(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent arrests. Sunday night, 44-year-old Floyd Lee Cozad, of Glenwood, was arrested in Glenwood on charges that include: False Imprisonment; Abandon/Neglect of a Dependent Person, and two-counts of Child Endangerment. His bond was set at $15,000.

Thursday morning (March 13), 42-year-old Jeremiah Thomas King, of Glenwood, was arrested in Pacific Junction, for Possession of Marijuana/2nd offense, and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $1,300.

And, On March 12th, sheriff’s deputies in Mills County arrested 43-year-old Dustin Eugene Kalkas, of Shenandoah, for Violation of Probation. Bond was set at $20,000.

No other details on the aforementioned arrests was provided.

(Sioux City, Iowa) – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa has announced that a man who sexually exploited multiple children and possessed millions of files of child pornography was sentenced Friday (March 14, 2025), to 50 years in federal prison. 48-year-old Lucas Oliver Knowles, of Carroll, received the prison term after his February 23, 2024, guilty plea to sexual exploitation of a child, receipt and possession of child pornography, and possession of firearms by a prohibited person. Knowles was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand.  The Court sentenced Knowles to 600 months’ imprisonment and imposed $21,400 in fines and assessments.  He must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Knowles is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

Evidence in the case showed that the FBI National Threat Operations Center received a tip that Knowles was sexually abusing a minor and was in possession of child sexual abuse material.  When the FBI interviewed Knowles, he admitted that he produced child sexual abuse material just a few weeks prior and had been sexually abusing a child.  Knowles further admitted that he had been collecting child pornography since approximately 1996 and may have millions of images.  Forensic analysis of Knowles computers discovered approximately 1.07 million images and videos of child pornography including several local victims.  The images and videos involved material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct as well as prepubescent children and toddlers.  Additionally, Knowles reported that he is a methamphetamine user and stored methamphetamine at his residence where he also possessed multiple firearms.

FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said, “Lucas Knowles is a sexual predator and a heinous criminal. His appalling actions brought pain and trauma to children for his own gratification.  Today’s sentence ensures Knowles will not hurt anyone else.  Protecting children is one of the FBI’s highest priorities.  We will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to investigate and apprehend child predators and defend the most vulnerable members of our community.” United States Attorney Timothy Duax stated “The United States Attorney’s Office thanks the citizen that came forward with the tip and commends the FBI for its excellent investigative work. As a result, a dangerous child predator was removed from our community.”

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A joint public hearing involving the Cass and Adair County Boards of Supervisors, takes place at around 9:05-a.m. Tuesday in Atlantic and Greenfield, with regard to the vacating of that portion of 780th Lane (AKA Union Ave; AKA Adair-Cass Ave.), originally established in January, 1882. The road the crosses the Cass-Adair County line is about 66-feet wide and stretches approximately 2,034 feet. Following the hearing, the Cass and Adair County Boards of Supervisors separately, will act on passing resolutions to vacate the road as described in the legal definition.

Following the joint meeting and respective Board action, the Cass County Supervisors will hold a separate public hearing on the vacating and closing of a section of Quebec Lane near Massena, commencing at the west right-of-way limits of 760th Street in the Massena Township, west for about one-quarter of a mile. The affected section of road is 66-feet wide and contains just under two-acres of road right-of-way in Cass County, for a total length of approximately 1,287-feet. The hearing will be followed by action on passing a resolution vacating the County road easement as provided in the legal description.

In other business, the Cass County Supervisors expect to receive a monthly report from Cass/Guthrie County Environmental Health Director Jotham Arber, and a regular report from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken. They’re also expected to act on lease agreements with MDA Financial and Industrial Fluid Management, and then consider a revision of the Indigent Remains Disposition Policy. The Board will act on approving a resolution amending the County Secondary Roads 5-year Construction Program, by moving a bridge project from 2027 to 2025, due to NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) changes received sooner than expected. The Board will act to approve an Iowa DOT Federal-aid Agreement for a bridge on Keystone Road over a Creek on NLINE, and act to approve the plans and specifications for a bridge replacement on 620th Street, and a Hot Melt Asphalt (HMA) resurfacing/CIP recycling project on County Road N-28, south of Highway 92, to the Cass-Adams County line.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors meeting takes place at 9-a.m. in their Courthouse Board Room, and is viewable through Zoom.

