(Atlantic, Iowa) – Members of the City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Department Board met Monday evening at City Hall. Parks and Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen reminds the public a Scarecrow Contest is underway in downtown Atlantic. For $20, people can rent a pole downtown and decorate with a scarecrow. The deadline to reserve a pole with the Chamber passed as of today (Monday, Oct. 18). All the proceeds benefit the Atlantic Food Pantry. Spectators can vote for their favorite scarecrow by making a monetary donation, located at the chamber. Votes must be cast between Oct 18th-31st.

A reminder also, of this weekend’s “Tour de Parks” bike ride. The ride will start and end at Sunnyside park and is about 9.5 miles, but it is broken into 6 stages and goes past all the different parks in Atlantic. Come do all the stages or just do a few. Come enjoy great conversation and learn more about the great things happening in the area. There will be local organizations along the route with free goodies and giveaways showcasing many upcoming events. The Parks and Recreation Department has bikes and helmets you can use free of charge. If you have questions, please contact the Parks and Rec Office at (712) 243-3542.

Another event Bryant spoke about during the Parks and Rec Board Monday, is the Lions Club Pancake Supper from 4:30-until 7-p.m. Nov. 11.  The event takes place inside the Atlantic Community Building on the Cass County Fairgrounds. The cost is $7 per person for adults, children 12 and under at $5.00. Rasmussen said all the proceeds will be used toward the purchase of “inclusive playground equipment” for one of the City’s Park. One of the sites they’re looking at more specifically, is the Schildberg Recreation Area. Inclusive parks and ADA accessible, but designed for everyone.

Along that same line, Bryant Rasmussen said Atlantic Kiwanis and Lions Club members this past Saturday added more pea gravel around the various park playground equipment, as part of the service project day. Bryant says prior to the added gravel, the amount of fall material designed to protect kids against injury, was “definitely lacking.” He said about 20-tons of pea gravel was moved. The two swing sets at Cedar Park now have new pea gravel, along with a swing set at the Kiddie Korral at Sunnyside Park, and the playground set by the Kiddie Korral Shelter, as well.  Another project is being planned for this coming spring.

And, Rasmussen reported to the Board that a recycled plastic bench has been installed at Cedar Park basketball court area. It was donated by the Lions Club from all the recycled plastic. He said as of two weeks ago, the Elks Club reached their goal of 500 lbs of plastic. They’ve picked a color for their bench, which should arrive within the next four-to-five weeks. Bryant says two other organization: The City of Griswold and the Master Gardeners, are applying for similar benches. He says there are currently 1,800 lbs of plastic available for recycling projects. Their goal had been 500 lbs over six months, so they’ve surpassed in less time than expected. Byrant says they take in about 200-to 300-lbs per week.

For more information on how you can sponsor a recycled bench, contact the Parks and Rec Office at (712) 243-3542.

(Radio Iowa) – Representatives of the United Auto Workers and John Deere say contract talks have resumed. Ninety percent of union workers rejected Deere’s initial contract offer and more than 10-thousand workers at 14 John Deere plants and distribution centers have been on strike last Thursday. Union members say Deere’s initial offer did not meet their wage and retirement goals, plus the union says it’s important to end a two-tiered pay system that ensures younger workers get less. A spokeswoman for the company says John Deere is fully committed to the collective bargaining process, resolving the strike and giving production and maintenance workers the opportunities to earn the best wages.

Revenue for the first three quarters of Deere and Company’s current fiscal year is up 11 percent and net income is up 84 percent compared to the same portion of 2019, before the pandemic hit. The turn-out at many picket lines today (Monday) was larger than it had been in the opening days of the strike.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – There have been lots of local events and news recently about mental health in Cass County, in part because mental health was identified as the top health need in the 2021 Cass County Community Health Needs Assessment this spring. If you’re curious about how you can make a difference, Monday, October 25, offers two opportunities for area businesses and individuals to learn how to “Make it OK” at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic. The sessions are free to attend and open to all people in Cass County. The schedule is as follows:

• Noon – 1 p.m. (Lunch will be served. RSVP required by Oct. 21.)
• 2-3 p.m. (Refreshments will be served. No RSVP required.)

