CASS Incorporated has been awarded a 2017 Top Workplaces honor for the seventh consecutive year by The Des Moines Register. They are one of ten business in the state that have achieved this. The Top Workplaces lists are based solely on the results of an employee feedback survey administered by WorkplaceDynamics, LLC, a leading research firm that specializes in organizational health and workplace improvement.

CASS Incorporated, a 501(c)3 Iowa non-profit corporation, has been providing rehabilitative services for people with disabilities since the mid 1970’s. In September of 2017, CASS announced their merger with Crossroads of Western Iowa, a company whose mission mirrors CASS’s in that they provide training and support for persons with disabilities. The combined organization will expand services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental illness and brain injuries.

Brent Dillinger, CEO of Crossroads of Western Iowa, said in a Press Release, “Being named a 2017 Top Workplaces is an honor to our organization as a whole. It shows that our mission of empowering individuals to seek an enhanced quality of life is alive in the community. We are excited about Crossroads’ merger with CASS Incorporated. It’s a great opportunity for our employees, clients and the community.”

Crossroads of Western IA has been in existence since 1975 providing individuals with disabilities opportunities in independent living, employment and volunteer services. Several aspects of workplace culture were measured, including Alignment, Execution, and Connection, just to name a few.

Doug Claffey, CEO of WorkplaceDynamics, said  “To be a Top Workplace, organizations must meet our strict standards for organizational health. And who better to ask about work life than the people who live the culture every day—the employees. Time and time again, our research has proven that what’s most important to them is a strong belief in where the organization is headed, how it’s going to get there, and the feeling that everyone is in it together.”

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of 36-year-old Gary O. Smith of Red Oak on Wednesday afternoon. Officers arrested Smith at 1:25pm in the 400 block of North 7th Street on a warrant for Failure to Appear on a charge of Disorderly Conduct. Smith was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $1,000 cash bond.

The Iowa Department of Transportation says it is conducting a study of Interstate 80 and would like your input. The study will be developed and released through a series of technical reports that identify the existing conditions of I-80, the way the system is performing, short- and long-term issues, and strategies to improve the route. Each report will be accessible online as it becomes available: www.iowadot.gov/interstatestudy.

A technical report entitled “Modal Options” was recently posted to the I-80 Planning Study website.  The Iowa DOT is asking interested parties to take a few minutes to review this report and other materials on the I-80 Planning Study website.  To comment on the report (or others), go to: https://bit.ly/I80Comment.

After going missing in the aftermath of Sunday’s mass shooting in Las Vegas, a 33-year-old northwest Iowa woman who was shot in the rampage has been found dead.
According to KTIV-TV, the victim’s sister-in-law, Sarah Rowher confirms that Carly Kreibaum of Sutherland was killed in the attack at the country music festival in Las Vegas. Funeral arrangements are pending. The pastor of the Sutherland Church of Christ, John Erickson, says that they held a prayer service for Carly Kreibaum and her family on Monday night. About 60 friends and community members attended. Pastor Erickson says that they’re encouraging everyone to pray for Kreibaum’s husband, Chris, and their family. According to the pastor, Kreibaum was attending the concert on Sunday with her friends, Alison Huckaby of Sutherland and Amy Douglas of Cherokee, and got separated from them in the aftermath of the shooting. Rowher confirmed on Tuesday night that Kreibaum had died after she was shot.

(Radio Iowa)

Dale Sunderman, Cass County Auditor, reports that ballots for the Nov. 7, 2017 CITY ELECTIONS (Anita, Atlantic, Cumberland, Griswold, Lewis, Marne, Massena and Wiota) are available at the Cass County Auditor’s Office.  Absentee ballots may be requested by registered voters not going to the assigned voting site on election day, November 7, 2017.   Polls will be open from NOON to 8 p.m. for all cities in Cass County.  Voters unable to go to a voting site on election day may vote prior to election day by paper ballot either (1) IN PERSON AT THE OFFICE OF THE CASS COUNTY AUDITOR during regular office hours at the Cass County Courthouse, Atlantic, Iowa or (2) BY MAIL.

