The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Board of Directors met Monday evening at City Hall. During their meeting, they were introduced to Ron Flory, part-time Park Foreman, who previously worked for the City of Atlantic’s Wastewater Treatment Plant for more than 33-years, starting when he was just a teenager.

Atlantic Parks & Rec Foreman Ron Flory.

Parks and Rec Director Seth Staashelm explained what Flory’s job entails. He’ll be overseeing the department crews out in the field, helping with equipment maintenance, serving as the department safety officer and other duties. Staashelm will serve in a more administrative role. Flory said he was stepping “Out of [his] comfort zone a little bit and trying something new,” in taking the position. It’s so far it’s been a lot of work, but a fun job for the next seven-years or so, until I retire.”

He said there’s been a lot work cleaning up the storm damaged trees, taking care of mowers that have broken down, maintenance and cleaning, as well as working on the new Schildberg Recreation Area playground. As far as the east playground is concerned, Staashelm said it’s nearly finished. The structure is completed, and there have already been some play dates have been taken advantage of by YMCA kids and others.

All that remains is setting placques for the park benches in place, and adding some signage with regard to parent supervision required of children ages 5-to 12. The Schildberg west Shelter is also nearly complete, with the exception of the electrical hookups being connected for outlets. Seth Staashelm said also, the old Sunnyside Park entrance sign has been completely demolished, and it’s hoped the new sign will be in-place by Labor Day, just in-time for the Disc Golf Tournament, which draws more than 200 competitors from 13 different States.

Staashelm said also they had good participation in their Summer program (tennis and swimming), and the Sunnyside Pool sold 166 units this year altogether, as compared to the 127 sold last year. The last day for the pool to be in operation is August 18th, which is also the day for the “Doggie Dip,” that takes place from 1-until 4-p.m. , as a fundraiser for the Atlantic Animal Shelter. Last year the event had a large showing and raised $365 at One-dollar per dog, plus extra donations that came in.

He said there will be dogs in the pool, it will get dirty, and if people want to swim, they will do so “At their own risk.” Kids are not encouraged to be swimming at that time.

A man from Greenfield was being held in the Adair County Jail Monday (today) on a $500,000 cash only bond, in connection with his arrest last Thursday. 30-year old Andy Joseph Engles was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault/Bodily Injury, for choking a woman to the point where she couldn’t breathe. He was also charged with Sexual Abuse in the 1st Degree after allegedly forcing his victim to have sex with him and fracturing her left maxillary sinus area. And, Engles was charged with Willful Injury resulting in serious injury, after he slapped the same woman several times in the face. The incidents occurred at his residence on northeast 3rd Street in Greenfield, at around 10:30-a.m. July 18th.

And, 45-year old Jodi Lea Griffith, of Fontanelle, was being held in the Adair County Jail to serve her sentence on a conviction of Possession of a prescription drug without a prescription. She was booked in on July 19th per a court order, and released on July 21st.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports numerous arrests occurred over the past couple of weeks. This (Monday) morning, 38-year old Jared Eldon Finnell, of Cumberland, was arrested on charges of OWI 1st Offense and Interference with Official Acts. Finnell was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later in the day on his own recognizance.

Early Sunday morning, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 56-year old Katherine Anne Lange, of Anita, on a charge of Assault with Intent to Cause Serious Injury. Lange was released later that day on her own recognizance, but she was arrested later that same afternoon, on a charge of Violation of No Contact Order. Lange was released Monday (Today), on $500 cash bond.

Last Thursday, 34-year old Brenda Nichole Leah Kinzie, of Griswold, was arrested on a felony charge of Burglary in the 3rd Degree, and for Theft 3rd Degree. Kinzie was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $4,000 bond.

Last Wednesday, 27-year old Scott Hallie Joseph Downer, of Atlantic, was arrested by Cass County deputies, on a charge of Driving While Barred. Downer was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on $2,000 bond.

On July 17th, 23-year old Maisie Sheryl Williams, of Atlantic, was arrested on two District Court warrants for Violation of Probation. Williams was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $27,500 bond. That same day, 27-year old Mikel Ann Erickson, of Omaha, was arrested on a Cass County District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Erickson was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on $10,000 bond.

