CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Thousands of streetlights still need to be repaired in the Cedar Rapids area months after they were broken when a derecho tore through Iowa. The Gazette reports that Mayuri Farlinger, the director of operations for Alliant Energy in the region, did not have an estimate as to how long it’ll take to repair the lights. The utility prioritized restoring power to homes and businesses after the Aug. 10 derecho.

Streetlight repairs began at the end of October and crews have been out in “full force” to repair them, he said. The company’s crews and contractors have fixed hundreds of streetlights. Alliant says it has 12 two-person crews dedicated for streetlight repairs in every quadrant of the city.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa reported that 37 people died of the coronavirus in the past day. The state Department of Public Health said Friday the additional deaths bring the total who have died of COVID-19 in Iowa to 2,349. In the past 24 hours as of Friday morning, there were 1,266 new confirmed cases. Iowa has long had some of the nation’s highest coronavirus infection rates, but in the past week its numbers have improved slightly.

The state now has the nation’s fourth-highest number of new cases per capita in the last 14 days. In the last week, one in every 145 people in Iowa was diagnosed with COVID-19.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce has announced Atlantic has been recognized as a Neighborhood Champion for the seventh year in a row by American Express. Atlantic will participate in the 10th Annual Small Business Saturday to support small businesses. Bailey Smith, Executive Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said. “We’re excited to partner with Atlantic Area businesses to create safe shopping incentives to celebrate Small Business Saturday.”

Founded by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday® is a day to celebrate the small businesses that help support our community. American Express created the Neighborhood Champion Program to help rally communities around Small Business Saturday and is working alongside numerous business organizations to support local Small Business Saturday celebrations throughout the country. American Express recognizes communities that have strong participation. The on-going Shop Local Initiative, presented by First Whitney Bank & Trust, and overall community support has helped Atlantic achieve this national recognition.

November 28th marks the 10th annual Small Business Saturday, a day dedicated to supporting the local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country. On Black Friday & Small Business Saturday this weekend, shop these participating retailers and receive additional savings:

• Aunt B’s & Bonnesens is offering 25% off all wines, 50% off fall décor (excluding silks), and 50% off all purses and wallets.
• Brown’s Shoe Fit is offering 20% off storewide, some exclusions may apply.
• Brymons Interiors is offering 25% off holiday décor, free pillows, and deliveries with qualifying purchases.
• Cappel’s Ace Hardware has all Christmas décor on sale.
• Farmhouse & Flowers is now open 9 AM – 5 PM.
• Hanson’s Fine Jewelry is offering 20% off items storewide.
• Jazzercise is offering unlimited in-studio or online classes for the remainder of the year for just $20.20.
• Something For You is offering 20% off fabric, buy one get one free on all Pillow Pets, and an extra 10% off all clearance items.
• Soul Sister’s Boutique is offering 20% off items storewide.
• The Franklin Market/The Picker’s Parlor is offering 20% off all apparel, 10% off CoffeeGirl, and other discounts storewide up to 50% off.

SHIFT ATL will be offering gift wrapping services Saturday, November 28th from 9 AM – 1 PM at the Rock Island Depot. Visit their Facebook page to learn more. To accommodate COVID-19, all businesses have implemented curbside pickup. Contact the business beforehand to set up this option. Per the State of Iowa mandate, masks are required when in public spaces, including restaurants and businesses.

Pick up your Christmas Brochure from area retail businesses, like the Chamber on Facebook or follow on Instagram to find dates and details to celebrate Christmas in Atlantic. You can find a complete list of activities at www.atlanticiowa.com. Capture the Christmas magic with #MyAtlanticIA and post to the Atlantic Area Chamber’s Facebook page or Instagram (AtlanticIowaFan). Contact the Atlantic Area Chamber with any questions at chamber@atlanticiowa.com or call 712.243.3017.

