(Clarinda, IA) – Page County Attorney James Varley’s office, today (Friday) released reports case outcomes in Page County District Court, for the week of Dec. 22nd, 2025. 

Aundrea Theresa Clay, age 32, of Red Oak, appeared with counsel and pled guilty to Possession of a Controlled Substance, Methamphetamine. The defendant was sentenced to a term of incarceration not to exceed two years. The sentence was suspended and the defendant was placed on probation for one year and was ordered to reside at the Residential Correctional Facility until maximum benefits are achieved. Defendant was ordered to pay a fine of $855, plus court costs and surcharges.

Dallas Levi Head, age 36, of Shenandoah, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Driving While Barred. The Defendant was sentenced to 5 days in the Page County Jail and ordered to pay a fine of $855, court costs, surcharges and court-appointed attorney fees.

Christopher Russell Marsh, age 40, of Clarinda, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Driving While License Revoked. The Defendant was fined $1,000 and ordered to pay court costs, surcharges and court-appointed attorney fees.

Nalea Ann Nothwehr, age 48, of Clarinda, appeared pro se and pled guilty to Operating While Under the Influence, 1^st Offense. The Defendant was sentenced to 2 days in jail and fined $1,250. Defendant was ordered to pay court costs, penalties and surcharges.

Dalton Justin Olenius Robberts, age 30, of Yutan, Nebraska, appeared with counsel and pled guilty to Operating Under the Influence, First Offense. The Defendant was sentenced to 30 days in jail with all but 2 days suspended. A fine of $1,250 was imposed and the defendant was placed on probation for 1 year. Defendant is required to complete a 12-hr Drinking Drivers Course and a Substance Abuse Evaluation, following up with any recommendations for treatment. Court costs, surcharges and fees were ordered to be paid.

Richard Daniel Rodriguez, age 28, of Clarinda, appeared with counsel and pled guilty to Count I: Possession of a Controlled Substance, Methamphetamine, With Intent to Deliver and Count IV: Child Endangerment. On Count I, the defendant was sentenced to a term of incarceration not to exceed 10 years and on Count IV, defendant was sentenced to a term of incarceration not to exceed 5 years. The sentences were ordered to run consecutively for a total of 15 years. The sentences were suspended and defendant was placed on probation for 3 years. As a condition of probation, the defendant is to reside at the Residential Correctional Facility until maximum benefits are achieved and complete a substance abuse evaluation. Fines of $1,000 on Count I and $1,025 on Count IV were imposed and suspended. Defendant was ordered to pay court costs and court-appointed attorney fees.

Michael Lee Rose, age 50, of Clarinda, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Count I: Possession of a Firearm or Offensive Weapon by Domestic Violence Offender; Count III: Possession of a Short Barrel Rifle/Shotgun; and Count V: Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. On Counts I and III the defendant was sentenced to a term of incarceration not to exceed 5 years on each count. On Count V, the Defendant was sentenced to a term of incarceration not to exceed 2 years. These sentences were ordered to run concurrently. A fine of $1,025 was imposed on Count I and Count III and $855 on Count V. The fines were suspended and the defendant was ordered to pay court costs and court-appointed attorney fees up to $350.

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

(Red Oak, IA) – Police in Red Oak have arrested a woman on an Assault charge. According to the press release, officers this (Friday) morning, arrested 40-year-old Holly Jo Anderson, of Red Oak, for Simple Assault.

Anderson was arrested in the 700 block of Sunset Avenue and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where her bond was set at $300.

(A report by the Iowa Capital Dispatch) – The Iowa Board of Nursing has issued a warning to a nurse suspected of being intoxicated at work and failing to report two arrests for drunken driving.

