During the school year, the summer back-pack program assists the children and families of Cass County who may need food assistance on weekends and over the holidays. There are some programs during the summer, but it is known that, with students home for summer vacation, there will be an increased need among families to provide nutritious foods for the children.

The Cass County Democratic Party is sponsoring a Summer Food Drive meant to supplement the summer programs. Chair Sherry Toelle says “We need individually-prepared, non-perishable food items such as puddings, Jello-type products, cereals, pasta meals, canned/packaged tuna and chicken, Ramen noodles, and other foods that, if the parents are gone during the day, children can prepare for themselves.”

Toelle said also, “We will have drop-off sites in most communities throughout the county. The food drive will run for a month, from April 24th to May 24th. Volunteers from the Democratic Party will handle pick-up and delivery of all food donations, which will remain in Cass County.”

Drop–off sites include:

• Anita: City Clerk’s Office; Library
• Atlantic: Fareway; private home @ 10 E. 13th St.; YMCA
• Cumberland: Telephone Company; Library; City Hall; Houghton State Bank
• Griswold: Rolling Hills Bank; Library; City Hall; Telephone Company
• Lewis: Library
• Massena: Library; FNBank; Economy Food Mart

Toelle said “It is our mission as Democrats to offer a hand up, not a hand-out, to our fellow citizens. I want to thank the offices and businesses who are so generously providing the public with drop-off sites in every community. We would not be able to offer this program and other public service programs that we do throughout the year without their help.”

Officials with the Harlan Police Department report two separate arrests each on April 20th and 17th. On April 20th, 41-year old Jeremy Lloyd Smith, of Defiance, was arrested following a traffic stop.  Smith was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with operating while intoxicated 1st offense and parking against the flow of traffic. 24-year old Anthony Michael McCoy, of Avoca, was also arrested following a traffic stop.  McCoy was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with driving while barred, failure to prove security against liability, and insufficient number of headlamps.

On April 17th, 52-year old Melissa Ann Henscheid, of Harlan, was arrested on an active Shelby County warrant.  Henscheid was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was also charged with driving while suspended. And, 18-year old Preston Max Russell, of, Kirkman, was arrested on an active Shelby County warrant.  Russell was transported to the Shelby County Jail.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The longest serving Republican in the Iowa Legislature says he’ll become a Democrat. Rep. Andy McKean announced his decision Tuesday, saying one important factor was the presidency of Republican Donald Trump. McKean says he can’t support Trump, and if his behavior and leadership is the new normal, “I want no part of it.”

McKean, a 69-year-old retired attorney from the eastern Iowa city of Anamosa, first entered the House in 1979 and served seven terms. He left the legislature but returned to the Senate in 1993 and served three terms. He then won election to the House in 2016 and was re-elected in 2018. He’s now served nearly 29 years in the Legislature.

When he returned, McKean found he disagreed with Republicans on many high profile issues. McKean says he’ll register as a Democrat this week and plans to seek re-election as a Democrat in 2020.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man who fell from a downtown Cedar Rapids construction site has died from his injuries, officials announced Tuesday.

Television station KCRG reports that fall happened Monday afternoon, when someone called 911 to report a person lying in an alley between United Fire Group’s buildings downtown.

First responders found 47-year-old Michael Dean Patterson, of Norwalk, with critical injuries. He was taken to a Cedar Rapids hospital, where he died several hours later.
Investigators believe Patterson fell from a beam while working on building renovations.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A man has been given 50 years in prison for beating to death the 16-month-old daughter of his girlfriend in western Iowa. The Daily Nonpareil reports that Javon Jennings was sentenced Monday. A jury found him guilty Feb. 15 of manslaughter and child endangerment in the death last April of Jazlynn Harshbarger. An autopsy showed the toddler had suffered numerous injuries and died of blunt force trauma. Prosecutors say Jennings was supposed to be baby-sitting the girl in Council Bluffs.

Jennings repeated earlier statements that he didn’t kill Jazlynn. His attorney says Jennings will continue appealing the verdict and sentence.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports that as a result of a traffic stop Sunday, Deputies arrested two men on drug charges. 34-year old Benjamin Michael Johnson, of Harlan and 31-year old James Dwight Mills, of Avoca, were taken into custody on felony charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver Meth, and a simple misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charge. Johnson faces additional charges on two counts of felony Drug Tax Stamp Violation, as well as an aggravated misdemeanor charge of Possession with the Intent to Deliver/Alprazolam. Mills was additionally charged with a Drug Tax Stamp Violation (aggravated) and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Both men were taken to the Cass County Jail and are being held on $50,000 bond each.

On April 18th, Cass County Deputies arrested 40-year old Joshua James Mullen, of Corning, on three District Court warrants for Failure to Appear. Mullen was taken to the Cass County Jail and later released on $25,000 bond. And, on April 15th, 52-year old Donald Whiting Filkins, of Elliott, was arrested in Cass County on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear. Filkins was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on $5,000 bond.

There were also two recent accidents: At around 2:30-p.m. Monday, Deputies in Cass County responded to a report of a two-vehicle accident at White Pole Road and 700th Street. Authorities say a 2008 Ford Taurus driven by 22-year old Joshua Walton Parker, of Anita, was eastbound on White Pole Road when it was struck in the front left corner by a 2018 Subaru Impreza owned and driven by 65-year old Sherrill Marie Cundy, of Springdale, AZ. The collision happened when Cundy attempted to turn around at the intersection. Both drivers were transported to Cass County Memorial Hospital by Medivac Ambulance, for evaluation. Damage to the Taurus is estimated at $5,000; damage to the Subaru is also estimated at $5,000. Cundy was cited for Failure to Yield upon Left Turn.

And, at around 3:51-a.m. today (Tuesday), deputies responded to a report of a single-vehicle accident on Jackson Street in Cumberland. A 1999 Chevy Silverado pickup owned and driven by 19-year old Korey Linn Cassady, of Earlham, was southbound on Jackson Road when the vehicle entered the east ditch. No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $2,000. Upon investigation, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Cassady on felony charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana, and a Drug Tax Stamp Violation. He was also charged with OWI 1st Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. In addition, he was cited for Driving Under Suspension, Failure to Maintain Control, and Operating a Non-Registered Vehicle. Cassady was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $10,000 bond.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports an alleged assault in Crescent resulted in the arrest of a resident on assault and child endangerment charges. A deputy responded to a call about an assault at around 10:55-p.m. Monday. The incident allegedly happened at a residence in the 100 block of Old Mormon Bridge Road. The deputy made contact with the alleged victim, a 33-year old woman, and determined that her husband, 37-year old Christopher Scott Burbridge, of Crescent, had assaulted her. Christopher Burbridge was arrested on one count of Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense – causing bodily injury, and one count of Child Endangerment, Deprive Necessary Care – Death. Authorities say their were two children – a 1 year old female and an 8-year old male – in the home at the time of the incident. Christopher Burbridge was being held in the Pott. County Jail on a total of $26,000 bond.

And, two men were transported from jails in Nebraska to the Pott. County Jail, Monday, with regard to warrants for their arrest. 32-year old Sammy Hadeer Aburumuh, of Papillion, NE., was wanted for felony Theft in the 1st Degree. 31-year old Delshonte Lavaille Barber, of Omaha, was wanted for Violation of Parole.