Police in Creston report the arrest at around 12:25-a.m. Thursday, of 42-year old Cassandra Marlena Davis, from Creston.  Davis was taken into custody for Failure to serve ordered jail time. She was initially transported to the Union County Jail and then to the Clarke County Jail.

A rear-end collision west of Boone, Thursday evening, caused both vehicles to roll over and resulted in three injured. The Iowa State Patrol reports the accident happened on Highway 30 at Noble Hills Lane, at around 7-p.m.  Authorities report a 2006 Jeep Wrangler driven by 31-year old Lochland James Issac Monahan, of Ames, was traveling west on Highway 30, when his SUV rear-ended a 2004 Pontiac Montana, driven by 68-year old Jackquline Marie Holmquist, of Ogden.

Following the collision, both vehicles entered the median and rolled over before ending up facing east, in the eastbound lanes of Highway 30. Monahan – who was not wearing a seat belt – was taken by Lifeflight to Methodist Hospital. Holmquist and her passenger, 47-year old Bille Jo Page, of Ogden, both of whom wore seat belts, were transported by Boone Rescue to the Boone County Hospital. The accident remains under investigation.

Pursuit that began early Thursday in Council Bluffs and repeatedly crossed state lines, ended with an arrest in Nebraska. According to the Nebraska State Patrol, 34-year-old Christopher Holsten, of Bellevue, NE., was arrested for flight to avoid an arrest, willful reckless driving, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and theft by stolen property over $5,000. Holsten was also charged with obstructing a peace officer, driving under suspension and traffic violations.

Stolen truck pursuit 11/26/20 (Neb. State Patrol photo)

The Nebraska State Patrol NSP was notified at around 2:10-a.m. Thursday, that a vehicle had fled a traffic stop with the Council Bluffs Police Department and was traveling toward Nebraska on Interstate 480. A trooper observed the vehicle, a Chevrolet Silverado, traveling at 81 miles per hour in a 50 miles per hour zone on I-480 as it entered Nebraska.

The trooper attempted a traffic stop, but the vehicle accelerated to speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour and fled southbound on I-480. The vehicle then entered Interstate 80, traveling eastbound toward Iowa. The trooper discontinued the pursuit at the Iowa border. CBPD officers took over the pursuit and were able to successfully deploy spike strips to slow the vehicle, but it traveled back into Nebraska on I-80.

NSP troopers again pursued the vehicle as it turned northbound onto I-480 before exiting and beginning to drive on surface streets near the Martha Street exit. Near 28th and Harney a trooper was able to successfully perform a tactical vehicle intervention to bring the Silverado to a stop. The driver – later identified at Holsten – then fled on foot, climbed over a fence, and fled back toward I-480 on foot. Troopers were able to locate the man at the Farnam Bridge over I-480 and took him into custody without further incident.

Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, earlier this week, announced the winner of this year’s “Scrooge” contest. Once all the point were totaled, the winner was determined to be Brian Ruge, Manager at Brown’s Shoe Fit. The “Scrooge” contest is an annual fund-raiser for the Atlantic Food Pantry. Ruge, along with Jon Martens, Tami Shellberg, and the team of Jeff and Heather Lundquist, had competed in this year’s Scrooge Contest, collecting cash and non-perishable food donations for the honor of being named Scrooge, and presiding over the annual Lighted Christmas parade down Chestnut Street.

Points were awarded for cash and non-perishable food items. On Tuesday, it was announced Ruge amassed 56,659 points. Team Lundquist came in second with 23,716 points. Martens had a total of 21,580 points and Shellberg had a total of 17,200 points.

A record amount of cash, $23,348.10 was donated this year and 2,415 food items were collected. A good chunk of the funds, officials said, came from Duke Rentals and Deter Motor Company. Hy-Vee donated 25 turkeys, along with five pounds of potatoes, two canned vegetables and a pie with each turkey to the Atlantic Food Pantry, and 25 turkeys and the fixings to the Mobile Food Pantry.