Make It OK is a campaign by the Healthiest State Initiative to “reduce stigma by starting conversations and increasing understanding” about mental health. The Healthiest State Initiative is a statewide nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to improving the health and wellness of Iowans.

Jami Haberl, Executive Director of the Healthiest State Initiative, says “Stigma prevents people from getting the help and support they need.” Haberl will be leading the presentations in Cass County. Visit MakeItOK.org/Iowa to learn more. Both sessions will include the same information and will touch on the important role workplaces play in relation to mental health. According to the Healthiest State Initiative, mental health issues are costly for employers, and while work can contribute to mental well-being, work can also negatively affect mental wellness.

The Atlantic Lions Club and Cass County Iowa State University Extension are sponsoring lunch (A-Town Smokeshack and Miss NiNi’s Fine Desserts) for attendees of the noon session. Attendees must RSVP by Thursday, October 21 to receive lunch. To RSVP contact Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at bhoegh@iastate.edu or 712-249-5870 or call the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132. Miss NiNi’s Fine Desserts will also be provided to all attendees of the 2 p.m. session, however no RSVP is required. Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling will provide refreshments at both sessions.

Seating will be arranged to allow for social distancing at the October 25 events, and masking is appreciated. A virtual session will be held online at 7:00 p.m. on Nov. 4, for those who would rather attend virtually or cannot attend the in-person events. To register for the Nov. 4 virtual event, visit www.iowahealthieststate.com/cassco.

Cass County Make it OK in the Workplace events are supported by Healthy Cass County, Cass County Iowa State University Extension, the Atlantic Lions, the Healthiest State Initiative, and the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce.

Red Oak Police report the arrest on Monday afternoon of 44-year-old Chrystal Rush Stewart of Red Oak on 2 active warrants for Theft 5th Degree. She was arrested at 2:00 p.m. at 106 West Coolbaugh Street in Red Oak and taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $600 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans are being warned to start their holiday shopping early due to shortages and long wait times for products, but now they’re also being warned to be careful how they’re going about finding gifts. Bao Vang, spokeswoman for the Better Business Bureau, says scammers are ready to take advantage, especially if you’re ordering something online.

“Thirty-five percent of scams reported to BBB Scam Tracker in 2021 so far are online purchase scams,” Vang says, “and they have been the riskiest scams for the last two or three years.” Vang says the bureau’s Scam Tracker shows each person who fell victim to an online scam lost more than a hundred dollars on average.

“Seventy-five percent of those who report scams related to online shopping lose money,” she says. “The largest demographic being targeted are people ages 18 to 24-years-old.” Vang says consumers should protect themselves by doing their research, watching out for deals that appear too good to be true, and anytime you’re paying with a credit card.

On the web at: BBB.org/scamtracker

(Anita, Iowa) – A Special Meeting of the CAM School District’s Board of Education will take place in Anita at 5-p.m. Thursday, in the CAM High School Superintendent’s Office. The Board will discuss and take action on admitting or denying “enrollment or educational placement of a student that is an individual who is required to register as a sex offender, under [Iowa Code] Chapter 692A.” That will be followed by an open forum.

No other information was presented on the agenda for this meeting.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Police Department reports five arrests over the past two weeks.

• On Oct. 14th, 41-year-old Michael Parrott, of Atlantic, was arrested after he turned himself in on a warrant for Violation of Probation.
• On Oct. 12th: 33-year-old James Erickson, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant; and, 46-year-old Samantha Clark, of Atlantic, along with 57-year-old Cynthia Buboltz, of Lewis, were cited for Theft in the 5th Degree (Shoplifting). Both were cited and released from the scene.
• On Oct. 8th, 41-year-old Jeremy Waltz, of Atlantic, was arrested by Atlantic Police on multiple Cass County warrants,
• On Oct. 7th, 27-year-old Nicholas Renner, of Atlantic, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
• And, on Oct. 6th, Atlantic Police arrested 37-year-old Nichole Price, of Atlantic, for Operating (A vehicle) Under the Influence/1st offense.