On July 15th, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested 38-year old Joshua James Reynolds, of Carson, on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Reynolds was taken to the Cass County Jail and was released later that day on his own recognizance.

And, on July 13th, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested 28-year old Michelle Lee Dougherty, of Atlantic, on an Atlantic Police Department warrant for Simple Assault. Dougherty was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on her own recognizance.

A call about a motorcycle accident Sunday afternoon in Dallas County resulted in the discovery of a deceased male from Nebraska. Sheriff’s officials say the body 29-year old Austin Welke, which had apparently been deceased for several days, was found after a caller reported seeing the wreckage at around 3:23-p.m. Sunday, in a cornfield near the intersection of Old Highway Six and Bear Creek Road, between Redfield and Dexter.

Authorities say Welke was staying in Redfield while on a work assignment. His friends reported he hadn’t been seen since July 20th. Officials say while no foul play is expected, the circumstances of the accident remain under investigation, and an autopsy has been scheduled with the State Medical Examiner’s Office.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday), issued a reports on their latest arrests. On Saturday (7/21) 37-year-old Jose Garcia, of Denison, was arrested following a traffic stop. Garcia was taken into custody on an active Crawford County warrant and charged locally for Driving under Suspension. The following evening Garcia plead guilty in front of the magistrate, and was fined, and given credit for time served. Garcia was then transferred to Crawford County Jail.

On July 15th, Shelby County Deputies arrested 62-year-old Gary Lyn McCoy. McCoy was in an automobile accident earlier that morning and transferred to Myrtue Memorial Hospital by Medivac ambulance. After being medically released from the hospital, McCoy was transferred to the Shelby County Jail without incident and charged with Possession of Controlled Substance, Prohibited Acts, and charged with Theft 5th. During the pat down process, additional contraband was found, which resulted in an additional charge of Possessing Contraband in a Controlled Facility. McCoy was held until posting bond and then released on his own recognizance the following morning.

On June 24th, 49-year-old Sherryle Jean Gorka, of rural Manilla, was arrested on an active warrant from Shelby County Court for Theft 5th Bad Check. Gorka was transferred to the Shelby County Jail and held under $300 bond until she was released on her own recognizance later that evening.

And, on June 22nd, Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 47-year-old Troy Louis Veltrop, of rural Earling. Veltrop was charged with Felon in possession of a firearm, Domestic Abuse Assault, False Imprisonment, Possession of Controlled Substance. Veltrop was transferred to the Shelby County Jail without incident and held without bond until appearance before a magistrate. The following morning, Veltrop was seen by a magistrate and held on a $12,000 cash/surety bond. Later that week, Veltrop was charged with a Violation of Probation adding an additional $10,000 cash/surety bond. On July 7th, Veltrop was charged with Violation of a No Contact Order and received an additional $1,000 bond after magistrate appearance. His total bond then amounted to $23,000.

Once again it’s that time to nominate a person in Cass County for this year’s Athena Award. The ATHENA Leadership Award — made possible locally by Deter Motor Company, in Atlantic — is presented in January at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce’ Annual Dinner. Those interested in nominating an individual can pick up a nomination packet at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, 102 Chestnut Street, or by visiting www.atlanticiowa.com. Nominations are due in September.

The ATHENA Leadership Award, developed through a grant from W.K. Kellogg Foundation, identifies eight distinct attributes that are reflective of women’s contributions to leadership: living authentically, learning constantly, advocating fiercely, acting courageously, fostering collaboration, building relationships, giving back and celebrating. These personal traits are more intuitive to women and combined with the strongest aspects of traditional leadership – taking risks, assertiveness, hard work – prepare women to be successful leaders in the 21st century.

Over 7,000 recipients around the world have been honored with the ATHENA Leadership Award since the program launched in 1982. Locally, past winners include: LaVon Eblen, Judy Marnin Leanne Pellett, Denise O’Brien, Margaret Slepsky, Glenda Farrier, Carole Schuler, Jan Kinnison, Janell Hansen, Ann Pross, Wendy Richter, Dolly Bergmann, Pat Markham, Lanette Plambeck, Kathie Hockenberry, Dr. Tressa Wilcox and Heather McKay.

