The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on recent arrests and incidents. Authorities say:

On Oct. 23rd:

• 29-year old Justin Kyle Patton, of Atlantic, was arrested on charges of Possession of Marijuana 2nd Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Patton was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on $1,000 bond;
• 30-year old Jay Robert Edwin Pedrin, of Audubon, was arrested on an Atlantic Police Department felony warrant for Conspiracy to Commit a Nonforcible Felony. Pedrin was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on $5,000 bond;
• and, Cass County Deputies responded Oct. 23rd at around 12:05-a.m., to a single-vehicle accident on Interstate 80 at Exit 57. Officials say a 2013 Ram Tradesman owned and driven by 61-year old Sherry K. Brock, of Omaha, was westbound on I-80 when the vehicle left the roadway and entered the gore area of the exit ramp. Brock suffered minor injuries during the incident. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $3,000. No citations were issued.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a Creston resident reported Monday morning, that sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning, someone took the front weights off of two John Deere tractors. The weights were values at around $2,800. You may recall, last week, a Union County resident reported someone unbolted and stole front end weights off of a John Deere 4055 tractor. They were valued at $1,400

The Sheriff’s Office said also, 35-year old John Richard Lee, of Lorimor, was arrested Monday afternoon in Lorimor, on two Union County warrants for Theft 5^th degree and Theft 4^th degree. Lee was being held in the Union County Jail on $1,300 bond.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Federal authorities have accused a northern Iowa nurse of stealing prescription drugs and violating federal patient confidentiality laws. U.S. District Court records say 32-year-old Samantha Rogers is charged with obtaining and attempting to obtain controlled substances by fraud, deception and subterfuge; criminal violations of privacy law; and aiding and abetting.

A criminal complaint says Rogers, of Mason City, is a registered nurse and occupational therapist and that the incidents occurred in Cerro Gordo County. Authorities say Rogers stole medications from co-workers. Authorities also say Rogers accessed medical records to find patient addresses and then would show up at their homes, posing as a public health worker who was recovering unused medications.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A trial is scheduled to begin Nov. 26 for a 20-year-old man accused of fatally stabbing a Cedar Rapids resident during a drug robbery. Linn County court records say Darius Alexander has pleaded not guilty to murder, robbery and conspiracy charges. He’s accused of killing 18-year-old Christopher Arteberry Jr. on Sept. 30, 2016, during an attempt to steal marijuana from Arteberry. Police say Arteberry was stabbed in the parking lot of a Cedar Rapids apartment complex and later found inside an apartment.

A criminal complaint says Emily Young was driving Alexander that day. The 22-year-old has since pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact, and her sentencing is set for Dec. 19.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will receive three quarterly reports during their meeting 8:30-a.m. Wednesday, in Atlantic. Reports are scheduled to be presented by County Conservation Director Micah Lee, County VA Director Mitch Holmes, and Weed Commissioner Dennis Vogl. The Board will also receive regular reports as available, from the County Attorney, Engineer and Mental Health/General Relief Coordinator, and, they’ll act on two Resolutions to assign county held tax sale certificates to the City of Atlantic, and enter into an agreement to abate the taxes on two parcels, if the City acquires ownership of those parcels.

The Cass County Board of Supervisor’s meeting is in their Board Room at the Courthouse, in Atlantic.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — An 18-year-old accused of fatally shooting one man and wounding another teenager has been acquitted by a jury in Cedar Rapids. The jury found Kenyauta Vesey-Keith not guilty Friday of first-degree murder, attempted murder and other crimes. Prosecutors say the March 2016 shooting was proceeded by a Cedar Rapids street fight involving more than a dozen people. They said Vesey-Keith retrieved a gun from a vehicle and fired several times, hitting 21-year-old Brandon Johnson , who died, and a 16-year-old boy.

His lawyers say Vesey-Keith was acting in self-defense. He was 16 at the time.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Radio Iowa) — The first woman to serve as state auditor faces a well-funded challenger who’s been involved in some high-profile criminal investigations. Republican Mary Mosiman was appointed state auditor in 2013. She won her first full term in office in 2014 and is seeking re-election this November. Mosiman has emphasized her credentials as a certified public accountant, or C-P-A.

Democrat Rob Sand is a lawyer who worked in the attorney general’s office for a decade and led the prosecution of Eddie Tipton, the man who rigged lottery drawings. Sand also worked on cases in the state film tax credit scandal. Sand says he’d bring a law enforcement perspective to the auditor’s office investigations of misspent tax dollars.

The two have been quarreling about whether the state auditor’s office would be able to conduct routine annual “financial statement” audits for cities, counties and school districts if the auditor is not a C-P-A. The two offered their polar opposite interpretations of state law on this subject during an appearance on Iowa Public Television’s Iowa Press program. The head of the state agency that issued an auditing license to the state auditor’s office has not confirmed when the license was issued and has declined to weigh in on the controversy. The state constitution says a state auditor shall be elected by qualified voters every four years and “shall perform such duties as may be provided by law.”

The Libertarian Party’s 2018 nominee for state auditor is Fred Perryman, a sales manager from Cedar Falls.

(Radio Iowa) — With trick-or-treating or “beggar’s nights” in most Iowa communities over the next few evenings, the Iowa Poison Control Center is prepared for a host of Halloween-related calls. Registered nurse Jean Hammack says they hear from worried parents every year with concerns about their kids’ loot. “We sometimes get calls based on candy or even fruit,” Hammack says. “Parents may look at it and see it looks unusual. It’s just always better if you follow the phrase, ‘If in doubt, throw it out.'”

Hammack says an adult should always accompany young children while trick-or-treating and limit visits to local neighborhoods. She reminds parents to check over all treats before letting a child dig into their goodie bag. “Sometimes chocolate will have an unusual color if it’s an older form of candy,” she says. “Often, those are still safe but always be watchful and always be mindful of the children’s candy when they come back. Dump it out and go through it with them.”

Before heading out, make sure the child’s costume fits properly to prevent trips and falls. Use make-up instead of masks, if possible, and remove it as soon as you get home to prevent skin irritation. Accompanying parents should carry a flashlight, though some kids prefer to carry spookier-looking yellow-green glow sticks. Just don’t let younger kids have glow sticks or they may chew on them, releasing chemicals into their mouths. “With those glowsticks, we do get calls on those,” Hammack say. “Often, we can manage those at home but we encourage people to call us at 1-800-222-1222.”

She says a quick call can save you an expensive trip to the emergency room. The Sioux City-based hotline is staffed around the clock.