(Atlantic, Iowa) – Produce in the Park invites local public servants in elected and appointed commissions who serve Cass County and the City of Atlantic to participate in a Local Government Night at the farmers market on Thursday, September 4.

The goal of the evening is to provide an opportunity for members of the public to learn more about local government in an informal setting and to have the opportunity to ask questions about their work.

Produce in the Park strives to build community, and the farmers market is hoping to have as many boards, commissions, and elected officials represented as possible. Those who participate are asked to come prepared to discuss what they do in their positions, projects they are currently focusing on, when and where they meet, how the public can reach them, and common misconceptions about their positions.

Those serving on local boards and commissions or in elected offices are encouraged to participate and asked to RSVP to Produce in the Park (produceintheparkatlanticiowa@gmail.com) by Monday, September 1.

As of Monday August 18, members of the Atlantic City Council and Cass County Board of Supervisors have agreed to be in attendance, along with Mayor Grace Garrett, Cass County Treasurer Tracey Marshall, and Cass County Recorder Mary Ward.

Produce in the Park is held in the Atlantic City Park from 4:30–6:30 PM every Thursday from June through the end of September. All are welcome, and admission is free.
For the latest market updates, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark and Instagram at www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/.

(Elkhart, Iowa) — A man and a woman died after being ejected from their vehicle during a crash near Elkhart on Tuesday evening.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened around 7:30 p.m. at the intersection of Northeast 29th Street and Northeast 142nd Avenue. When deputies arrived, they found a man and a woman had been ejected from one of the vehicles. The man was pronounced dead at the scene, while the woman was taken by ambulance and died later.

Another man from the second vehicle was also taken by ambulance to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The crash remains under investigation. The intersection was closed until 11:30 p.m. last night.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa State Fair is the state’s largest tourism event and State Fair C-E-O Jeremy Parsons says that was affirmed this year. Nearly one-point-two MILLION people attended the 2025 Fair — just about 22-thousand short of the attendance record set last year.

Parsons says the Iowa State Fair’s Blue Ribbon Foundation has raised the money to install creature comforts on the fairgrounds that have mitigated the weather’s impact on attendance.

State Fair Grandstand ticket sales DID set a record over the Fair’s 11 day run. Nearly 132-thousand people attended the nightly concerts. Parsons says the diverse line-up appealed to a wide variety of people.

The top draw was 27-year-old country star Megan Moroney, with the second and third largest Grandstand audiences for the concerts by rappers T-Pain and Pitbull.

Fair-goers were allowed to bring in non-alcoholic drinks and food in soft-sided coolers this year. Parsons says it does not seem to have dampened sales by licensed vendors on the fairgrounds.

Preparations for the 2026 State Fair are well underway. Renovations are starting on the inside of the historic Horse Barn and on Monday the Iowa State Fair Board approved spending one-point-eight MILLION dollars worth of repairs for the Swine and Cattle Barns. Fundraising is underway for a 15 MILLION dollar Ag Education Center on the fairgrounds and Parsons says they hope to have a groundbreaking for the project during next year’s State Fair.

(Radio Iowa) – A pastor who’s been a top administrator in state government submitted his resignation to Governor Kim Reynolds yesterday (Tuesday) and launched his own campaign for governor. Forty-five-year-old Adam Steen of Runnells spoke to a large crowd in a Pleasant Hill church last Tuesday night.

Steen spoke to the crowd after a 20 minute concert from a group that led the congregation in singing praise music. Steen drew cheers and some whistles when he called fellow Republican Kim Reynolds the greatest governor in the history of Iowa.

Steen has been director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services for the past four years. The Satanic Temple Iowa has accused Steen of religious discrimination by denying the group’s application to host an event and a December holiday display in the Iowa Capitol. Steen is the fifth Republican to start campaigning for governor or file the paperwork to raise money for a campaign. Steen indirectly mentioned Congressman Randy Feenstra, who’s signalled he’ll formally enter the race next month. Steen says voters don’t want a career politician or a D-C congressman, but are looking for people like him who work.

After the event, Steen told reporters he’s been preparing for this moment for 15 years.

State Representative Eddie Andrews of Johnston and Coralville Pastor Brad Sherman, a former member of the Iowa House, are the other Republicans who are running for governor. Republican State Senator Mike Bousselot of Ankeny is also exploring the idea of running for governor.

(Radio Iowa) – A missing 15 year old girl from Fairfield has been found in North Carolina and a 25-year-old man is under arrest. Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson reports.

