Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh is reminding area residents of the upcoming drive-through mobile food pantry event on September 2nd from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at the Cass County Community Center.

Hoegh said, “The Foodbank for the Heartland Mobile Pantry is coming right up—Sept. 2, one week from today. We have ordered DOUBLE the food because we know folks are struggling. This is open to everyone in Cass County.”

Check out the graphic below for a reminder of available food assistance resources in Cass County. You can also follow the link below for the updated Cass County Community Resource Guide that has a wealth of information for area residents.

Comm. Resource Guide

AMES, Iowa – Aug. 26, 2020 – Gone are the days of going to an Iowa Department of Transportation driver’s license service center and waiting an unknown amount of time for your number to be called. Doing business at an Iowa DOT driver’s license service center can now be accomplished by appointment. We will no longer accept walk-in customers.

A pilot project of the appointment-only model began March 16 as a way to accomplish social distancing in response to the pandemic. Moving to an appointment-only model was something the Iowa DOT was already planning for, but when the pandemic hit, those plans were quickly put into motion.

“We needed a way to continue to serve customers, but also do so safely. By asking customers to schedule appointments, we were able to control the number of people in a service center at a given time and ensure adequate social distancing was in place,” said Melissa Gillett, Iowa DOT Motor Vehicle Division director.

The appointment-only model has offered many benefits beyond those related to the pandemic. “We’ve received an overwhelmingly positive response from our customers who are able to get in and out in a matter of minutes. In addition, our employees have reported positive changes in their work environment such as more pleasant customer interactions and reduced stress,” said Gillett.

While the appointment-only model brings with it many positives, Iowans will need to get used to planning ahead.

“We know our appointment times are booking up quickly because of the backlog we are currently working through due to the pandemic. We’d like Iowans to start thinking about their visit to a driver’s license service center as they would their routine healthcare visits and schedule an appointment several weeks in advance,” said Gillett. “The length of time until the next available appointment is averaging about three-to-four weeks out. However, we encourage Iowans to check back frequently as we are continually working to add new appointment times and, in some cases, extending service hours in recognition of the demand.”

During the early months of the pandemic service centers were operating at a lower capacity to accommodate social distancing. In addition, many customers delayed their driver’s license or ID renewal within the guidelines of Iowa’s emergency disaster proclamation. This has created a backlog of Iowans with expired licenses and other service needs. The Iowa DOT would like to prioritize service appointments for Iowans whose licenses have already expired.

As a reminder, the REAL ID deadline has been pushed back to Oct. 1, 2021. If you were planning a trip to a service center to only add a REAL ID Gold Star, we encourage you to wait a few months to schedule that appointment so we may serve those with immediate needs. When you do make your appointment, check for the gold star in the upper right corner of your license or ID. If you don’t have it, you can build a personalized checklist of the documents you’ll need to bring with you to your appointment to get your REAL ID gold star.

Many Iowans with expired licenses may be eligible to renew online, and we are also offering six-month extensions for those who need more time to renew. To determine your options use our service selector tool.  In-person driver’s license or ID services are available through any Iowa DOT service center as well as county treasurer’s offices. Location information can be found at https://iowadot.gov/mvd/iowa-dot-locations. You do not have to receive service from the location closest to you.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Tuesday afternoon, of a woman from Red Oak. 47-year old Rondy Ruby Porter was arrested for Driving While License Denied or Revoked and Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability. Her bond was set at $1,000.

Police in Council Bluffs responded to an armed robbery this (Wednesday) morning. At about 11:45-a.m., officers were dispatched to Bomgaars at 2803 East Kanesville. A preliminary investigation indicates that a white male with reddish facial hair, and white female, both in their late 20’s or early 30’s, entered the store and at some point, the male was observed concealing merchandise on his person.

After the couple had paid for some items, but before they exited the business, a loss prevention employee approached the male and asked him about the merchandise that he still had concealed, but had not paid for. The male then pulled a handgun out of his pocket and told the store employee to leave him alone. The couple then exited the store and left the area in an older, black SUV, with a stolen Iowa license plate ARE008 on it.

If you see the suspects (in the photo’s below), do not approach them. Call 9-1-1, as they are to be considered armed and dangerous. If anyone recognizes the suspect or vehicle, please contact Council Bluffs detectives at 712-328-4728 or you can remain anonymous by calling 712-328-STOP (7867).

Suspect vehicle

Bomgaars suspects

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has rejected a request to commute the life sentence of a 74-year-old grandmother serving a life sentence for her role in a 1979 murder-for-hire. The Gazette in Cedar Rapids reports that Judy White has served 41 years in prison since her conviction in 1979 of conspiring to murder 39-year-old Ady Jensen at his parents’ home in West Branch.

Authorities said the plot also involved White’s husband, Robert Kern, an insurance agent who sold a life insurance policy to the victim’s wife, Jeanne Jensen, without her husband’s knowledge. The plot involved a hitman to kill Ady Jensen so that Jeanne Jensen could collect $50,000 in life insurance and split it with her co-conspirators.

Cass County Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns reports that Curt Rush has filed the nomination paperwork necessary to be put on the ballot for Ag Extension Council.

There are 4 positions available and currently 5 candidates: Darrin Petty, Marcy Jo Dorsey, Jody Steffen, Alice C Williams, and Curt Rush.

Candidates have until 5:00 p.m. today to file their paperwork with the Cass County Auditor’s Office to get on the ballot.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of 40-year-old Kimberly Marie Becerra of Elliott at 10:29 a.m. on Wednesday. Becerra was arrested in the 400 block of 5th Street on a warrant out of Nebraska for Possession of Controlled Substance. She was charged with being a Fugitive from Justice and held in the Montgomery County Jail awaiting extradition to Nebraska.

Nathaniel Gene Teeters

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Tuesday night of a Bedford man. At 9:21 p.m. Deputies arrested 44-year-old Nathaniel Gene Teeters of Bedford at the Page County Sheriff’s Office on two Page County Warrants, both for Failure to Appear for initial appearances on Driving While License Suspended, Denied, or Revoked charges. Teeters posted $300 bond per warrant and was released pending future court proceedings.