Agenda – 2025.03.18 – for Publication

(Radio Iowa) – The first day of spring is Thursday and many Iowans may have snow on the ground when the new season arrives. Forecasters predict drastic changes in the weather this week, as today’s (Monday) high temperatures are expected mostly in the 60s and 70s. Meteorologist Brad Small, at the National Weather Service, says open burning is strongly discouraged across a wide area of Iowa. “With warm temperatures today, breezy conditions, low humidities and drying grasses still are going to result in conditions favorable for fires to spread pretty quickly,” Small says, “so we have a Red Flag Warning in effect for much of central and southern Iowa due to critical fire weather conditions.”

The final days of winter, however, may look radically different, as some four-dozen Iowa counties are under a Winter Storm Watch for tomorrow (Tuesday) night and Wednesday.  “We’re looking at the potential for moderate to heavy snowfall accumulations, and that snow will be combined with very strong winds. Winds could gust to 50 miles per hour more,” Small says. “We’re back to the potential for a blizzard and travel to be hazardous, if not impossible at times. It looks like it may be a fairly impactful storm.”

Snowfall could range from two to eight inches, and it won’t be around long, as Small says highs on Thursday should be back in the 40s and 50s.

(Radio Iowa) – A member of the Irish parliament has been in northwest Iowa for Emmetsburg’s annual Irish Celebration. Cathal Crowe says the connections to his country are evident. “Some people I’ve met here, they’re third and fourth Irish generation and, yes, they feel a huge kinship with the home country of Ireland and I think it’s great to see that,” he said. “I’m glad to be over here this week representing the Irish government and trying to foster that connection between Ireland and, indeed, the dispara community here in Emmetsburg.”

Crowe has represented County Clare in Ireland’s parliament since 2020. He says March 17th is a wonderful day to celebrate the Irish — wherever they may be. “What we really value, and I value as a politicians is that it’s one day of the year, it’s sacrosanct, that Ireland has a foot into every country that you could image,” Crowe says. Emmetsburg’s annual week-long St. Patrick’s celebration got underway last Monday with its Junior Miss and Miss Shamrock contests.

Crowe got to Emmetsburg last Wednesday and was the grand marshal of the city’s annual St. Patrick’s Parade this past Saturday.

(Radio Iowa) – Today marks the start of Poison Prevention Week, and the Iowa Poison Control Center is reminding Iowans their medical experts are always at the ready. Grant Houselog is spokesman for the Sioux City-based center, which is raising awareness of poisonings in the home, the workplace, and everywhere else. “Just knowing that a poison center is available, 24-7 and 365,” Houselog says. “It is a free call to you. You can call us anytime, day or night, if you have a poisoning question, a poisoning emergency, medications, cleaning products, bites, stings, things like that.”

As we transition from winter to spring, Iowans may have new chemicals in their garages or kitchens which curious kids may want to taste, so either lock those chemicals up or put them in a place that’s out of reach. “In 2022, the United States poison centers responded to nearly two-and-a-half-million poisoning exposures, poisoning cases,” Houselog says, “that’s an average of a new case about every 15 seconds.”

Iowans can reach the poison center anytime at 1-800-222-1222 or online at www.iowapoison.org.

(Radio Iowa) – Whether they’re Irish or not, many Iowans are celebrating on this Saint Patrick’s Day, and if you’ll be among the throngs, Iowa State Patrol trooper Paul Gardner is offering a safety reminder.

“This is one of the most popular holidays throughout the year,” Gardner says. “There’s a lot of festivals, parades, parties, which typically serve green cocktails, pints, beer — those are popular beverages for St. Patrick’s Day, but we want to discourage those who are going out consuming these alcoholic beverages from getting behind the wheel.”

Gardner says anyone who’s planning to imbibe today should also plan for responsible transportation.

