(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Rising, in partnership with Hy-Vee, will continue to lead the Christmas Box Program this holiday season. The program was originally started by West Central Community Action over 20 years ago. The Jaycees took the program over soon after it started and then passed the program to Atlantic Rising in 2018. Kelsey Beschorner, Programs Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said “This program helps families and individuals in need of a Christmas dinner. Atlantic Rising members, along with community volunteers, delivered boxes to 165 individuals and families last year. With today’s continued challenges, we expect to see a continued increase in nominations this year.”

Atlantic Rising is preparing for the 5th Annual Trivia Night that will take place this Saturday, November 5th at the Venue. The event will include eight rounds of ten questions each. Categories range from math to music to Saturday Night Live and everything in between. There is a prize awarded to the winning team. Teams are also encouraged to create team themes to add to the fun of the evening.

Beschorner says “Trivia Night is the organization’s main fundraising event for Christmas Boxes, and year after year participants enjoy a fun night while raising money for an impactful project. With the projected numbers of families served, we will also be reaching out to businesses and community members asking for donations and volunteers to help serve as many families as possible. Any time our community needs us, we are there to put in the work.”

On December 15th, members of Atlantic Rising and local volunteers will fill and deliver boxes of food items to families and individuals who can then use them to cook Christmas dinner. “Atlantic Rising is proud to carry on this tradition of the Christmas Box program, and we are thankful that we are able to partner with HyVee and give back to the community in such a great way,” Beschorner said.

To nominate a family or individual, or if you are interested in volunteering, contact Atlantic Rising at 712.243.3017 or chamber@atlanticiowa.com.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors held their regular weekly meeting this (Tuesday) morning. The Board heard a brief report from Engineer Karen Albert.

The Commercial rezoning she spoke of pertains to U Avenue in Villisca. A report was also received from County Veteran’s Affairs Executive Director Curtis White, who spoke on all the activities his department has been involved in helping.

White said also, he’s spent several hours both on-and-offline, in various training courses over the past six months. Director White said one of the things that has been drawing increased traffic into his office, is questions and claims pertaining to the PACT ACT, which was signed into law in August 2022.

This issue is separate from the lawsuit over contaminated ground/drinking water in Camp Lejeune that you may heard so much about. White said in the third-quarter, Montgomery County received more than $8-million in total compensation for Veteran’s Compensation and Pension, Medical, Education and Insurance. He mentioned also, a spaghetti feed will be held from 5-until 7-p.m.on Veterans Day (Nov. 11), at the Eagles Club in Red Oak. There is no charge for Veterans to partake in the dinner.

The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors discussed, but took no action on the proposed Summit Pipeline Ordinance, because it’s under review by the County Attorney.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue and his staff, report nine arrests took place from Oct. 17th through the 31st. In reverse order:

On Monday, Oct. 31….48-year-old Dan Christensen, of Atlantic, was arrested for Assault causing bodily injury, and for Possession of a controlled substance/marijuana. And, 42-year-old Albert Kintin, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public intoxication and consumption of alcohol in a public place.

On Oct. 24th...29-year-old Jason Mark, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Failure to Appear. And, 27-year-old Sakios Yleiza, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault/2nd offense, and Violation of a No Contact Order.

On the 22nd, of October….22-year-old BJ Taun, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication, and, 38-year-old Fernando Villa-Diaz, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault & Child Endangerment.

There were two arrests Oct. 21st in Atlantic….30-year-old Casey Manzanares, of Atlantic, was arrested for Violation of Probation. And, 54-year-old Honey Kelver, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault.

And, on Oct. 17th, Atlantic Police arrested 32-year-old Tyler Mills, of Atlantic, for Harassment in the 3rd Degree and two counts Violation of a No Contact Order.

All nine subjects were transported to the Cass County (IA) Jail, booked in and held. As of today (November 1st) these individuals remain in the Jail: BJ Taun; Sakios Yleiza; Dan Christensen, & Albert Kintin.

Des Moines, Iowa – State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald is recognizing Veteran’s Day by spreading the word about lost and forgotten war memorabilia turned over to the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt. “Safe deposit boxes are often used to keep important documents and items secure,” said Fitzgerald. “If the boxes go three years with no activity, the contents are turned over to my office as unclaimed property. Some items we find while inventorying the contents are Purple Hearts, other medals and honorable discharge papers.”

Reuniting Iowans and veterans with their lost treasures has always been a mission for Fitzgerald. “We work year-round to reunite these items with the owners of the safe deposit box,” continued Fitzgerald. “Utilizing Veteran’s Day to emphasize our efforts, I have put together a list of individuals who have military-related items currently being held in my office. Keep in mind some of these items may have been passed over multiple generations or between loved ones, so the name listed does not necessarily mean the item was theirs.”

