Atlantic Park and Recreation Department Director Byrant Rasmussen, Friday, said Atlantic Parks and Recreation has opened up the roads through Sunnyside as of this (Friday) afternoon March 12, 2021. The roads had been closed for the season since Dec. 23, 2020.

(By Atlantic FFA reporter Aspen Niklasen) – On Saturday, March 6th, 2021, 30 members of the Atlantic FFA chapter competed in the District Career Development Events in Corning. The District FFA CDE is the second round of FFA speaking events with the top 2 individuals and teams advancing to State FFA Convention in April. During the District Business session Sophomore Dylan Comes was elected as the District treasurer for 2021-22. Comes will have several new responsibilities in his office. To earn his newly elected spot he had to give a speech and answered two questions earlier during the business session. Comes said “It was a very challenging and fun experience. I am really looking forward to all the new people I will meet, all the things I will learn, and places I will go for the next year.”

District Group: Close to Far
Jackson McLaren, Daniel Freund, Dylan Comes Bryan York, Claire Pellett

Dylan Comes SW District Treasurer

Cooper Jipsen 1st Place Ag Welding

Hannah Carlson and Logan Eilts were the chapter delegates for Atlantic FFA at convention. Delegates at the District Career Development Event help pick next year’s district officers. Dan Freund and Jackson McLaren competed in the FFA Chapter Website earning a silver getting 5th place. Jackson McLaren said, “The Chapter Website was a good learning experience for me to get more comfortable with technology. It was also interesting to learn more about our Chapter’s history. “ Cooper Jipsen competed in Ag Welding earning a Gold and placing 1st. The FFA Agricultural Welding CDE Contest tests students’ skills in agriculture welding.

Jipsen said “It was a really good time, and I got to meet a lot of new people. For the contest we had to do three stick welds and two wire welds.” Wyatt Redinbaugh competed in Torch Welding earning a Gold placing 3rd. The torch welding contest works to better improve students skills in torch welding. FFA member Dylan Comes competed in Extemporaneous Speaking earning a Silver placing 4th. In Extemporaneous Speaking students showcase their agricultural knowledge and ability to think on their feet in front of a panel of judges. Bryan York competed in Ag Sales and earned a Silver placing 4th. Students build a sales plan and demonstrate skills in customer relations for the Ag sales competition. “I was competing by trying to sell a product to a potential customer. In my case I was trying to sell vegetables.” said York.

Clarire Pellett competed in FFA Creed and earned a Silver placing 5th. In FFA Creed, FFA members recite the National FFA Creed to develop public speaking skills and self-confidence. “It was a great experience to work on my public speaking and to work on thinking on the spot.” said Pellett. Taylor McCreedy competed in Ag Broadcasting earned a Silver placing 6th. The Ag Broadcasting contest helps members learn to communicate effectively while advocating for agriculture. In the Farm Business Management Test Atlantic FFA had 10 members complete. Drey Newell, Cooper Jipsen, Hannah Carlson, Bryan York, Malena Woodward, Wyatt Redinbaugh, Caroline Pellett, Aspen Niklasen, Garrett Reynonlds, and Logan Eilts earned a Silver medal.

The members took a test that helped them learn business skills and apply economic principles to agricultural businesses, through a series of questions. In the FFA Freshman Greenhand Quiz, Atlantic FFA had 10 members compete. Claire Pellett, Callee Pellett, Tate Niklasen, Charles Klemmensen, Colton Becker, Chris Keegan earned Silver and Colton Rudy, Thomas Leonard, Roth Den Beste earned a Bronze medal. The purpose of the test is to show that members have an understanding of the history and purpose of FFA.

Finally, seven members of the Atlantic FFA earned the FFA Academic Achievement Award. To earn this award an FFA member must be a member for 3 years and maintain a 3.5 GPA while in high school. These years were awarded to Bethany Anderson, Craig Alan Becker, Hannah Carlson, Alyssa Derby, Gunner Kirchhoff, Taylor McCreedy, Drey Newell, Caroline Pellett and Garrett Reynolds. Atlantic FFA Advisor Eric Miller said, “We had a pretty good day. I am proud of all our students that competed today and gave their best effort.”

