DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Minnesota family sickened by eating pasta salad contaminated with salmonella is suing the Iowa-based grocery store chain that distributed the food.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday against Hy-Vee Inc. The suit alleges a woman, her daughter and her grandson became ill after eating pasta salad bought at a Hy-Vee store in Winona, Minnesota. The lawsuit says the mother and daughter required a doctor’s care.

Hy-Vee issued a recall for the product on July 17. Federal health officials say 79 people across nine states were sickened, including 18 who needed hospitalization. A Hy-Vee spokeswoman says food safety is the company’s top priority and that an investigation continues at the Nebraska facility where the pasta salad was made.
The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of money for medical costs, pain and suffering, and wage loss.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A former Missouri state trooper who was driving a boat when a handcuffed Iowa man fell out and drowned is suing to get his peace officers’ license back. Anthony Piercy filed a lawsuit this week against the Missouri Department of Public Safety and the agency’s director. The Kansas City Star reports he’s asking for a reversal of the decision that revoked his license.

Piercy was sentenced in September for misdemeanor negligent operation of a vehicle after the drowning of 20-year-old Brandon Ellingson, of Clive, Iow. Clive died in 2014 at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Piercy lost his patrol job. But earlier this summer, a Cole County judge ruled that the patrol’s leader didn’t have the authority to fire Piercy. Piercy cannot return to the patrol without his peace officer license.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A western Iowa man has pleaded guilty in a case in which police say he sexually abused six children all under the age of 12. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports that 30-year-old Tony Cue pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of sexual abuse and one count of lascivious acts with a child. Cue was sentenced immediately after his plea to 15 years in prison. He must also register as a sex offender.

Prosecutors say Cue abused children he was babysitting between 2012 and this year at his home and in woods near his home. Authorities say the mother of two of the victims was told of the abuse, but did nothing to stop or report it. She’s charged with child endangerment and being an accessory. She’s set to stand trial next month.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors met 8:30-a.m., Wednesday, in a normal weekly session.  Auditor Dale Sunderman reports the Board approved the application for a Renewal Class C Beer Permit and Sunday Sales Privilege effective 10/18/2018, for the 21st Century Cooperative in Massena.

County Weed Commissioner Dennis Vogl reviewed current activity.  He reported there were 16 complaints filed this season.  Fourteen were resolved without using certified notice process.

Dale Sunderman reported that he and Board Chair Gaylord Schelling contacted Pipeline Foods on Monday, and informed them that the Code of Iowa does not permit the County to reduce existing assessment as had been requested (with regard to their planned purchase of the ADM Elevator, north of Atlantic).  Sunderman said a tax exemption/abatement is available only on an increase in valuation/assessment.

Representatives of Pipeline Foods were not in attendance at Wednesday’s meeting.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office released details on Wednesday on three recent incidents.

On August 6th two people were arrested as the result of a traffic stop. Deputies arrested 52-year-old Michael T. Greve of Omaha on charges of OWI 1st Offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Also arrested was 49-year-old Robin G. Flynn of Omaha on charges of Possession of Methamphetamine 1st Offense, Possession of Marijuana 1st Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Both individuals were taken to the Cass County Jail. Flynn was released the following day on $1,000 bond and Greve was released the following day on his own recognizance.

On August 10th Cass County Deputies responded to a call of a fight in progress. Deputies arrested 27-year-old Darren Lloyd Ruggles of Griswold on charges of Carrying a Weapon While Intoxicated, Assault While Diplaying a Dangerous Weapon, and Public Intoxication. 27-year-old Mikel Ann Erickson of Omaha was arrested on charges of Assault of a Peace Officer, Assault Causing Bodily Injury, Disorderly Conduct, and Public Intoxication. 53-year-old Michael Roger Martens of Lewis was arrested on a charge of Public Intoxication. All parties were taken to the Cass County Jail. Ruggles was released the following day on $3,300 bond, Erickson was released the following day on $3,600 bond, and Martens was released the following day after entering a plea of Guilty.

On August 15th Cass County Deputies arrested 27-year-old Scott Hallie Joseph Downer of Atlantic on a Monona County warrant. Downer was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on $1,000 bond.

MAQUOKETA, Iowa (AP) — Officials say Maquoketa (muh-KOH’-keh-tuh) Caves State Park will reopen Aug. 24.

The eastern Iowa park’s been closed for more than three months while undergoing extensive renovations.

The renovations include resurfacing the road through the park, new trail boardwalks and upgraded electric service at campsites.

BROOKLYN, Iowa (AP) — Authorities investigating the disappearance of an Iowa college student are focusing on five areas in and near her hometown.

Twenty-year-old Mollie Tibbetts was last seen July 18, jogging in Brooklyn in central Iowa.

The areas of interest are: her boyfriend’s home in Brooklyn; a carwash; a truck stop; a farm more than 3 miles (5 kilometers) from downtown Brooklyn; and another farm more than 6 miles (10 kilometers) away.

Special agent Rick Rahn of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation says officials hope mentioning those areas will jog residents’ memories. Investigators have asked anyone who was in any of those five areas when Tibbetts disappeared to remember that evening and leave tips on a website .

Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa says a reward fund has grown to more than $366,000.

Cass County Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns sent out the current list of candidates that have filed to be on the ballot for the upcoming November General Election on Wednesday. Numerous positions still have no candidates that have filed and the deadline to file is August 29th at 5:00pm

Positions that have no one on the ballot as of Wednesday morning include: Edna Township Clerk, 2 Edna Township Trustees, Edna Township Trustee Vacancy Position, Union Township Clerk, 2 Union Township Trustees, Union Township Trustee Vacancy Position, 2 spots on the Ag Extension Council, Hospital Board NE District, Hospital Board NW District, and 2 positions on the Soil and Water Conservation Board.

Candidates that have filed to be on the ballot include Kristi Plagman, Chad Becker, and Jeb Peck for Ag Extension Council. Michael D Hooper (Rep) for County Attorney. Mary Ward (Rep) for County Recorder. Tracey J Marshall (Rep) for County Treasurer. Mark T. O’Brien for Supervisor District 2. John Hartkopf (Rep) and Dana Halder (NBP) for Supervisor District 3.

The Creston Police Department reports they received numerous calls of vehicles being broken into overnight Monday in to Tuesday. Multiple vehicles and a garage were entered on Peterson, Myrtle, Mills, Lake Avenue, and Adams Street. Some victims reported that they had nothing missing while others had some items taken. A purse was reported stolen from a vehicle on Adams Street and a box of ammunition was stolen from a vehicle on West Mills Street.

Creston Police also received a report from a residence on Elm Street that a flag and flag pole were stolen from their yard sometime between 1:00am and 9:00am Tuesday morning.

Creston Police are investigating those incidents.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests on Tuesday.

At 5:16pm Deputies arrested 29-year-old Nicholas Kane Hunter of Pacific Junction on a warrant for Violation of Probation. Hunter was arrested on Cordelia Avenue and taken to the Mills County Jail and held on $2,000 bond.

At 11:12pm Deputies arrested 53-year-old Terry Lee Stark of Hastings for Driving Under Suspension. Stark was arrested at the intersection of HIlman Road and Highway 34. He was taken to the Mills County Jail and held on $300 bond.