(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports the Sheriff’s Office K9 “Urs” has received his bullet and stab preventative vest, thanks to a charitable donation from the non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.  Urs’ vest is embroidered with the sentiment “Honoring those who served and sacrificed.”

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, is a 501c(3) non-profit whose mission is to provide bullet and stab-protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the country. Since 2009, the organization has  donated more than 4,481 K9 vests with a value of $6.9-million, in all 50 states. The vests are made possible by both private and corporate donations. The organization will accept tax-deductible contributions in any amount, with a single donation of $960 sponsoring one vest. Each vest is valued at between $1,744-to $2,283. They weigh an average of 4-to 5 pounds, and comes with a five-year warranty.

Guthrie Co. Sheriff’s K9 Urs w/his new vest. (Photo courtesy Guthrie Co. S/O)

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Police Department report a total of nine arrests dating back to Dec. 4th. Most recently, this past Sunday (Dec. 12), 28-year-old Kaitlyn Deyoung, of Atlantic, was arrested on an Adams County warrant for Failure to Appear. Deyoung was transported to the Cass County Jail and later released on bond. On Saturday, 32-year-old Brandon Paul, of Atlantic, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was released with a court date. And, 35-year-old Christopher Castillo, of Atlantic, was arrested Saturday for Possession of a weapon by a Domestic Abuser, Interference with Official Acts, and Public Intoxication.

On Dec. 9th, 39-year-old Edward Metcalf, of Atlantic, was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. He was cited and released with a date to appear in court. Atlantic Police arrested 18-year-old Brianna Long, of Anita, on Dec. 8th. She was cited for Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree, and also released with a court date. Last Tuesday, Dec. 7th, A-PD arrested 40-year-old Jasper Daniel, of Atlantic, for Driving While License is Barred. And, 29-year-old Nathan Frazier, of Atlantic, was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the 5th, Simple Assault, and interference with official acts.

As previously reported, on Dec. 5th, 34-year-old Richard Doss, of Atlantic, was arrested for Attempted Murder. And, on the 4th of December, Atlantic Police arrested 22-year-old Justin Rollins, of Atlantic, for Simple Assault.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Department reports two arrests over the past week. Both occurred last Tuesday, Dec. 7th. Officials say 32-year-old Stephen Joshua Wilson, of Des Moines, was arrested in West Des Moines, by the Iowa State Patrol. He was taken into custody on an Adair County felony warrant for Disarming a Peace Officer. Wilson was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $5,000 cash or surety bond.

And, 32-year-old Natasha Lee Cain, of Marshalltown, was arrested in Marshalltown, on an Adair County felony warrant for Child Endangerment. She was released that same day on her Own Recognizance.

(Radio Iowa) – State officials say over two-hundred Iowans have claimed unemployment benefits after being fired for not complying with workplace Covid-19 vaccine mandates. A state law passed in late October allows people to get unemployment benefits if their request to be exempt from a vaccination requirement due to religious or medical reasons is denied.

Drake University professor Denise Hill wrote a book about workplace vaccine mandates. She says the number could have been higher if judges hadn’t issued temporary orders blocking the federal vaccination deadline many U.S. workers faced on January 4th.

“Certainly some of the employers, regardless if they are health care or otherwise, have stayed termination,” Hill says. According to Iowa Workforce Development, 211 people fired from an Iowa business for refusing to get vaccinated filed for unemployment. More than a third of them worked in health care and social assistance. About a fifth worked in manufacturing.

(Reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Katarina Sostaric)

(Adel, Iowa) – The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office says no injuries were reported, Friday (Dec. 10), after a deer ran into an Iowa DOT truck driven by a man from Cass County. Authorities say Charles Elmquist, of Atlantic, was traveling in the 35000 block of Ute Avenue when the incident occurred. Damage to the DOT vehicle was estimated at $500.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors will meet 9-a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 14th , in their Boardroom at the Cass County Courthouse, in Atlantic. First-off, the Board will hear a regular weekly report from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken.

New Business on their agenda includes:

• The Disposition of cremains on private property.
• The establishment of an abatement plan for property improvements to certain classes of property in the non-incorporated portion of Cass County, followed by a Resolution approving a Post-Issuance Compliance Policy (Written procedures adopted, which shall apply with respect to all tax-exempt obligations incurred by the County).
• The Board will also act on Resolutions for One-million dollar ($1,000,000) General Obligation Capital Loan Notes, Series 2022A and Series 2022B, along with authorizing a form of Loan Agreement, providing for the issuance and levying of tax to pay for the Notes; and approval of the Tax Exemption Certificate.

Their final order of business is to determine the date for a hearing on amendment of the FY 2021-22 County Budget.

(Guthrie County, Iowa) – A man who escaped injury during an accident Sunday evening in Guthrie County, received four citations in connection with the incident. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office says an investigation determined 61-year-old Peter Aldrich Kelloway, of Panora, swerved to miss a deer while traveling south on Sage Trail north of 190th Street, at around 4:20-p.m. The 2013 Chevy Malibu had apparently spun 360 degrees until it entered the west ditch and came to rest. The vehicle sustained $15,000 damage. Kelloway was not with his vehicle when authorities arrived.

The report says when Kelloway was located later at his residence, the Deputy found the man appeared to be “heavily intoxicated.” Kelloway admitted to have “one or two drinks” before the accident took place. He was cited for:

• Failure to Maintain Control
• Failure to give notice of address change
• Leaving the scene of a property damage accident, and,
• Failure to maintain or use seat belts as an adult.