Atlantic, IA – [February 17, 2025] – The Iowa Farmers Union, in collaboration with State Representative Megan Srinivas and Page County Farmer Seth Watkins, is hosting a Cancer Listening Post in Cass County. The listening session is scheduled for March 2nd, 2-3:30 PM at the American Legion Memorial Hall in Atlantic.

The event is being held to provide an opportunity for farmers, rural residents, and community members to share their personal experiences with cancer and its impact on their lives. Lawmakers will be present to listen and participate in discussions on tackling Iowa’s rising cancer rates.

Recent data highlights Iowa as one of the states with the fastest-growing cancer rates in the country. The Cancer Listening Posts will serve as a platform for individuals to voice concerns, discuss potential causes, and explore solutions to improve healthcare and prevention efforts in rural communities.

“These listening sessions are crucial for gathering firsthand accounts of how cancer is affecting our communities,” said State Rep. Megan Srinivas. “By hearing directly from those impacted, we can push for better policies, increased research, and stronger support systems for Iowans facing cancer.”

The Iowa Farmers Union encourages farmers, healthcare advocates, and concerned citizens to attend these sessions and make their voices heard. For more information, please contact thexter@iowafarmersunion.org.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday) released a report on arrests that took place between January 21st and February 13th. Most recently…

On February 13th, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Prudence Page, 38, of Atlantic, on the charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance – Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Page was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on bond.

On February 12th, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Angela Shetterly, 54, of Griswold, on the charges of OWI 1st Offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance.  Shetterly was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on bond.

On February 6th, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Carlos Villanueva Lemus, 22, of Omaha, NE, on the charge of OWI 1st Offense.  Villanueva Lemus was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

On January 25th, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Kalee Nolte, 31, of Atlantic, on warrants for Trespass and Forgery.  On January 27th an additional warrant was served on her for Violation of Probation.  Nolte was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held.

On January 25th, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Kurt Crecelius, 64, of Anita, on two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Crecelius was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

On January 25th, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Timothy Chandler JR, 36, of Atlantic, on the charges of Drug Trafficking and a Drug Tax Stamp Violation.  Chandler JR was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

On January 24th, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jason Wingrove, 38, of Anita, on warrants for Trespass and Forgery.  Wingrove was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

On January 23rd, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Ryan Juhl, 37, of Atlantic, on a warrant for Sex Offender Registry Violation.  Juhl was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

On January 21st, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Tobin Jensen, 46, of Atlantic, on two warrants for Possession of a Controlled Substance – methamphetamine.  Jensen was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (February 17, 2025) – MidAmerican Energy officials says they are “taking big steps to ensure reliable, affordable power for its customers in the years to come, especially as demand for electricity keeps growing.” According to a press release, the company is proposing two new generation projects to best serve its customers – particularly during times when they need it most and regardless of the weather. MidAmerican today (Monday) filed plans with the Iowa Utilities Commission to build a solar energy project across several sites in Iowa that is expected to generate up to 800 megawatts of power.The company also plans to develop two natural gas-fired combustion turbines at one location in Adair County that will generate 465 megawatts of power. Kelcey Brown, president and CEO, said “We’re focused on ensuring our customers always have reliable power, no matter what’s going on with the weather. We’re always looking ahead, planning for decades in the future, to make sure we meet the needs of our customers in the most affordable and sustainable way.”

Currently, MidAmerican’s electric rates in Iowa are 42% below the national average. The proposed generating projects will help the company keep rates affordable while also ensuring customers have the around-the-clock energy they need. The 2025 Solar Reliability Project would complement MidAmerican’s vast wind fleet, providing increased energy at times when wind energy may be lower. Like wind, solar energy requires no fuel and helps to keep energy prices low for customers. The project is expected to produce enough energy to serve 144,000 typical homes while occupying about 4,800 acres of land.

Under the proposal, MidAmerican would add solar installations at approximately six sites through 2027 and 2028. Collectively, the project would provide nearly $25 million in property tax payments and $270 million in landowner lease payments over the operational life of the project. Not all site locations have been finalized. MidAmerican is requesting Iowa Utilities Commission approval for the company’s proposed solar project by August. If approved, construction would begin next year and generate energy beginning in 2027. “It’s crucial for our economy to have energy that’s there when we need it most – regardless of whether it’s hot, cold, windy or cloudy,” Iowa Senate President Amy Sinclair (R-Wayne County), said. “Developing a diverse mix of energy sources that keeps rates affordable and serves Iowans into the future just makes good sense.”

In addition, MidAmerican is proposing a natural gas-fired combustion turbine project in Adair County, called the Orient Energy Center, which would generate an additional 465 megawatts of power beginning in 2028. This project is a substantial commitment to energy reliability, investing in generation resources that will serve customers for the next 40 years. The Orient Energy Center is expected to operate when load is at its peak and when customers need it the most, estimated at less than 10% of the year. The facility will provide more than 400 jobs during construction, approximately $7 million in property tax revenues over its service life and will bring up to five skilled craft jobs that pay between $100,000 to $125,000 annually to the community.

