• The City of Clarinda: Social Services Centers was awarded $600,000.
• In Bedford: Simmering-Cory, Inc. was awarded $224,994 for the EHI program
• In Casey: The Region 12 COG (Council of Governments) was awarded $252,000
• In Mount Ayr: Southern Iowa COG was awarded $254,000.
• In Redfield: The Region 12 COG was awarded $209,500.
• In Lenox: A water main replacement project was awarded $500,000.
• and in Stuart: A Water Systems Improvement project was awarded $500,000.

On Jan. 11th, 21-year old Mason James Schmitz, of Irwin, was arrested following the execution of a Search Warrant at a residence in Irwin. Schmitz was charged with: 3 counts of Failure to Affix Drug Stamp; 2 Felony counts of Controlled Substance Violation (a Class-B Felony); a Felony Controlled Substance Violation (Class-C Felony); Prohibited Acts Violation; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; 2 counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd or subsequent offense; 2 counts of Controlled Substance Violation, and 2 counts of Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drug.

On the 10th, 58-year-old Kimberly Ann Thomas, of Harlan, was arrested after a traffic stop on Highway 59. Thomas was charged with: a Controlled Substance Violation; Failure to Affix Drug Stamp; Prohibited Acts Violation; Speeding; Driving while License is Suspended, and Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability. Shelby County Deputies arrested 32-year-old Joshua Dean Edgecomb, of Avoca, on Jan. 6th. He was taken into custody following a traffic stop, and charged with: OWI 2nd Offense; Speeding; Fail to Yield to Emergency Vehicle; No Valid Drivers License, and Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability.

On the 5th of January, 53-year old Debra Jeanne Bruck, of Manilla, was arrested after an investigation of a vehicle found in the ditch off Shelby County Road M-47. Bruck was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with OWI 3rd Offense, Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations, Interference with Official Acts, and Failure to Maintain Control.

And, on January 1st, 45-year-old Kevin Matthew Miller, of Ida Grove, was arrested following a traffic stop on Road M-16, south of Highway 44. Miller was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) 1st Offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana) 1st Offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Driving while License is Suspended, Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability, Operating a Non Registered Vehicle, Improper Brake Light.

The Cass County Recorder’s Office will be closed on Friday morning from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The office will open for the day at 12:00 p.m.

(Radio Iowa) – House Republicans are proposing a series of steps to address gaps in Iowa’s mental health system, including state spending to add 46 psychiatric beds at the state Mental Health Institutes in Cherokee and Independence. Republican Representative Ann Meyer says that’s a 50 percent increase in treatment beds for critical cases.  “We don’t have enough beds that will take crisis patients,” Meyer says, “and this is going to be a heavy lift.”  She says there’s no estimate yet on the cost. Meyer, who is from Fort Dodge, says the issue came up in conversations with law enforcement and with constituents as she campaigned. “I had so many people standing at the doors telling me 20 minute stories about loved ones that don’t have access to mental health services,” Meyer says, “that are living on the streets, that are in crisis constantly.”

One initiative would have the state spend one-point-two MILLION dollars to support a dozen psychiatrists-in-training from the University of Iowa who’ll be working at the two Mental Health Institutes and at the Iowa prison system’s intake center in Oakdale. “The pipeline of doctors, we need that,” Meyer says. “When the DMU/Broadlawns residencies introduced a few years back, there were 800 applicants, so we know we can fill those slots.” Meyer says there are not enough spaces in substance abuse treatment programs for people who’re self-medicating to deal with their mental health issues and some hospitals are not accepting suicidal patients. “My hospitals are telling me you know any day there can be one to five sitting in the emergency room or the ICU, which is the only locked room in our hospital, and no treatment, no place to send them,” Meyer says, “and sometimes they’re released without treatment.”

Meyer says these issues came up repeatedly as she’s campaigned. “I had so many people standing at the doors telling me 20 minute stories about loved ones that don’t have access to mental health services,” Meyer says, “that are living on the streets, that are in crisis constantly.” Meyer says she met one young woman was desperate to find help for her homeless brother who was suffering from P-T-S-D — and Meyer saw the man on the street a few minutes later. “There’s so many stories like that,” Meyer says. “…It’s just such a crisis.”

House Republicans are also proposing a loan repayment program for psychiatrists, nurse practitioners and therapists who can prescribe medication. The plan would require the medical professional to agree to practice in Iowa for five years, which Meyer says will hopefully mean they’ve put down roots and will stay in Iowa.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors met Tuesday morning, and voted to approve the 2022 Wellness Program for County Employees. Supervisor Steve Green said their 2021 program saved the County a lot of money on its insurance.

In other business, the Board appointed two persons to fill vacancies in various positions. They approved the appointment of Cliff Aupperle as Franklin Township Trustee, and Jim Swanson from the Brighton Township, to the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Several other positions remain to be filled, including Brighton Township Trustee, Pleasant Township Clerk, two more members of the Zoning Commission, and multiple members to the Condemnation in Eminent Domain, Board.

The Supervisors received a report from County Engineer Trent Wolken, who said his crews worked to remove the snow that fell over the weekend. Their job was made all the more difficult due to the rain that fell Friday and then froze before the snow piled-on. Crews spend four hours on Sunday alone getting the roads – including bus routes – in shape again.

He said also they’re still working on Bridge #280 on 700^th Street, including the install of pilings, and the paperwork for the 570^th Street overpass with the DOT, as well as paperwork for a RISE (Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy) Project.

