The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests. Today (Wednesday), 46-year old Dustyn Russell Bond, of Malvern, was arrested at around 5:45-a.m. for Driving While Revoked. Bond was set at $1,000.

On Tuesday, 29-year old Christopher Lee McDaniel, of Pacific Junction, was arrested at around 7-p.m., for Domestic Abuse Assault, and Interference with Official Acts. He was being held in the Mills County Jail without bond.

And, 48-year old Thomas Shawn Johnson, of Stanton, was arrested at around 4:35-a.m. Tuesday, for Driving While Barred. His bond was set at $2,000.

(Radio Iowa) — Democrats say there’s nothing Republican lawmakers can say to convince them changes in public employee PENSIONS aren’t just around the corner if Republicans retain control of the governor’s office and state legislature. Danny Homan is president of AFSCME Council 61 which represents the greatest share of state workers who are union members — workers who get a pension from the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System or IPERS.

“Anyone who thinks Republicans won’t touch IPERS, take it from me — in 2016, not a single Republican ran on destroying collective bargaining,” Homan said, “not one flyer, not one ad, not one mailer, not nothing.” Republican Governor Kim Reynolds says there have been in the past and will continue to be routine adjustments, to ensure the solvency of the pension system.

“When they increased benefits a couple of years ago, those are some of the things that take place,” Reynolds says. “It doesn’t mean that we’re going to take it away or repeal it.” Iowa Democratic Party chairman Troy Price says Reynolds has sent “mixed messages” by talking about “hybrid or different” pensions like a 401-K style option for future workers, then recently saying there will be no changes for current or future IPERS beneficiaries.

“We’ve heard from our governor on this issue and it further showcases her willingness to say or do anything to win this election, even if it means contradicting her previous statements,” Price said. Reynolds says Democrats are trying to scare people. “When you have no ideas and nothing to run on and you want to hide the fact that you want to raise taxes, that’s when you do the little deflection,” Reynolds says. “‘Look over here. Let’s talk about something that’s not true.'”

The top Republican in the Iowa House says there have been no charges to IPERS and Republicans in the HOUSE have “no secret plans to change IPERS for current employees or new hires.” A key Republican in the Iowa SENATE proposed switching state employees hired after July 1st of 2019 to a 401-K system, but his proposal went nowhere in the 2018 Iowa legislative session. One out of every 10 Iowans are current or retired public employees who are getting or will get an IPERS pension.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Lottery officials say someone who bought a Mega Millions ticket in Davenport won a $1 million prize. The ticket was bought at a Hy-Vee gas outlet. It matched the first five numbers drawn Tuesday night but missed on the Mega Ball number. Another ticket bought in South Carolina matched all the numbers, winning the $1.537 billion jackpot. The $1 million prize must be claimed at Iowa Lottery headquarters in Clive. The winner has yet to come forward.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Emergency room physicians are protesting an Iowa Medicaid billing change that they say will harm low-income patients and hospitals. Starting Aug. 1, Iowa Medicaid no longer allowed emergency rooms to submit claims for treating some conditions that turn out to be non-emergent. For instance, if a patient shows up with a splitting headache, the claim will be covered if it’s related to an emergency such as a hemorrhage. But if the headache is just a migraine, patients will be charged co-pays of $3 or $8 and hospitals may be denied reimbursement.

The American College of Emergency Physicians says the change unfairly puts the burden of self-diagnosis on patients and may discourage them from seeking treatment. The group warns that some may be hit with surprise bills and hospitals won’t be reimbursed for necessary treatment. The Iowa Department of Human Services says hospitals cannot knowingly bill Medicaid patients for non-covered services. Hospitals may still seek reimbursement by submitting justification of why the patient believed an emergency existed.

(Radio Iowa) — More than 31-million Americans will spend a half-million dollars this month on Halloween costumes — not for themselves — but for their dogs and cats. Pam Wiese (WEES), spokeswoman for the Humane Society in Omaha/Council Bluffs, urges Iowans who plan on putting their pet into a costume to use common sense. “Make sure that it fits them appropriately so it doesn’t trip them,” Wiese says, “that it doesn’t hang down and impede their eyesight because if it’s binding or scary, they may try to run away from it and, in a sense, run away from you.”

Also, be sure the costume doesn’t restrict breathing, and make sure there are no small pieces a dog can chew off and ingest. Wiese says no matter the cute factor, some pets won’t tolerate a costume, so don’t force it. “If it looks like he’s terrified or is shaking or he’s uncomfortable in it, I would definitely just take it off,” Weise says. “If the pet isn’t enjoying it, you’re doing him a disservice. The best idea is, if he’s enjoying it, fine, if he’s not, get it off him.”

People pose with their pets in family photos and have their pets sit on Santa’s lap at Christmas, so it’s little surprise Halloween costumes for animals are becoming such big business. Some folks even plan ahead and have trick-or-treat bowls filled with animal goodies for neighbors’ critters. “People love to include their pets in all sorts of activities, so why not dress them up?” Weise says. “As people began buying more costumes to dress pets up, more places began making cuter costumes and costumes that are more intricate and more fun, so it’s kind of feeding on itself.”

A survey finds the most popular pet costumes this year include: pumpkins, hot dogs, devils, Star Wars characters and superheroes.

JACKSON COUNTY, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa DNR report that at around 9-a.m. Saturday, Sabula Fire and Rescue were dispatched to Browns Lake near Green Island Wildlife Management Area in eastern Iowa’s Jackson County, for a hunter in the water holding onto a capsized kayak. An Iowa DNR Conservation Officer already on the water patrolling responded to the area immediately, as well as another DNR Conservation Officer utilizing a mud boat and a DNR Wildlife Technician in the area.

