Deputies with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded at around 5:34-p.m., Wednesday, to a single-vehicle accident on Highland Road. Authorities say 35-year old Allen Michael Shampang, of Atlantic, was westbound on Highland Road in a 2004 Chevy Silverado, when the pickup went out of control and entered the north ditch. Shampang was transported via Medivac to Cass County Memorial Hospital with minor injuries. No citations were issued. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $3,000.

And, deputies Wednesday arrested 47-year old Bobby Glenn Agan III, of Stuart. Agan was arrested on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear. He was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $5,000 bond.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce reports nominations are currently being accepted now through 5-p.m. Dec. 3rd, for the 2019 Athena Leadership Award. The Award, developed through a grant from W.K. Kellogg Foundation, identifies eight distinct attributes that are reflective of women’s contributions to leadership: living authentically, learning constantly, advocating fiercely, acting courageously, fostering collaboration, building relationships, giving back and celebrating. These personal traits are more intuitive to women and combined with the strongest aspects of traditional leadership – taking risks, assertiveness, hard work – prepare women to be successful leaders in the 21st century.

Athena Award

Over 7,000 recipients around the world have been honored with the ATHENA Leadership Award since the program launched in 1982. Presented to leaders, woman and men, across the professional sector, the ATHENA Leadership Award is one of the most prestigious leadership awards one can receive – and Atlantic is one of the few communities in Iowa with an active ATHENA Leadership group.

Nominees must meet each of the following three criteria:

• Demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession
• Provide valuable service to improve the quality of life for others in their community
• Actively assist women in achieving their full leadership potential

This will be the 19th year of this program, which began locally in 2001, by Deter Motor Company, in Atlantic. Eighteen women have been honored for their leadership in the communities of our area. Everyone is encouraged to nominate an individual who actively assists women in achieving their full leadership potential in our communities. The ATHENA Leadership Award is presented in January at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner. Those interested in nominating an individual can pick up a nomination packet at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, 102 Chestnut Street, or by visiting www.atlanticiowa.com.

Past local recipients have included: LaVon Eblen, Judy Marnin, Leanne Pellett, Denise O’Brien, Margaret Slepsky, Glenda Farrier, Carole Schuler, Jan Kinnison, Janell Hansen, Ann Pross, Wendy Richter, Dolly Bergmann, Pat Markham, Lanette Plambeck, Kathie Hockenberry, Dr. Tressa Wilcox, Heather McKay and Dr. Elaine Berry.

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors is recalling over 640,000 pickup trucks worldwide because hot gas from a high-tech seat belt can set the carpeting on fire. The recall covers certain 2019 and 2020 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks. Also included are some 2020 Silverado and Sierra 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty pickups. All have carpet as a floor covering, and most are in North America.

GM says it uses a small explosion to move a piston that tightens the belts before a crash. The explosion can release hot gas through an opening in a bracket, possibly setting the carpet on fire. The company reports two fires but no injuries. Dealers will close the opening at no cost to owners. No date was given for the recall to start.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa City residents are being urged to avoid several city parks next month as a contracted company conducts hunts to lower the local deer population. The city hired White Buffalo Inc. to reduce the deer overpopulation. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that the city has estimated its deer population is as high as 80 animals per square mile. The city hopes to bring that number down to 25. The hunt will start Dec. 1 and last until Dec. 22, from 3 p.m. until dawn. Officials say that, following the White Buffalo hunt this year, there will be 30-day bow hunts open to the public for each of the next four years.

Former Vice President and current Democrat Presidential candidate Joe Biden and his wife Jill, will be in Iowa over the next few days for campaign events. In west-central Iowa, Joe Biden will hold a “Town Hall” event in Winterset Friday evening, at the Madison County Fairgrounds (1146 W. Summit St.). Doors open at 5:15-p.m., with the event starting at 5:45-p.m.

On Saturday, Biden and his wife will hold similar events in Des Moines and Knoxville. During his visits, Vice President Biden will lay out his vision for America and listen to voters’ concerns and ideas around restoring the soul of the nation, rebuilding the middle class, and unifying the country.

