(Atlantic, IA) — Cass County Auditor and Commissioner of Election, Kathy Somers, Thursday, November 13th oversaw the post-election audit of the November 4, 2025 City/School Election. The audited results matched the election night ballot count with 100% accuracy.

Under Iowa law, post-election audits are mandatory. Following Election Day, the Secretary of State’s office randomly selects one precinct and race to be audited. For this special election, the Noble/Pleasant/City of Griswold precinct, Griswold mayor’s race, was chosen.

A post-election audit board, comprised of representatives from both the Republican and Democratic parties, conducted a hand-count of the mayor’s race. The audit results perfectly matched the original machine count, reinforcing confidence in the integrity and accuracy of the election process.

Auditor Somers expressed appreciation to all who contributed to the election process including those who served as Precinct Election Officials at the polling location, the absentee board, the post-election audit board, and the auditor’s office staff for their time and dedication to ensuring the election was conducted securely and in compliance with state law.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Natural Resource Commission has approved leasing a 575 foot stretch along the Mississippi River to the fertilizer plant in southeast Iowa’s Lee County for just over 14-hundred dollars a year. Managers of the Koch Fertilizer Plant in southeast Iowa have told state officials they plan to load and unload barges in that part of the river. Two years ago, Koch Industries paid three-point-six BILLION dollars to buy the Iowa Fertilizer Plant near Wever.

A member of the Iowa Natural Resource Commission says he appreciates Koch’s investments in Iowa, but the panel is concerned that the fee to lease that land along the Mississippi is well under the fair market value of the property. After extended discussion of the state law used to calculate the fee, five of seven commissioners approved the lease yesterday (Thursday), but several called for the law to be updated so the fees for similar leases in the future will be higher.

Koch representatives who attended yesterday’s (Thursday’s) commission meeting said their company didn’t set the fee and the company’s application to lease the land had followed state law.

(Radio Iowa) – Dozens of stores, breweries and other Iowa merchants that sell products containing T-H-C may face closure as the bill President Trump signed to end the federal government shutdown included an amendment to cap T-H-C sales. That part of the law won’t take effect for a year, and merchants hope to sway Congress to change it before then. During a conference call with Iowa reporters today (Friday), Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley was asked if he’d consider reversing the restrictions. “No, I won’t vote to change that, because as Senator McConnell said, it was never intended to go with this intoxicating effect of the product,” Grassley says “He says there’s a loophole, the industry took advantage of it, and it was never intended, and it should be closed.” The law caps the amount of T-H-C to less than a half milligram per container for hemp products, while current Iowa law allows up to 10 milligrams of T-H-C per container.

Grassley says stores will have a year to clear out the more potent items. “The product you’re talking about is not sold as the only product in the stores,” Grassley says. “It’s sold along with hundreds or thousands of other products, and the product might go away, but the stores aren’t going to go away.” At least one Iowa merchant strongly disagrees. Ashley Lambson, founder of The Happy Can in Urbandale, tells Iowa Public Radio the new restrictions would “wipe out everything,” including ointments, gummies, chocolates, and beverages. Grassley, a Republican, says the more powerful products need to be taken off the shelves. “Senator McConnell of Kentucky authored this legislation to legalize hemp,” Grassley says, “because we were thinking in terms of industrial hemp, with about the 2% THC in it, and not the strong stuff.”

Several Iowa companies make cannabis-infused beverages, including Toppling Goliath Brewing Company in Decorah and Des Moines-based Climbing Kites.

(Glenwood, IA) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Pacific Junction was arrested Nov. 8th, on multiple charges. The charges against 46-year-old Christopher Joseph Brown include: six counts of Child Endangerment; Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense; Domestic Assault by impeding the flow of air and/or blood; Interference with Official Acts, and Violation of a No Contact Order. Brown was being held in the Mills County Jail on a total of $15,600 bond. His preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 19th.

60-year-old Jeffrey Alan Daniels, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Glenwood on Nov. 4th, for Violation of a No Contact Order, with bond set at $300.  43-year-old Catherine Janell Brown, of Glenwood, was arrested in Mills County on Nov. 3rd. She was charged with two counts of Contempt of Court-Resisting a Court Order. Bond was set at $130. Others arrested by Mills County Sheriff’s Deputies include:

• On Nov. 6th: 51-year-old Gabino Gabriel Barbera, of Malvern, for OWI/2nd offense (Bond $2,000).
• On Nov. 7th: 33-year-old Jacob Brenton Rost,of Glenwood, for Interference w/Official Acts (Bond $300).
• And, 25-year-old Freddy Kraberg, Jr., of Glenwood, was arrested Nov. 8th, for Driving While License Denied/Revoked for OWI.

(Creston, IA) – Officials with the Creston Fire Department posted on the CFD’s Facebook page, that crews responded at around 10:20-p.m. Thursday (Nov. 13th), to a reported camper explosion on Patt Street. Upon arrival, first responders found no active fire, but an explosion had destroyed the camper, scattering debris for up to 30-feet from the site of the explosion. No other structures appeared to have been damaged. Firefighters disconnected utilities and checked for any hot-spots. [UPDATE}: The cause of the explosion is currently under investigation, but a propane leak is the suspected cause.

Greater Regional Health‘s Medic 1 transported one person to the hospital. Their name and a report on their condition was not immediately released.

Other agencies assisting at the scene included Creston Police, Union County Sheriff’s deputies, and Medic 2. (Photos via the CFD Facebook page/Chuck Spindler)

(Atlantic, IA) – A local group of individuals have put together the 4th Annual Community Thanksgiving meal, set for Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27th, from 11-a.m. until 2-p.m., at the Cass County Community Center, in Atlantic (805 W. 10th St.). Kristen Holaday-Brooks explained the idea evolved from donating meals to families in the Atlantic School District a couple of years ago, following the passing of her grandmother.

