A commission comprised of two attorneys from Cass County and three lay persons, along with Fourth District Court Judge James Richardson, approved the appointment of Justin Hockenberry, as Magistrate Judge. Hockenberry, who works with the Cambridge Law Firm in Atlantic, will join Karen Mailander presiding over local cases. He succeeds retiring Magistrate Judge Steven A. Heckenbach, who was appointed to the seat in 1991. Hockenberry will begin his duties on the bench, immediately.

EVANSDALE, Iowa (AP) — Motorcyclists have rallied in an eastern Iowa town to honor two cousins who were abducted and killed three years ago. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier says the third annual “Memorial Ride and Drive for the Girls” drew supporters Saturday to mark the anniversary of the day 10-year-old Lyric Cook-Morrissey and 8-year-old Elizabeth Collins were taken.

Officials with the Council Bluffs Police Department say the Council Bluffs Police and Fire Departments along with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office will be offering the public a Fireworks Amnesty on Saturday, July 18th. The program is designed to provide the public with a safe alternative for the disposal of unused fireworks following the Holiday weekend.

The drop off location is the Family Dollar/Auto Zone parking lot at 28th & West Broadway and the fireworks can be dropped off between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Cass County Democratic Part Chair Sherry Toelle says Desmund Adams, candidate for the United States House of Representatives in Iowa’s 3rd District, will be at Atlantic’s Family Table Restaurant for a “Meet & Greet” on Monday, July 20th, from 3:15-until 4-p.m.

Desmund Adams

Adams will be available for questions and will also discuss his platform.

Adams, who dropped out of high school and later moved to Iowa to pursue his education after earning his GED, went to Drake University,  where he earned both a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and, in 1999, a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the Drake University Law School. He is an award-winning entrepreneur, public speaker, community activist, and business leader who built his executive recruiting firm Adams Douglas.

In 2009, he received the State of Iowa House of Representative’s Certificate of Achievement for business and civic leadership. He was selected as a Forty Under 40 honoree by the award-winning central Iowa publication Business Record in 2013. He is a member of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, the former President of the Grubb YMCA Board of Managers, and is a Board Member of the Mercy College of Health Sciences.

Desmund Adams resides in Clive with his wife and their two sons. The public is invited and encouraged to attend the “Meet & Greet”

Former Maryland Governor and presidential candidate Martin O’Malley, will be a guest speaker at an Iowa Democratic Party (IDP) 3rd District”Summer Wine Down” reception in Winterset, on July 25th.

Gov. Martin O’Malley

O’Malley will speak at 4:30-p.m. during the event at the Madison County Historical Complex (815 S. 2nd Ave.).

Prior to the “Summer Wine Down,” Dr. Andy McGuire, IDP State Chair,will open a “Summer Workshop” at 9:30-a.m., with doors opening at 9-a.m., at the Winterset Senior High Auditorium. The workshop runs until 3:30-p.m.,  with the workshop ending at 3:30 pm. There is a$25 registration fee for the workshop, with lunch available for $8.

At 12:30 pm, U.S. Senate candidates-Tom Fiegen, Bob Krause, and Rob Hogg, as well as 3rd District Congressional candidate-Desmund Adams will speak.  Other candidates will be introduced.  Later, during the “Summer Wine Down,” which begins at 4-p.m., you can listen to the music of Midwest Express, and enjoy food and drinks.  Attendee’s are asked to bring their own lawn chairs.  A donation of $20 is suggested to help defray the expenses.

Gov.O’Malley will speak about 4:30 pm followed by a live auction.  County parties are encouraged to bring a theme basket to be auctioned.  Other Democratic presidential candidates have also been invited to the reception. All county and 3rd district central committee members are invited.  Activists,candidates, and elected officials are encouraged to attend.

The purpose of the workshop is to provide networking opportunities and training on a variety of topics that facilitates successful candidate recruitment and fundraising strategies across the district.  Developing local processes to extend the democratic media messages will also be presented.  Presenters will be a mix of local and IDP party officials and staff. For more information, look at the website  http://www.idp3.org

Authorities in Council Bluffs report a Nebraska man was critically injured during an accident early this (Sunday) morning. Officers and medical personnel responded to the accident on the Interstate 80 westbound off-ramp to the South Expressway (Highway 192), at around 2:25-a.m. Upon arrival the driver of the vehicle, 46-year old Dale Gaver, Jr., of Omaha, was found outside his vehicle laying on the ground. Gaver was transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, where he was listed in critical condition.

Authorities say alcohol was believed to be a factor in connection with the incident.

(Corrects timeline to show accident happened Sat. night, not Sunday night)

A passenger on a motorcycle was flown by helicopter to the University of Nebraska Hospital in Omaha following a collision with a car, Saturday night. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 72-year old Karen Ann Pratt, of Red Oak, was riding on a 2014 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by 70-year old Randall Douglas Pratt, of Red Oak, when the cycle swerved to avoid a collision with a vehicle driven by 57-year old Karen Lee Bryan, of Red Oak. The accident happened just before 11-p.m.

Bryan was driving a 1997 Buick LeSabre and had just turned south from W. Oak Street onto N. Broadway Street. She traveled a short distance south on Broadway before beginning to make a left turn into an eastbound alleyway. Bryan told authorities she didn’t see the approaching motorcycle and turned in front of it.

Although Randall Pratt swerved to avoid the collision, his Harley hit the car, ejecting Pratt onto the hood of the vehicle. Neither Randall Pratt nor Karen Bryan were injured. The side of the cycle came to rest against the front of the car. Karen Pratt was also ejected from the cycle, and came to rest on the roadway. She was treated at the scene by Red Oak Fire and Rescue before being flown to Omaha for additional treatment.

Damage from the collision amounted to $1,600. Authorities cited Karen Bryan for making an unsafe turn.

Authorities in Montgomery County are asking for the public’s help in solving a case of vehicle vandalism. The Sheriff’s Department says deputies investigated a report of vandalism at 1655 Ironwood Road Saturday evening. Upon arrival, they determined someone had broken the windows, headlights and taillights on a 2001 Volvo, belonging to 75-year old Delaine Willmer Isaacson, of Red Oak.

The incident happened someone between midnight and 6:45-p.m., Saturday. The damage was estimate at $3,000. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 712-623-5107, or Montgomery County Crimestoppers, at 1-888-434-2712.

Enrollment is dipping at Iowa Western Community College, driving down revenue and contributing to the college’s recent decision to increase tuition by $11 a credit hour. The Daily Non Pareil reports the decline follows a larger trend of decreasing community college enrollment across Iowa and nationally.

HUBBARD, Neb. (AP) — A newly opened lake in northeast Nebraska is drawing anglers and recreationalists from the area, including across the Missouri River in Iowa. The Sioux City Journal reports that the gates on the Danish Alps State Recreation Area near Hubbard opened Wednesday.

Located just south of Nebraska Highway 35, the park is named for the local hilly terrain that is reminiscent of the Danish homeland of the immigrants who settled in the area. The 746-acre park includes RV and tent camping, equestrian camping facilities, day use areas, a walking and hiking trail and equestrian trail.

The centerpiece is 226-acre Kramper Lake, named after Vince Kramper, a Dakota City farmer and conservationist. The lake has been stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, walleye and channel catfish.