• 3 boneless chicken breasts
• 1 package frozen broccoli cuts
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 can cream of celery soup
• 2 cups Minute rice, uncooked
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup cubed cheese
• 1 stick margarine (melted)

Boil chicken until tender.  In a sprayed 9″ x 13″ pan, place one cup rice, chicken breasts, the next cup of rice and broccoli,  Mix together melted margarine, milk, both soups and cheese:  pour over rice, chicken and broccoli.  Bake at 350 degrees for two hours.

(Doreen Swanson)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Construction has begun on a free lodging facility for families of sick or injured Nebraska and western Iowa veterans being treated at the veterans hospital in Omaha.
The Omaha World-Herald reports that the $8 million Fisher House will include 16 hotel-style suites at a site near the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. It is funded by the Fisher House Foundation with local donations and will be given to the VA when complete to operate as a federal building. It is expected to open in late 2020.

There are more than 80 Fisher Houses at military and veterans hospitals around the United States, as well as two in Europe. The program was begun in 1990 by philanthropist and real estate developer Zachary Fisher.

(Radio Iowa) – Investors across Iowa are taking advantage of new federal tax incentives designed to spur economic development in distressed communities. They’re called Opportunity Zones. 62 of these areas have been designated across the state. One of them is in Denison, where Mayor Jared Beymer announced last week 45 housing units will be built to address the community’s housing shortage. “It’s brought in local investors, and it’ll probably bring in some money from outside of the community. It could turn out to be quite a very useful tool.”

Naomi Hamlett is a Des Moines city official, where an Opportunity Zone project is underway near Drake University. It will include a restaurant, retail space and a hotel. “We haven’t seen a new hotel in that part of the city for a very long time,” she says. “…The hope is that the program will provide economic stability, job growth, and improved housing conditions in disadvantaged areas that have traditionally been overlooked by the private sector.”

Two U.S. Senators have touted Opportunity Zones during political events in Iowa. South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, a Republican, and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, who’s also a Democratic presidential candidate, say the tax breaks help direct needed investment in both rural and urban communities. Click HERE to see a map of the 62 Opportunity Zones that have been designated in Iowa.

Officials with the Atlantic Parks & Recreation Department and Cass County Conservation Board report Nishna Valley Trails is holding a Kids Bike Ride this Saturday, August 10th, at the Schildberg Recreation Area’s West Parking lot. The event begins at 10:30-a.m.  Check in and start the ride at the West Parking lot of the Schildberg Rec. Area. Three age groups, ride length according to age. FREE, and all ages welcome. Co-sponsored by Atlantic Parks and Recreation, Cass County Conservation, Fareway, and West Side Diner in Atlantic.

If you have any questions, call Lora at 712-769-2372. After the ride check out Atlanticfest going on downtown!

Three people were arrested on separate charges, Monday, in Creston. Authorities say 28-year old Ahdri Evans, of Creston, was arrested at her residence on the charge of Child Endangerment. She was released from the Adams County Jail on a S2000 bond. 55-year old Thomas M. McKinley, of Lafayette, IN, was arrested in Creston for Public Intoxication and Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st offense. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a $1,300 bond. And, 30-year old Chelsey Kile, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Barred. She was later released from the Adams County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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WAVERLY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have released the name of a 4-year-old girl who was accidentally run over and killed in a driveway by her maternal grandmother in northeast Iowa. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that the Iowa State Patrol identified the girl Monday as Lola Ann Keith. The patrol says 67-year-old Kathryn Krukow was moving a pickup truck forward at her Waverly home on July 30 when it ran over the little girl. Krukow told officials she didn’t see Lola and didn’t know she’d fallen beneath the truck.

ANAMOSA, Iowa (AP) — A man convicted of killing a Grimes woman more than 20 years ago has died in prison. The Iowa Corrections Department says 51-year-old Roger Sellers was pronounced dead Sunday morning in a hospice room at Anamosa State Penitentiary. He’d been housed there because of chronic illness. He was serving a life sentence. Sellers shot to death 24-year-old Gina Ginn on Jan. 14, 1997. Ginn’s boyfriend was Sellers’ brother.

(Radio Iowa) — From ice cream socials to picnics, some four-dozen Iowa cities are taking part in this year’s National Night Out, which in most communities is tonight (Tuesday). Hamilton County Sheriff Doug Timmons says Webster City is hosting their events this evening. “This event is a community policing project,” Sheriff Timmons says. “In today’s world, everybody thinks the police are out to get ’em. No, we’re not. We’re there to help you. We have a job to do and we try to do it the best that we can. This way, you guys can come out and see who we are.”

Night Out events have been held for more than 30 years as a way for law enforcement and communities to work together. “We have handouts for the kids, handouts for the adults, a light meal, I’ve got a fellow coming from Stanhope to have music,” Timmons says. “The fire department will be set up showing their stuff. The ambulance will be there. We’ll have all of our gear and the squad cars. We’re working with the National Guard to have a climbing wall. We have all sorts of good things planned.”

To find communities in Iowa where National Night Out events are taking place, visit: www.natw.org. The list (locally) includes: Bridgewater, Carter Lake, Council Bluffs, Harlan, and Red Oak.

A call about an accident Monday night in Red Oak, resulted in an arrest. Police were dispatched to the scene at the intersection of Walnut and N. 2nd Streets in Red Oak, at around 7:34-p.m. An investigation determined 40-year old Angela Sue Hunt Mitera, of Hamburg, was driving east on Walnut Street, and failed to yield to a car driven by 28-year old Morgan Davenport, of Red Oak.

When Mitera’s 2017 Ford C-Max was struck broadside by Davenport’s 2006 Chevy Impala, the Ford rolled onto its top. Damage from the accident amounted to $18,000 altogether. Both drivers were checked out by EMS at the scene, and both refused transport to the hospital.

Hunt-Mitera was arrested for Driving Under Suspension, with 5 withdrawals in effect. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a little more than $566 bond, and cited for Failure to Yield, along with Violation of License Restriction (No SR-22 Insurance).

Red Oak Police were assisted by the Red Oak Fire Department and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.