In 2020, the Board of Nursing charged Mandi Irlbeck of Harlan with excessive use of alcohol that might impair a licensee’s ability to practice nursing with reasonable skill and safety. The board alleged that in May 2020, Irlbeck came to work in a condition unfit to work. The board did not disclose the nature or place of her employment. In addition, the board said it received information that Irlbeck “excessively uses alcohol.” In a settlement, Irlbeck agreed to have her license placed on probation for 18 months, during which she would not use alcohol and would enroll in a chemical screening program.

In July 2025, the board received a complaint that Irlbeck’s coworkers suspected she had been intoxicated while working as a nurse. While looking into that matter, the board learned Irlbeck had failed to report a 2024 conviction for drunken driving during a period when she worked at a MercyOne medical facility.

The board also learned Irlbeck was then facing a charge of second-offense drunken driving that was still working its way through the courts. That charge stemmed from a May 2025 incident in which Irlbeck was pulled over near Logan and, according to police, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.235% — almost three times the legal limit for driving.

Court records show Irlbeck subsequently pleaded guilty to the second-offense drunken driving charge and, according to the board, she was fired from her place of employment due to concerns with her use of alcohol. The Board of Nursing charged Irlbeck with being convicted of an offense that directly relates to the duties and responsibilities of the nursing profession, and with engaging in behavior that is contradictory to professional decorum.

The board and Irlbeck recently agreed to a settlement that calls for Irlbeck to accept a warning that states any future infractions may result in some form of discipline. As part of the settlement, Irlbeck also agreed to enroll in the Iowa Practitioner Health Program. Her nursing license remains in full effect.

(Radio Iowa) – Several changes are in the works in this new year for Iowa’s casino industry, including more casinos leaving the water for land. Racing and Gaming Administrator Tina Eick (Ike) says things have moved right along and the new casino in Cedar Rapids should open in December of this year.

The Racing and Gaming Commission recently approved the purchase of the Catfish Bend Casino in Burlington by Elite Casino Resorts.

Elite Casinos also owns the Riverside Casino & Golf Resort in Riverside, the Rhythm City Casino Resort in Davenport, and Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort in Larchwood. They plan to rename Catfish Bend as the Great River Casino Resort. The Casino Queen in Marquette was purchased last year by Ballys, and Eick says they are making a change to the state’s smallest casino.

Eick says another casino boat will also be going away this year.

Casinos were only allowed on riverboats when the law was first enacted, and those boats had to take cruises on the water. That has slowly changed through the years, leading to boats being replaced by land-based casinos.

(Atlantic, IA) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors held their annual organization meeting in Atlantic, Friday morning. The Board elected to retain Supervisor Steve Baier as Board Chair, and Supervisor Mark O’Brien as Vice-Chair. They also approved the schedule of their monthly meetings, which are unchanged from last year, and will take place at 9-a.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the month.

On a related note, the Board approved continuing with the use of Zoom as an electronic means of broadcasting their meetings to the public.

Cass County Board of Supervisors meeting, 1-2-26 via Zoom

The Cass County Supervisors named the official County newspapers for publishing of notices and legal information. They include the Anita Tribune, Atlantic News Telegraph, and Griswold American. County employees’ reimbursement rate for mileage was set at 72-cents, as per the current IRS allowable rate. The Board left the medical examiner fees unchanged at $200. And, the dates the Courthouse will be closed were left unchanged.

The Supervisors agreed to let the courthouse department heads determine Christmas Eve hours for those employees who are not covered by bargaining agreements. The courthouse will otherwise remain open as usual that day. In other business, the Board approved use of the Master Matrix, with regard to the construction of livestock confinement facilities. Chairman Baier explains:

The Cass County Supervisors approved the re-appointment of Dennis Vogl as County Weed Commissioner. Baier stated:

They also approved a lease for 601 Walnut Street by the Iowa Department of Administrative Services, and a letter of support for a grant application being submitted by Cass Health, for a PET/CT machine.

(Red Oak, IA) – A man from Red Oak was arrested following a traffic stop New Year’s Day. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 44-year-old Jesse Donald Trost was taken into custody for driving under suspension. Trost was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on bond amounting to $491.25.

