Crossroads of Western Iowa is set to present “Project Hope,” a series of free mental health support sessions and Q&A’s for those impacted by Covid-19. The 2-hour sessions will run throughout December and January with recordings available for those unable to attend live. While all sessions are free and open to the public, they will touch on issues of particular importance to three groups: first responders, essential workers, and students.

Project Hope will help the community cope with the changes brought on by Covid-19, whether that is staying connected while socially distant, overcoming compassion fatigue, dealing with vicarious trauma and the loss of normalcy, or taking ownership of your time and building resiliency during a time everything feels out of control.By coming together to ask questions and discuss positive mental health habits, everyone will be reminded that what we are currently facing is a shared experience and we can help each other and ourselves through it.

Project Hope’s world-renowned speakers have been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Dr. Oz Show, TODAY, Rachael Ray, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, CBS Sunday Morning, ABC World News Tonight, TLC, TEDx, and more. A full list of speakers, including their bios and presentation descriptions, is available online. Anyone interested may register online at https://www.explorecrossroads.com/home/projecthope/

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — A former northwest Iowa sheriff’s deputy has pleaded not guilty to stealing prescription drugs from the department’s evidence rooms and homes he was searching while on duty, and committing burglaries at five Plymouth County pharmacies. Forty-one-year-old Aaron Leusink, of Le Mars, entered his written plea Monday to more than 10 charges, including first-degree burglary and felonious misconduct in office.

Leusink, a former Plymouth County Sheriff’s deputy, was arrested in September. He is accused of taking prescription drugs from homes he was searching and pills that were evidence in other cases. Agents searching Leusink’s home in April found more than 1,600 prescription medication pills and several opened evidence bags.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials have certified a Republican candidate as a six-vote winner for an open seat in the U.S. House, in what is shaping up to be the closest congressional election in decades. Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks finished ahead of Democrat Rita Hart in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District after a recount saw her 47-vote lead steadily dwindle to single digits.

The state Board of Canvass voted Monday afternoon to certify Miller-Meeks as the winner over Hart by a final count of 196,964 to 196,958. The board also certified President Donald Trump as the winner of the state’s six electoral votes.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Cedar Rapids woman is suing the city’s police department after her 13-year-old Black son was attacked by a police dog and arrested before he was released without charges. The open records lawsuit is asking that the police department be ordered to provide records, body camera recordings and audio and video arising from the incident involving the teenager.

His mother, TonyaMarie Adams, said her son went to spend the night at a friend’s house two nights after a derecho seriously damaged Cedar Rapids. The lawsuit say the teen fell asleep in the friend’s backyard and awoke to the dog attacking him and police yelling at him.

The Annual Lighted Parade, presented by A.M. Cohron & Son, will fill downtown Atlantic with holiday cheer this Saturday, December 5th, starting at 6 PM. Bailey Smith, Executive Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said “The Lighted Parade is a holiday tradition that Atlantic families look forward to every year. We felt this year could use some extra cheer and magic, so we worked closely with Cass County Public Health and Governor Reynold’s to organize a safe parade,” Smith said.

To accommodate State of Iowa Public Health mandates, the route has been extended. The parade will begin at 6th & Chestnut Street, travel north then turn east on 2nd Street and travel south on Walnut Street. Spectators must park along the route and remain in vehicles at all times. There will not be fireworks this year. The parade will also be live streamed on the Chamber’s Facebook page for those who wish to enjoy from home.

According to Smith, “With State mandates, adhering to the rules in place for this event is really important. We realize it’s not ideal to remain in the car the duration of the parade, but we’re very pleased and thankful with the respect shown during Grand Lighting, where the same rules applied. We’re confident the community will show the same respect for this event.”

Those interested in participating in the Lighted Parade can visit www.atlanticiowa.com for a registration form. Registration isn’t required but encouraged. Lineup will begin at 5 PM at 6th & Walnut Street. Participants must wear a mask if there are more than one person on a float while maintaining social distancing. Floats must have a holiday theme of their choosing. Each float also must have lighting and Christmas music is encouraged! Santa will not be allowed on floats, as he will end the parade on his Firetruck.

Before the parade, Santa will be in his Cabin at City Park from 3 – 5:30 PM. One house is permitted at a time and masks are required for those over the age of two. Families waiting to see Santa need to wait in vehicles. The Chamber will greet you, take your information and let you know when it’s your turn. Santa’s Cabin is presented by the Atlantic Rotary Club, Atlantic Dental Center and The Picker’s Parlor/The Franklin Market.

Capture the Christmas magic with #MyAtlanticIA and post to the Atlantic Area Chamber’s Facebook page or Instagram (AtlanticIowaFan). Contact the Atlantic Area Chamber with any questions at chamber@atlanticiowa.com or call 712.243.3017.

The Glenwood Police Department reports three arrests: Last Wednesday, 24-year old Kristen Gleason, of Sidney was arrested for OWI 1st offense. 21-year old Tristan Herrera, of Glenwood, was arrested Wednesday for driving while barred. Both posted cash or surety bonds and were released.

And, on Friday, 19-year old Chase Ives, of Omaha, NE was arrested for Carrying weapon and possession of a controlled substance. Ives also posted bond and was released.

(Radio Iowa) – Sioux City’s 185th Iowa Air National Guard Air Refueling Wing is being awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for efforts during 2019. It’s the fourth year in a row the unit has earned the award. Colonel Stephanie Samenus (SAM-ah-nus), the vice wing commander, says the citation notes the unit’s high operations tempo that included thousands of flying hours, plus recruiting and retention efforts that led to maintaining 100-percent staffing.

“If we’re not able to man our organization in the necessary career fields, there are times our readiness might fall,” Samenus says. “Fortunately, here at the 185th, we have not been in that situation. We have a community that is very patriotic that supports the military and they continue to come to the 185th.” Last year, 90 new guard members were recruited to join the unit. During the 2019 evaluation period, the humanitarian efforts of the unit’s medical group were also highlighted. Samenus was in Puerto Rico where the 185th provided care — including eye exams and new glasses — to more than 9,000 people during a two-week exercise.

“One woman said it was the first time she was able to read a cook book so that she could make things for her family with this pair of glasses,” she says. “Our team loves to help others. That’s what we do in the military and across the island of Puerto Rico, we had more than 100 members from the 185th.”

During 2020, members of the 185th were part the natural disaster response, assisting with debris cleanup operations in Cedar Rapids following the derecho wind storm. Unit members were also active throughout the spring and summer months, providing support for the Test Iowa COVID-19 initiative.

Cass County Sheriff’s officials report a man from Adair County was cited following an accident Nov. 13th, in Griswold. Authorities say at around 1:12 p.m., the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to a two-vehicle accident on Montgomery and Main Streets in Griswold. A 2002 Ford Explorer owned and driven by 76-year old Cheryl Lou Reynolds, of Elliott, was traveling westbound on Main Street and began to turn left onto Montgomery Street when it was struck in the front driver’s side by a 1998 Peterbilt, whose driver, 58-year old Steven Eugene Feick, of Greenfield, was attempting to pass the vehicle on the left.

There were no injuries reported. Damage to the Ford is estimated at $4,500; damage to the Peterbilt is estimated at $3,000. Feick was cited for passing in a no-passing zone.