(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Red Oak Police Department reports a man was arrested early this (Sunday) morning on an OWI charge. Authorities say 24-year-old Felix Adan Martinez-Silva was arrested at around 1:30-a.m. in the 2200 block of Highway 34. Martinez-Silva was charged with OWI/1st offense. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County Auditor Jill Ozuna has issued Public Notices with regard to the holiday weekend and early next week:

• In observance of Labor Day, the Montgomery County Courthouse will be closed on Monday September 01, 2025
• The Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting  is canceled for September 02, 2025.
• The next regular BOS meeting will resume on Tuesday September 9, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.

(Radio Iowa) – This past week’s fatal shootings (on Aug. 27th) of children in a Minneapolis school’s church can be very difficult for adults to process, let alone kids. A mental health care professional is urging Iowa parents to talk with their children about these tragedies.

Sarah Long, a psychologist at Emplify Health by Gundersen, says to be careful not to offer too much information too soon, as that may only increase a child’s level of anxiety. “Understanding the developmental level that your child is at really helps you to tailor the information that you’re giving them to their appropriate level,” Long says, “so they have a good understanding of the information that we’re sharing with them and not becoming overwhelmed by it.”

Sarah Long (Gundersen photo)

As parents discuss this incident, Long says there’s no “one size fits all” talk, as each member of the family will process the information in their own way.

“Even two same-age kids are going to have a different level of cognitive understanding, also a different level of emotional resilience,” Long says. “So really understanding your own child and what their strengths and areas for improvement are will help you to know what’s the level of information that my child can handle.”

Most parents understand not to provide too many gory details about a mass shooting, but they might try to offer more background than a child really needs to know.

“We always also encourage people to start with the least amount of information and then build and layer from there,” Long says. “Kids tell us they need more information by asking more questions. So if you give the information and they seem satisfied with that, you’ve fulfilled their needs. If they’re still asking questions, then they’re telling us, ‘I need more information than what you’ve given me.’”

They may have follow-up questions days later after hearing more about an incident from other kids at school, so parents should be prepared to offer more detail, as these aren’t “one and done” conversations. “This can be a really hard and scary thing to talk about, but that doesn’t mean that we have to avoid that conversation,” she says, “and that kids have a safe space at home to talk with their family regarding any questions or concerns that they have.”

Revisiting the topic will also allow the parent another chance to reinforce how safety measures are in place and how work is being done to protect kids from something like this ever happening at their own school.

Emplify Health has clinics in Calmar, Decorah, Fayette, Lansing, Postville and Waukon, and a hospital in West Union.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett, Wednesday (Sept. 3rd), will take time during a regular meeting of the Atlantic City Council, to address the resignation announced this past week, of At-Large Councilman Gerald Brink, whose official resignation (due to health concerns), (is) was set to have taken place on Sept. 1st.

City Administrator John Lund says the Mayor “Has been doing her due diligence on how to proceed on addressing the vacant At-Large Council Seat.” Because the Iowa League of Cities has informed the City that it is too close to the General Election of 2025 to hold a Special Election, that only leaves the option of an appointment, with the voters then having to decide who will fill a full-term, during the Nov. 4th General Election.

Lund says “The City must first post public notice in the local newspaper a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 20 days before action is taken to fill the Council seat by an appointment. The Council must fill the vacant seat within 60 days.” After that, members of the public may submit letters to City Hall for consideration by the full Council. Lund adds, “Public interviews are then conducted, and each candidate will be publicly voted on.

Once a candidate reaches a  majority vote, they will assume the seat for the remainder of the term of office. The Council will then be required to vote down the remaining candidates.” Afterward, the Mayor will swear-in the new Councilmember.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council, Wednesday:

• Will receive an update from Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bailey Smith, with regard to Commercial Development Progress.
• Will hold the Second Reading of an ordinance vacating a portion of the right-of-way in the 400 block of Laurel Street.
• Will hold a Public Hearing on an ordinance “Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Atlantic,” with regard to Flood Plain Regulations, and
• They will hold the First reading of the Ordinance (#1062) amending the Code as presented, and as required by the National Federal Flood Insurance Program.
• The Atlantic City Council will also act on passing a Resolution (#61-25) “Authorizing and Approving a Loan Agreement and Providing for the Issuance of a $90,000 General Obligation Solid Waste Management Note.”
• The Council will act to approve three separate Pay Applications for work on the City Street improvement Projects.

The City Council’s meeting takes place at the City Hall in Atlantic, beginning at 5:30-p.m. on Wed., Sept. 3rd.

City Council Agenda Packet 09-03-2025_compressed