The Cass County Auditor recommends that a person unable to go to a voting site on November 7 (election day), request by mail or visit the auditor’s office as soon as they know they are aware of that fact.  For all voting centers that open at noon on election day, absentee ballots may be cast at the county auditor’s office on election day between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Deadline for voters to request an absentee ballot to be mailed is Friday, November 3rd (Iowa Code 53.2).

MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROCESS:

TO VOTE AN ABSENTEE BALLOT BY MAIL, A written request for an absentee ballot must be made on an official absentee ballot request form.

1. Deliver an OFFICIAL ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUEST FORM by mail or personal carrier to the auditor’s office.

Request forms are available at the auditor’s office or on the internet at http://www.sos.iowa.gov  The request must be signed to be valid.

2. When a request is received by the auditor, a ballot will be mailed if the person is a registered elector.  A request for a ballot to be mailed must be received by the county auditor no later than 5 p.m. Friday, November 3rd.

(If a request is received from a person not registered to vote in Cass County, the person will not be sent an absentee ballot until he/she has registered to vote in Cass County and has completed a new absentee ballot request form.  The auditor will send the person a registration form and an absentee ballot request form.  Note: the registration form must be received by the county auditor no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, November 3, 2017.)

3. Upon receipt of the ballot, the voter completes the ballot, seals it in a stamped/preaddressed Return Affidavit Envelope and signs the Voter’s Affidavit on the outside of the envelope.  The envelope is to be returned by mail or hand delivered to the county auditor no later than the close of election polls on November 7, 2017.

TO VOTE AN ABSENTEE BALLOT IN THE OFFICE OF THE CASS COUNTY AUDITOR you may stop in and request a ballot over the counter. The ballot must then be voted immediately in a voting booth located in that office.  The ballot will be sealed in an affidavit envelope by the voter, will be left at the auditor’s office, and will be retained with all other absentee ballots that are cast by mail or in person.  Last day to vote absentee in the office of the county auditor is Tuesday, November 7, 2017 no later than 11 a.m.

On election day a counting board will process/tabulate all absentee ballots.

Office hours for the Cass County Auditor are Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. thru 4:30 p.m.  (Auditor’s office will be open until 5 p.m. on October 27, November 3 and November 6)

In order to vote in this election you must be a resident of the respective city and be registered to vote. A person must re-register if that person has moved or has changed his/her name since he/she last registered.  Deadline for mailed registration forms to be delivered to the County Auditor’s office for this election is no later than 5 p.m. Friday, November 3, 2017.  A person may register and vote absentee on the same day, including election day.  The DATE FOR THE REGULAR CITY ELECTION is TUESDAY, November 7, 2017.  The polls open at NOON for all cities in Cass County and all polls close at 8 p.m.

Additional information for the November 7, 2017 CITY ELECTION:

ALL POLLING/VOTING CENTERS for all cities in Cass County will open
                           at 12 noon and close at 8 P.M.

ANITA:  The polling precinct is located at the Anita Community Center, 805 Main St.

ATLANTIC:

• FIRST WARD  –  Zion Lutheran Church, 9th St between Linn St and Oak Street
• SECOND WARD –  Atlantic Public Library, 6th & Poplar Street
• THIRD WARD  –  Cass County Community Center, 805 West 10th Street
• FOURTH WARD –  United Church of Christ, 1607 Hazel Street
• FIFTH WARD  –  Heritage House, 1200 Brookridge Circle

CUMBERLAND:  The polling precinct is located at the Cumberland Community Building, 200 W 2nd Street

GRISWOLD:  The polling precinct is located at the Griswold Community Center, 601 2nd Street

LEWIS:  The polling precinct is located at the Lewis Public Library,  412 W Main Street

MARNE:  The polling precinct is located at the Marne City Hall,   402 Washington Street

MASSENA:  The polling precinct is located at the Massena Public Library,  122 Main Street

WIOTA:  The polling precinct is located at the Wiota City Hall, 311 Center Street.

It may not have been “The Great Pumpkin,” but A pumpkin was stolen from a residence in Creston, earlier this week. Creston Police say a woman residing in the 200 block of N. Cherry Street reported late Tuesday morning, that someone had stolen a lighted pumpkin ornament from her home. The loss was estimated at $80.