The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department has completed the Vision Iowa CAT grant application and turned it in by last Friday’s deadline. The application seeks $360,000 for improvements to the Schildberg Recreation Area campsite and related matters. Assistant Parks and Rec Director Seth Staashelm said during Monday’s meeting of the Parks and Recreation Dept. Board, that Director Roger Herring burned the midnight oil last week putting together a thick binder full of information. He says they hope to hear something back in the next month or two.

A 5-minute dvd virtual tour of the Schildberg Rec Area was included in the application. The video was shot by a drone under the guidance of Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager Tim Snyder. Staashelm added the c-g graphics and special effects. Herring said he hopes the Vision Iowa judges take a moment to view the dvd and note that the intent is to make Atlantic a “Destination Point,” which will in-turn benefit the County in the form of tourism. Parks and Rec Board member Charlene Beane suggested the video be included on the Chamber’s website.

In other business, the Parks and Rec Board Monday evening gave the go-ahead for the purchase of an interlocking basketball court surface at the Harl-Holt park. The low bid was from Versa Court, at $13,806. Seth Staashelm said a grant will help to pay for new court surface, which will come with pre-printed, versatile lines for different sporting activities. It’s much safer to use than hard surfaces, and only requires assembly, a job which the parks and rec crew will be able to handle, thereby saving on costs.

The surface has a 10-year warranty. And, costs for the summer recreation programs in Atlantic, including youth tennis, swim team and men’s slow pitch softball, are unchanged. New this year, is Adult Tennis, Pickleball and Sunnyside Activity Hour.
Updated information about those programs will be on the Parks and Rec Department website, later this week. http://www.atlanticiowa.com/atlantic/city-departments/parks-recreation/

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A stretch of sunny and dry weather has given Midwest farmers a good start on planting corn. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s weekly crop progress report was released Monday. It shows 13 percent of Iowa’s corn crop is planted, significantly ahead of the five-year average of 3 percent planted by mid-April.

Missouri farmers have 58 percent planted, ahead of their average of 21 percent. Kansas has more than a third of the corn crop planted, compared to the average 16 percent. Other states ahead of average are Kentucky and Minnesota. Nebraska is at 7 percent, ahead of its five-year average of 3 percent.

Planting corn early can result in an improved harvest because plants can mature to the pollination stage before summer heat stresses them.

LOGAN, Iowa (AP) — A western Iowa man who pleaded guilty to killing a pedestrian while driving drunk on the Fourth of July has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. A judge gave 26-year-old Austin Arndt, of Logan, the maximum sentence Monday afternoon after he pleaded guilty earlier this month to a charge of vehicular homicide while intoxicated.

Authorities say the body of 50-year-old Charlotte Anderson was found on July 4th last year along Iowa Highway 127 on the north side of Logan. Friends and family told investigators they think Anderson had been walking from her home nearby to watch a band perform in downtown Logan.

Authorities say Arndt told officers he’d been at a bar and drank 15 to 17 beers within less than six hours before the accident.

WILLIAMSBURG, Iowa (AP) — Iowa farm equipment maker Kinze Manufacturing says it must lay off 121 workers as low grain prices have slowed farmer purchases. The Des Moines Register reports the Williamsburg-based company announced Monday that office and factory worker cuts will be effective June 18. The eastern Iowa company makes planters and grain carts.

The company released a statement Monday that says it implemented a 30-hour work last year and started “aggressive marketing campaigns” to address market conditions, but the current demand for farming equipment doesn’t support the company’s staff size. Kinze also cut 215 workers last June also citing slowed business and the farm downturn.

The Red Oak Police Department announced additional charges Monday on two current Montgomery County Jail Inmates.  Officers arrested 40-year-old Misty Schalome Currin of Red Oak and 32-year-old Gordon Leroy Currin III of Red Oak on valid Polk County Warrants for Unauthorized Use of Credit Cards.  Both were already being held in Montgomery County Jail on other charges and will be held on no bond pending an initial appearance in Polk County.

WALNUT, Iowa (AP) — The city of Walnut is debating how to best preserve a historic school building as it prepares to launch a new school district this summer. The Daily Nonpareil reports that it’s unknown what will happen to the building when the Walnut Community School District merges with the Avoca-based AHST district July 1st.

