Atlantic’s newest Police Officer was sworn-in during Wednesday evening’s City Council meeting.

Officer Gelner (Left) is sworn-in by Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones.

Mayor Dave Jones administered the Oath of Office to Officer Dustin Gelner, who began working with the Atlantic Police Department on April 24th. Gelner said he looks forward to being a police officer.

Originally from Vinton, Louisiana, Gelner met his wife Michelle, an Atlantic native, while serving in the Army for five-years. Prior to becoming a Police Officer, Gelner worked as a Supervisor for a construction and welding company out of Walnut. Michelle Gelner is a nurse at CCMH. The family has lived in town for about three-years.

The Gelner family

The couple has a two-and one-half year old son, and recently welcomed a daughter, who is now three months old.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley says Congress won’t consider a new trade deal with Mexico and Canada until President Donald Trump lifts tariffs that have prompted other countries to take actions that have hurt U.S. farmers.

Speaking Wednesday on a call with reporters, Grassley said Trump must end steel and aluminum tariffs before Congress will ratify a United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. Farmers in Iowa and across the country have been hurt by reciprocal tariffs placed on agricultural products, including pork and soybeans. Grassley says tariffs also could hinder efforts at a trade deal with China.

Grassley, who expects to meet Thursday with Trump to discuss trade, says tariffs are “keeping the president from being on the cusp of a big win” with Canada and Mexico and just weeks away from a victory in trade negotiations with China.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a bill that creates a system for children needing help with mental health issues. Speaking at a ceremony Wednesday, Reynolds said the new law requires core services for children, regional crisis stabilization, mobile response teams, 24-hour hotline access to services, and $1.2 million for home and community-based children’s mental health services. The goal is to eliminate the waiting list that currently exists.

The bill was one of Reynolds’ top priorities and while it passed with bipartisan votes, lawmakers did not provide the full funding she requested. Reynolds says her commitment is to develop long-term funding for mental health services to propose next year.

Standing in front of supporters and a family who lost a child to suicide, Reynolds said the new system is life-changing and replaces a stigma associated with mental illness with hope.

A Public Hearing will be held during a regular meeting of the Walnut City Council that begins at 5-p.m., Thursday. The hearing is with regard to a Budget Amendment for the FY 2018-19 Budget. Action on adopting a Resolution amending the current Budget for the fiscal year that ends June 30, 2019. Other discussion will cover: the City of Walnut Housing Rehab Program; the Walnut Community Center; RAGBRAI, and Parks. Justen Tooley will report later in the meeting, on the quarterly inspection of City Property, and the Council will act on a request to temporarily close certain streets, in conjunction with the Walnut Antique Festival Sept. 14th and 15th, 2019.

In an update to our previous reports, the Council Bluffs Police Department said Detectives have located and spoken to a person of interest in the January, 2019 murder of Adam Angeroth, of Council Bluffs. Authorities said due to her being a considered a witness in this case, we will not release her name at this time. She had previously been referred to as having the nickname “Zee-Zee”. The woman was thought to have valuable information regarding the murder of Angeroth.

She is believed to be a known associate of Liam Stec, who is currently being held and charged with Murder 1st degree.

Council Bluffs Police are asking for help in locating a 15-year old, missing juvenile, Gabriela Gonzales. All known leads have been exhausted. Gabriela has been missing since Thursday March 28th, 2019 at 6:38 p.m.  She is believed to be in the metro area. Gabriela has been part of social media posts, so she is not believed to be endangered. She is described as a white female, 5’4”, 150lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes. Gabriela may now have a tattoo on her right index finger.

Please call 9-1-1 if she is seen, or contact the Council Bluffs Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division (712-328-4728) with any information that will assist us in locating her.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa jury has acquitted a black political campaign worker who was arrested after refusing to identify himself to police in a Des Moines suburb. Keilon Hill was canvassing in West Des Moines for a Republican political action committee in support of congressman David Young last October when two officers tried to stop and talk to him. Police say a resident had called 911 to report a suspicious person. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana, resident says he believes his skin color played a role.

Hill was found not guilty Tuesday of misdemeanor harassment of a public official or employee. The West Des Moines police department has declined to comment on the verdict. Young lost his bid for a third term to Democrat Cindy Axne.