Authorities say DNR officers and first responders dealt with major challenges during the rescue operation due to the extremely windy conditions and high waves. The hunter, identified as Jared Porter of Madison, Wisconsin, was eventually located in a flooded timber area holding onto a tree. A DNR Conservation Officer, along with the Sabula Fire Department were able to rescue the hunter and his dog from the water and bring them to shore. Porter was transported to a local hospital and released; his dog didn’t require any medical attention.

When officers later talked with Porter, the man explained he was trying to locate a place to hunt but was unable to due to the higher than normal water levels and when he left for the hunt in the morning, there were no winds and the water was very calm. Porter said his kayak capsized while he was on his way back and got out onto the open waters and hit a large wave about 50 yards away. Porter was able to remain on his cell phone with dispatch the entire time because of his water proof cell phone case.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Lottery officials are preparing a convenience store in rural Simpsonville, South Carolina for an onslaught of attention after revealing that the winning Mega Millions ticket worth more than $1.5 billion was sold there. State lottery officials plan a news conference at the town’s KC Mart today (Wednesday), to celebrate the lucky sale. The share of the winnings that goes to retailers in South Carolina is capped at $50,000.

The state doesn’t require lottery winners to identify themselves. For now, lottery officials are publicly urging the winner to sign the back of the ticket, put it in a safe location, seek financial or legal advice from a trusted source. They’re also urging the winner to call the Lottery. Winners have up to 180 days to come forward to claim their money.

Iowa Lottery officials say early details show that Iowa Lottery players won more than 106,000 prizes in Monday night’s world-record Mega Millions jackpot drawing and ticket sales in the game set a daily record in the lead-up to the drawing. The winning numbers in the drawing were: 5-28-62-65-70 and Mega Ball 5. The Megaplier number was 3. A total of 106,564 plays purchased by Iowa Lottery players won prizes ranging from $2 up to $1 million. Four tickets purchased in Iowa came within one number of having at least a share of the jackpot. One of those tickets won a $1 million prize by matching the first five numbers but missing the Mega Ball. The other three tickets matched four of the first five numbers and the Mega Ball to win prizes of $10,000 each.

Highway 71 south of Atlantic is expected to open soon. During a meeting of the Cass County Board of Supervisors this (Wednesday) morning, County Engineer Charles Bechtold said the Highway just south G-35/Lansing Road, which was closed in late April for bridge construction work, should be open before Halloween. Supervisors Board Chair Gaylord Schelling told Bechtold the road should be open by today or tomorrow. The barricades were still up this (Wednesday) morning, though.

The Board received an Annual Report from the Cass County Library Association today (Wednesday), also. Afterward, the Association requested an increase in funding for the six libraries in Cass County. County Auditor Dale Sunderman said the current funding is $79,800 altogether, per year. The funds are divided among the six-libraries according to population. Last year, the Library Association requested a $2,000 increase, but the Board allocated $1,000 more after the budgeting process was finalized. The Association is requesting a $2,000 increase this year as well. The communities in which the libraries are located also contribute to the operational costs of their respective libraries.

Lisa Metheny, Director of the Lewis and Griswold Public Libraries, said they have also applied for a grant to receive a reading-type grant for mobile users, that, if awarded, would be used for all the County libraries. They’re able to get a volume discount on purchasing the app because all the libraries would be combined on the grant app. The Supervisors told members of the Association that they would take the request under advisement.

In other business, the Board approved the appointment of Abigail Bintner as Cass County Treasurer’s Assistant, to fill a vacancy. Bintner started her position on Monday, with pay to be retroactive to that date. The Board also approved a final partial payment to Crow River Construction of New London, MN, for work on the gray water transmission line to the ethanol plant. The payment was $46,046.50. The Board began their meeting with a moment of silence in honor of long-time Board member Duane McFadden, who passed away on Monday. McFadden had served on the Board of Supervisors for about 12-years.

Funeral Services for Earling Chief Tom Henrich have been set for Saturday October 27^th at 11-a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling. The Earling Fire Department and Shelby County Emergency Management Agency is asking all residents from Earling to please clear the town streets on Friday evening of all vehicles, in order to accommodate the funeral attendees.

For any fire department that is planning on attending, please visit the Shelby County Emergency Management website at shelbycountyema.com and fill out the Registration Form on the front page so that the department can plan for parking.  On the day of the funeral, Shelby County Road-M16 will be closed from Highway 37 to 2100^th from 10:00 AM to around 1:00 PM to accommodate the attending fire departments.

It is also requested that any person bringing their private vehicle to the Internment please use 4^th Ave in Earling to access the back entrance of the cemetery.   For updates please refer to the Shelby County Emergency Management website.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Lawyers have clashed in court over whether Black Hawk County had the power to approve a 35-turbine wind farm project on agricultural land. The county Board of Adjustment voted April 24 to give Washburn Wind Energy a special permit for the 70-megawatt project south of Waterloo. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that a lawyer for a farmer who sued the Board of Adjustment said in court Tuesday that Iowa law prevents the county from regulating what happens on land historically used for farming purposes.

The board’s lawyer, Brent Hinders, says the county can, however, regulate ag land when the owner wants to use it for non-farming purposes such as wind turbines. The judge will issue a decision later on farmer Harold Youngblut’s request that the judge rule the board’s action was invalid.