(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports six arrests took place between May 19th and the 24th.

On May 24th, 32-year-old Patrick James Barrett Jr., of Glenwood, was arrested in Cass County on a Violation of Probation warrant.  Barrett was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

There were two arrests on May 20th, in Cass County: 30-year-old Taylor James Gardner, of Wray, CO., was arrested on charges of Public Intoxication, Disorderly Conduct and Interference with Official Acts.  Gardner was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release; and, 25-year-old Robert Micheal Daugherty, of Red Oak, was arrested for Driving While Barred.  Daugherty was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

And, there were three arrests in Cass County on May 19th: 20-year-old Chance Eldon Kline, of Griswold, was arrested for OWI 1st Offense.  Kline was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance; 41-year-old Samuel Lee Farley, of Des Moines, was arrested on a warrant for Violation of Probation.  Farley was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held; and, 51-year-old Joel Christopher Lary, of Massena, was arrested on warrants for Failure to Appear.  Lary was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the family of a beer bosom-balancing bartender in a dispute over the use of her name. Exile Brewing created a beer in 2012 called “Ruthie” in honor of Ruth Bisignano, who became famous at her Des Moines bar in the 1950s and 60’s by balancing two pint glasses of beer on her chest. That brew became their best seller. Ruth had died in 1993, and family members reopened her estate and sued Exile claiming appropriation of Ruth’s name and likeness, and the commercial value of her identity.

Exile sought to have the reopening of the estate dismissed, but the Supreme Court upheld the lower court’s ruling denying that attempt. The ruling says that Exile’s only connection to the estate is as a potential debtor — and says it takes no position on the existence or inheritability of Ruth’s name, image, and likeness rights.

A federal civil case against Exile on the use of Ruth’s name is scheduled for trial early next year.

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Union County Law Enforcement Center (LEC) said Friday (Today), they have been flooded with incomplete accidental 911 calls occurring from cellular devices. Authorities says it is believed that the cause of these calls is the Emergency SOS features on cell phones, and the newest operating systems as well as 911 features on smartwatches and other devices that people DON”T know they are activating.

In order to prevent accidental 9-1-1 calls, consider the following tips:

#1 If you accidentally call 911 please stay on the line and answer the 911 dispatcher’s questions. If you hang-up we will do everything possible to get in touch with you. Please answer that call back. We must assume that all calls are for emergencies, and there are occasions where people do call 911 and cannot relay their emergency because of criminal conduct or medical issues.

#2 Be familiar with your device(s). One common 911 accidental dials happen when cell phone user put their phone into a cup holder, purse, or pocket. That’s because the side button on the phone pushes on the edges.

• Do you know how your device is programmed to dial 911? Are those settings appropriate for your life?
• Are you using your device or storing it in a way that increases the likelihood of an accidental 911 call?
• Can you change the settings to reduce the chance of dialing 911 accidentally?

Remember, accidentally dialing 911 can tie up emergency resources and divert attention from genuine emergencies. Please carry your phone carefully. Make sure your phone is securely placed in your pocket, bag, or purse to minimize accidental pressure on the screen or buttons.

DES MOINES – State Treasurer Roby Smith has announced an auction to sell contents from abandoned safe deposit boxes. “Each year, financial institutions turn over contents from abandoned safe deposit boxes to my office as unclaimed property,” said Smith. “While it is heartbreaking to have to auction the cherished contents of these safe deposit boxes, we have tried for years to reunite them with their rightful owner without any success, and we just don’t have the space to continue to hold on to them. The items in this sale are some that have been held for over 10 years.” Proceeds from the auction stay in the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt for the rightful owners to claim.

Prior to any auction, the Treasurer’s Office actively searches for the owner. “We send out mailings, publish names in newspapers, stay active on social media and participate in events like the Iowa State Fair, to encourage people to search their name. Through these efforts, we find thousands of people each year,” Smith stated. “If an owner comes forward before the auction, we will return the item rather than sell it.”

The first auction will begin on Tuesday, May 30th, hosted by Lone Star Auctioneers, which specializes in selling unclaimed safe deposit box contents from state unclaimed property programs. The auction website link is IowaUnclaimedProperty.org. Bidding is open to anyone registered and approved on Lone Star Auctioneers with a valid U.S. mailing address. “Using an online auction allows a larger audience from across the country to participate and helps us secure the highest bid possible for the owners,” concluded Smith.

Every year, millions of dollars in abandoned property are turned over to the State Treasurer’s Office. Unclaimed property refers to money and other assets held by financial institutions, businesses and organizations that have lost contact with the owner for a specific period of time. In addition to abandoned safe deposit box contents, other common forms of unclaimed property include dormant checking and saving accounts, uncashed checks, lost stocks, life insurance policies and utility deposits.