One person was injured during a singe-vehicle accident early Friday morning, in Page County. The Sheriff’s Office was notified about the crash of a 2020 Honda Accord, at around 2:20-a.m. The accident took place on T Avenue, in the 2400 block, or about three-miles south of Clarinda. The investigation showed that 50-year old Matthew Steven McClarnon, of rural Braddyville,  was traveling southbound and failed to negotiate the curve in the road. His vehicle entered the east ditch. The vehicle then struck a field entrance and began to roll. The vehicle then struck a utility pole owned by MidAmerican Energy breaking the pole prior to coming to rest against a fence.

McClarnon was found at his residence a short time later and transported to the Clarinda Regional Health Center for undisclosed injuries by the Clarinda Ambulance Service. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $25,000, and the utility pole sustained and estimated $500 damage. Charges are pending at this time. The Page County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Clarinda Ambulance Service and the Clarinda Fire Department.

Page County Sheriff’s Deputies, Thursday, arrested a man on a Page County warrant. 53-year-old Rodney Eugene Allely, of Shenandoah, was arrested at his residence on the warrant for Possession of a controlled substance. Allely was transported to the Page County Jail where he was being held on $1,000 bond, pending further court proceedings. Shenandoah Police assisted with the arrest.

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports deputies responded Thursday night to an alleged domestic incident in Bayard, involving a firearm.  According to Sheriff Marty Arganbright, a woman told authorities 40-year-old Justin Wynia, allegedly pointed a firearm at her, and claimed he would hurt her.  Wynia was taken into custody and transported to the Guthrie County Jail.

The Sheriff’s Office says an investigation into the incident is ongoing, and that no charges have been filed at this time.

Audubon County Sheriff Todd Johnson reports three recent arrests:

• Thursday (March 11), 35-year old Cassandra Huston, of West Des Moines, was arrested on six outstanding traffic citation warrants. She appeared before the magistrate and was released on a promise to appear. The warrants stem from a traffic stop in June of 2019.
• On March 6th, 19-year-old Treynor Dixon, of Corning, was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated- 2nd offense, and Providing False Identification Information. He posted bond and was released. He will appear before the magistrate at a later date. The charges stem from a traffic stop in the area of Littlefield Dr. and Heron Pl.
• and, 41-year old Christopher Knight, of Denison, was arrested in Audubon County on March 5th. He was taken into custody on two counts of Domestic Abuse Assault- 3rd or subsequent offense. The charges stem from two separate incidents occurring on March 3rd and March 4th. Knight was seen by the Magistrate and was released to another county on an outstanding warrant.

The man who struck and killed an eight-year-old boy in Council Bluffs last Spring, was sentenced to five-years in jail. The hit-and-run accident happened April 15, 2020, and claimed the life of Quintin Brownfield. KETV reports 37-year-old Troy Pokorny pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of the collision.

Officers called at around 6:30 p.m. to the intersection of Franklin and Carson Avenues in Council Bluffs, found the child lying in the roadway, bleeding from the head. Brownfield was taken to UNMC where he was pronounced deceased soon after his arrival. Witnesses told police that the vehicle involved fled the scene. One witness was able to identify Pokorny as the driver.

When approached by officers, Pokorny said he was on his way to Walgreens at the time of the collision. He stated that he was northbound on Franklin Avenue when he saw a child on a scooter coming down a steep hill west bound. He stated that as he was approaching the child the child failed to stop resulting in him clipping him with his vehicle. The report also says he panicked before fleeing the scene.

Officers said they observed some clues of intoxication coming from Pokorny. Some signs included the smell of an alcoholic beverage, watery eyes and admission of drinking. Tests for sobriety showed a .052% and a .030% BAC at the time of the test result. Drug test results showed positive for marijuana metabolites but it was too low to qualify as OWI. Officers also discovered Pokorny has not has a driver’s license since 2015 when it was first suspended.

