Atlantic Rising and volunteers could be seen out delivering food boxes on Thursday, December 17th in the evening. The organization received the most nominations and donations in the history of the program. Atlantic Rising Social Chair, Kelsey Beschorner says “We anticipated seeing an increase in nominations due to the unprecedented year. We did not expect the overwhelming amount of donations that came pouring in immediately after the project was announced in October.”

Assembly line (Photos submitted)

This year, Atlantic Rising was able to provide a holiday meal to over 160 individuals and families all throughout Cass County. The donations received from the community totaled over $5,600, which allowed each box to contain more items and each nomination to be fulfilled. Beschorner says “Atlantic Rising is proud carry on and grow this tradition of the Christmas Box program, and we are thankful that we are able to partner with HyVee and give back to our community.”

Boxes in Truck

If you are interested in joining Atlantic Rising and finding out what they are involved in throughout the year, you can contact Kelsey at 712-243-3017 or kelsey@atlanticiowa.com. The membership application can also be found at www.atlanticiowa.com.

A man from Illinois suffered what were described as minor injuries to his arm/wrist during a single-vehicle accident at around 6:40-a.m. Friday (today), on Interstate 80, in Cass County. Iowa State Patrol Trooper Ryan DeVault told KJAN News the accident happened on I-80 eastbound near mile marker 74, or about a mile west of Adair.

(The vehicle, a 2018 Mazda 3 was in the right lane. As the driver, 19-year-old Nathan Quisenberry of Roscoe, IL was transitioning into the left lane, he apparently hit a patch of black ice. The car went out of control and entered the median where it struck a cable guardrail. Quisenberry complained of injury to his arm, and was checked-out my medics.)

Trooper DeVault said the Interstate was slick in spots, and that stretch of roadway wasn’t the only trouble spot.

(He said the Trooper on scene advised the wheel tracks on I-80 were slick. There were multiple, other accidents in Adair County. One took place on a secondary road, the other on a highway. Frost and ice on the roads caused those drivers to lose control, also.)

DeVault says anytime there are trees and powerlines covered with frost early in the morning, that should serve as a warning for you to slow down.

(Bridges and overpasses, he says will be the first to become slick. As the traffic starts to pickup, wheel tracks can turn to black ice and be dangerously deceptive.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines man is charged with vehicular homicide after a crash killed a woman and injured her husband. Des Moines police say witnesses told them 67-year-old Bertoldo Zuniga was driving erratically and speeding before the crash Thursday involving four vehicles. A woman in one vehicle, 71-year-old Linda Vander Hart, died of her injuries and her husband was seriously hurt. Investigators say Zuniga was driving drunk when he didn’t slow down and hit three vehicles at a light. Zuniga is facing four charges, including vehicular homicide by OWI, and several traffic violations.

(Radio Iowa) – Four people were killed in three separate accidents on Iowa’s roads Thursday. The state highway patrol says a semi ran a stop sign in Hancock County at midday, hitting a car and a pickup, killing two people in the car from Britt — Bruce and Debra Kamp — and injuring two others. About 5 PM on Interstate 80 in Polk County, troopers say a car collided with two other vehicles that were slowing down for congestion, killing 46-year-old James Bartels, the Altoona man driving the car. About 8:30 PM, Des Moines police say a four-car crash killed a 71-year-old woman. Police say an alleged drunk driver is charged.

Officials with Atlantic Municipal Utilities, Friday (today) announced the winners of their 15th Annual Holiday Christmas Lighting Contest. The announcement was made at the historic Rock Island Depot on N. Chestnut Street, by AMU General Manager Steve Tjepkes, who explained how they determine who has the prize-worthy displays.

(He say often recruit a young family to drive around and look at all the displays. The only restriction placed on the awards, is not to have duplicate winners.)

Left to right: Ted & Lucinda Goodnber; Linda Conrad, and AMU GM Steve Tjepkes.

Tjepkes said the Third Place winner, with a $50 credit applied toward their utility bill, was Ted & Lucinda Goodner, at 1905 Oak Street.

(Ted Goodner said they would like for their credits to be donated to the family of Steele McLaren.)

Their credits will go to Steele’s mom, Jess Ehrman. As you may know, Steele suffered a traumatic brain injury when he fell out of the back of a pickup truck in late October. He has endured many procedures at two facilities since then, and remains in the hospital today.  Casey & Clairissa Swanson, of 2010 Oak Street, who were the First-Place winners of a $100 credit, said they will also donate his to Steele’s father, Dustin McLaren.

The Second Place winner of the lighting contest, and a $75 AMU credit, was Chris and Linda Conrad, at 1311 Sunnyside Lane.

(Tjepkes said they have a new house with a huge display. All three winners, he said, are neighbors, or at least former neighbors.)

Linda Conrad said she was going to talk to Chris, but they will most likely donate their credit to the Steele McLaren family also.