WALCOTT, Iowa (AP) — A well-known truck stop in eastern Iowa that bills itself as the world’s biggest will get even larger as crews begin a $10 million expansion and remodeling that will create more retail space and expand a food court.

The Quad-City Times reports the expansion will add 23,000 square feet of space to the truck stop, which already had a main building of about 100,000 square feet. The truck stop, about 10 miles northwest of Davenport, sprawls across 200 acres.

Delia Moon Meier, senior vice president of the group that owns the truck stop, called it a “re-make of everything.” Meier says the move is driving by changes in the trucking industry that has led truckers to buy more “grab-and-go” food because they don’t have time to stop for lunch.

AVOCA, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man has been found guilty a second time of killing a woman at his western Iowa home in 2014. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports that a judge issued the verdict Friday against Robert Reynolds. He faces up to 50 years in prison when he’s sentenced Dec. 13 for the second-degree murder conviction.

Reynolds was first convicted three years ago of first-degree murder for the April 2014 of killing 64-year-old Patricia Kinkade-Dorsey after a night of drinking at his and his wife’s Oakland home. Kinkade-Dorsey was a friend of his wife’s.

The Iowa Appeals Court later ordered a new trial, ruling that the trial judge erroneously changed the first trial’s location. Reynolds had claimed he hallucinated while intoxicated and thought Kinkaid-Dorsey was a demon when he shot her.

The Cass County Community Foundation and Chair Nicholas Hunt announced $29,000 was awarded to Cass County nonprofit agencies on Friday, November 3rd. Organizations had to submit applications by a September 1st deadline to be eligible. The following organizations were awarded funds:

• Anita Child Care Center- $1,500 for a sun shade.
• Anita Public Library- $1,000 for a Maker Space and STEM Center.
• Ann W. Wickman Child Development Center- $5,000 for a Freezer and to replace toys.
• Atlantic Youth Sports Organization $3,000 for restroom updates.
• Cass County Historical Society- $1,900 for Tuck-pointing.
• Friends of the Griswold Public Library- $1,000 for a Maker Space Expansion
• Griswold FFA- $800 for a greenhouse construction for use by FFA members and horticulture students.
• Griswold Rescue Department- $2,800 for Two Pediatric Emergency Medical Kits.
• Hitchcock House Advisory Board- $2,000 for Handicap Parking Pad and Sidewalk.
• Lewis First Responders- $2,000 to replace/upgrade defibrillator equipment.
• Massena Historical Society- $1,500 for Heritage Park repairs.
• Massena Public Library- $1,500 for an awning at the library.
• Nishna Valley Family YMCA- $5,000 to upgrade pool features.

Nonprofit representatives receiving grant awards 1st row, left to right: Sara Young, Anita Public Library; Shiona Putnam and Lila Hoogeveen, Cass County Historical Museum; Sue Petersen, Griswold Public Library; Linda Eilts, Massena Public Library; Earlene Krauth, Massena Historical Society. 2nd row: Brad Amos, Griswold Rescue; Sandy Fairbairn, Hitchcock House; Wendy Wittrock, Anita Child Care; Tim Pope, Lewis First Responders & Firefighters Association; Sara Wood, Atlantic Youth Sports Organization. Back row: Mark D. Kyhnn, Cass County Community Foundation; Dianna Williams, Ann W. Wickman Child Development Center;

All grantees met the criteria as a Cass County nonprofit agency or organization with charitable missions in the areas of civic, cultural, health, education, and social services. Only organizations providing services in Cass County were eligible. The amount awarded included $2,500 from the Griswold Community Development Endowed Fund and $500 from the Triumph Endowed Fund for Cass County. With this distribution the Cass County Community Foundation has now given more than $1,6 million in grants and scholarships over the last 19 years.

