Members of the Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors, Monday evening, approved a request for $60, 673 in funds needed to order playground equipment for a playground to be established near the campground at the Schildberg Recreation Area. Parks and Rec Director Seth Staashelm said he received a substantial discount from the manufacturer for the equipment, shipping and handling. The total cost of those segments amounted to $49,304.

Staashelm recommends a company Supervisor/representative oversee the installation of the equipment by community members and others, to make sure all the safety pieces are in place. The supervisor will be on hand for two days, at a cost of $11,369.
The other portion of the project is engineered wood fiber which will act to cushion any falls or tumbles kids might take.

Conceptual image of the proposed Schildberg Rec Area playground equipment.

Pea gravel cannot be used as fall material because it can only absorb a fall from five-feet, and it has to have a depth of 11-inches, whereas wood fiber can absorb a relatively unlimited fall height (for the purposes of playground equipment), and has a depth of 11-inches or more.

The playground equipment, Staashelm says, is customizable. He says the Kiwanis have already donated $2,000 toward the project and will receive a bench in their honor. It’s hoped there will eventually be six donation-type benches in the area. A bathhouse is also on the drawing board.

The playground equipment will be ordered and received by December. It will be stored until next Spring, when volunteers from throughout the community will work on installation the playground. Details on that aspect will emerge later, as we move toward Spring. The Atlantic Parks & Rec Board, Monday, also approved the installation of electrical outlets at the ever popular Cedar Park Shelter. Berg Electric will install two plug-in boxes with four outlets, for just $694.

The Iowa Department of Transportation reports that this Wednesday, Oct. 18th, construction crews will close the westbound Interstate 80/northbound I-29 exit to South Expressway (exit 3) at 6 a.m. for two days to complete final construction activities in the area.

On Wednesday and Thursday evenings, Oct. 18th and 19th, the on-ramp at South Expressway to westbound I-80/northbound I-29 will be closed at 9 p.m. and reopened prior to the morning commute. By Friday morning, Oct. 20th, motorists will be driving on the newly constructed westbound I-80 lanes and using the new I-80/I-29 interchange. The Madison Avenue on-ramp that was closed at the beginning of the month will reopen and ramps at South Expressway will also be open.

Drivers should note that northbound I-29 traffic destined for South Expressway (exit 3) will not be able to access the exit until the detour pavement is constructed. They should use the U.S. 275 detour until April 2018.

The new roadway design features a right-hand exit from westbound I-80 to southbound I-29 (exit 4) utilizing the new flyover bridge, changing the existing left-hand exit that drivers currently use. The South Expressway (exit 3) will also be shifted east of the current location.

The Iowa DOT encourages motorists to use caution while becoming accustomed to the traffic shift.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Rain has kept Iowa and Nebraska farmers out of corn and soybean fields in the past few weeks significantly delaying the harvest.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says just 32 percent of the Iowa soybean crop has been harvested, the lowest percentage harvested by this date since 1985 and only 13 percent of the corn crop for grain is finished, the smallest percentage harvested by this date since 2009.

In Nebraska corn is 17 percent finished behind 32 percent last year and the 39 percent average. Just a third of the Nebraska soybean crop has been harvested, well behind 59 percent last year at this time and the five-year average of 67 percent.

Iowans are seeing advertisements for a so-called “super flu shot” for senior citizens. Iowa Department of Public Health medical director Patty Quinlisk says these vaccines target the influenza virus in two ways.

“One of them basically adds more protein from the flu virus into the vaccine,” Quinlisk says. “It’s basically got four times the amount of what’s called the antigen. The other one is a regular vaccine but it has something called an angivent in it, which basically says, ‘Look, look over here, there’s a red flag come respond to this.'” The state health department recommends the vaccine, in part, because a recent study found almost 25-percent fewer cases of flu in those who got the so-called super dose.

Doctor Quinlisk says, however, if your provider doesn’t have it, don’t wait for it. “The best flu shot is the one that’s in your arm, so if you go in and they don’t have one of these super-duper high-antigen shots, just get the regular one,” she says. “You’re still going to be protected.” Although Iowa’s influenza season usually begins in November, the health department has already had reports of a few cases across the state. Quinlisk encourages everyone to get a flu shot every year. The exceptions are infants under six months and those who are allergic to eggs.

(Radio Iowa w/Thanks to Pat Blank, Iowa Public Radio)

Newton Police are investigating the armed robbery of a nursing home early Sunday morning. Police Lieutenant Bill Henninger says they are looking for two people involved.He says they were called to Nelson Manor around 2:48 a-m and were told that two men carrying handguns entered the facility and took medications before fleeing.