“Adding a tried-and-true natural gas power plant in Adair County to MidAmerican’s existing generation resources and the proposed renewable project is an ‘all-of-the-above’ solution that will help keep Iowa ahead of the curve and ensure we maintain a reliable grid,” Iowa Rep. Ray “Bubba” Sorensen (R-Adair County), said. A planning report that MidAmerican released in November, called a resource evaluation study, examined energy demand projections over a 20-year timeline. The company study projected above-average load growth and the need for near-term capacity additions to meet the growth as soon as 2026.

The study evaluated the energy resources that would most cost-effectively and reliably serve projected customer needs. The report identified solar energy and natural gas-fired combustion turbines as the best resources in the short-term and eventually small modular nuclear reactor generation in the long-term. Through this mix of near-term solar and natural gas generating projects, MidAmerican seeks to address the looming energy supply shortfall and be able to serve customers with reliable and affordable energy well into the future – advancing its all-of-the-above and around-the-clock energy strategy.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett today (Monday), asked “for everyone’s cooperation to keep the City of Atlantic’s streets clear of vehicles, so [that] the Public Works Department [crews] can maintain the streets without interruption.

“Please move your vehicles to your driveway or closest public parking lot. We encourage citizens to only drive on the roads if absolutely necessary. This will also allow for Police, Fire and First Responders to easily access streets in a safe and efficient manner.”

Garret said also, “Thank you for doing your part to keep the City safe!”

Iowa Sportsbooks had another big day for the recent N-F-L Championship Sunday. Iowa Gaming Association spokesperson Wes Ehrecke.

Ehrecke says Kansas City’s attempt to win a third straight championship was one of the big draws of the fans here and outside the state.

Ehrecke says the Iowa Gaming Association only tracks the aggregate numbers for the Superbowl, but says it is the biggest event for sports books.

Ehrecke says the sports gambling industry has hit its stride now in Iowa.

Sports betting in Iowa became legal in August of 2019.

Atlantic, IA – Cass County Extension is partnering with the SWISH (Southwest Iowa Soil Health) group to host an educational event focused on soil health for area farmers and ag professionals. The second Annual Southwest Iowa Winter Soil Health Conference will be held at the Cass County Community Center, located at 805 West 10^th Street in Atlantic, from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm on Wednesday, March 5^th.

The conference will feature soil health experts and farmers from across Iowa sharing their boots-in-the field experience on making conservation practices work on their farms. A meal will be served over the lunch hour. This event is free to attend and open to the public; pre-registration is required by February 26 for meal and materials.  Registration can be done by phone or email to ruth.blomquist@usda.gov or 319-541-2969. Registration is also available online using the attached QR code or via the link on the Cass County Extension website at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass.

The morning session will kick off with NRCS State Soil Health Specialist, Hillary Olson talking about the efficacy of the soil health principles. Hillary will dive into soil health testing and discuss whether tests can measure differences in the soil due to management. Heartland Cooperative Conservation Manager and Nuffield Scholar, Ruth McCabe, will present her thoughts and experiences from an international study on conservation practice adoption. Following Ruth, Warren County farmer Aaron White will discuss practices he’s implemented to improve efficiency and soil health in his corn, soybean and cattle operation, and his goal of building a resilient farm for future generations.

The conference keynote presentation will be given by Brian Dougherty with Understanding Ag.  A dedicated educator and regenerative ag consultant, Brian will focus his session on using a systems approach to building soil biology and improving farm resiliency and profitability. The day will conclude with a panel of local farmers sharing their on-farm experiences in making conservation practices work on their farms and building soil health for increased farm resilience.

This field day is organized by the SWISH group; a volunteer group of farmers, ISU Extension and Outreach staff, NRCS staff, IDALS staff, and industry partners who are passionate about soil health and committed to increasing soil health awareness and adoption across southwest Iowa. This field day is made possible with support from many organizations, including Iowa SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education), ISU Extension and Outreach in Cass County, Iowa Soybean Association, Dakota Bio, Midwest Soil Restore, Iowa Ag Water Alliance, Green Cover Seed, Ducks Unlimited and several southwest Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

For more information about the event, contact local extension field agronomist Aaron Saeugling at clonz5@iastate.edu, call the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132 or visit www.extension.iastate.edu/cass.

QR Code to registration Form:

DES MOINES – State Treasurer Roby Smith today (Monday) announced Iowans broke new records for claims and searches during the 2025 Unclaimed Property Day celebration. Overall, there were more than half a million visits to GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov resulting in 13,137 individual claims, an increase of 92% from 2024.

