An Atlantic woman has won a prestigious award from the Professional Photographers of Iowa, in their annual winter print competition. The event was held Feb. 1st and 2nd in Cedar Rapids. Kathy Somers’ case score (the total score of up to four entries submitted) placed her in the top 10 non-master class. Two of her entries were awarded a merit (that is a score of over 80 out of 100).

Kathy Somers displays her winning photo album

Somers said one of her entries was an album of the Atlantic Sesquicentennial year. The professionally bound album included images of the city from the ground and in from the air, courtesy Mark Smith and the use of his airplane. The album won first place in the non-masters/non-event category, with a score of 89.

Somers said winning the award in a competition of this caliber has been a life-long dream of hers. “To receive even a small award, and to get first place is a huge honor.” Somers said the judges at first, weren’t sure what to think of her album, because they had never judged something similar. “They’re used to seeing weddings and high school senior albums. So the first time they came up they said I’m out of my element, I don’t know what to think.” She said they gave it a nice score, and then brought it back to re-score it, because they realized they had under-scored it and they fixed the score.”

First place for non-master, non-event, album titled Atlantic Sesquicentennial (photos courtesy Somers Photography/Kathy Somers)

Second place for non-master photojournalism print titled Winner.

For Somers, the album was a year-long project, because the Sesquicentennial went on all year. She says it was a time consuming project, but worthwhile because “I care about Atlantic and I think our town is a great place to be and I love to document that and share it with everyone who will look at my pictures.”

Kathy Somers began her professional photography career in 2016. Her most recent competition was her fourth to date.

The Atlantic City Council will hold a special session 6:15-p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13th, at City Hall, to determine the direction they wish to proceed, with regard to the Senior Citizens Center. Their options: Sell or don’t sell the building. If they decide to sell, the City must put out a request for bids. If they decide to keep the building, the Fiscal Year 2020 budget will have to be adjusted to reflect the imposition of a 13.5-cent per thousand dollar valuation levy, to repair the roof, which has been leaking since last August.

If that scenario plays out, City Administrator John Lund and City Clerk Barb Barrick said the Senior Center cannot be sold to any person or entity until the roof is paid for by the levy, or a combination of the levy and Senior Center reserve funds. As previously mentioned the Atlantic Elks Lodge has expressed an interest in purchasing the building as-is, and making the roof repairs on their own. Councilpersons Ashley Hayes and others thought the building should be opened up for sealed bids.

As for fixing the roof and then selling the building, Councilwoman Linda Hartkopf said the person or entity who decides to purchase it, may not want a curved roof, as is currently the case. She said they may want to install a flat roof, or even a second floor, so fixing the roof would be unnecessary on the City’s part.

Elks spokesman/Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNees, said there are some misconceptions about how the discussion to purchase the building came about. He said “We did not come to the City to ask for this to be sold. We came to ask about Bingo being in there, and if potentially Seniors could run it a night, and share. It’s never been our desire [as some have said might happen] to kick anybody out in the cold.”

He said also, if the Elks bought the building, there would be minimal remodeling as necessary, to accommodate their needs.”All we’re looking at,” he said, “is for a potential new home. And whether it’s that building or another one…it would not be an instant process. Not on our part.”

If the Council decides to sell the building to the Elks, the Elks would still need to get approval from their members for any acquisition, and approval from the Grand Lodge.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — Jurors have found an Iowa woman guilty in the death of her infant son, whose lifeless body was found in a baby swing. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports it took the jury about four hours Wednesday to find 21-year-old Cheyanne Harris guilty of first-degree murder and child endangerment causing death.

Cheyanne Harris talks with her attorney during her court appearance on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019 in Le Mars, Iowa. Harris, the mother of a baby whose lifeless body was found in an infant swing wearing a maggot-infested diaper is standing trial in his death. Court records say Harris has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death. The trial was moved to Le Mars in Plymouth County from Chickasaw County because of publicity. (Jeff Reinitz/The Courier via AP)

The charges stem from the death of 4-month-old Sterling Koehn , whose body was found Aug. 30, 2017, in a maggot-infested diaper at an apartment in Alta Vista. First responders found his body in a sweltering bedroom in a baby swing.

An autopsy shows he died of malnutrition, dehydration and an E. coli infection. First-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole. The baby’s father, Zachary Koehn , already has been sentenced to life in prison in the case.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man has pleaded guilty to animal neglect and abandonment after being accused of throwing a 2-year-old Chihuahua named Oscar into a trash bin. The Des Moines Register reports 35-year-old Derrick Peterson pleaded guilty Jan. 23 and was sentenced to 60 days in jail, with 55 days suspended and credit given for two days of time served.

During 12 months of probation, Peterson can’t own any animals and must complete an animal welfare course. Peterson was arrested after a passerby found the dog Nov. 2 in the trash bin in Des Moines’ River Bend neighborhood. The dog apparently was in a kennel but managed to climb out and scramble up a trash pile. It had no food or water and was in poor health.

An Animal Rescue League officer has been caring for the dog.

KEOKUK, Iowa (AP) — A Fort Madison man has been charged with murder in the death of a woman who was stabbed in downtown Keokuk. The Hawk Eye newspaper reports police were called to a stabbing Tuesday morning and found 27-year-old Calove Sackman on a downtown sidewalk. Sackman, of Keokuk, had multiple stab wounds to her torso and died later at a hospital.

Police say she identified her assailant to a witness, and early Wednesday a Lee County deputy arrested 24-year-old Adam Golden McCain, of Fort Madison. The deputy charged McCain with traffic infractions, and he then was turned over to Keokuk police, who charged him with first-degree murder.

Sackman and McCain had previously been in a long-term relationship.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The agency that runs Iowa’s affordable housing programs will reimburse the state $4.15 million for payouts to victims of sexual harassment by its former director. The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) board voted Wednesday to grant Gov. Kim Reynolds’ request to reimburse the general fund for the cost of the settlements.

The state agreed Monday to pay $2.35 million to one former employee, and $1.8 million to a current employee to settle claims stemming from their harassment by former Iowa Finance Authority director Dave Jamison. Reynolds says the state is considering whether to seek restitution from Jamison, a former ally whom she fired last year.

The authority board voted to amend its $54.6 million budget for the year that ends June 30 to cover the $4.15 million cost. Most of the budget comes from non-state funding such as revenue from bonds and loans.

Agency director Debi Durham says the payment will come out of a reserve fund that contains interest on investments and the diversion will not affect its programs or services.