“Make sure you get a designated driver, call a cab, call an Uber, have a friend at these parties that are sober, that they can get you home safely,” Gardner says. “We definitely don’t want anyone pressing their luck by getting caught and getting arrested for OWI, or even worse, getting into a crash where somebody gets killed.”

The Cedar Rapids Police Department is offering ten-dollar vouchers on its Facebook page for Uber rides in that city today.

At last report, Iowa Department of Public Safety officials say 38 people have died on the state’s roads so far this year.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Produce in the Park in Atlantic is now accepting vendor applications for summer markets and seeking sponsorships for the 2025-2026 market season. Vendor applications and sponsorship information can be found online at www.ProduceintheParkAtlanticiowa.com. Printed copies are available at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce (102 Chestnut St. Atlantic, IA 50022). Produce in the Park is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote local food and build community.

Produce in the Park’s summer farmers markets are held weekly on Thursday evenings (4:30-6:30 PM) in the Atlantic City Park from June 5th through September 25th, 2025 Produce in the Park also holds holiday farmers markets just before Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Easter.

Produce in the Park seeks vendors who sell handmade or homegrown foods and crafts. The 2025 summer market full-season vendor fee is $100. Vendors who register by May 1 will receive a $20 discount, and food vendors who participate in the Farmers Market Nutrition Program receive an additional $10 discount. Vendors can also join four summer markets for $50 or a single summer market for $25. Produce in the Park seeks sponsors who support community and wellbeing. Sponsorships offer various levels of recognition, including mention in radio ads, booth space at markets, and the organization’s logo on tote bags. 2025-2026 season sponsorships range from $250 to $2,000.

Committed sponsors for the 2025-2026 season include the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, Cass County Tourism, Cass Health, City of Atlantic, First Whitney Bank & Trust, Nishna Valley Family YMCA, Rush CPA, and the United Church of Christ of Atlantic. In addition to vendors and sponsors, Produce in the Park is always looking for volunteers interested in serving as Guest Chef or leading activities for kids. Produce in the Park is also scheduling live entertainment for summer markets now.

The next Produce in the Park farmers market will take place Saturday, April 19th from Noon-until 3-p.m., at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA,  in Atlantic. The Spring Celebration Market will offer produce, meats, farm-fresh eggs, baked goods, desserts, crafts, and more. Customers can expect to find goodies for Easter baskets and food for Easter dinner. There is no cost to enter the market, and the YMCA will offer free bounce houses for kids. Pim’s Thai Food Truck and Lucky Wife Wine Slushies will be parked outside the YMCA for the duration of the market.

The Spring Celebration Market is sponsored by the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, Cass County Tourism, Cass Health, City of Atlantic, First Whitney Bank & Trust and Nishna Valley Family YMCA.

(Radio Iowa) – A guide to transportation regulations for farmers is now available from the Iowa Department of Transportation. The D-O-T’s Melisa Gillett helped create the farm guide. “There are many regulations that apply to agriculture operations, and it can be challenging sometimes for farmers to really understand those regulations that apply to them, or the exceptions that may apply at the federal and state level,” Gillett says. She says this should be a one-stop place to answer some of the questions.

“What we did was try to consolidate all of that into this specific guide for farmers. And I would say, this is something we worked on when I was in the Motor Vehicle Division, and kind of inspired by my dad, who’s a farmer in western Iowa, and his friends that he meets with at the at the coffee shop at the local gas station, you know, and they have these conversations. And so he helped to kind of test this,” she says. They gave the farm guide a test drive at last year’s Iowa State Fair. “We were visiting with farmers and talking with them about what information is helpful, and so it’s gone through some iterations and some revisions since then to gather that input directly from them,” Gillet says.

The DOT has released a farm guide to transportation regulations. (DOT photo)

Gillett says you can find the guide online or get a printed copy. “You know, I think about the farmers, they like the physical copies to have available to reference them,” she says. We also have it available on our website as well, but distributing them at our driver’s license locations. We’re working with Iowa State Patrol and the commercial motor vehicle unit as well to help help them distribute as well.” Gillett presented the finished guide at the Transportation Commission meeting Tuesday.