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Cass County Democrats deliver school supplies to area districts

News

August 17th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

After holding its 6th Annual School Supply Drive, the Cass County Democratic Party delivered those donations to the schools in Cass County on 8-17-17. The schools were very excited at the large amount of donations given by the public and assured Sherry Toelle, Chair, that the supplies would be distributed to the neediest Cass County students.

“I am very thankful and happy that Cass County residents were so generous in giving our students needed school supplies. We had an outpouring of support from the community. I want to express my gratitude to those donors for opening their hearts and wallets to ensure that the children of the county have new, needed school supplies,” Toelle stated. “I want to express my gratitude to the media in Cass County who so willingly reported on the school supply drive, making people aware of the drive. I also want to express my thanks to my volunteers who distributed the drive’s flyers and who placed boxes out in the community. They know who they are and they are the best!” (Photo’s submitted)

Terri Smith & Sherry Toelle, Vice-Chair & Chair respectively, Cass County Democratic Party; Dee South and Larry Hunt, CAM School District

Katie Elwood, Griswold Schools; Terri Smith & Sherry Toelle, Cass County Democratic Party Vice-Chair & Chair respectively.

New call for allowing guns on the fairgrounds following stabbing

News

August 17th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Gun rights activists are renewing their call to allow firearms at the Iowa State Fair after a violent incident on the fairgrounds Tuesday night. A man was stabbed and critically injured in a fight involving four young men on the southwest corner of the fairgrounds. Matt Windschitl, a Republican from Missouri Valley, says the comprehensive gun rights bill that passed this year originally included allowing guns at the fair.

” We had originally wanted to keep that provision in the bill but as we moved through the process there were a few items we had to remove from the bill in order to make sure we were building consensus and to get the necessary votes to pass the legislation,” Windschitl says. He says some lawmakers argued it’s a long-standing Fair Board policy to keep guns out.

“Why would we change that policy now,” Windschitl asks ” Now I personally believe it’s not the best policy. You shouldn’t disarm the law-abiding citizen. It’s their fundamental right to self-defense. But there was uncertainty with it.” Windschitl says he will try to talk to interested parties next year to see if minds have changed.

(Radio Iowa)

ISU issues statement in response to student’s social media post using “N” word

News

August 17th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Officials at Iowa State University have issued a statement in response to a student’s racially-charged social media post. The original post to Snapchat involved three students standing by the “Black Engineering Building” sign on the Ames campus. A screenshot of the post, which included use of the “N” word, quickly spread through other social media. Martino Harmon, the Senior Vice President for Student Affairs at ISU, called the post “racist, thoughtless and hurtful” and added it’s “particularly troubling in light of the recent occurrences in Charlottesville.”

The student who Snapchatted the photo told the Iowa State Daily newspaper that he deleted the post shortly after it was sent, saying he “realized how stupid it was,” but then noticed someone on his Snapchat had already screenshot the picture. A university spokesperson said due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, ISU can not release any information about disciplinary action.

(Radio Iowa)

St. Louis Cardinals taking claim of Rally Cat

Sports

August 17th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Rally Cat may be coming back to Busch Stadium. The St. Louis Cardinals are taking claim to the now-famous cat that darted across the field during the Aug. 9 game against Kansas City, just moments before Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina hit a grand slam.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the cat has officially been named Rally Cat by the St. Louis Feral Cat Outreach. The organization is currently caring for the feline. But Cardinals spokesman Ron Watermon says the center promises to give the cat to the team after a 10-day quarantine ends Monday.

The cat ran into the outfield during the 6th inning, and a grounds crew worker eventually caught the feisty feline . Molina’s grand slam came on the next pitch after the delay, helping St. Louis win 8-5.

Iowa patrol recruits needed treatment for heat at academy

News

August 17th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Public Safety is confirming that recruits at its basic training academy were treated last month for heat-related illness. Department spokesman Alex Dinkla said Thursday that two of 20 recruits needed medical treatment following academy activities. He said he believed they are trooper candidates and remain part of the academy, which started May 30 at Camp Dodge in Johnston and remains ongoing.

Dinkla said he still hasn’t “been told” other basic information about the incident despite receiving an Aug. 1 inquiry about it from The Associated Press. That includes whether they were hospitalized and whether the academy is changing any procedures in light of the cases. He says he doesn’t know the gender of those involved.

Dinkla says medical information is “confidential and protected from disclosure.” He says injuries are common in the academy.

Special meeting called for Atlantic School Board

News

August 17th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

A special meeting of the Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will be held 11:30-a.m. Friday, in the Media Center at the Schuler Elementary Building. On the agenda is the resignation of Nichole Waterman, High School Level 3 Para-educator.