Officers with the Red Oak Police Department also arrested 50-year-old Marsha Elaine Terry, of Red Oak, on New Year’s Day. She was arrested in he 1900 block of Broadway Street for OWI/1st offense. Marsha Terry was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

(Creston, IA) – Officials with the Creston Police Department report numerous arrests/citations this week, heading into the new year. Their report states the following:

On December 31st:

• @ 11:00am – Amanda Kay Sauer, 38, of Creston, was arrested at her residence. Sauer was charged with Attempted Burglary 3rd Degree. Sauer was cited and released on a Promise to Appear.
• @ 7:37pm – Jason Allan Lohoff, 52, of Creston, was arrested at Adams and Sumner. Lohoff was charged with Theft 5th Degree x 9. Lohoff was taken to Union County Jail. Bail in the amount of $2700 cash or surety was posted.

On January 1st:

• @ 1:48am – Tanner James Richardson, 19, of Tingley, Iowa, was arrested at 600 S. Bureau St. Richardson was charged with Reckless Driving, Driving While License Under Suspension, and Operating While Under the Influence 1st Offense. Richardson was taken to Union County Jail. Bail in the amount of $1300 def can post 10% was posted.
• @ 8:50am – Austin Allan Jones, 31, of Creston, was arrested at 803 Laurel St. Jones was charged with Violation of No Contact Order x 2, Theft 2nd Degree, Theft 1st Degree and Ongoing Criminal Conduct. Jones was taken to Union County Jail. Bail is set in the amount of No Bond Until Seen by Judge.
• @ 6:55pm – Jordan Renee Humphreys, 33, of Creston, was arrested at 302 N. Pine St. Humphreys was charged with Animal at Large. Humphreys was cited and released on Promise to Appear.
• @ 12:11am – Wyatt Gary Lee Wheeler, 18, of Lorimor, Iowa, was arrested at Hwy 34 and Osage. Wheeler was charged with Operating While Under the Influence 1st Offense. Wheeler was taken to Union County Jail. Bail in the amount of $1000 cash was posted.

The preliminary 2025 Iowa traffic death total is the lowest in 100 years. Radio Iowa’s Dar Danielson reports.

(as said) The Iowa D-O-T’s traffic death count for 2025 was 260 through December 31st. The state waits 30 days after the end of the year before setting the final total to account for anyone who may die from injuries suffered in the final month of the year. December saw the lowest deaths of 2025 with a total of ten — and a drop of 26 traffic deaths from last year. August was the worst month for deaths at 36, and the only month of the year to top 30. Overall traffic deaths are down by 97 compared to 2024.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (KWQC) – The Iowa Donor Network honored the life of a young girl who saved six lives through organ donation with a floragraph portrait at the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, Thursday. Natalie McCleary of Fruitland, Iowa, passed away in 2022 at 13 years old after quietly battling depression. Her family is working to carry on her legacy by encouraging others to become organ donors and break the stigma around mental health.

Natalie Marie McCleary grew up in Fruitland, Iowa. She excelled academically and embraced extracurricular activities, such as volleyball, but her true gift lay in music. A skilled pianist, Natalie consistently won competitions, her performances leaving a lasting impression.

Tragically, Natalie quietly battled depression, and on Dec. 3, 2022, she made the heartbreaking decision to take her own life. She was taken to the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, where her family fought alongside her. Despite efforts, Natalie’s death was declared on Dec. 7th. Throughout her life, Natalie always demonstrated a heart for others, leading them to the decision to donate her organs.

The family says Natalie’s story is a powerful reminder that mental health matters and of the impact organ donation can have by being able to make a difference in the lives of others. On Thursday, a floragraph portrait placed on a float at the Rose Parade continues that legacy.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, help is available. You can call or text the National Crisis Lifeline at 988. It is accessible 24/7 and connects callers to someone locally who can offer support.