And, the Board received Quarterly reports from Cass County Conservation Director Michah Lee, and Cass County Veterans Affairs Director Mitch Holmes.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s largest non-profit animal shelter is seeing a remarkable show of love for the late actress and animal advocate Betty White. Tom Colvin, chief executive officer of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, says more than 700 donations were made to the A-R-L on Monday in White’s honor on what would have been her 100th birthday. Colvin says donations are still arriving this (Tuesday) morning. “It’s estimated, at this point, that we’re looking at over $25,000 coming in so far,” Colvin says. “It’s coming in in various increments. Some people wanted to do the $5 and others wanted to do a lot more than that.”

Cass County Animal Control Officer Kris Erickson tells KJAN News, the Atlantic Animal Shelter received $1,000 in donations Monday. In addition, Nishnanet provided a TV system and all new lines for internet and phone. Scott Bennett from Nishna Net said on social media, “We donated all of the back-end technology needs of the new combined building. This included new network wiring, switches, WiFi access points and this new Digital Sign to recognize people and organizations that give back to others.”  Erickson says they even had “A couple ladies bring in pet supplies.”

The Betty White Challenge started a few weeks ago as a social media movement following her death on December 31st. Colvin had no idea what to expect in terms of donations and is overwhelmed with appreciation for the response. “I’m not that surprised because I know what Betty White meant to so many people,” Colvin says. “So many of us grew up with her. Regardless of your age, she was the perennial person on television and in movies and always had that great attitude and, of course, her love for animals showed through on everything.”

Eighty-percent of the A-R-L’s annual budget is based solely on donations and the Des Moines-based shelter takes in more than 11-thousand animals every year. “We also are so dependent on donations,” he says, “not only to care for those animals, but to actually run the various programs we have to keep animals out of the shelter, to help people stay united with their pets, maybe through a pet pantry or low-cost or no-cost spaying and neutering.”

The A-R-L serves pets — and people — across Iowa through its programs, which include pet adoption, humane education, pet behavior training, spay/neuter, animal cruelty intervention and more. Donations can still be made once, monthly or through any of several programs, like the Full Bellies Food Fund, the Miracle Medical Fund or Paw It Forward.

For more information about the Atlantic Animal Shelter, see the shelter’s Facebook page.

(Toledo, Tama County, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety, today (Tuesday), said the 2022 Tama County Grand Jury has concluded the Wilfong Homicide Grand Jury Inquiry. After undertaking an investigation of the matter, the Grand Jury declined to return an indictment. On October 28, 2021, at approximately 7:27 PM the Office of the Tama County Sheriff received calls reporting gunshots had been fired near the residence at 1001 Station Street in Chelsea, Iowa.

Several law enforcement agencies from the surrounding area responded and upon arrival, observed 28-year-old Dewey Dale Wilfong, III, displaying a handgun toward others in a threatening manner. A standoff escalated to the point Wilfong discharged the firearm he possessed.   A Deputy Tama County Sheriff fired one round from his service weapon, striking Wilfong in the upper torso.

Wilfong was transported to UnityPoint Health-St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, where he was pronounced dead.  The Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Division of Criminal Investigation was called in to conduct an independent investigation into the shooting.

A copy of the refusal to return an indictment with the name of the foreperson redacted is attached. Document 

(Griswold, Iowa) – When the Griswold School Board met Monday evening, they received a report (as usual), from Superintendent Dave Henrichs, who spoke about the State of Iowa’s proposed 2.5 percent increase in SSA (State Supplemental Aid) to schools, as mentioned in Governor Reynolds’ “Condition of the State” address, last week. Henrichs said that’s not adequate for schools, and it creates an issue with negotiations between the District and the Teacher’s Union.

He says currently, if the Union and District cannot agree and it goes to arbitration, the increase will either be the CPI or 3%, which ever is less. That is only for base pay. Typically, schools and unions settle on a total package basis, which includes FICA, IPERS and insurance.

The problem, he says, “Will be compounded even more for districts that have a decrease in enrollment.” The Griswold School Board, he said agreed that there’s been multiple years in a row when education has been underfunded. He stressed, that the proposal is not a “Done deal,” at this point in time.

In other business, the Board set Feb. 10^th at 6-p.m., as the date and time for a Special Board meeting.work session.

And, they approved the 2022-23 school calendar, which is very similar to the current year. The Board also discussed matters pertaining to the baseball field and Middle School Gym. He said upgrades to the baseball field are expected to cost around $70,000, while the Middle School Gym floor project will cost about $90,000. During the Board’s meeting in February, they will act on changing the district’s policies to align with Iowa Code as far as bidding rules are concerned. Then in March, they’ll get the ball rolling on those two projects.

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department report one arrest, and two incidents of theft and/or vandalism, both of which occurred on Monday (Jan. 17). Authorities say a man reported to Police Monday, that his backpack was missing from the Quality Inn, in Creston. The backpack contained his wallet, a pocket knife, ear buds and a phone charger. The loss was estimated at $200. And, a man reported that a bench/tombstone was damaged at the Graceland Cemetery in Creston. The damage was estimated at $3,500.

Creston Police said also, 62-year-old Martin Dennis Kelly, of Creston, was arrested at his home last Friday. He was charged with Harassment in the 1st Degree – Threaten Forcible Felony, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense – Methamphetamine. Kelly was being held in the Union County Jail on a $4,000 cash or surety bond.

Area News from Ric Hanson.

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