The North Carolina man is charged with two felonies — sexual exploitation of a minor and with solicitation by computer. Authorities believe the man and the girl communicated over messaging apps, he picked her up in Fairfield and drove her to a city more than 900 miles away in North Carolina. On Sunday, Fairfield Police asked deputies in North Carolina to check a home in Reidsville, North Carolina, where they found the girl and the man. John Johnson is being held on an 850-thousand dollar bond.

(Radio Iowa) – As Iowa kids prepare to go back to school, health experts are urging parents to make sure they are up to date on their measles vaccination. The state has confirmed eight cases of the highly contagious virus since May. Karen Brust is a hospital epidemiologist at University of Iowa Health Care. She says if someone suspects they have measles, they should call ahead to alert their healthcare provider before going in.

The M-M-R vaccine — for measles, mumps and rubella — is considered 97 percent effective against the virus. According to state data, 84-percent of Iowa children were fully vaccinated last year, which falls several points below the 90-percent threshold experts consider herd immunity.

Measles can cause serious illness and in rare cases, death.

Written by Andrea Welchans (ISU Extension & Outreach)

AMES, Iowa – Mandy Maher has accepted the position of regional director for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach serving Pottawattamie (east and west offices), Cass and Adair counties in western Iowa. She begins the position Sept. 29, 2025. As regional director, Maher will provide administrative leadership to county extension office staff and guidance to county extension councils.

Maher has been the county director for ISU Extension and Outreach in Fremont County since 2012. In this role, Maher supervises county staff to cultivate a positive, high-performing work environment. She provides strategic guidance to the extension council, ensuring legal compliance while advancing personnel, financial and programmatic goals. She adheres to organizational policies and procedures and works closely with the regional director to manage the annual budget. She connects local audiences to research-based education, amplifying impact through targeted marketing and resource development. A civic engagement champion, she strengthens volunteer networks and delivers data-driven reports that highlight program outcomes and inform future initiatives. Her active representation of ISU Extension and Outreach in key local organizations reinforces the institution’s presence and deepens community trust.

“Mandy is an outstanding communicator. She excels at connecting people and fostering meaningful relationships with her staff and community networks making her an excellent fit for the role of a regional director,” said Andrea Welchans, assistant vice president for ISU Extension and Outreach. “We congratulate her and welcome her to her new position with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.”

Maher received her bachelor’s degree in business administration and communications from Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell, S.D.

ISU Extension and Outreach is part of the federal Cooperative Extension Service—a network of more than 100 land-grant institutions, including Iowa State University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture serving communities and counties across the United States. Every county in Iowa has an elected extension council that decides how to support ISU Extension and Outreach educational programs at the county level.

(Radio Iowa) – Images of a mountain lion with a neck collar have been circulating on social media in northwest Iowa the past few days. Iowa D-N-R furbearer biologist Vince Evelsizer says the mountain lion came from a neighboring state.

The male lion is estimated to be less than two years old and was collared as part of an ongoing research project by Nebraska Game Fish & Parks to try and better understand its movements and behavior. Evelsizer says he was contacted about the cat a few weeks ago when it entered the state. He says the animal hasn’t caused any problems.

Evelsizer says mountain lions are not protected in Iowa, but he is encouraging people to not to shoot the animal unless there is a direct safety threat. He says the animal wants to avoid human contact, and trail cameras are likely the only way you might see it.

Evelsizer says the D-N-R is not giving out any precise information on the mountain lion’s location.

Everlsizer says anyone who might see the mountain lion should use common sense and leave it alone. You can report any sightings to local D-N-R officers to help track its movement.

Rolling Hills Bank & Trust and the City of Atlantic Parks and Rec department have teamed up to build roughly ten trees in Mollett Park in an attempt to give back to the community. Rolling Hills Bank & Trust Marketing Manager, B.J. Hart was inspired by the idea after realizing how many local trees didn’t survive the past winter.

In the past year, the community lost over a dozen trees, and it was time to replant.

City of Atlantic Parks & Recreation Coordinator, Jeff Christensen is urging the community to support the ability to plant numerous double-digit foot trees.

Christensen says there are several ways to help or get questions answered you may have.

The end goal is to plant roughly 30 trees around Atlantic and eventually branch out into other local communities.

(Des Moines, Iowa) — A Des Moines man was critically injured on Monday evening after he came into contact with a live power line in the Beaverdale neighborhood.

According to the Des Moines Police Department, first responders were sent to the 3400 block of 48th Place shortly before 5 p.m. When DMPD arrived, they found a 49-year-old man with critical injuries. Police say the scene has been secured and 48th Place is closed between Urbandale and Euclid avenues.

MidAmerican Energy is at the scene investigating the circumstances. The company’s outage page reports around 1,000 customers without power as of 6:05 p.m.