The reorganization was prompted when Walnut saw the second largest enrollment decline in the state. It became unfeasible to operate the more than 100-year-old school. The Walnut school board would like to give the building to the city, which could then decide how to best use the space.

If a decision isn’t made by the time the Walnut district ceases to exist independently on June 30, the school board of the new district, called the AHSTW Community School District, would be responsible for the building.

Police in Council Bluffs are asking for your help in locating a man who robbed a check-cashing business late this (Monday) morning. Authorities say at around 11:37-a.m., a man walked into Check ‘n Go, located at 1702 West Broadway, and displayed a black semi-automatic handgun before he demanded money from the two clerks on duty.

After receiving an undisclosed amount of money, the man left the store and walked toward the west. No one was injured during the incident. The suspect was described being as a white male in his late twenties or early thirties, approximately 5’10” to 6’0” and 170 to 185 lbs. He was wearing a dark green hoodie, blue jeans, black shoes, gray gloves, baseball cap and a white surgical mask.

Anyone with information about the crime is urged to call 712 328-STOP. Your tip/information could be eligible for a cash reward and you can remain anonymous.

Still-frame from Surveillance video of the suspect.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says no injuries were reported following two, recent accidents. This (Monday) morning, at around 5:15-a.m., Cass County deputies responded to a report of a two-semi accident on Interstate80 westbound at the 59 mile marker. Officials say a 2016 Volvo semi driven by 46-year old James Keith Sullwold, of Waukee, was westbound on I-80 in the left lane when the front driver’s side tire blew out, causing the semi to veer into the right lane, where it hit a 1995 Kenworth, driven by 42-year old Kirika J. Robinson, of Chicago, IL. Damage from the collision amounted to $18,500.

And, at around 7:35-p.m. Sunday, Cass County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a one-vehicle accident on Great River Road. A 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by 14-year old Benard McGee, of Atlantic, was southbound on Great River road when the teen lost control going around a curve. The car entered the east ditch and came to rest on its top. McGee and a passenger left the scene of the accident prior to law enforcement arrival. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $2,500. McGee was cited for No Valid Driver’s License and Failure to Maintain Control.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports four recent arrests. On Sunday (April 17th), 20-year old Sarah Jo Porter, of Cumberland, was arrested on charges of Illegal Possession of Prescription Medication/2^nd Offense, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Driving While Revoked. Porter was taken to the Cass County Jail where she was released later that day on $1,000 bond. Also arrested Sunday, was 24-year old Christi Lynn Carpenter, of Omaha. Carpenter was taken into custody on an Atlantic Police Department warrant for Theft 5^th Degree. She was released later that day on $300 bond.

Last Friday, deputies in Cass County arrested 62-year old Scott Terrill Remington, of Greenfield, on a felony OWI 3^rd or Subsequent Offense, charge. Remington was also cited for Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Accident, Reckless Driving, Improper Use of Lanes, Following too Closely, and two counts of Open Container. Remington was taken to the Cass County Jail and released Saturday on $5,000 bond.

And, last Thursday, 27-year old Andrew Gaston Nickum, whose last known address was listed as Cumberland, was arrested in Cass County on a felony charge of OWI 3^rd or Subsequent Offense. Nickum was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released Friday on $5,000 bond.

The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission heard requests for hardship payments at their meeting last week for those who say they are being impacted by the transition of greyhound racing from two tracks to one.  Racing and Gaming administrator, Brian Ohorilko, says they commission originally had six requests for hardship payments.

He says one person withdrew their claim, so they reviewed five claims and each one was a little bit different. Three of the five claims were approved, and two were denied. Ohorilko says once they approved a claim, they then had to decide a dollar amount.

The maximum claim allowed is 100-thousand dollars. The commission approved a claim for 50-thousand dollars for Doctor George Darnell, a 30-thousand-dollar claim for trainer Lori Fortune, and a 100-thousand dollar claim for Eric Pelto. The commissioners denied a claim for Kennel Supply, L-L-C, and one from trainer Jeana Wilhite.

(Radio Iowa)