“This year’s Unclaimed Property Day was a huge success with the value of claims filed totaling more than $4.6 million,” said Treasurer Smith. “The largest claim from the event totaled over $250,000. Even with this success, there’s still more we can do to reunite Iowans with their unclaimed property, so I encourage every citizen to search GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov to see if they’ve got something to claim!”

As of publication, more than half a billion dollars remains to be claimed in Great Iowa Treasure Hunt. As Iowa’s only legitimate source of unclaimed property, Treasurer Smith encourages past and present Iowans to search for their unclaimed property anytime by visiting GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov.

Connect with the Treasurer on Facebook,  Instagram and X, to stay informed of updates and news.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors are set to hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 18th, beginning at 9-a.m. Their session will be held at the Cass County Courthouse, and electronically, via Zoom. On the agenda is a monthly report from Cass/Guthrie County Environmental Health Director Jotham Arber, and action on setting March 25th as the date for a public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Tax Levy.

The Board will also act on passing a resolution to vacate a portion of 350th Street that crosses the Cass-Audubon County line, and to pass a resolution selling Bridge #389 on the vacated road over Troublesome Creek, to John Kilworth, for the sum of One-dollar. In other business, the Board will receive a Quarterly report from Cass County Conservation Executive Director Micah Lee, and a regular report from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken. They are also expected to approve and authorize Board Chair Steve Baier to sign, the plans for a bridge replacement project on Rockport Road, west of Massena.

Following the Board’s meeting, the Supervisors, acting as the Cass County Compensation Board, will hold a meeting at 10-a.m. Tuesday, to specify the data to compare salaries (In accordance with Iowa Code), and vote on the recommended compensation schedule for county elected officials for the Fiscal Year 2026. Cass County Auditor Kathy Somers reminds residents of the County, that “Senate File 2442, signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds on May 1, 2024, introduced significant changes to Iowa’s property tax laws and the structure of county compensation boards. One notable change allows county boards of supervisors to assume the responsibilities of the county compensation board, which traditionally recommended compensation levels for elected county officials. In response to this legislative change, the Cass County Board of Supervisors chose not to re-establish the separate compensation board. Instead, they have taken on its duties directly. This decision was formalized during their meeting on October 15, 2024, where they acknowledged that, as a result of SF 2442, the Board of Supervisors would assume the responsibilities of the compensation board as outlined in Iowa Code §331.905 and §331.907.”

A Budget Work Session will follow the Compensation Board meeting (Beginning at approximately 10:30-a.m., Tuesday).

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department says five people were arrested over the past three days. Friday night, 61-year-old Troy Eugene McKinney, of Creston, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled  Substance/3rd Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Mckinney was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on a $5,300 bond. Early Saturday morning, 50-year-old Amy Lynn Whitney, of Creston, was arrested for Driving Suspended, Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia, and Poss. of a controlled substance/Methamphetamine-1st Offense. Whitney was later released after posting a $1,300 bond.

A little after 9-a.m., Saturday, 29-year-old Christopher Gage Selvy, of Creston, was arrested on Union County warrants for FTA (Failure To Appear) on a warrant for Driving Revoked, a FTA warrant for operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock, and FTA warrant for Driving while license suspended. Selvy was being held in the Union County Jail on $1,600 bond. Saturday night, Creston Police arrested 18-year-old John William Egly, IV, of Creston, for Driving While Revoked, and Operating a vehicle without an ignition Interlock Device. Egly was taken to the Union County Jail where he later bonded out on a bond of $1,300.

And, at around 1:20-a.m. Sunday, Creston Police arrested 29-year-old Glenn Scott Loe, of Creston, for OWI/1st Offense, and Persons Ineligible to Carry Dangerous Weapons. Loe was later released from the Union County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

Guthrie County, Iowa (February 13, 2025) – The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports that on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office was notified by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office about an active sex abuse investigation and authorities believe the crime occurred in Guthrie County. It was alleged, that on February 3, 2025, a fourteen-year-old female ran away from home in Des Moines and was approached by an unknown, adult male near QuikTrip. The male offered to buy the female alcohol and drive around, to which the female agreed too. The female became intoxicated throughout the night and eventually lost consciousness. When the female awoke, she was in the male’s residence where the two had sexual intercourse.

The next morning, the male dropped off the female at or near her high-school and the female reported the incident to local law enforcement. Due to the help of license plate readers and security footage, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office was able to identify a vehicle and suspect of interest. The fourteen-year-old female positively identified the suspect as being 39-year-old Max Pierce of Panora, Iowa. She also identified his vehicle. The female explained Pierce’s residence in detail and shared her observations.

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Max Pierce’s residence on February 12, 2025, at 12:20 p.m. Evidence was seized pursuant to the search warrant. Max Pierce was present and interviewed. He admitted to having sex with the female and taking her to school the next morning. Max L. Pierce age 39 of Panora, Iowa was arrested for Sex Abuse 3rd Degree and transported to the Guthrie County Jail. Additional charges are pending.

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.