Each of the aforementioned subjects (with the exception Clark and Buboltz) were transported to the Cass County Jail, and booked-in. Out of those who were booked-in, only Michael Parrott remained in the jail as of Monday (Oct. 18).

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports six arrests from over the past week:

• On Oct. 13th, there were three arrests – 40-year-old Justin Paul Parker, of Bridgewater, was arrested on an Adair County warrant for three felony counts of Burglary in the 3rd Degree. He was released from custody on the 16th, after posting a $10,000 cash-only bond; 31-year-old Justin Lee Whipple, of Des Moines, was arrested on the 13th on an Adair County warrant for Violation of Probation. He was being held in the Adair County Jail without bond; and 40-year old Christopher Michael Fasce, of West Des Moines, was arrested on an Adair County warrant for Assault causing bodily injury or mental illness. He was released on his Own Recognizance after his initial court appearance.
• On Oct. 12th, 30-year-old Daniel Austin Heinen, of Guthrie Center, was arrested an Adair County warrant for Forgery and Fraudulent Practice/3rd Degree. He was released the following day on a $2,000 cash or surety bond.
• On Oct. 10th, 56-year-old Carlos Humbert Vanegas Godinez, of Hambden, CT., was arrested for OWI/1st offense, following a traffic stop for speeding, by the Iowa State Patrol on I-80. The report says Godinez – who was on his way to Las Vegas when his 2014 Mercedes GL550 was pulled over – was clocked at 101 miles per hour. He was subsequently charged with Speeding 101 in a 70mph zone, and Open Container, in addition to the OWI charge. Godinez was released later that same day on a $1,000 cash or surety bond (w/10% acceptable).
• Also arrested on the 10th, was 47-year-old Kirk Monroe Hutchings, of Greenfield. He was charged with OWI/1st offense following a traffic stop on Highway 25 a little after 2-a.m. Hutchings was later released on a citation.

Sheriff Vandewater reported also, there were three juveniles arrested, but because of their age, no information will be released.

(Radio Iowa) – You can now access the past via your computer through the State Historical Society of Iowa’s online catalog. State Archivist, Anthony Jahn (Jan) says there are some 200 million pieces of history. “For decades we’ve been collecting Iowa’s past — its history. Through the books in our collection, other published materials, through things, items Iowans have donated to us — whether they be photographs or what we call manuscripts collections, they can be books, journals, personal papers,” Jahn says.

Jahn says the online catalog puts it at your fingertips without leaving home. “For decades the only way people could access those materials was by coming in and visiting our research center, our research libraries in Iowa City and Des Moines. Or seeing things that we made available to the public through online exhibits and so forth,” according to Jahn. He says making the catalog available is one of the key duties of the Historical Society. “These collections that we have here at the State Historical Society of Iowa, they’re the peoples’ collections. We’ve been tasked by the government of the State of Iowa to not only collect these materials from Iowans of from the government to organize them and make them available for the people,” Jahn says. “And so this is really a fulfillment of our task in Iowa law and kind of our rules of an organization to help people better connect with their past.”

October is Family History Month. “This is a great month to think about family history and what better place to learn about your family’s history than to come to the State Historical Society and look up marriage records, birth records, probate records, all these records that we have available within our institution,” Jahn says. He says the online catalog is easy to use. “Go to IowaCulture.Gov, and on the website there is a whole section dealing with history. And within that history section, there is a section call research. And if they click into that they can see more detail on our collection catalog,” he says.

Jahn says they hear from a lot of people doing research for projects or their personal information. “We average about 18-19-thousand questions a year. It’s gone up actually a little bit since the pandemic,” Jahn says. The project aligns with the department’s ongoing efforts to increase access to historical research materials, both online and at the State Historical Society of Iowa Research Centers in Des Moines and Iowa City. The society recently expanded visiting hours at both research centers to 9 a-m until noon and 1-4 p-m Wednesday through Friday by appointment.