(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on arrests from over the past week:

On Feb. 9th, 28-year-old Donovan Charles Bruning, of Griswold, was arrested on an active warrant for Failure to Appear.  He was transported to the Cass County Jail and later released on bond; and, 28-year-old Robert Paul Joens, of Exira, was arrested on three active warrants for Violation of Probation. Joens remained in the Cass County Jail as of Monday.

On February 10th, 18-year-old Tamora Deion McGee, of Atlantic, was arrested on an active warrant for assault with intent to inflict serious injury.  She was released from custody the following day.

On the 11th, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 26-year-old Dalton Eugene Christensen, of Atlantic, on 2 active warrants for Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon, and Reckless Use of a Firearm.  Christensen was booked into the Cass County Jail and subsequently released on bond.

And, four people were arrested last Saturday, in Cass County, and later released:

• 25-year-old Lucas Lee Stone, of Atlantic, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance.
• 42-year-old Nicholas Gene Paulsen, of Atlantic, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
• 29-year-old Stephen Edward Ross, of Atlantic, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance.
• and, 20-year-old Mikayla Veronica Waldron, of Atlantic, was arrested on an active arrest warrant for Theft in the 5th Degree.

(Radio Iowa) – The League of Women Voters of Iowa led a coalition of groups that have collected five-thousand signatures on petitions asking the Republican-led legislature to repeal recent election law changes. The coalition is asking Republican lawmakers to restore a longer period of early voting and get rid of restrictions that limit who may help older Iowans cast an absentee ballot. The group cites data from low turn-out elections held in 2021 that indicate hundreds of Iowans who tried to vote early couldn’t get an absentee ballot in time and they warn thousands more will face those obstacles in the 2022 and 2024 elections.

The head of the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa says the coalition is on a moral mission to protect Iowans’ fundamental right to vote. Republican Governor Kim Reynolds has said the election law changes made a year ago give Iowans even greater confidence as they cast their ballots. During debate last year, Republican Senator Jim Carlin said the changes were made because many in the G-O-P believe the 2020 election was stolen from President Trump.

(Radio Iowa) – The chance of spring flooding in eastern Iowa is “near normal to below normal,” according to the first flood outlook from the National Weather Service in Davenport. Rich Kinney, the warning coordination meteorologist, says that doesn’t mean there won’t be any flooding along the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Even though local snowpack is mostly melted, the snowpack in Minnesota hasn’t, and it’s storing an above-average amount of water.

“The rate of the snow melt, especially way up north in the upper reaches of the Mississippi River valley where there’s a lot more snow than there is down here,” Kinney says. “We’re also looking at additional snowfall or heavy spring rains.” From now through April, Kinney expects slightly above-normal precipitation. Another factor is — the ground is only frozen a few inches deep. That’ll allow melting snow and spring rain to be absorbed, instead of running off into local rivers.

“Our river levels are, for this time of year, running around normal to, in some places, a little bit below normal,” Kinney says. “So, we’ve got quite a bit of room in the rivers right now for storage for heavy precipitation.” At Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities, the chance of the Mississippi River reaching flood stage is 51-percent, slightly lower than normal, and the chance it’ll reach major flood stage is 21-percent, also slightly lower than normal.

The weather service plans to begin offering in-person “spotter training” sessions soon, for the first time since early 2020. More than 4,000 people serve as spotters across 36 counties in the region.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater today (Monday), said there was just one arrest last week. 39-year-old Joshua William Cox, of Harlan, was pulled over by Adair Police on I-80 westbound, near mile marker 72. The traffic stop at around 7:15-p.m. was the result of a call about a vehicle unable to maintain its lanes, causing a dangerous situations for other motorists.

The subject vehicle, a 2016 Dodge RAM pickup, was located and stopped when the Adair Police Officer saw the pickup crossing the center and yellow lines on the road. During questioning of Cox, the Officer noticed a strong odor of alcoholic beverages, and observed multiple open beer cans in the cup holders.

When Cox refused to take the Standard Field Sobriety Tests, he was taken into custody and transported to the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, where he also refused implied consent. He was booked into the Adair County Jail for OWI/1st offense and Open Container-Driver. Cox was released later that night on a $1,000 bond.

A head-on collision between a car and a pickup truck in northwest Iowa’s Sioux County resulted in both drivers being transported to the hospital. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2008 Nissan Altima driven by 20-year-old Dalton Denhartog-Hopcroft, of Alton (IA), was traveling west on Iowa Highway 10 at around 7:27-a.m., when the vehicle crossed into the eastbound lane. An eastbound 2014 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 21-year-old Colin Heronemous, of Orange City, was traveling eastbound and swerved left to avoid a collision. Denhartog-Hopcroft swerved back into his own lane prior to the vehicles colliding head-on.

