The Atlantic City Council rolled through their agenda items Wednesday evening, during a regularly scheduled session. During Consent Agenda discussion, Councilman Dick Casady asked why a Class-C liquor license was needed for Iowa Western Community College, in Atlantic. Ann Pross, Director of  IWCC’s Cass County Center, said the license is for their annual “Jazz and Wine” scholarship fundraiser on Sunday, March 1st. Pross said last year, they raised $15,000 to award scholarships to Cass County students.

In regular business, Council passed an Order to close select streets on June 13th, from 7-a.m. until 11:30-p.m., for the SHIFT ATL Block party. The affected streets include: Chestnut, from 7th to 6th, and 6th Street from Chestnut to Poplar. The event will include a beer garden, live music and smoke-off competition, with the proceeds benefiting SHIFT ATL by helping to accomplish their Atlantic revitalization initiatives.

The Council hear a report from Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director Bryant Rasmussen, who recapped some key accomplishments of his department in 2019. Rasmussen also outlined his department goals for 2020. That includes, among other things:

The installation of second shelter around Lake #1 at the Schildberg Rec Area; Increasing the amounting of Nesting Boxes that can be offered within the wildlife refuge areas (In conjunction with the Iowa Bluebird Conservation Organization for some funding); removal of several Willow trees around the banks of the Schildberg Lakes, in order to increase the amount of recreational fishing opportunities; they will also get started on installing the raised box gardens at Mollett Park on East 3rd St. Place.

The Council then acted on passing a Resolution setting Feb. 19th as the date for a Public Hearing on approving “Fiscal Year 2021 Maximum Property Tax Dollars.” An advance look at the Maximum Tax Levy Rate was announced (& posted on the KJAN.Com News Page) earlier this week.

In other business, the Council set Feb. 19th as the date for a public hearing “On a proposal to enter into a General Obligation Solid Waste Management Loan Agreement and to Borrow Money [in a principal amount] not to exceed $90,000. The final action item on the Council’s agenda, was action on passing a Resolution “Establishing the Allocation of Revenues from the City of Marne through Compensation for Specified Activities” (with regard to time and work performed by the Atlantic City Clerk and her Assistant). The Resolution set a schedule for how those funds are dispersed.

The Harlan Police Department reports four recent arrests. On Jan. 30th, 58-year old Danny Carl Thompson, of Irwin, was arrested following an investigation.  Thompson was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with harassment.

On January 31st, 25-year old Kayley Jo Cooper, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop.  Cooper was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while barred and no proof of insurance. And, 21-year old Jacob Michael Thill, of Mitchell, SD, was arrested.  Thill was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with public intoxication.

On Monday, Feb. 3rd, 58-year old Melanie Marie Mogensen, of Sioux City, was arrested in Harlan, following a call for service.  Mogensen was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with public intoxication.

Harlan Police report also, 25-year old Kylie Sierra Kleffman, of Harlan, was cited Jan. 31st, for possession of drug paraphernalia and open container. The citations were the result of a traffic stop.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Department of Public Health says two Iowans who returned recently from China are undergoing testing for the coronavirus. Department Medical Director, Kaitlin Pedati says the two are under voluntary home confinement while testing is done. “These individuals are isolated with Public Health Supervision and this testing is being done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We anticipate the results will likely come back to us in several days,” Pedati says.

She says they won’t release any more information on the identity of the two. “We always balance patient privacy and security with sharing information that is important to protecting the public’s health. We do that thoughtfully and in accordance with state and federal laws,” according to Pedati. “So, in this circumstance, we’re not going to be providing any additional information about the patients or their location to the public.”

Doctor Pedati says there is no confirmation that the two actually have the cornonavirus until the results come back. “There’s no recommended action that the general public needs to take at this time. Now, if that were to change, we would certainly adjust accordingly,” she says. Pedati says we are still in the flu season and everyone should continue to take precautions to avoid any kind of virus.

“We want Iowans to remember those good respiratory etiquette habits of covering your cough, washing your hands and truly staying home from work or school when you are ill — which we know is hard to do,” Pedati says. She says there is one group of people who should pay particular attention to their health. “We also want to reiterate that anybody who has traveled to China in the past 14 days and become sick with fever or breathing problems, should reach out to their health care provider and call ahead to let them now they are coming,” According to Pedati.

“And we’d like health care providers to be on the lookout for people with these symptoms who have traveled to China within the last 14 days.” Thousands of people have been infected in China and nearly 500 have died.

NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Buttigieg is clinging to a slight lead over Bernie Sanders in a new batch of votes released by the Iowa Democratic Party. The race remained too early to call with 75% of precincts reporting by Wednesday afternoon, almost two full days after the state hosted its first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses. Much of the political world has already shifted its attention to New Hampshire, which votes on Tuesday.

Wednesday’s updated results show Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden and Amy Klobuchar trailing. Iowa officials attributed their delay to technical problems. The chaos surrounding the reporting breakdown has undermined the impact of Iowa’s election, which typically rewards winners with a surge of momentum.

Authorities in southwest Iowa are asking for your help in finding a stolen pickup and the man who stole it. Red Oak Police say at around 5:20-a.m. today (Wednesday), officers were notified about a pickup stolen from an alley behind  709 E. Nuckols Street. Surveillance video showed the white Chevy extended cab with Iowa license plate CCU 984, was stolen at around 1:23-a.m., and the suspect was 45-year old Stuart James Andrew Sellers, who is wanted in connection with a theft from the University of Iowa Hospital, had fled from authorities Tuesday evening. The pickup has black fender flares over the wheel wells, a silver toolbox in the back, and rust on the rear bumper. Officials say the keys to the vehicle had been left in the unlocked pickup. If you see the vehicle, call Montgomery County Crimestoppers at 1-888-434-2712. You can remain anonymous, and your information could result in a cash reward.

Stuart Sellers

Authorities said on Tuesday, Red Oak Police were contacted by detectives with the University of Iowa Police, who requested assistance in attempting to positively identify a possible burglary suspect. The U-of-I Hospital had recently been the victim of a burglary resulting in a loss of more than $10,000. Items stolen included electronic equipment, printers, phones, personal belongings and miscellaneous equipment. Red Oak Police located the suspect (Stuart Sellers), and began an investigation into attempting to positively identifying him for the U-of-I Police. During the investigation, Sellers fled on foot and eventually entered a creek.

A perimeter was set up, and three K-9 units as well as the Montgomery County Emergency Management drone equipped with an infra-red search camera, searched for Sellers. Despite their efforts, authorities lost track of Sellers and called off the search at around 8:45-p.m., Tuesday. As a result of the investigation, though, authorities were able to recover a majority, if not all, of the stolen property. The investigation is ongoing, and charges are currently pending against Sellers. If you have any information on his location, contact Montgomery County Crimestoppers or Red Oak Police, at 712-623-6500.

Red Oak Police were assisting in their investigation and incident by: The University of Iowa Police Department; Montgomery, Mills, and Fremont County Sheriff’s Offices, as well as the Montgomery, Mills and Fremont County K9 Units.

(12-p.m. News)