The City of Atlantic’s Community Protection Committee (CPC) will meet this (Wednesday) evening at 5:45 in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. On their agenda is a review of changes to the City Code (Ordinance), with regard to: Truck and Large Vehicle Parking; Parking for Personal Vehicles, and, the Zoning Code pertaining to the location of boats, boat trailers, campers and travel trailers.

Currently, the Truck and Large Vehicle parking Ordinance prohibits those vehicles (which include motor homes, RV’s, farm machinery or other motor vehicle with an attached trailer or detached) on any street, alley or public thoroughfare, unless engaged in the delivery or receiving of merchandise or cargo. Additionally, no vehicle exceeding 10-tons is allowed to be stored or parked on any lot or parcel within a residential zone, and, boats/boat trailers, campers, RV’s, or (5th wheel) travel trailers are not to be placed, stored or maintained within the front yard of any zoning district. They must be placed on a hard surface (concrete, asphalt or limestone), and not within view of any corner lot. A front yard may be used for a period not to exceed 48-hours for loading/unloading only, or for temporary storage (Not to exceed 7 days), if the facility is owned by a proven guest of the premises’ occupants.

City Administrator/Zoning Commissioner John Lund says the CPC will have to answer questions that include:

• Should the (aforementioned) Ordinances be re-written, simply change the wording of a few, or repeal one?
• Does the City want vehicles, other wheeled items parked on grass? Vehicles are currently not allowed to be parked on the grass.
• And, does the City want gravel or the appearance of such, to act as an “improved surface,” with regard to parking on private property. As it stands currently, personal vehicles may be parked in a garage, carport or on an all-weather driveway (defined as paved, gravel or stone). Personal vehicle are not to be parked on the grass. Parking may occur in the rear yard or side yard setback, if on an all-weather parking space connected by an all-weather driveway, to a dedicated public right-of-way and/or alley.

Lund cautions the Committee, that if they declare gravel to not qualify as an “Improved surface,” do they “Have the stomach to tell people who claim not to have the money to afford a concrete pad that the must install one, or receive civil fines in court?” The Committee’s recommendations will be passed on to the full Atlantic City Council during their next regular meeting in July.

(Radio Iowa) — The Des Moines City Council has passed a racial profiling ban for city police. The ordinance establishes a committee to review systemic bias in the police system and directs police officers to intervene if another officer uses excessive force. The council is also creating a task force to study ways to make marijuana possession the lowest priority for law enforcement. Council member Josh Mandelbaum co-sponsored that proposal. Mandelbaum says, “Addressing the way we enforce our marijuana laws is one of the small ways that we can move towards racial justice and a community that works better for everyone.”

The ordinance was first introduced nearly two years ago but it took on new urgency in the wake of protests against police brutality. Betty Andrews, president of the Iowa-Nebraska NAACP negotiated changes to the ordinance, including forcing a police officer to interfere when a colleague uses unreasonable force. Andrews says, “Which means that if someone has their knee on the neck of someone gasping for air they should interfere.”

Andrews says the ordinance is a good step but the city must do more. For instance, she says the community should have more authority to hold police accountable for misconduct.

(By Grant Gerlock, Iowa Public Radio)

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a pickup that was stolen June 19th in Creston was located later that same day in a ditch near Lorimor. The 2003 GMC Sierra pickup was taken sometime between 4-and 6-p.m. Friday, and found by a Lorimor man in the ditch just east of Jaguar Road, on 160th Street, at around 6:12-p.m. that day. A dollar amount of  the damage was not immediately available.

The Sheriff’s Office also reports two recent accidents were investigated. At around 1:30-p.m. Sunday, a vehicle driven by 48-year old Steven Dale Lamaak, of Afton, was traveling on Jaguar Avenue, when for some reason, Lamaak passed out at the wheel and, according to his passenger, would not wake up. The 2020 Chevy Cobalt he was driving went into the ditch and through a fence before stopping in a field. A female passenger in the car transported Lamaak to the hospital in Creston, for treatment of unknown/possible injuries. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $2,000.