The Board will also act on Contracts and/or Letters of Assignment for the following:

  • Jessica Mendez, FS to 5 hours/day
  • Loretta Barringer, Special Ed Bus Driver
  • Lory Erickson, School Bus Driver & Clerical Transportation Para
  • Ann Hinton, Bus Aide, 5.2 hour day
  • Jeff Kerrick, Route Driver & Noon PS Route Driver
  • Heather Burg, FS 6-hour day.

New physician set to join CCHS in Atlantic

News

August 17th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

ATLANTIC- Officials with the Cass County Health System announced today (Thursday), that Dr. Autumn Keiser will be joining the Atlantic Medical Center in the fall of 2018. She is currently a third-year resident at Siouxland Medical Education Foundation in Sioux City, Iowa. Dr. Keiser will provide the full spectrum of family medicine care, including obstetrics.

Brett Altman, CCHS CEO said “We are so pleased to have Dr. Keiser join our staff. One of our goals is to provide more services locally and it all starts with recruiting outstanding physicians and specialists. The Siouxland Medical Education Foundation’s family medicine residency program is known for their excellent training in obstetrics. Dr. Keiser has chosen to immerse herself in this area and will bring great experience to our team. In addition to prenatal care and routine deliveries, she will also be available for caesarean section deliveries.”

Autumn and Craig Keiser

Dr. Keiser and her husband, Craig, are both originally from the Omaha area. In a press release, she said “We are both very close to our families, so proximity to Omaha was very important. Ultimately, we chose Atlantic because of the family-like welcome we received. We feel that Atlantic is a great community with everything to offer!”

Dr. Keiser earned her undergraduate degree in mathematics from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. She went on to the University of Nebraska College of Medicine, graduating with her medical degree in 2015. She is currently serving as Chief Resident and will complete her family medicine residency training in the June 2018. Dr. Keiser is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Iowa woman who tried to vote twice for Trump gets probation

News

August 17th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa woman charged with attempting to vote twice for Donald Trump last fall has been sentenced to two years of probation and a $750 fine.
District court Judge Robert Hanson said in a sentencing order posted Tuesday that the felony election misconduct conviction will be expunged from Terri Lynn Rote’s record once she completes probation and pays the fine. Rote, who is 56, pleaded guilty last month.

Rote, a Trump supporter, was arrested Oct. 21 after showing up at a Des Moines early voting site to cast a second ballot for Trump in the Nov. 8 election. She told police she believed Trump’s claims that the election was rigged and she feared her first ballot would be changed to a vote for Hillary Clinton.

$4k worth of school supplies donated to Atlantic Schools

News

August 17th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

A small yellow Atlantic Community School District bus left the parking lot of the Hy-Vee Food Store in Atlantic this (Thursday) morning, filled with at least $4,000 in school supplies for elementary and some middle school students in the district.      The “Fill the bus” campaign was the idea of Stephanie Dagel, Assistant Director of the Atlantic Hy-Vee. It began August 1st. Dagel spoke with reporters about how the concept came about.

bags of school supplies fill the seats and aisle of the bus

She said she and store Manager Jon Johnson went to a store director’s meeting a few months ago, where the push was on to “hype-up” back-to-school time. Afterward, she suggested they park a bus in front of the store and fill it full of school supplies. Johnson gave her the green light. She put some bags together and asked the community for help. They came through, and placed supplies in the bus or grab for and paid a pre-bagged supply available in the store.

A couple of local business owners also contributed to the project, but they wanted to remain anonymous, according to Dagel. The result is a generous supply of things students who are in need can use during the school year. Washington Elementary School Principal Stacey Hornung said both she and Schuler Elementary School Principal James Northwick have more than 50-percent of their students on the Free and Reduced Lunch program.

(Left to right) Stacey Hornung, James Northwick and Stephanie Dagel.

She said they always have families who are in need of school supplies. Northwick said the supplies are greatly appreciated. Both Principals were grateful to the community for its support of the district in this manner. Hornung said there are tables with supplies set out now at the schools, so parents can come by anytime to grab a bag to bring home. They will also be available during Back to School night at Washington and Schuler August 22nd, from 4:30-to 5:30-p.m.

Irwin man arrested on Cass County warrant for theft & burglary

News

August 17th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

A search warrant conducted Wednesday on a vehicle driven by 31-year old Justin David Howd, of Irwin, resulted in the man being arrested on Cass County Sheriff’s Office warrant on felony charges of Theft in the 1st Degree and Burglary in the 3rd Degree.  The warrant was the result of the burglary and theft of, a vehicle in rural Atlantic. The incident was reported to the Sheriff’s Office on August 4th. Howd was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on a $15,000 cash bond.

Also arrested on Wednesday, was 53-year old Kim Lavere Hester, of Casey. Hester was taken into custody on a District Court warrant for Violation of Probation. He was transported to the Cass County Jail where and remains held on $10,000 bond.