• Ruth Manhood: Robert Mahood military discharge papers
• Norman Stroink: Good Conduct medal dated July 24, 1943
• Martha Celia Stehn: World War II medal
• Jack and Penny Harker: National Defense medal
• Bruce Hutchison: military medals and French War Medal letter
• Bruce Vierling: Good Conduct medal and pins
• Christopher Garmon: Army training documents
• Jaret Goforth: Army discharge papers
• Lois Priebe: Honorable Discharge papers
• Mary Creech: military pins

If you are on this list or recognize a name, search at GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov or contact Fitzgerald’s claims team, at FoundIt@tos.iowa.gov or (515) 281-5367.”

Every year, millions of dollars in abandoned property are turned over to the State Treasurer’s Office as unclaimed property, which refers to money and other assets held by financial institutions, businesses and organizations that have lost contact with the owner for a specific period of time. In addition to abandoned safe deposit box contents, other common forms of unclaimed property include dormant checking and saving accounts, uncashed checks, lost stocks, life insurance policies and utility deposits.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Area Chamber’s Annual Scrooge Contest is now underway, through the month of November. Eleanor Hoover, who passed away in 2019, organized the contest beginning in 2002 just one year after the inaugural Lighted Parade. Her daughters, Jackie Sampson and Billie Hoover, took the reins in 2019. The Scrooge contestants raise money and collect non-perishable food items for the Atlantic Food Pantry. The 2022 candidates include: Dr. Matt Weresh, Cass Health; Dave Frederiksen, Atlantic Hy-Vee; Jeff Gude, First Whitney Bank & Trust and Joyce Wieser & Lori Blum, Brown’s Shoe Fit.

Photo Left to Right: Dr. Matt Weresh, Lori Blum, Joyce Wieser, Jeff Gude and Dave Frederiksen

The contest will run from November 1st to November 22nd at noon. The contestant with the most points will be named Scrooge and all proceeds will benefit the Atlantic Food Pantry. Winner of the Scrooge Contest serves as the Grand Marshal in the Lighted Parade on December 3rd at 6 PM in Downtown Atlantic. Cash donations are worth 5 points on the dollar and one non-perishable item earns the contestants one point. Donations to a contestant can be made by delivering food or funds to their drop off locations. For more information, please call the Chamber at 712.243.3017 or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com. The contest will run November 1st – November 22nd.

Bailey Smith, Executive Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce says “I’m so thankful Jackie and Billie agreed to carry on the tradition and help us organize the contest. Each year, more goods are donated and more money is raised, which continues to benefit a growing number of individuals and families in our community.”

The Atlantic Food Pantry is asking for a specific list of food items, with a focus on monetary donations to help purchase other food items that are needed including meat and refrigerated items. The list of needed food items includes:

• Cream of Chicken/Mushroom Soup; Tomato/Chicken Noodle Soup; Ramen Noodles
• Hamburger Helper; Boxed Noodles
• Canned Beef Ravioli/Spaghetti O’s; Canned Manwich or Sloppy Joe
• Instant Sides (Packages) – Pasta, Sauce or Potato
• Boxed Cereal
• Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
• Saltine Crackers
• Canned Fruit
• Bar Soap
• Canned Tuna/Chicken
• Macaroni & Cheese
• Canned Vegetables; Chili Beans; Diced Tomatoes
• Toilet Paper
• 18 oz. Creamy Peanut Butter
  Quick Oats (no milk needed)
• Pancake/Waffle Mix (no milk needed); Pancake/Waffle Syrup
• Pasta Sauce“Our food pantry continues to see an increase of individuals and families in need of food assistance. We have such a great group of candidates this year. They’re all very determined people who already do a lot for our community. I have no doubt this will be another successful year for the pantry and our community,” mentioned Smith.Past Scrooge titles have been awarded to: Mary Ann Moorman 2007, Dana Halder 2008, Tammy Wise & Janet Huey 2009, Ritchie Anderson 2010, Janet Cappel 2011, Melanie Petty 2012, David Miller 2013, Mark McNees 2014, Ted Robinson 2015, Jon Johnson 2016, Rob Stamp 2017, Rob & Sonya Clausen 2018, Billie Hoover, Jackie Sampson & Lori Christianson 2019, Brain Ruge 2020 and Ray Paulin 2021.

The Creston Police Department reports two people were arrested on separate charges, Monday, while another was cited. At around 11-p.m., 39-year-old Bithia Erin Whitfield, of Creston, was arrested at the Creston/Union County Law Enforcement Center. Whitfield was charged with Assault – Intent to cause pain/injury and subsequently released on a Promise to Appear in court. And, 37-year-old Colan Kelly Hanner, of Creston, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct-Abuse Epithets/Threatening Gesture. He was being held on a $300 bond.

21-year-old Andrew George Mills, of Lenox, was cited by Creston Police, for allowing an Animal to run At-Large. He was released at the scene with the citation. Creston Police said also, a man residing in the 400 block of New York Avenue, in Creston, reported that his various yard decorations were stolen from his residence. The loss was estimated at $220.