Officials with the Audubon County Memorial Hospital & Clinics said Wednesday, that they are continuing to expand their outpatient specialty services in an effort to achieve “excellence with quality and compassion to those we serve.” In October, ACMH welcomed Lois Potthoff as a full-time Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), who sees paitients five days a week in a private office on the main level of the hospital. Lois is a Certified Trauma Professional, and a Certified EMDR Consultant and Coach, who has over 30 years’ experience working in the field of mental illness and developmental disorders. She specializes in trauma, attachment, and developmental disorders, and couples counseling and also treats many other common issues, including; PTSD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, substance use, and somatic disorders. Ms. Potthoff has also received specialized training in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Play Therapy, Lifespan Integration, and Ego State therapies.

In addition, ACMH also has Mental Health Services weekly from Kirk Bragg and Sharon Walker. Kirk Bragg is a licensed social worker (LISW) who provides counseling and therapy sessions for patients of all ages. He comes to ACMH every 1st and 3rd Monday. Sharon Walker is a nurse practitioner specializing in adult mental health. She comes to ACMH every other Wednesday to see patients for diagnosis and medication therapy used for the treatment of depression, bi-polar disorder, anxiety, sleep disturbances, schizophrenia, and many other mental health issues.

Also, in October, ACMH added spine surgery to the list of surgical services. Spine surgery is performed by Dr. Pedro Ricart, Spine and Neck Specialist, who has been providing our patients with acute and chronic nonsurgical treatment for neck and back issues since 2017. Dr. Ricart will now also be performing minimally invasive spine procedures for adult scoliosis & kyphosis and cervical and lumbar disc problems.

In November, ACMH welcomed back Dr. Robert Warner to provide oncology services. They says their oncology team can provide you with a personalized plan of care developed for your individual needs. All oncology visits and treatments are delivered in a warm and healing environment so you and your family can focus on recovery while staying close to home. Outpatient specialty nurses are all certified in chemotherapy and are dedicated to providing you the best possible care. In December, ACMH welcomes Dr. Brandon Menke, who will be providing ophthalmology services and cataract procedures. Dr. Menke will be consulting with patients in the outpatient clinic and performing cataract and glaucoma surgeries- including the newest minimally invasive glaucoma procedures. These new procedures help to lower pressure in the eye, which can potentially minimize the need for glaucoma eye drops and can be performed at the same time as cataract surgery and can be performed at the same time as cataract surgery.

In January, ACMH will welcome Dr. Kyle Stansifer, Board-Certified Adult, and Pediatric ENT, to the Outpatient Specialty Clinic. Dr. Stansifer is trained in both medicine and surgery and to treat disorders of the ears, nose, throat and related structures of the head and neck. He treats children and adults and has a special interest in performing nasal and sinus surgery, tonsillectomies, ear tube placement, and many other types of surgeries.

In addition to those new services, Audubon County Memorial Hospital & Clinics also continues to provide many other exceptional services in their outpatient specialty clinic. Those services and treatments include joint replacement surgery, knee arthroscopy, sports medicine, joint injections, fracture repairs, ACL reconstruction, rotator cuff repair, carpal tunnel release, arthritis treatment, traumatic hand injuries, tendon and ligament repair, scoliosis, neck and back pain, discectomy, lumbar sciatica, herniated disc, spinal trauma, laparoscopic surgeries, hernia repair, breast biopsies, mastectomies, wound management, colonoscopies, vasectomies, appendectomies, plastic surgery, laser hair removal, liposuction, tummy tucks, varicose vein treatment, breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, pain management services, injection therapies, foot and ankle surgeries, diabetic foot care, bunions, hammertoes, cardiology, congestive heart failure, heart diseases, echocardiograms, deep vein thrombosis, hypertension, sleep apnea, well-woman exams, menstrual issues, infertility, cervical disease, pelvic pain, urinary issues, erectile dysfunction, prostate resections, penile implants, cystoscopies, hematology, dermatology, and much more.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with any of the specialists, call ACMH outpatient specialty clinic at 712-563-5304.