(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Police Department and Atlantic Community School District, Monday (today) announced Officer Ben Sandy joined the Atlantic Police Department in April of 2025, and will be assigned to the role of School Resource Officer (SRO).

Officer Sandy comes to the A-PD with three years of experience as a police officer. He has previously worked for the Centerville Police Department, as a Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputy. Officer Sandy is married with three children.

Outside of staying busy with his family, he enjoys woodworking and illustrating in his free time. Officer Sandy is excited to take on the role of SRO and looks forward to working with the staff and students of the Atlantic Community School District.

Officer Ben Sandy, Atlantic’ new School Resource Office (SRO) 4-7-25

Officer Sandy will spend his first week getting to know our town and he will also spend some time shadowing the Shelby County SRO. Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue said beginning next week, the plan is to have Officer Sandy in the schools.

Because of the level of training and knowledge that needs to be learned for this position, Chief Hogue said “We intend for him to use the rest of this school year as an opportunity to acclimate himself to the schools, get to know the students and staff, and begin building relationships for success.”

(Radio Iowa) – A legislator who’s been a volunteer fire fighter for 33 years is sponsoring legislation that could lead to a five-hundred dollar property tax credit for first responders who are volunteers.

Republican Senator Adrian Dickey of Packwood said the idea came after new fire alarms were installed in a local school, prompting several false calls to the local fire department. “(School officials) were apologizing, you know, we do this for free, we take time out of our jobs, leave our families — whatever (and) if there was a way that they could help us a little bit,” Dickey said today, “and that’s a little bit where the idea came from.”

Senator Adrian Dickey (R-Packwood) (official photo)

The proposed property tax credits would be voluntary, not mandatory, giving each county, city and school district authority to decide whether to extend the credit to voluteer fire departments and ambulance services. Dickey said the bill, as written, would let each fire chief set some standards volunteer fire fighters would need to satisfy to qualify for the credit. “He says, all right, you’ve got to make 75% of the calls. You’ve got to make 90% of the training,” Dickey said. “…Let that chief decide what his requirements or what their department’s requirements are going to be to sign off on this.”

The bill cleared a senate subcommittee early this afternoon. Dickey first introduced this concept a few years ago. His call to double the state income tax credit for volunteer fire fighters has failed to become law and Dickey’s proposal a reduced vehicle license fee for volunteer fire fighters has stalled, too.

(Radio Iowa) – Gasoline prices in Iowa have crept up slightly in the past week, but some states are seeing pump prices jump as much as 30-cents since the start of April — and some blame the new international tariffs. Brynna Knapp, spokeswoman for AAA-Iowa, says the changes we’re seeing in the state are common for the season.

“This is typical for the March-April timeframe,” Knapp says, “as demand for gas generally goes up in the spring and we switch into our summer blend from our winter blend of gas.” Knapp says the tariffs President Trump imposed last week on imports are -not- to blame for the latest gas price hikes. She says tariffs on crude and refined oil were excluded from the latest round of tariffs.

Radio Iowa file photo

“So no tariffs on Canadian or Mexican petroleum, and no tariffs on European gasoline cargoes that come into the U-S,” Knapp says, “but it’s too early for us to comment on if they will impact gas prices directly.”

AAA says the current average gas price in Iowa is $3.09 a gallon, up from $3.02 a week ago and from $2.99 a month ago. The current national average is $3.25.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources report the City of Atlantic was recently honored with the 2024 Tree City USA Award at the 34th Annual Community Forestry Awards Luncheon in Ankeny. The award was presented by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources on April 3rd, at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny.   

“The Tree City USA award is a symbol for communities who have made a commitment to the management of public trees,” says state forester Jeff Goerndt. “Your community has provided an outstanding example for other Iowa communities by enhancing our forest resources and demonstrating the great value of trees in providing multiple benefits for future generations.”

In the picture are Kayla Lyon, Director of the Department of Natural Resources, Dolly Bergmann with Atlantic Trees Forever and Jeff Goerndt, State Forester (Photo courtesy the IA DNR)

 Atlantic was one of 73 Iowa communities to qualify for Tree City USA status. To receive the award, a city must, at a minimum, have either a city forester or an active city tree board; have a tree ordinance; spend at least $2 per capita annually for its community forestry program; and have a tree planting and maintenance plan. 

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI-TV) — A western Iowa man recently accused of murder in a 1989 cold case is pleading not guilty. 61-year-old Robert Allen Davis was arrested in March and charged with first-degree murder, 36 years after the disappearance of Barbara Lenz, his then-girlfriend. Davis, then 25, is believed to be the last person to see Lenz, 31, before her disappearance. Lenz, who lived in Woodbine, has not been seen since. Her body has not been found.

Davis filed a written plea of not guilty in court documents filed Monday morning in Harrison County. Court records say Lenz told others she was scared of Davis just days before her disappearance, and feared he would “kill her if she ever left.” A criminal complaint alleges Davis had assaulted Lenz several times during their two-year relationship, including multiple incidents where he strangled her.

The documents show Davis admitted in 1989 to assaulting Lenz and having a violent temper.

