The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Board is set to meet 5:15-p.m. Monday, via ZOOM. Action items/New Business/Information on their agenda will cover:

• An Easter Egg Cruise
• Summer Programs
• Sunnyside Pool
• Schildberg Rec Area Campground
• Sunnyside Tennis Courts

And, in his report to the Board, Director Bryant Rasmussen will discuss/review:

• The Snow Sculpture Contest
• Reservation Calendar QR Codes
• Dog Park Equipment
• and a Winter Rec Day.

A Special Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) gets underway this week, in advance of St. Patrick’s Day. The Iowa State Patrol is joining Iowa’s statewide Traffic Fatality Task Force, in an effort to reduce deaths on Iowa roadways. As part of the effort, Troopers in District 3 (Council Bluffs) will be checking for seat belt compliance and reducing the number of impaired drivers on the road, as the St. Patrick’s Day holiday time frame is typically one of the most deadly in the state, according to the most recent 10-year crash data.

St. Patrick’s Day can be unlucky for those drivers who don’t plan ahead. If you chose to celebrate, designate a SOBER driver, and always wear your seat belt.

Some data on this upcoming holiday:

• In Iowa, March 17th is typically one of the biggest drinking nights of the year, and one of the deadliest on the roadways.
• In 2019, there were two crashes in Iowa that killed a total of four people. Drunk/impaired driving accounts for nearly one-third of vehicle related fatalities in the state and in the U-S.
• Nationally, in 2018 alone, 73 people (or, 39% of all crash fatalities) were killed in drunk-driving crashes over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday period, and 33% of the motorists 16 and older killed in the crashes, had a blood alcohol concentration over the legal limit.

The eventual goal for fatalities in Iowa is ZERO, but the goal for 2021 is under 300, down from 338 in 2020. If achieved, authorities say it would be the first time Iowa traffic deaths were under 300 lives, since 1925.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, Friday, reported two people were arrested following a traffic stop near Oakland on Thursday. Authorities say Deputies were responding to an emergency call when a Deputy turned north on 390^th Street from Highway 6 and located a Dodge Ram 1500 that had just left the area where a truck load of garbage and trash had been dumped in the middle of the roadway.

Following a traffic stop, the driver, 49-year old James Lafayette Belback, admitted to depositing trash in the roadway. Belback was transported to the jail for several violations against the State of Iowa and Pottawattamie County. A passenger, 24-year old Crysta Lee Brammer, of Oakland, was arrested for being a Fugitive from Justice for escape from custody.

The Sheriff’s Office reports also, 26-year old Jacob William Archibald was arrested Thursday, on two counts of Child Endangerment with substantial risk of injury, in connection with a warrant.  29-year old Ian James Lybarger, of Omaha, was arrested Thursday at the Fremont County Jail, on Pott. County warrants for Leaving the scene of an injury accident, Operating a Motor Vehicle Without Owners Consent, Assault on persons in certain occupations w/bodily injury, and Theft in the 5th & 2nd Degrees.

Sheriff’s officials say 56-year old Ruth Helen Starkey, of Sheldon, was arrested following a traffic stop at Sharon Drive and Old Lincoln Highway near Crescent on Thursday. Starkey was charged with Assault Causing Bodily Injury or Mental Illness.

And, 56-year old Ronald Wayne Cody was arrested following a traffic stop near Pioneer Trail and 385^th Street near Macedonia early Thursday morning. Cody was charged with Operating While Intoxicated 1^st Offense and Driving While License Suspended or Revoked.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:45 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — More than 1 million doses of coronavirus vaccine have been administered in Iowa, even as residents who qualify struggle to make appointments for a shot. The Iowa Department of Public Health said Friday that Iowa has administered 1.03 million doses. The milestone reflects significant increases in vaccine supplies but it’s unclear how the state will handle surging demand as more adults become eligible in the coming months. Iowa has no centralized system for people to secure a vaccine appointment.

Iowa City (AP) — As virus cases plummeted, Iowa quietly extended a $3.9 million contact tracing contract with a company owned by a major Republican Party donor and supporter of Gov. Kim Reynolds. The Iowa Department of Public Health hired MCI, an Iowa City telemarketing firm, in November to trace the contacts of Iowa residents infected with COVID-19 after a one-day emergency bidding process. The two-month, $2.3 million contract came during an explosion of cases that filled up hospitals with patients and after counties had for months complained of a shortage of contact tracing workers. Four days before MCI’s contract was to expire on Jan. 31, Iowa’s state epidemiologist signed a three-month contract extension with MCI that is worth another $1.6 million.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police in northern Iowa are investigating the discovery of what appear to be human bones. Mason City police said in a news release that a resident found the bones, along with clothing, on Thursday on the shore of the Winnebago River. Officers searched the area and found additional bones. Everything that was collected was transported to the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner for examination.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City man has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the shooting death of another man last year. The Sioux City Journal reports 36-year-old Roderick Banks entered the written plea Friday in Woodbury County District Court. He’s been charged with the murder count and a count being a felon in possession of a firearm for the Nov. 1 shooting death of 33-year-old Solomon Blackbird near Park Place Apartments in Sioux City. Prosecutors say Banks confronted Blackbird and Blackbird’s girlfriend outside the apartment complex and shot Blackbird once in the chest. Police believe the shooting was related to a drug deal. Investigators say they recovered a handgun believed to be the murder weapon.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police in northern Iowa are investigating the discovery of what appear to be human bones. Mason City police said in a news release that a resident found the bones, along with clothing, on Thursday on the shore of the Winnebago River. Officers searched the area and found additional bones. Everything that was collected was transported to the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner.

Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh reports on Tuesday March 16th, a USDA Farmers to Families Food Box distribution will be held at the Cass County Community Center from 3-6 PM, or as supplies last. Anyone is welcome to visit the drive-through food box pick-up, and no documentation or proof of need is required. Boxes will be given away at no cost. People from surrounding towns and communities are welcome. The USDA Farmers to Families Food Boxes are likely to contain fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and meat.

This event will be the second Farmers to Families food box distribution in Cass County in a week. The Anita Town and Country hosted another distribution this past Saturday, March 13th.

If you need more information, call Brigham Hoegh, Cass County Wellness Coordinator, at 712-249-5870.

One person died during a single-vehicle accident in northern Iowa’s Worth County, Friday night. The Iowa State Patrol reports 37-year old Michelle Marie Runde, of Northwood, was died when her car left the road and crashed at around 9:30-p.m..

The accident happened as Runde was traveling north on Highway 65, just north of Northwood. The 2016 Dodge Charger she was driving left the road and traveled through a field before entering a machine shed. Runde was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene.

The Patrol was assisted by the Worth County Sheriff’s Office, Northwood and Mason City Fire Departments.

w/ Chris Parks

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The Red Oak Police Department reports an OWI arrest on Friday night. At 8:30 p.m. Officers stopped a vehicle in the 400 block of North 4th Street in Red Oak. The driver, 41-year-old Brianna Nedean Gasper of Red Oak, was arrested for OWI 1st Offense. Gasper was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $1,000 bond.