The Cass County Democratic Party is gearing up for their 6th Annual School Supply Drive. School supplies collected will be divided among the three county school districts to serve those children who are in the most need. Democratic Party Chair Sherry Toelle says “We want to provide the children of Cass County with needed school supplies that they might not otherwise be able to afford. This is part of our Democratic mission–to serve those in the community who need our help.” She added, “Later in the year we will also be sponsoring a Food Drive and perhaps a winter clothing drive.”

Supplies can be taken to the Cass County Democratic Party’s Fair Booth during the Cass County Fair, from July 28th through the 31st, or to its booth at AtlanticFest on August 12th. You can also drop off supplies at Toelle’s home, located at 10 East 13th Street in Atlantic. Needed supplies include everything from backpacks to pencils and pens to notebooks to personal supplies such as facial tissue.

Toelle stressed that “While the Democratic Party is sponsoring this drive, it is open to all members of the community. It is a non-partisan event for our children.”

U-S Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), will hold a town hall meeting next week, in Shelby County. Ernst will discuss with area residents issues that are most important to them, as part of her 99 County Tour. The meeting takes place 8-a.m. Monday, July 10th, in the Auditorium at the Harlan Community High School, in Harlan. The meeting is open to the public.

(8-a.m. News)

The demand for food assistance has pushed the state’s largest food bank past a “milestone.” Danny Akright, with the Food Bank of Iowa, says “We now average a distribution of one million pounds of food a month, but even a million pounds is not enough.”

The organization distributes food to about 500 organizations in 55 counties and it has set a new goal. The Food Bank of Iowa wants to double its output and distribute TWO million pounds of food per month. “Throughout Iowa, roughly 375,000 Iowans struggle with food insecurity — the lack of access at all times to enough food to lead an active, healthy life,” Akright says. “More than 121,000 of these Iowans are kids.”

The Food Bank of Iowa was established in 1982, during the Farm Crisis. According to its website, the organization has distributed more than 163 million meals in the past 35 years. The Food Bank of Iowa works with food pantries and homeless shelters as well as veterans organizations and schools. “Food insecurity is pervasive throughout our country, affecting every single county in our state and every other,” Alright says. “It strikes big cities, small towns, suburbs, everywhere. It burdens parents, grandparents, kids, veterans, those struggling with serious health issues.”

The most recent figures from the U-S-D-A indicate about 13 percent of Iowans regularly skip meals because they do not have enough food. The Food Bank of Iowa serves counties in northwest, north central, central, southern and southeast Iowa, including Adair, Adams, Audubon, Carroll, Dallas, Greene, Guthrie, Madison, Union, Taylor and Ringgold Counties.

(Radio Iowa)

The Creston Police Department reports a man from Adair County was arrested early this (Wednesday) morning, on a drug-related charge. 24-year old Zachary Utterback, of Greenfield, was arrested in the 400 block of Cherry Street in Creston, at around 12:45-a.m. He was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and brought to the Union County Jail, where bond was set at $300.

Creston Police arrested 23-year old Troy Clausen, of Greenfield, at around 2-a.m. today (Wednesday), for OWI/1st offense. Clausen was being held in the Union County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

Monday night, Creston Police arrested 47-year old Johnny Agans, of Creston, for Public Intoxication, and 38-year old Lela Churchwell, of Creston, for Simple Assault. Churchwell and Agans were later released from custody on a promise to appear in court.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A woman is hospitalized after being shot by a Des Moines police officer. Police Sgt. Paul Parizek says the woman was wounded during an incident shortly after 2 a.m. Wednesday. Few details were released initially about what happened.

No officers were hurt during the confrontation. The incident will be investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.