A GoFundMe page has been started by Quintin’s family.

WASHINGTON (AP) — No need to lose sleep over the shift to dayshift saving time (Daylight Saving Time [DST]), this weekend. The sun will still come up, though the dawn’s early light will break through later than it has during standard time and the twilight’s last gleaming will extend deeper into the evening. The annual shift comes at 2 a.m. local time Sunday in most of the United States.

Graphic is a reminder to turn the clocks ahead one hour

Don’t forget to set your clocks an hour ahead, usually before bed Saturday night, to avoid being late for Sunday morning activities. No time change is observed in Hawaii, most of Arizona, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Marianas. Standard time returns Nov. 7.

And yes, it is said “Daylight Saving Time,” not “Savings” Time.

(Des Moines, IA) As Iowa anticipates one million doses administered of the COVID-19 vaccine, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have issued updated guidance for nursing homes to safely expand visitation options during the COVID-19 pandemic public health emergency (PHE). Nationwide, more than three million doses of vaccines have been administered within nursing homes to staff and residents. To date in Iowa, through the Long Term Care Pharmacy Partnership Program, a total of 139,142 doses have been administered; 75,125 first doses and 64,017 second doses. Resident doses account for 78,204 of the total and 60,963 are staff.

According to the updated guidance, facilities should allow responsible indoor visitation at all times and for all residents, regardless of vaccination status of the resident, or visitor, unless certain scenarios arise that would limit visitation for:

• Unvaccinated residents, if the COVID-19 county positivity rate is greater than 10 percent and less than 70 percent of residents in the facility are fully vaccinated;
• Residents with confirmed COVID-19 infection, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, until they have met the criteria to discontinue transmission-based precautions;
• or, Residents in quarantine, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, until they have met criteria for release from quarantine.

“Spending time with loved ones and seeing them in person is critical to overall well-being. This past year has been incredibly challenging and hard on older Iowans and their loved ones. This is great news and one more step closer to normal,” said Kelly Garcia, Director of the Department of Human Services and Department of Public Health interim director. The updated guidance also emphasizes that “compassionate care” visits should be allowed at all times, regardless of a resident’s vaccination status, the county’s COVID-19 positivity rate, or an outbreak. Compassionate care visits include visits for a resident whose health has sharply declined or is experiencing a significant change in circumstances.

CMS continues to recommend facilities, residents, and families adhere to the core principles of COVID-19 infection control, including maintaining physical distancing and conducting visits outdoors whenever possible. This continues to be the safest way to prevent the spread of COVID-19, particularly if either party has not been fully vaccinated. An updated guidance document from the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Department of Inspections and Appeals is forthcoming.

March 12, 2021 – Carrie Petersen, owner of “coffeegirl” in Atlantic, has announced the new location of her shop, effective March 24th, will be 422 Chestnut Street, formerly known as the Tinder Box. coffeegirl has been serving Atlantic for two and a-half years, with coffee, smoothies, specialty drinks, and more. With some recent unexpected changes to her brick-and-mortar location, Peterson says she  has embraced the opportunity to expand her footprint, and square footage, by relocating to 422 Chestnut Street.

coffeegirl will no longer be located in The Franklin Market as of (Saturday) March 13th, but will reopen the doors on March 24th at the new location. These “doors” will be mobile in front of the soon-to-be permanent brick-and-mortar establishment while renovations take place for all that her new location will provide the community of Atlantic. On the docket is the same great drink menu, with aspirations to continue to expand offerings that have long been requested.

In the meantime, if you see the mobile coffeegirl RV, know that she is open for business as usual and eager to continue serving her faithful customers. coffeegirl would like to “Thank you for the outpouring of support the past couple of weeks. coffeegirl’s hours will be 7:00 a.m – 2:00 p.m., Monday – Friday and 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Saturday, once she reopens on March 24th. Stay up-to-date on the renovation process and all future announcements by following coffeegirl on Facebook.