The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce offers a reminder, that you can get a kick start to your holiday shopping and join Atlantic retail businesses for a Holiday Open House this Saturday, November 9th, beginning at 9-a.m. Businesses will be offering a holiday sneak peek as well as treats, giveaways and special promotions. Participating locations include: Aunt B’s, Bonnesen’s, Brown’s Shoe Fit, Cappel’s Ace Hardware, Hanson’s Fine Jewelry, Jazzercise, The Franklin Market, The Picker’s Parlor, The Uppercut & More Boutique and Something For You.

For the third year, The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce is offering AtlantiCash at a discounted price as part of their Holiday Promotion, sponsored by First Whitney Bank & Trust. This Saturday only, discounted AtlantiCash will be available at the Chamber from 9-a.m. until Noon. AtlantiCash will come in packs of $100 for $80, a 20% discount. Community members can purchase up to three packs. Payment must be made at time of purchase in the form of cash or check only. There is a first-come, first-purchased basis with only a limited amount of AtlantiCash available.

Pick up your Christmas Brochure from area retail businesses, “like” the Chamber on Facebook, or follow on Twitter to find dates and details to celebrate Christmas in Atlantic. You can find a complete list of activities at www.christmasinatlantic.com. Capture the Christmas magic with (hash tag) #MyAtlanticIA, and post to the Atlantic Area Chamber’s Facebook page or Instagram (AtlanticIowaFan). Contact the Atlantic Area Chamber with any questions at chamber@atlanticiowa.com or call 712-243-3017.

Firefighters from Corning, with assistance from Prescott Fire and Rescue, responded at around 7:42-p.m. Thursday, to a residential fire, in Corning. Authorities said on a social media post, that crews were dispatched to 802 Adams Street. Firefighters quickly located the problem and extinguished the blaze. The cause of the fire was under investigation. No injuries were reported.

The Atlantic Police Department is raising funds for the department’s Christmas Programs benefiting Cass County residents. Atlantic Police Lieutenant Devin Hogue says one of those programs is The Family Dreams Christmas.

(He says the program is put on by the Atlantic Police Reserve Dept., and will take place Saturday, Dec. 21st. Applications to be considered for the program must be picked up from 8-a.m. To 4-p.m. Monday-through Friday, and returned by 4-p.m. Dec. 11th.)

The applications will be reviewed that evening. Each family selected will receive a full Christmas dinner, and then go shopping at downtown stores on Dec. 21st.

Another program, run by the full-time Police Officers, is “Shop with a Cop,” on Dec, 22nd. There is no sign-up or application process for that program.

(He says the P-D solicits on their own the names of children for the shopping trip.)

Last year a total of 10 families were served in the Family Dreams Christmas, and 35 children went “Shopping with a Cop.” Anyone can make cash/check donations throughout the year for those programs, by simply stopping by the Atlantic Police Department, Monday-through Friday, 8-a.m. To 4-p.m. For questions or inquiries call the Atlantic Police Department at (712) 243-3512.

Atlantic Police Lt. Devin Hogue

Lt. Hogue, by the way, was nominated for the 2019 Scrooge competition. The goal of this program is to raise money and canned food items for the Atlantic Food Pantry. Hogue is accepting donations made to his Venmo account, or made in person. You can also drop off donations at the Atlantic Police Department. Canned food items can be dropped off at the police department or the city hall office. He said also, if your child is at the Washington or Schuler Elementary Schools, they are holding a canned food drive until November 26th. All items collected will go towards Houge’s score in the Scrooge competition. There will also be a grade level competition. The winning classes in each grade level will be invited to the free merchant movie on December 8th that will be chaperoned by the APD and each student will receive a snack purchased with funds from our non profit.

All money and canned food items donated on Hogue’s behalf, will be turned in at the end of the month and will go to the Atlantic Food Pantry.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a Waterloo woman was taken to a hospital after a fire at her home. Firetrucks were dispatched to the house a little before 10 p.m. Thursday, and firefighters say flames were coming through some windows as they arrived. The woman already had escaped. She reported that a space heater had caught some bedding and other items on fire in her room on the ground floor. Her name hasn’t been released.

Atlantic Fire and the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded Thursday evening to a vehicle fire, on eastbound Interstate 80. The blaze just east of the Highway 71 exit was reported at around 6:27-p.m. Atlantic Firefighter Gene Schmeling told KJAN the vehicle, a Toyota, was fully engulfed in flames when they arrived on the scene. The lone occupant of the vehicle, a female, was out of her SUV and was not injured. Crews remained on the scene until about 7:15-p.m.