(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors heard two presentations during their meeting this (Tuesday) morning, in Atlantic. Board Chair Steve Baier kicked-off the meeting with a “public service announcement.” Baier said with the harvest season getting underway, people need to be cautious, especially on the county and rural roads, of slow-moving farm equipment. He also said there are several contractors in the county trying to get road and bridge projects completed. With the evenings getting shorter and darkness coming sooner, Baier said “People be careful out there on the roads,” as you will be sharing them with heavy equipment, not to mention deer who will be “evicted” from their traditional hiding spots within fields and woodlands. “We want everybody to stay safe,” he said.

Suzanne Watson, with Southwest Iowa Mental Health & Disabilities Services Region (SWIA MHDS), provided the Board with updates to the 28-E agreement. SWIA MHDS services a nine-county area that includes Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby in the State of Iowa.

Watson said the 28-E agreement changes are with regard to human services, as explained in House File 471, and the make up of SWIA-MHDS Governing Board. The agency’s newest representatives include a Deputy from Fremont County and the Juvenile Courts. She mentioned also, Cass Health has done a good job of working with families whose members need mental health services, as well as cooperating with local law enforcement to address individuals with mental health needs.

Sheriff Darby McLaren said they began utilizing the services about a year ago. On a separate note, Sheriff McLaren, representing the McLaren family, requested permission to plant a memorial tree in the courthouse yard, to replace a tree that fell during a high-wind event that took place earlier this year. He said his grandfather – who was the Cass County Assessor over 50-years ago – grandchildren and others, planted the original memorial tree and commemorated the event with a photo. Darby McLaren said they would like to hold a similar event, preferably in the northeast corner of the courtyard. The Board approved the request as presented.

The Cass County Supervisors received an update from County Environmental Health Executive Director Jotham Arber. And, County Auditor Kathy Somers discussed the impacts of HF-718 (relating to local government property taxes, budgets, information to be provided to property owners, and modifying bond procedures). Those impacts will be in effect beginning with the budget year for FY 2025.

In other business, the Board approved employment for John Johnson as Equipment Operator II, District 4 (in the Griswold area), at a probationary wage of $25.75 per hour. His employment is effective Oct. 2nd. Engineer Trent Wolken said with the resignation of a truck driver, a job notice has been posted to fill the position. Wolken also updated the Board on various bridge and box culvert projects in the County.

And, the Board acted on approving a letter of support for Iowa Western Community College (IWCC) to offer a CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) program at each of the sites operated by the college (Atlantic, Clarinda, Harlan, Missouri Valley & Shenandoah). The letter and application will serve to help the college obtain a CDL Infrastructure Grant for the program. Trent Wolken said it’s been getting “harder and harder” to find employees with CDL’s, and cooperating with IWCC would help to fill the need for those qualified individuals.

(Radio Iowa) – For nearly two-and-a-half centuries, it’s been tradition to wear professional, business attire on the floor of the U-S Senate, and Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s in “shock” the Senate Majority Leader would drop the dress code. Grassley, a Republican, says Democrat Chuck Schumer of New York should not have abandoned the long-standing policy of respecting the institution by wearing the proper attire.

Even with the relaxed rules, Grassley wouldn’t consider wearing one of his John Deere hats into the chamber.

Grassley turned 90 on Sunday and says it’s important to carry on traditions as they’ve stood the test of time for a reason.

Reports say the updated rule only applies to senators, as staffers have to continue to follow the dress code.

(Red Oak, Iowa) — Red Oak Police report two arrests. At around 4-a.m. today (Tue., Sept. 19), 47-year-old Keyla Rae Churchill, of Red Oak, was arrested on a felony charge of aiding and abetting on a 2nd degree theft–vehicle related, and for being an accessory after the fact, an aggravated misdemeanor. Authorities say the arrest occurred at 100 East Oak Street in Red Oak. Churchill was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $5,000 bond.

On Monday, Red Oak Police arrested 33-year-old Michael Todd Archer, of Red Oak, on an active warrant for a probation violation. Archer was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 cash bond.

(Creston, Iowa) – No injuries were reported following a collision early Monday afternoon, in Creston. Authorities say a 2016 Chevy Traverse driven by 23-year-old Shayna Ann Davis, of Creston, was traveling north on Sumner Street at around 12:27-p.m., approaching Prairie Street. Davis was slowing down to turn left (Westbound) onto Prairie. She came to a stop and signaled to turn.

A 2013 Chrysler 200 sedan driven by 18-year-old Karlie Rae Larsen, of Mount Ayr, was behind Davis’ vehicle. When she didn’t notice the Chevy had stopped with the turn signal on, the Chrysler struck Davis’ car from behind, causing functional damage to both vehicles. The damage amounted to $6,500.

No citations were issued.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Engineer’s Office/Secondary Roads Department reports the highway south of Fontanelle will be closed to through traffic starting Wednesday, September 20th. Officials say a contractor will be moving in to extend/line multiple culverts along this stretch of N72.

Local traffic will still have access to properties but areas of construction will change on a day-to-day basis so please have patience and slow down. The official detour will run through Bridgewater. The work is expected to last until Thanksgiving.

(Radio Iowa) – A northwest Iowa woman is jailed on several felony charges after being accused of stealing money from residents at a home for individuals with mental illness and disability where she worked. According to criminal complaints filed with the O’Brien County Clerk of Court’s Office by the State of Iowa’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit’s Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing, 48-year-old Jennifer Lynn Storm of Primghar is accused of stealing over 23-thousand dollars from twenty-one different residents of the Pride Group’s Primghar facility.

She was arrested on Friday. The investigator alleges that she stole the money while she worked as an administrative assistant there, between fall 2020 and spring 2023. She was responsible for residents’ accounts and allegedly stole the money in several different ways during her employment.

Storm is charged with ten counts of felony dependent adult abuse, first-degree theft, and ongoing criminal conduct, and faces a preliminary hearing on Monday, September 25th.

(Radio Iowa) – A northwest Iowa man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after pleading guilty to murdering his mother. Forty-two-year-old Nathaniel Kassel Rock Rapids was charged with murder in the 1st degree in the death of his mother, Jody Duskin. Kassel had earlier pleaded not guilty and was set to go on trial on October 17th. Instead, he changed his plea and was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Monday.

Duskin was found dead in her home in Sheldon in March. Court documents state that Kassel corresponded with family members saying he was planning to kill Duskin. Kassel was taken into custody in South Dakota the day after Duskin’s body was found.

Kassel had also originally been charged with operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent and possession or control of a firearm as a felon. Those charges were dismissed.