And, at around 7:15-a.m. Monday, a 2005 John Deere Tractor driven by 53-year old Todd Kinkade, of Creston, was working on maintaining the edge of Cherry Street (a gravel road), when a southbound SUV driven by 42-year old Melissa James, of Creston, struck the rear of the tractor. No injuries were reported. The tractor was not damaged. Damage to the SUV was estimated at $6,500.

Police in Glenwood report the arrest on Sunday, of 25-year-old Zachary Digilio. The Glenwood man was taken into custody for being a Fugitive from Justice. His bond was set at $10,000.  In a separate incident, Glenwood Police arrested 22-year-old Kyle Selmer, of Council Bluffs, for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000.

A collision Monday afternoon in Madison County left one person dead and two others injured. The Iowa State Patrol reports a car driven by 23-year old Abigail Nicole Ashby, of Indianola, was traveling east on Highway 92 at around 4:26-p.m., when the vehicle crossed the center line of the road and sidewiped a westbound Chevy pickup driven by 50-year old Richard E. Baker, of Winterset.

Following the collision, the pickup continued westbound and entered a ditch before coming to rest. When the car spun counterclockwise, it was struck broadside by an SUV being driven by 63-year old Ray H. Sirdoreus, of Winterset. The car and the SUV came to rest in the westbound lane of Highway 92.

Ashby died at the scene. A passenger in her car, 3-year old Keenan Kyle, of Indianola, was injured and transported by Madison County Ambulance to Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines. Sirdoreus was also hurt in the crash. He was flown by helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. The crash victims were all wearing their seat belts.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CDT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — One of the men charged in the stabbing death of a man who was found buried at a Cedar Rapids home pleaded guilty to lesser charges. Thirty-four-year-old Drew Wagner pleaded guilty Monday to voluntary manslaughter and four other charges in the December 2018 death of Chris Bagley. Wagner originally was charged with first-degree murder. Bagley’s body was found buried at a home in southeast Cedar Rapids on March 1, 2019. A second suspect, Drew Blahnik, is awaiting trial on first-degree murder charges. Another man is charged with obstruction and abusing a corpse and a fourth man is serving a jail sentence on a connected drug case.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The number of new positive coronavirus cases has increased significantly in recent days as the state surpasses 26,000 positive cases and deaths are approaching 700. Data from the Iowa Department of Public Safety shows total positive cases Sunday increased by 441 cases from Saturday’s total at the same time. Nearly 300 new positive cases were reported Saturday and 389 on Friday. Data posted by public health officials Monday indicated 26,048 Iowans now test positive, an increase of 183 cases in 24 hours. One additional person died, bringing the state total to 686 deaths. Also Monday, the University of Iowa Athletic Department reported its testing last week of student-athletes, coaches and staff found nine testing positive, bringing the athletic department’s total to 12 positive tests.

NEVADA, Iowa (AP) — A man who was reportedly knocking on doors and carrying a sword died in Nevada, Iowa, after being shocked with a stun gun. Nevada police said officers were called at 2:44 a.m. Monday to check reports of a man carrying a sword and knocking on doors. Officers found a man sitting in a grassy area near a mobile home park with a sword. Nevada officers ordered the man to drop the sword but police said he stated, “It stays in my hand.” Officers then used a Taser to shock the man, and they then retrieved the sword and handcuffed him. Medics were called, and as they treated the man he stopped breathing. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. Police didn’t immediately identify the man.

BEDFORD, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man is facing a first-degree murder charge after a fatal stabbing in Bedford in southwest Iowa. The Iowa Department of Public Safety said the stabbing was reported around 11 p.m. Saturday. Sixty-two–year-old Penny Sue Godfirnon, of Bedford, died. Authorities said 32-year-old Christian Andrew May, of Bedord, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder and willful injury. He is being held in the Taylor County Jail.