(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce report “The Annual Grand Lighting Ceremony” will take place 5-p.m. Thursday, November 18th, at the Historic Rock Island Depot in Downtown Atlantic. Bailey Smith, Executive Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said “Atlantic is Travel Iowa’s number one destination to celebrate the Christmas Season and Grand Lighting is a big reason why. There are over 200,000 lights strung throughout the trees on Chestnut Street as well as City Park that helps create this magical scenery for everyone to enjoy.”

Grand Lighting kicks off at 5 PM with a free hot dog meal, provided by Atlantic Hy-Vee. There will be free hot chocolate as well, at the Chamber tent. Santa will make his special arrival at 5:30 PM to turn on the lights and see children in his cabin, sponsored by the Atlantic Rotary Club and Farmhouse & Flowers, from 6 PM – 7:30 PM. Smith credits the Atlantic Street Department with helping to make the holidays brighter. “We wouldn’t be number one without the Atlantic Street Department who spends a good month and a half restringing lights, hanging garland and décor throughout downtown and 7th Street. Atlantic Municipal Utilities works to ensure the lights turn on and stay on all season long. They’re the best and we’re very fortunate to have them in our community.”

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 of Commerce with any questions at chamber@atlanticiowa.com or call 712.243.3017. Christmas in Atlantic is presented by Momentum Exterior Services.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Mills County Sheriff’s Deputies executed a search warrant Sunday afternoon at a residence outside of Glenwood, and made two arrests. Authorities say during a search of the residence at 24128 Kane Avenue, which is just outside of Glenwood, law enforcement located a marijuana grow in the basement, along with Methamphetamine, firearms, and several items of drug paraphernalia. Taken into custody at the scene, without incident, was 35-year-old Dane Eugene Matthew Hansen, and 39-year-old Michelle Lee Szymarek, both of Glenwood.

The pair was being held in the Mill County Jail. Glenwood Police assisted with the incident.

Hansen-Szymarek

(Clarinda, Iowa) – The Page County Sheriff’s Office Monday, said that a woman wanted on a Pottawattamie County warrant for Violation of Probation, turned herself-in to Page County Deputies, Nov. 8th. Emily Rae Rhoades was being held in the Page County Jail on a $5,000 cash or surety bond.

Emily Rae Rhoades

(Radio Iowa) – The Mason City School Board will consider tonight (Monday) whether to stop using “Mohawks” as the name of the district’s mascot. The issue of the school’s nickname is tied into logo and branding discussions that have been previously tabled by the board. The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe has called for the district to end the use of the name and associated imagery. Superintendent Dave Versteeg in a memo to the board recommends that the board direct the administration to start the transition from the use of the Mohawk name and mascot, including Native American images, symbols and likenesses to a new mascot immediately and for the administration to present at the January 17th school board meeting a timeline to complete the transition from the Mohawk name and a plan to adopt a new mascot as of July 1st of 2022.

Versteeg also recommends that no new use of Mohawk will be used immediately and current uses will be phased out or replaced. The district would immediately stop the use of Mohawks to introduce teams at athletic events with teams being introduced just as Mason City.

A man from Creston was arrested Saturday morning on an assault charge. According to Creston Police, 31-year-old Dustin Levi Grout was taken into custody at his residence at around 6:45-a.m., Saturday. He was transported to the Union County Jail and later released, after seeing the magistrate.

And, a woman from Creston was arrested late Saturday night at the Creston Walmart. 39-year-old Nicki Renee Jones was arrested for Trespass-Refuse to Vacate/1st offense. She was cited and released.

The latest area News from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Radio Iowa) – Mild temperatures this fall left leaves lingering on Iowa’s trees longer than normal, and after a cold, snowy weekend, the branches are now mostly bare. A predicted warm-up this week may afford the chance to rake up the last of those leaves, but if you get stuck with a pile, soil scientist Carl Rosen says it may be a great time to start composting. “I collect my leaves in the fall and I compost them through the following year,” Rosen says, “and then the following fall I’ll mix that in in the garden or the following spring before planting my vegetables.” Rosen says composting science is all about soil health, but for many that was not the original problem to be solved.

“The initial motivation however was more due to sending all those leaves to landfills,” Rosen says. Creating and maintaining a compost pile only requires a quick and easy checklist, he says, and it’s relatively simple. “Basically, water, air, oxygen and they need nutrients,” he says, “and if you have those in balance then that’s kind of the key to the composting process.” Learn more about composting at the Iowa D-N-R website:
https://www.iowadnr.gov/About-DNR/DNR-News-Releases/ArticleID/383/Tutorial-Learn-How-to-Compost-at-Home

(Elliott, Iowa) – Sheriff’s Deputies in Montgomery County, Saturday morning, arrested a man in Elliott for Public Intoxication. Authorities say Deputies were dispatched at around 12:25-a.m. to a flight complaint, in Elliott. Upon arrival, they saw a man later identified as Mathew Nicholson standing in the road on 5th Street. The man was found to be highly intoxicated, based on Deputies’ prior experiences.

Nicholson preliminary breath test (PBT) registered .211 (Just under 3 times the legal limit). He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $300 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) – One person escaped injury but another died during a house fire Sunday night, in Des Moines. According to KCCI, a woman who was trapped inside the burning home died in the fire on the east side of the Capital City. The fire was first reported just before 6 p.m. near the intersection of Wilson Avenue and Glenbrook Drive near Union Park.

Des Moines fire Lt. Rick Thomas said the woman was sleeping on the couch when flames tore through the house. Her adult son was outside when fire crews arrived at the scene. Crews quickly tried to battle through conditions to reach the woman, but a burned out floor slowed their progress. By the time firefighters found the woman, she had already died. Her name was not immediately released.

Officials say the son wasn’t injured, and a dog was safely taken out of the home. Investigators are looking into what caused the fire.

(Creston, Iowa) – One of three passengers in a small car was injured when the vehicle went out of control and struck a small concrete wall in Creston, Sunday night. According to Creston Police, a 2009 Toyota Yaris driven by 19-year-old Kimberly Elizabeth Webb, of Macksburg, was traveling east through the intersection of Adams and Sumner Streets at around 7-p.m.

As she was turning north onto Sumner, the car went out of control and proceeded outside of the roadway before striking the concrete wall. Webb was not injured, but her passenger, 19-year-old Sabrina Stewart, of Creston, suffered suspected minor, non-incapacitating injuries. She complained of pain and was checked out by medical personnel at the scene, but did not transported to the hospital.

Webb was cited by Police for Failure to Maintain Control. Damage to the car was estimated at $3,000. The wall, owned by the City of Creston, sustained $200 damage.