Lieutenant Henninger says the men were described as black wearing dark clothing, with bandannas covering their faces. He says they came in through the front door and were inside the nursing home for less than five minutes before they ran out. No shots were fired. Henninger says officers are still attempting to verify the types and quantity of the medications stolen.

They were taken from a location by the nursing home’s common area, and not from patient rooms. Henninger asks anyone with information related to the case to contact the Newton Police Department at 641-792-1547 or Jasper County Crime Stoppers at 641-792-8362 -jaspercrimestoppers.com

(Radio Iowa)

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Coin was arrested Sunday evening on a theft charge. 32-year old Derrick Ray Lynn was arrested at his residence on a Page County Warrant for Theft 5th Degree.  Lynn was transported to the Page County Jail, where he posted bond and was released pending future court proceedings.

Police in Clarinda arrested a man and woman on drug charges Saturday morning, following a traffic stop and the deployment of K9 “Raiko”. 25-year old James Robert Castillo, of Bedford, was arrested a little after 10-a.m. Saturday, on felony charges that include possession with intent to deliver more than five grams of  methamphetamine,and failure to affix a drug tax stamp. Castillo also faces a serious misdemeanor, possession of a controlled substance charge, for a substance that was believed to be methamphetamine. Castillo is being held in the Page County Jail on $100,000 bond.

Also arrested was 52-year old Tina Marie Benkowich, of Clarinda. She was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. She was later released on a $300 bond. Investigative reports have been forwarded to the Page County Attorney’s Office for review and consideration of the filing of formal charges.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports 33-year old Keith Matthew Wyatt, of Minden, was arrested at around 3:30-a.m. Saturday, following an investigation into the Theft of two high-def surveillance cameras from the Iowa Gun Store, in Walnut. The cameras and computer hardware were valued at almost $625 altogether. The owner of the store was able to review the video evidence with a Deputy at the scene that resulted in Wyatt being charged with Theft in the 4th Degree, and 5th Degree Criminal Mischief.

A man already being held in the Pottawattamie County Jail was charged early Saturday morning, with Possession of Contraband in a jail facility (Hydrocodone pills). Authorities say the charge was filed against 37-year old Johnathan Dale Campbell, of Council Bluffs.

20-year old Darrin Lamont Jackson, Jr. of Council Bluffs, was arrested Saturday afternoon in Pott. County, following a traffic stop for speeding. His vehicle also did not have registration plates or tags. Jackson was initially issued verbal warnings for the offenses and released, but a subsequent records check revealed he was wanted on a warrant charging him with three counts of Violating a Protective Order. The deputy caught up with Jackson, Jr., and pulled him over for a second time before placing him under arrest.

Also arrested in Pottawattamie County, Saturday, was 41-year old Charles Douglas Nichols, of Council Bluffs, who was parked at the end of a dead-end road. An investigation resulted in his arrest at around 4:15-p.m. , for OWI/1st Offense, Carrying Weapons, Possession of Controlled Substances (Amphetamines and/or Meth), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (meth in a syringe). He was also said to be in possession of a home-made cutting instrument at the time of his arrest.

35-year old Lindsey Anne Guest, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Saturday night for OWI/1st offense, after she was pulled over for swerving into and out of the traffic lanes.  Sunday evening Pott. County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 31-year old Nina Brandy Nicole Bruns, of Manning, at the Underwood I-80 Truck Stop. Bruns was arrested on two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance/marijuana. She was found to have in her possession 49.6-grams of a green leafy substance (a marijuana blunt) and three drug pipes.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.9MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson reports the arrest on Sunday, of 38-year old Brandi Warrior, of Fontanelle. Warrior was taken into custody for OWI/1st offense, following an investigation into an accident that happened at around 11-p.m. Saturday  at 7th and Poplar, in Atlantic.  Authorities say a vehicle driven by Brian Nielsen, of Atlantic, was traveling west on 7th Street and stopped at the red light, when it was hit from behind by Warrior’s vehicle. No Injuries were reported. Warrior was cited for Failure to Stop in an assured clear distance. Damage from the collision amounted to $9,000.

On Friday, 35-year old David Roberts, of Atlantic, was arrested for Assault with Intent to Inflict Serious Injury, and Administering Harmful Substances. Authorities says Roberts is alleged to have struck a female victim in her left eye, and for sticking a needle containing an unknown substance, into the victim’s ankle.

Roberts and Warrior were booked into the Cass County Jail.

And, no injuries were reported following an accident Saturday afternoon near 7th and Poplar. The A-PD says a vehicle driven by Star Fiedler, of Atlantic, was stopped on Poplar Street waiting for a vehicle driven by Lee Parish, of Atlantic, to back out of the Casey’s parking lot, when Parish’s vehicle collided with the Fiedler vehicle. Parish was cited for Unsafe backing onto a highway.

(8-a.m. News)