Law enforcement agencies across the country (including the Cass County Sheriff’s Office), have issued warnings with regard to schemes aimed at playing on emotions for the “Blue Lives Matter” movement. The schemes involve telemarketers who often target elderly donors. The callers claim to be from a variety of generic and similar-sounding alias organizations, such as The Police Officers Support Association, the National Emergency Responders Coalition and the National Coalition for Police & Troopers.

Many donors say they believed they were supporting a charity that helps local officers. But none of the money being raised actually goes to police departments, according to government records. Instead, their contributions end up with a super PAC, Law Enforcement for a Safer America, which has ties to a controversial union and spends the majority of its money on its own operating costs.

At least seven local police departments from around the country and a state attorney general have issued “scam alerts” and other notices about these fundraising efforts, warning residents in their communities as recently as this summer that they have no affiliation with this group.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent arrests. At around 3:35-a.m. Tuesday (today), 48-year old Michael Dean Craig, of Lorimor, was arrested in Lorimor, for public intoxication. Craig was being held in the Union County Jail on $300 bond. Monday evening, 20-year old Marissa Kay Waigand, of Afton, was arrested in Afton for possession of paraphernalia. Waigand was being held for Union County in the Adams County Jail on $300 bond. And, Sunday evening, 63-year old Kevin Edward Connelly, of Lorimor, was arrested in Lorimor for Trespass. Connelly was released from the Union County Jail after pleading guilty to the charge.

A woman from Creston reported to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, Monday afternoon, that sometime over the weekend, someone entered her storage unit in Creston and took $160 worth of Little Debbie products.

A new program aimed at helping persons with delinquent fines square their accounts away, was recently set into place in Audubon County. Acting Audubon County Attorney Brenna Bird says the new program makes paying what you much easier and less burdensome on your wallet. Bird says “The Judicial Branch allows the County Attorney’s Office to enter into payment plans with folks.” She says it’s a win-win for everyone. It benefits taxpayers, victims of crimes, the people who owe money, and Audubon County. The County, she says, gets 28% of the money that comes in, which is applied to the County’s fund set-up to help those operations.

The 28% does NOT reduce the money paid to victims. She said “Victims always get paid first. The first dollar right off the top.” There’s no discount to what they receive just because there’s a collections program.The court system handles a variety of offenses and fines, including traffic citations, expired license, restitution following a criminal offense conviction and court-appointed  attorney fees. Bird says getting those debts paid-off is important to keeping or getting your driver’s license.

Bird says they understand it’s very difficult for people to get their lives back together after they are arrested for drugs, OWI or other offenses. A lot of the cases they see are drug related. This program, she says, offers a way to for those persons to get back on track.

All you have to do is call the Audubon County Attorney’s Office at 712-563-2202 and let their staff research your case. They’ll call you back with an equitable solution to paying your fine(s) to the Clerk of Court. You can also e-mail them at audcoatty@auduboncountyia.gov.

Please note, you cannot have someone call for you, as the information they need and provide is personal and confidential.

There were three arrests recently and two accidents reported, in Mills County. The Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday (today), 24-year old Kylee Christine Goff, of Ashland, NE., was arrested at around 1:25-a.m. Sunday, for OWI/1st offense. She was taken into custody following an investigation into a suspicious vehicle on the railroad access road on the north side of Highway 34 at the intersection with Levi Road. Deputies were able to determine Goff’s 2012 Subaru Impreza struck a tree at that location, after failing to stop at the stop sign. The car had continued across Hwy34 before it ran through the access road gate and came to a stop against a tree, about 100-yards further up the access road. Her bond was set at $1,000.

At around 11:40-p.m. Saturday, 36-year old Shanna Marie Black, of Glenwood, was arrested in Glenwood for Possession of a controlled substance, two counts of Child Endangerment, and Possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $5,300. Friday evening, 36-year old Matthew Scott Lightly, of Clarinda, was arrested in Mills County, for Driving While Barred. His bond was set at $2,000.

Authorities say 33-year old Kyle Davis, of Glenwood, was charged with OWI/1st offense, following an accident involving a patrol vehicle. Officials say a 2011 Chevy Caprice patrol vehicle was on a traffic stop at 5th and Locust Streets in Glenwood. The cruiser’s emergency lights were active, when at around 2:25-a.m., Davis, who was driving a 2017 Chevy Malibu, attempted to pass as Davis was traveling northbound on Locust. Davis failed to allow for sufficient space between his vehicle and the patrol vehicle. After his car struck the patrol vehicle, Davis was determined to be intoxicated. He was transported to the Mills County Jail.

CLIVE, Iowa (AP) — Police in suburban Des Moines are investigating after a body was found in a wooded area along a trail in Clive. The Des Moines Register reports that the body was found Saturday afternoon after a hiker called police. The Clive Police Department says in a news release that the person found dead “had been in that location for a long period of time.” Police say preliminary investigation did not show any signs of foul play. Police are working to identify the body and establish a cause of death.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports four people were arrested on separate charges Oct. 12th through the 18th. Most recently, 25-year old Kray Mathew Lukehart, of LaVista, NE, was arrested Sunday (Oct. 18th), after he turned himself in to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office. Lukehart was wanted on a Sheriff’s Office warrant for Harassment 3rd Degree, and on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Lukehart was booked at the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $2,300 bond. Also arrested Sunday, was 54-year old Steven Carl McAfee, of Massena, who was taken into custody on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. McAfee was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance.

Last Friday, 39-year old Justin Paul Parker, of Adair, was arrested in Cass County on charges of Burglary 3rd Degree (D Felony); Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree (D Felony); and Theft 2nd Degree (D Felony). Parker was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on $5,000 bond. And, on Oct. 12th, 36-year old Matthew James Bruns, of Atlantic, was arrested on two District Court warrants, one for Probation Violation, and one for Failure to Appear. Bruns was taken to the Cass County Jail and released several days later on his own recognizance.

(Updated) The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports four accidents took place in the County between Oct. 7th and 12th. On October 7th, at 6:35 p.m., Cass County Deputies responded to a report of a single-vehicle accident on I-80 at the 63 mile marker. Authorities say a 2015 Volvo Semi driven by 28-year-old Gajanand Johnson, of Tampa, FL, was westbound on I-80 when the driver lost control of the vehicle in a construction zone and the vehicle entered the south ditch, striking a cable barrier. No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $4,500.

On October 10th, at around 9:20 a.m., the Cass County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a single-vehicle accident at Olive Street and Boston Road. Officials say a 2010 Chrysler Town & Country driven by 36-year-old Tara Anne Squibbs, of Dexter, was northbound on Olive Street and had attempted to turn onto Boston Road, when she lost control of her vehicle. The van rolled into the southwest ditch and landed on its top. Squibbs and her passenger were not injured. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $1,800. Squibbs was given a warning for Failure to Maintain Control.

At around 1:30-a.m. on October 12th, a single-vehicle accident occurred on I-80. The Sheriff’s Office says a 2013 Chevy Sonic owned and driven by 23-year-old Leah Rebecca Croghan, of Durand, MI, was westbound on I-80 when the vehicle was pushed by high wind into concrete barriers and ended up in the median. No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $3,000.

And, at around 2:50-a.m. Thursday, Cass County Deputies responded to a report of a one-vehicle accident on I-80. A 2017 Volvo Semi driven by 44-year old Driss Senan, of Longueuil, Quebec, CN., was westbound on I-80 when the vehicle lost control on the edge of the road and rolled onto the driver’s side. The driver was transported to Cass County Memorial Hospital via Anita Ambulance. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $30,000.