The Red Oak Police Department reports a two-vehicle accident occurred on Friday evening. The accident happened at 7:30pm at the intersection of Highway 48 and Ratliff Road. Two vehicles were traveling North on Highway 48 approaching the intersection with Ratliff Road when the first vehicle slowed to turn and the second rear-ended him. The first vehicle was a 2001 Chevy S10 pickup driven by 20-year-old Reece Spooner of Council Bluffs.  Spooner’s Chevy was hit by a 2012 Ford Fusion driven by 18-year-old Heath Ogg of Elliott. Ogg did not see Spooner slowing down intially and was too close to avoid the collision. Ogg’s Ford was towed from the scene due to an antifreeze leak and sustained an estimated $5,000 damage. Spooner’s Chevy sustained just an estimated $50 damage. No injuries were reported.

w/ Chris Parks

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A sheriff’s deputy in eastern Iowa made a big drug bust Thursday night. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office posted a photo to Facebook showing Deputy Cody O’Hare with a big pile of marijuana.

Deputy Cody O’Hare (Johnson County Sheriff’s Office photo)

The 82 pounds of tightly packaged pot was seized following a traffic stop just after 11 p.m. on Interstate 80 near the Coral Ridge Mall exit. The drugs were in the trunk of the vehicle. Two men from New York were arrested.

(Radio Iowa)

Cass County 4-H is hosting the 4-H County Convention on Sunday, November 12th.  The annual awards program will begin at 2:00 PM at the Cass County Community Center, and is being organized by the 4-H Youth Council and Youth Action Committee.

At County Convention, members and leaders of all fourteen 4-H clubs in Cass County will be presented on stage to receive recognition. Record book project awards will be announced and recognition will be given to members who did outstanding project work throughout the year. Local club leaders will be recognized for their service to the 4-H program.

Special recognition will be given to 4-H clubs for exceptional community service projects, herdsmanship at fair, 4-H Endowment Fund contributors, and promotional activities during National 4-H Week. Club officers will also be recognized for their excellent work.

Shelby Van Horn, Cass County Youth Coordinator, says “This is a great event for 4-Hers to receive recognition for their accomplishments.  We will also be recognizing community members and businesses for their continued 4-H support. Without those individuals, our 4-H program would not be as strong.”

This year there are 27 Clover Kids who have completed 3rd Grade and moved into 4-H. A Clover Kids Graduation ceremony will be held to recognize those members, and help them transition into the 4-H program. This is a new event taking place this year and we are thrilled to have so many young members excited about 4-H!

4-H’ers serving on the 2016-2017 Cass County Youth Council are Claire Smith, Myah Rubio, Katie York, Eric Plagman, Emma Penton, Heather Freund, Cody McCreedy, Cole Jipsen, Hannah Richter, Sydney Steffen, Grace Hansen, Ashely Freund, Megan Behrends and Victoria Krogh. Graduating members will be recognized and final activities of the day will be the announcement and installation of the 2017-2018 Cass County 4-H Youth Council.

Parents, relatives, friends and 4-H supporters are invited to attend this celebration and recognition event for Cass County 4-H members and leaders.

(Press Release/Cass Co. Extension)

ADEL, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say they’ve charged an 18-year-old woman whose twins were seen wandering naked near a busy state highway in central Iowa. Court records say Jasmine Teed is charged with two counts of child endangerment. The records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for Teed.

Police were sent to a house along U.S. Highway 6 in Adel around 9 a.m. Thursday. Police say witnesses reported seeing someone herd the unclothed 2-year-olds back in the house after they were spotted near the highway. An officer entered the house and called out but received no answer. The officer reports finding Teed asleep in a bedroom.

The children have been placed with relatives.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports deputies have arrested 25-year old Kenneth Michael Martinez (no town of residence reported). Martinez was taken into custody Wednesday, for Possession of a Controlled Substance Hydrocodone/1st Offense (a Serious misdemeanor). Martinez was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $1,000 bond.

(Update – no serious injuries) Emergency personnel from Atlantic and Marne responded just before 11:30 this morning to a report of a semi tractor trailer rollover accident on Interstate 80 in Cass County. The accident involved a semi that rolled into the north ditch off I-80 westbound, just west of Exit 54 (The Marne/Elk Horn exit). A passenger in the rig was said to have had minor head and leg injuries.

The truck was not blocking the roadway. The trailer was fully loaded, but it’s not clear products it was hauling.

Photo courtesy Mike Kennon, Cass County Emergency Management Director