ATLANTIC, IA (April 7, 2025) – Produce in the Park’s “EGG-cellent Spring Celebration Market” is all about farm-fresh eggs. Spring Celebration Market will be held at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA (1100 Maple St. Atlantic, IA 50022) on Saturday, April 19 from noon to 3:00 PM. Market visitors will find farm-fresh egg vendors, a 4-H poultry exhibitor sharing information and offering a free egg art craft, and Cass Health Dietitian Sarah Andersen sharing information on the benefits and nutrients of eggs, as well as different ways to prepare this versatile food. Cass County Extension will be sharing information on raising chickens, and Sarah Selders will be offering Easter-themed face painting–which of course will feature Easter eggs.

Spring Celebration Market attendees will hear tunes from the Squeezy Pease Accordion Due, get to see a live Easter bunny, and enjoy a free bounce house and playland thanks to the YMCA. Pim’s Thai Food Truck and Lucky Wife Wine Slushies will be parked outside the YMCA during the market.

Vendors at the spring farmers market will offer lots of local vegetables including fresh greens, carrots, beets, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash, as well as beef, pork, lamb, chicken, honey, and farm-fresh eggs. The market will also offer a variety of baked goods and desserts including gourmet cupcakes, cookies, kringle, pies, rye bread, and other sweet breads. Craft vendors will be selling jewelry, home decorations, candles, wax melts, a variety of bath and body products, and more. Lastly, late April is a great time to buy plants, and vendors will be selling both potted plants and plant starts. As with all Produce in the Park farmers markets, there is no cost to enter the farmers market, and local organizations–including Cass County Tourism and Healthy Cass County–will be at the market sharing information on various community happenings and resources.

All Produce in the Park farmers markets accept SNAP EBT, otherwise known as food stamps, for all qualifying food items. Produce in the Park continues to accept vendor applications for Spring Celebration Market, and is also now accepting vendor and sponsor applications for summer markets in the Atlantic City Park. Vendor and sponsor applications can be found online at www.ProduceInTheParkAtlanticIowa.com; printed copies of the applications are available at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce (102 Chestnut St., Atlantic, IA 50022). Produce in the Park seeks vendors selling handmade or homegrown products, including local foods, as well as beauty products, candles, crafts, art, and decorations.

Spring Celebration Market Market 2025 is sponsored by Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, Cass County Tourism, Cass Health, City of Atlantic, First Whitney Bank & Trust and Nishna Valley Family YMCA.
For the latest information on all Produce in the Park markets, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/).

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports two recent arrests. Saturday night, 18-year-old Kayla Mershon Streight, of Hastings (IA) was arrested in Malvern, for Harassment of a Public Official/Employee, and False Report (911 call). Her bond was set at $600. And, on March 31st, 54-year-old Lisa Irene Braunersrither,of Plattsmouth, NE, was arrested in Hastings, for OWI/1st offense, Her bond was set at $1,000.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports a man wanted on two Adair County warrants and other charges, was arrested on March 31st, April 1st and 2nd. 42-year-old Wesley Allan Gregg, of Greenfield, was arrested March 31st in Creston, for Contempt of Court/Violation of a No Contact Order. He was arrested the following day in Adair, on an Adair County warrant for the Felony charges of Felon in Possession/control of a firearm, and Felon in control of a firearm as a domestic abuser. He was also arrested for Theft in the 4th and 5th Degrees. On April 2nd, Wesley Gregg was arrested in Greenfield, for Violation of Probation. His total bond amounted to $15,300.

On April 4th, deputies in Adair County arrested 45-year-old Joshua Lee Kinzie, of Creston, for OWI/1st offense. Kinzie was cited and released. And, on March 30th, 21-year-old Devin Kenneth Rains, of Corning, was arrested in Fontanelle for OWI/1st offense. He was also cited, and later released.

(Radio Iowa) – A former Iowa congressman who represented Iowa for 16 years will be retiring after leading the national association for credit unions for over a decade. Jim Nussle was first elected to the U-S House in 1990 and he was the Iowa Republican Party’s 2006 nominee for governor. He’d been chairman of the House Budget Committee for the previous six years. Nussle served as director of the Office of Management and Budget in the White House during President George W. Bush’s second term.

Former Iowa Congressman Jim Nussle has been president & CEO of America’s Credit Unions since Sept. 2014. (America’s Credit Unions photo)

In September, 2014, Nussle was named president and C-E-O of an organization that’s now known as America’s Credit Unions.

Nussle did not announce a date for his retirement and the national associaiton for credit unions has launched a search for a successor. Nussle, who is 64 years old, was born in Des Moines and earned a degree in economics, international studies and political science from Luther College in Decorah. After graduating from Drake University law school, he was elected Delaware County Attorney in 1986.

(Radio Iowa) – A new report on emergency preparedness ranks Iowa in the middle tier. The annual report by the non-profit Trust for America’s Health ranks states on how prepared they are for things like disease outbreaks, natural disasters and bioterrorism. Iowa ranked in the middle tier with 15 other states, the same as last year. The Trust’s Matt McKillop says no hospitals in Iowa got an “A” grade, which indicates there’s room to improve patient safety practices.

McKillop says, “Strengthening patient safety measures can reduce preventable medical errors, infections and complications, particularly crucial during public health emergencies.” He says Iowa did well when it comes to its health-based violations for community water systems, and for its increased funding of public health. “That’s an important measure for making sure that health officials in the state have the resources they need to do their jobs well,” he says, “and help protect health of the residents in the state, and to promote health for everyone.”

McKillop says Iowa’s strengths also include its participation in the nurse licensure compact. Another area where he says Iowa has room to improve would be by gaining accreditation from the Emergency Management Accreditation Program.