Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/CassCoEMA). For more information, contact Mike Kennon, Coordinator, Cass County Emergency Management Agency at 712-254-1500.

Kennon said also there are some upcoming Emergency Management events in Cass County, including a Storm Spotter Training Class 7-p.m. March 11th, at the Cass County Courthouse. And, the Statewide Tornado Drill takes place at about 10-a.m., on March 25th. It’s a chance for you to plan or review what action you should take at your home or place of business if a tornado is spotted in Cass County.