Dalton Denharthog-Hopcroft, who was wearing a seat belt, was flown by Mercy Air Care to MercyOne Siouxland Hospital. Heronemous was not wearing a seat belt. He was transported by Orange City Ambulance to the Orange City Hospital. The accident remains under investigation.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners is proposing an emergency rule to let para-educators continue to serve as substitute teachers in any class in the district where they’ve been working. Paraeducators had been allowed to sub in multiple classrooms under the governor’s public health emergency proclamation, which expires tomorrow (Tuesday) at midnight. Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls says he heard from superintendent who’d been assigning para-educators to cover for multiple teachers and was concerned the governor’s proclamation was expiring.

“A lot of our schools are already having a shortage,” Wahls says, “and they’re really worried that we’re going to see that be dramatically exacerbated.” Before the pandemic proclamation, para-educators had been assigned to work under the supervision of a licensed teacher rather than serve solo in any classroom as a substitute. A legislative committee that reviews agency rules is scheduled to meet tomorrow (Tuesday) and is expected to approve the emergency directive to let para-eduators continue to be substitutes for any class.

(Ames, Iowa) – Iowa’s beef producers are asking their fellow Iowans to help find Iowa’s Best Burger in 2022. In this year’s quest, the Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) are encouraging you to nominate your favorite burger, whether it’s gourmet or down-home style. Kent Pruismann, a Rock Valley cattleman and IBIC Chairman, says “We are looking for the best burger served in an Iowa restaurant. Although burgers are often standard fare, we know from experience that the winners of this contest are well-above standard, and serve outstanding burgers. Finding these great burgers depends on Iowans choosing their favorite, and nominating them.”

This is the thirteenth year the two groups are holding the annual Iowa’s Best Burger contest, which officially kicks off on February 14, 2022. During the first phase of the contest, Iowans are encouraged to nominate their favorite burger before March 14, 2022. To qualify to be named Iowa’s Best Burger, the burger must be a 100% real beef patty and served on a bun or bread product. The more nominations a restaurant receives, the better the chances are for that burger to make it on the “Top Ten” list announced March 18 on WHO Radio’s “The Big Show”. Finalists will receive a certificate and be eligible for the secret taste-test of contest judges. The 2022 Best Burger in Iowa will be announced on May 2, 2022, with the kick-off of May Beef Month in Iowa.

Details about the contest, rules, and the voting form are available on the Iowa Beef Industry Council website, www.iabeef.org. Burger lovers can also find a link to the online nomination form at the Iowa Beef Council Facebook page; or by texting BEEF to (515) 337-8924. Photos of your favorite burger can be shared socially using #IABestBurger. The nomination period will close at 5 p.m. on March 14, 2022.

Restaurants can download a digital toolkit including promotional materials for the contest from IBIC’s website at www.iabeef.org to promote the contest to their customers. The promotional materials can be used in the restaurants, online, or on social media.

U-S Naval Intelligence News reports the commanding officer of USS Sioux City (LCS-11) (Gold Crew) was relieved Friday, due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command.  Cmdr. Bradford Tonder had served as the commanding officer since December 2020, according to a Navy release. A Navy official said he was relieved due to substantiated sexual harassment concerns. Cmdr. Joseph Caldwell, who is currently the commanding officer of USS Detroit (LCS-7) (Blue Crew), will take over as temporary commanding officer. Tonder will be temporarily reassigned to the staff of Naval Surface Squadron 14.

Cmdr. Bradford Tonder (US Navy photo)

Officials say there is no impact to the ship’s mission or schedule. The USS Sioux City is a Freedom-variant littoral combat ship that was commissioned in 2018. The littoral combat ships are manned by two different crews, named Blue and Gold, to keep them operating at sea for longer periods. The Gold crew returned to the Sioux City’s homeport in Mayport, Fla., in December 2021 after a deployment to the U.S. 4th Fleet in support of U.S. Southern Command and Joint Interagency Task Force South.

USS Sioux City (Navy photo_

The Navy says during deployment, the ship worked with the U.S. Coast Guard to disrupt transport of about 7,400 pounds of cocaine.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Attorney Vanessa Strazdas, last Wednesday, was ordered to serve two days in the Cass County Jail, following her voluntary plea of guilty on Feb. 9th, to Operating a Motor Vehicle while under the Influence (OWI) -1st Offense. The term must be served by no later than March 31st. In addition, Strazdas was assessed a fine of $1,250 plus any applicable surcharges and court costs.

Atlantic Police say Strazdas was arrested after crashing her car near the Atlantic Airport on Jan. 16. Her BAC (Breath Alcohol Content) was .159 (nearly twice the legal limit). Since her arrest, Strazdus has completed a court required Drinking Driver’s course and a Substance Abuse Evaluation. Because she complied with those requirements, the Judge did not order her to serve probation. She also submitted her Temporary Restricted License (TRL) to the Court, which waived one-half of the fine, accordingly.

Strazdas became the Cass County Attorney in Feb., 2019, after Governor Kim Reynolds announced the appointment of former County Attorney Michael Hooper to serve as a Fourth Judicial District Judge.