Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones, Monday evening, administered the Oath of Office to one new and one returning Parks Board members. John Krogman and Jolene Smith were elected on during the City Elections on Nov. 7th. Both ran unopposed. Smith was re-elected. For Krogman, who once served as Mayor, it was his first time on the Board.

Afterward, the Board nominated and elected Erin McFadden as Vice-Chair. In his report to the Board, Parks and Rec Director Seth Staashelm said plans for the playground at the Schildberg Rec Area are going well. He said the playground plans are in-place and he’s working with the Rotary still to with the financing for the shelter and plans, the bids for which will let in January or February 2018. He’s hoping a local company will place bids for the shelter, the budget for which is $45,000, but they’re hoping for closer to $42,000 to $43,000.

Staashelm said also, many of the Schildberg projects will be kicking off in the Spring, and some projects will be wrapped-up. John Krogman said however, that the roof on top of the fishing pier may be installed this winter, much to the surprise of Staashelm and the Board. An Eagle Scout will also work on picnic tables in the Spring. Staashelm said there are currently 15 campers on the pads at Schildberg, and five empty spots, but the numbers seem to stay current. As soon as person leaves another takes their place. Work on the Lake #3 Trail will be conducted in the Spring, but it’s perfectly solid enough right now in its natural form to walk on.

As far as the Public Gardens at Mollett Park off East 3rd Street Place and Cedar Park, Staashelm says they received feedback on their website, social media, and Harvest Markets, as to what should be featured at those sites. Rentable spots at Mollett Park are possible for gardening there. The area could also feature edible landscaping, such as fruit and nutbearing trees and shrubs. There are hopes, too, of running a trail from Mollett Park to 7th Street, along with improved parking.

The feedback was also positive for public gardens and edible landscaping at Cedar Park, along with a splash pad. A basketball court was also deemed a priority. Restrooms were also requested. Staashelm said he will present the preliminary plans to the City Council on January 17th.

In other business, the Board approved offering members of the Nishna Valley YMCA a combo pass to Sunnyside Pool. And, Staashelm said they will be setting up the ice rink Tuesday and Wednesday for use later this week, weather permitting.

Marne Fire and Rescue, Atlantic Rescue and Medivac have all been paged to a rollover accident on Interstate 80 this evening. The accident occurred at around 4:50-p.m. at the 49.85-mile marker westbound. Injuries have been reported. No further details are available at this time.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Fire has destroyed a popular Des Moines bowling alley that dates to the 1950s. A fire department spokesman says firefighters were called to Plaza Lanes just after 5 a.m. Monday after a passerby reported smoke and small flames.

Firefighters opened up the roof in an effort to douse the flames but the fire moved quickly through the structure, with the roof collapsing about a half hour later. Fire crews remained at the building for hours.

In a message on the business website, the owners promised to rebuild the bowling alley. Plaza Lanes opened in November 1957.

ATLANTIC – The Cass County Health System Foundation has announced their 2018 Campaign to raise $250,000 for new endoscopy equipment for Cass County Memorial Hospital (CCMH). CCMH uses endoscopy equipment for two common procedures: EGDs and colonoscopies. An endoscope is a tiny camera attached to a long, thin tube. Doctors use an endoscope to perform an EGD, which inspects a patient’s esophagus, stomach, and the first portion of the small intestine. The endoscope is also used to perform a colonoscopy, a procedure in which doctors examine the large intestine. Dr. Chad McCance, General Surgeon, says “Nearly half of our county’s population is age 50 or older, which means nearly half of this county should be having routine colonoscopies to screen for colon and rectal cancer. This is equipment that will benefit thousands of patients across southwest Iowa.”

Starting routine colonoscopies at 50 is very important. More than half of the people diagnosed with these types of cancer have no symptoms, and often by the time symptoms appear, the disease is in more advanced stages. During a colonoscopy, if a doctor sees a suspicious polyp, the endoscopy equipment allows the doctor the ability to remove that polyp right then. Dr. McCance says “We can literally stop the cancer before it has a chance to start.”

According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 17,000 people in Iowa will be diagnosed with colorectal cancers this year, and about 6,400 will die from it. Iowans also have the second highest incidence rate of colorectal cancer, which means Iowans are more likely to develop these cancers than people in other states. Nationally, the incidence rates have also been increasing for every generation born since 1950. Dr. McCance emphasized the importance of updating equipment and technology for patient care. “We know that colorectal cancers are on the rise. We know that routine screening can save lives. By keeping our equipment up-to-date and utilizing new technology, we have a better chance of detecting polyps at an earlier stage, which is so important in preventing cancer.”

For more information about the CCHS Foundation or 2018 Campaign, visit casshealth.org or call Dawn Marnin, Foundation Director, at 712-243-7409.

The Des Moines bowling alley that hosts the Iowa High School State Bowling Tournament was destroyed by fire this (Monday) morning. Firefighters were sent to Plaza Lanes on Des Moines’ west side just after 5 a.m. The fire spread quickly and the roof of building collapsed about 30 minutes after crews arrived on the scene. No injuries were reported. Plaza Lanes opened in 1957 and has served as the site of the Iowa High School State Bowling Tournament for the past 15 years.