Presented to leaders, woman and men, across the professional sector, the ATHENA Leadership Award is one of the most prestigious leadership awards one can receive—and Atlantic is one of the few communities in Iowa with an active ATHENA Leadership group.

Nominees must meet each of the following three criteria:

1.      Demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession

2.      Provide valuable service to improve the quality of life for others in their community

3.      Actively assist women in achieving their full leadership potential

An investigation into an accident around 4-p.m. Saturday in Mills County resulted in the arrest of a Pottawattamie County man. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 51-year old Darren Eugene Weis, of Avoca, was taken into custody for OWI/3rd offense, and Driving While Revoked for a previous OWI. Weis was also cited for Failure to Maintain Control. His bond was set at $6,000.

Officials say Weis was driving a 2014 Infinity northbound on Interstate 29, when the car entered the median near the Mills/Pott. County line. The car hit several guardrail posts before getting back onto I-29 and continuing northbound. Weis then crossed the turnaround area in the median and went south on I-29 for about one-eighth of a mile before stopping his vehicle, which had sustained major front end damage.

The person who reported the incident and another passerby detained Weis from leaving the scene, until Deputies could arrive and take him into custody. No injuries were reported.

The Iowa Board of Chiropractic has filed a Notice of Hearing and Statement of Charges against a Chiropractor from Atlantic. According to IBC documents, a disciplinary contested case hearing for Melissa S. Sternberg, who operates Dr. Zook’s Family Chiropractic in Atlantic and Carson, will take place 10-a.m. Oct. 10th, in Des Moines. The Board alleges:

• Sternberg represented herself as a chiropractic physician, when her license was suspended or on inactive status, in Violation of Iowa Code.
• Sternberg is practicing with an inactive license, in Violation of Iowa Code.
• And, that she has failed to comply with a subpoena issued by the Board, or otherwise failing to cooperate with a Board investigation, in violation of Iowa Code.

The Board’s records show Sternberg’s business license to practice chiropractic was suspended in Feb., 2015. Her license expired on June 30th, 2016. Her license was indefinitely suspended in Feb. 2015 due to the Board’s receipt of a certificate of non-compliance from the Iowa Department of Revenue Centralized Collection Unit.  The statement issued by the Iowa Board of Chiropractic said the matter may be resolved by settlement agreement if Sternberg follows the procedural rules.

(More information on this case can be found here: https://idph.iowa.gov/Licensure/Iowa-Board-of-Chiropractic/Discipline-and-Public-Actions?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery )

The Harlan Fire Department was called to Essentia, east of Harlan, at around 5:24-p.m., Friday. According to our sister station KNOD in Harlan, the original call was for an explosion in the east part of the building. Harlan Fire Chief Roger Bissen said upon arrival, the fire department did not find any fire, but there was a lot of smoke in that area of the building. The cause of the smoke was powder inside of one of the hammer mills had ignited, causing the explosion. The blast was contained within the stainless steel tank. The Harlan Fire Department disassembled the machine and ventilated the building. There was no damage to the building.

(7/24 — Corrected to indicate how the pickup got out of the ditch)

A call to the Cass County Communications Center at around 3:52-a.m. today (Monday) resulted in the arrest of a man at gunpoint. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says a caller reported a burgundy Ford Ranger pickup in the ditch at 700th and Quincy Road. A friend helped to pull the vehicle, driven by 38-year old Jared Finnell, of Cumberland, out of the ditch, after which he drove into Cumberland. About one-half hour later, Deputy Kyle Quist saw the pickup and initiated a traffic stop south of Cumberland. At the time, a passenger in the vehicle was ordered out and held at gunpoint while backup was called for.

Finnell refused to comply with the Deputies’ orders to exit the vehicle, but just as the Cass County K9 was about to be deployed, Finnell exited the pickup and was taken into custody without further incident. He was charged with OWI/1st offense, and Interference with Official Acts. Finnell was released from the Cass County Jail later in the day, Monday, on his own recognizance.