The following year, she says, they approached the school once again, and district officials came back with even more names of families in need of help for the holiday.

Last year, she says, they provided over 1,100 free meals. This year, they’re planning for about 1,500.

There is no requirement for income or proof of need in order for you to partake in the free meal.

Kristen said last year they filled-up one half of the Cass County Community Center with people who sought a holiday meal. This year, they’re opening-up the main floor. On the menu is a traditional, home-cooked Thanksgiving meal that includes turkey, ham, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, and dinner rolls, plus dessert.

Beverages are being donated by the Atlantic Bottling Company. Udderly Delicious in Atlantic is donating all the desserts and dinner rolls. Cass County Beef Producers made a large donation, while others have donated the serving plates and utensils.

Take-out and delivery of those meals are available in Atlantic. Drop-off locations include Wiota, Anita, Cumberland, Massena, Lewis, Griswold, Marne, Elk Horn, and Exira. Those are by pre-ordered only by no later than 5-p.m., on Nov. 26th. To place an order, please call or text Anna, at 712-304-5272. Volunteer meal drop-off drivers are welcome to help out.

If you would like to make a monetary donation to help defray the costs, may do so at Rolling Hills Bank and Trust, or reach out via Facebook at holadaybakingcompany. Donations of products or goods for the meal, such as green beans, Cream of Mushroom Soups and french onions for the casserole, can be made by contacting the number above.

(Creston, IA) – Police in Creston report the arrest at around 2:20-a.m. today (Friday), of 19-year-old Gunner Michael Namanny. The Creston man was taken into custody in the parking lot at the Southwestern Community College, on charges that include: Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana-1^st offense; OWI/2^nd offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Namanny was transported to the Union County Jail and held without bond.

CLARKE COUNTY, Iowa  — The Clarke County Sheriff’s Office has located the vehicle allegedly involved in a deadly hit-and-run crash that occurred at around 6-p.m. Wednesday, south of Murray. In a recent social media post, sheriff’s officials said “The vehicle in this case has been located. We are processing it for evidence. Law enforcement has been following every tip and lead given to us from the public. Your assistance is greatly appreciated. We are conducting interviews and working on this case, and will continue to investigate it until its conclusion.”

The crash claimed the life of 16-year-old Elmer Borntrager, of Murray. The teen was operating a horse-drawn buggy when the buggy was hit from behind by a vehicle. Borntrager was thrown from the buggy and died from his injuries, despite efforts from first responders to save him. Deputies initially said they were looking for a silver or gray Chevrolet or GM sedan with heavy damage on the front right side, and potential damage to the windshield/roof area of the vehicle.

The horse pulling the buggy was injured, but is expected to survive.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office at 641-342-2914.

(Red Oak, IA) – The driver of a passenger car was transported to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital (MCMH) in Red Oak, Thursday morning, following a collision at the intersection of E. Summit and Highland Streets. The accident occurred at around 8:10-a.m.

Authorities say a Ford Focus driven by 28-year-old Tristain Blackburn, of Red Oak, stopped at the posted intersection as she was traveling northbound on Highland before proceeding to turn left onto Summit. In doing so, Blackburn failed to notice a Toyota Avalon that was traveling eastbound on Summit, and was driven by 29-year-old Alexis Bronner, of Red Oak. Police say Bronner was unable to stop in-time to avoid the collision. The front of her car struck the left rear side of the Ford, causing disabling damage to both vehicles.

Blackburn was transported by private vehicle to the hospital for what police said appeared to be minor injuries. She was cited for Failure to Yield upon Left Turn. Damage from the collision amounted to a police-estimated $11,000 altogether.

(Radio Iowa) – Penny for your thoughts? The U-S Treasury stopped making pennies this week, and Iowa collectors are puzzling over what to do with their bags of one-cent pieces, as some Iowa banks and businesses have already stopped using them. Owen McKee, who owns McKee Coin in Ottumwa, says it really doesn’t make much “sense” to be hanging onto the copper-colored coins. “A lot of people are hoarding the pre-1982 because they’re copper,” McKee says. “The later ones, they’ve made millions and millions of them, so my guess is they will still use what they have until they’re no longer in use, or been hoarded, and then they will round up the prices on all the other sales that they make.” In fact, some estimates say there are 250- to 300-billion pennies still in circulation nationwide, so it may be several years before they vanish from our pockets and purses.

For now, pennies are still legal tender and they’re worth one-one-hundred of a dollar. “I doubt if they devalue them, but if they do devalue them, it means that they would be just sold for scrap metal,” McKee says. “I’ve seen bus tokens used in different towns for transportation and when they devalued the bus token, they just sold them for scrap metal.” The Trump administration ordered the Treasury to stop making pennies, as it costs nearly four cents to mint a single penny, which of course, is only worth one cent. Even though they’re no longer in production, McKee says pennies are so plentiful that they’re not a coin he’d consider acquiring from a collector. “Oh, Lincoln cents are something I’m not really buying,” McKee says. “I don’t see any reason to hoard them unless they’re rarer dates. Pre-1959, they’re called ‘wheat cents’ and they do have a value of about four cents a piece.”

While coins are his business, McKee says he shed no tears upon learning of the penny’s demise. “Maybe somebody might want these for nostalgia purposes later,” he says, “but currently they’re not bringing anything more than a penny.” The last penny was minted Wednesday in Philadelphia after more than 230 years in production. The U-S Mint reportedly lost more than 85-million dollars making pennies last year.