A man from Missouri was arrested on drug charges Friday night, in Adair County. Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports 20-year old James W. Savage, Jr., of Macon, MO., was a passenger in a vehicle that had been pulled over for a traffic stop on the Stuart Road at 210th Street. The deputy’s report said an odor of marijuana was coming from the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, a jar of marijuana, a baggie of prescription pills, and drug paraphernalia were found. Savage was taken into custody for two counts of Possession of Prescription Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 2nd offense. He was released Saturday morning on $3,300 bond.

37-year old Bobby Joe Lee Mumford, of Panora, was picked-up at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Friday on an Adair County warrant for Failure to Appear in court on an original charge of Violation of Probation. He was released later in the day on $2,000 bond. And, 58-year old Debora Sue Linquist, of Waukee, was arrested Dec. 10th by Stuart Police at the McDonald’s Restaurant in Stuart. She was charged with OWI/1st offense and released later that day on $1,000 bond.

Atlantic Police, Saturday, arrested 36-year old Jacob Kern, of Atlantic, on numerous charges. Kern was taken into custody for: two counts of Felony Child Endangerment with Injury; three-counts of Child Endangerment; Assault with Injury; Simple Assault, and Harassment in the 1st Degree. The arrest stemmed from a call about a man who was intoxicated and allegedly being abusive to five children in the home. Kern was booked into the Cass County Jail.

And, last Thursday, 26-year old Morgan Dvorak, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving While Revoked. She was booked into the Cass County Jail.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests. Friday afternoon, 27-year old Cole Jacob Benton, of Hamlin, was arrested on an outstanding warrant charging him with Possession of Methamphetamine/3rd offense. The charge is the result of an investigation into an incident that occurred at Benton’s residence in Hamlin on Nov. 9th.  Benton was later released from the Audubon County Jail after appearing before the magistrate. His preliminary hearing was set for Jan. 4th. The incident remains under investigation.

And, at around 1-a.m. Sunday, 26-year old Nicholas Allen Augustus, of Carroll, was arrested on a an outstanding warrant for Failure to Appear at a Revocation of Probation hearing on an original charge of Possession of Meth. He was picked-up from Carroll County Authorities and transported to the Audubon County Jail, where his bond was set at $5,000.

Atlantic Police Officers and the Reserves helped area families in need in two ways, this past weekend. On Saturday, Reserve Officers from the Atlantic Police Department held their annual “Family Dream Christmas” program. There was a total of 13 families helped in the program this year. Eight families were taken shopping by reserves to local businesses in Atlantic. This included shopping for all members of their families. They also received a full Christmas Dinner, including a turkey and ham.

Family Dream Christmas 2017 (Photo courtesy Atlantic P-D)

The families also received a gift card to a local grocery store to help with food and meat cost during the holiday season. The Police Department provided five additional families with a trip through the Reserve Departments toy room, which includes new toys that are donated throughout the year. The children in those families were allowed to go through the toy room and pick out a few items each that they would like to have.

Those families were also provided with the same Christmas dinner and gift card. All together, this weekend’s “Family Dream Christmas” and “Shop with a Cop” programs, the Atlantic Police and Reserve Departments were able to help a total of 76 children and 20 adults within 29 families to have a much more joyful Christmas experience. Officials say they would not be able to run those programs without the wonderful donations we receive each year.

Shop with a Cop 2017. A-PD Photo

Chief Dave Erickson and his Officers want to thank all those private individuals who donated, and the following companies and groups: Joe Dirt Memorial Pool Tournament, Cappel’s Ace Hardware, JBG Farms Corp. Kerrie Orozco 5k Memorial Run, The Employees at Fagen Inc., OSI “Oakland Foods” Employees The Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Atlantic Hy-Vee, Richter & Son Towing Atlantic Wal-Mart, The Atlantic News & Telegraph, The “Ladies Night Out” Event, Atlantic Carriers Deter Motor Company, Lindeman Tractor, Atlantic Subway, Atlantic BPW Brown’s Shoe Fit, Atlantic NGA Club, Atlantic Boy Scouts, Meyer and Gross Real Estate Agents Mailander Law Firm, United Group Insurance, Golden Rule Chapter #194, R/T Motors T/S Bank, Shiels Family Farm, Mark Phippen Trucking, The Employees at Schuler Manufacturing U.S. Cellular, Beta Sigma Phi, Pelgas, Griswold Coop, and JM Double B LLC

(For more images from these two programs, see the Atlantic Police Department Facebook page)

WALL LAKE, Iowa (AP) — Western Iowa authorities say a 17-year-old boy has died in a farm accident. The Sac County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Monday that first responders were dispatched around 12:45 p.m. Saturday to the farm northwest of Wall Lake. They found Ethan Nissen in the cab of a farm machine that had rolled over. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The office says Nissen was scooping manure when the accident occurred.