Glenwood Police reports three arrests so far this week. On Monday, 48-year old Richard Tye, of Glenwood, was arrested for Driving While Suspended. He later posted a $300 bond and was released. On Tuesday, 19-year old Logan Harding, of Glenwood, was arrested on a Mills County warrant for Failure to Appear (in court). He also posted a $300 bond and was released. And, 21-year old Korey Ehlers, of Silver City, was arrested Tuesday for OWI/1st offense. His cash or surety bond was set at $1,000.

Officials with the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association have announced the winner of the 2019 “Iowa’s Best Burger” contest: The Wood Iron Grille, in Oskaloosa. Michael Glesener and Matthew Gunn, owners of the Wood Iron Grill opened their new restaurant last Fall, with the goal of making it into the Top 10 in Iowa’s Best Burger Contest. This spring, they did that and more, not only reaching the Top 10, but ultimately winning the competition.

One of the award-winning burgers from the Wood Iron Grille.

Inspired to enter the competition by a past winner, the ICA says Wood Iron Grille staff have been working hard to make their restaurant great since it opened. After studying pastry arts in Chicago, Glesener, the head chef, temporarily worked in banking while his business partner, Gunn, worked in various restaurant roles along with turf and greenhouse management. Luckily, they joined forces to make the Wood Iron Grille what it is now.

The menu contains three exemplary versions of the 6 oz, hand-pattied burger. The Wood Iron Original Burger features applewood smoked bacon, a sweet and tangy onion jalapeno jam and smoked cheddar cheese. The Cajun Black and Blue Burger is topped with applewood smoked blue cheese and Cajun seasoning. The ‘Merica Burger is a classic with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle. All the burgers consist of a mixture of ground chuck and beef short ribs. The Wood Iron Grille also features beef in the form of Poutine, a combination of slow-braised beef, served over fries, with local Frisian Farms Gouda Cheese Curds; a classic 12-oz ribeye, which is hand cut by the chef and sourced from Upper Iowa Beef and a Philly Beef flatbread.

This is the 10th year for the annual Best Burger contest sponsored by the Iowa Beef Industry Council, through the Iowa State Beef Checkoff Program, and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. The Wood Iron Grille joins a great group of past best burger winners from around the state. Along with last year’s winner, Café Beaudelaire of Ames, previous winners include: 2017- The Smokin’ Hereford BBQ of Storm Lake; 2016 – The Chuckwagon Restaurant in Adair; 2015 – The Cider House of Fairfield; 2014 – Brick City Grill in Ames; 2013 – 61 Chop House Grille in Mediapolis; 2012 – Coon Bowl III in Coon Rapids; 2011 – Rusty Duck in Dexter; and 2010 – Sac County Cattle Company of Sac City.

The designation as Iowa’s Best Burger comes after a two-phase competition. The first phase is all based on votes from the public. For a month, burger lovers went online and voted for their favorite Iowa burger, submitting nearly 6,000 votes representing around 500 restaurants. At the end of the month, the ten restaurants with the most votes are declared the “Top 10.” From there, three anonymous judges visit each of the restaurants, focusing on the burger patties and scoring them based on taste, doneness and presentation.

If you’ve ever wondered how the pioneers made their own rope or dipped their own candles, or thought about trying your hand at spinning wool, you should come to the Hitchcock Pioneer Skills Festival. The Festival will be held on Saturday, May 4th at the Hitchcock House, which is located 6 miles south of Atlantic and 1.5 miles west of Lewis, IA. The festivities will begin at 1:00 p.m. and end at 4:00 p.m. You will have an opportunity to visit the historic Hitchcock House and see many of the skills and crafts that people of the late 1800’s used in daily living.

You could begin your visit with a tour of the Hitchcock House that is also a National Historic Landmark. This two-story home was built in 1856. It features thick sandstone walls, window seats, native hard wood trim and a secret room that hid runaway slaves. The secret room is located in the basement where there is also a stone fireplace where the slaves could cook food and keep warm. It is said that the famous John Brown preached around this fireplace.

Head to the barn, where the hub of the festival activities will take place. Once you make it to the barn you will be able to observe the skills and crafts of the past and even try your hand at a few of them. There will be rope making, candle dipping, tin punching, and woodcarvings. The festival will be held rain or shine. Families are encouraged to come and share the day together as they might have in the 1800’s. There is a $5 fee/adult for a tour of the Hitchcock House. All activities in the barn are free of charge; donations to the Hitchcock House will be accepted.