(Atlantic, Iowa) – A reminder from KJAN that the Sweetheart Market – another Produce in the Park event – takes place Saturday, February 8 from 10am-1pm at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA in Atlantic. Market Manager Ciara Hoegh says the theme for this year’s Sweetheart Market is appropriately entitled “Bee Mine, Honey!”

Local vegetables, honey, meats, eggs, baked goods, Kringles and desserts, along with home made soups, candles, home decor and gifts will be available, in addition to everything you need to know about honey how it’s made, including products with bees wax.

The vendor with bees wax products is Woodland Wildflower Apiary, whose farm is north of Atlantic. There are more than 30 vendors who will set-up their tables in the YMCA gym. There are some other, first-time vendors at the market, as well.

The Sweetheart Market features face-painting for kids, all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage and drinks in the rear of the gym by the Pancake Man. The cost for the meal is $8 per adult and $5 per child (Under the age of 18). There is other food available for you to take home, as well.

Homemade loaves of sourdough bread will be available at the Sweetheart Market, but get there early as they are in limited supply!

Produce In the Park markets accept SNAP EBT. Visit www.ProduceInTheParkAtlanticIowa.com for more information.  There is NO CHARGE to attend the market. All proceeds will be directed to Cass County Food Pantries. Local organizations, including Cass County Tourism and Healthy Cass County, will be at the market sharing information about community events and opportunities. Sweetheart Market 2025 is sponsored by the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, Cass County Tourism, Cass Health, City of Atlantic, First Whitney Bank & Trust and Nishna Valley Family YMCA.

For the latest information on Sweetheart Market, and all Produce in the Park markets, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/).

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council in Atlantic, Wednesday evening, passed a couple of resolutions affecting the City’s Parks and Recreation Department policies. The Council first passed a resolution “Adopting a Policy for the Parks and Recreation Department Regarding Donations, Relocations and Removals.” Councilman Mike McDermott is a Council liaison on the Parks Advisory Commission.

For many decades, the Parks and Rec Department has had mainly verbal agreements with donors and those who wish to place, move or remove a memorial – such as a park bench. Any paper documents regarding those donations/memorials have long since been lost, according to City Administrator John Lund.

The Council passed also, a resolution pertaining to the adoption of a “Policy for the Rental of Park Shelters.” Councilpersons Emily Kennedy and Mike McDermott, explained why the Commission wanted to change the policy.

The policy increases the shelter fee to $50. Again, that allows a shelter to be used for a whole day instead of just a few hours. In other business, the Council discussed the merits of a City-Wide Cleanup Day, and associated costs. Having been unable to come to a viable solution Wednesday night, the Council opted to send the matter to the City’s Beautification Committee, who, along with input from the City’s Attorney, will hash-out the details and make a recommendation to the full Council at a later meeting.

(Fontanelle,Iowa) – The CAM and Nodaway Valley School Boards held a joint meeting Monday (Feb. 3^rd) in Fontanelle, during which they heard from officials with McPherson and Jacobsen, the firm tasked with finding a replacement for Superintendent Paul Croghan, whose contract was not renewed once the current school year ends. Firm representatives suggested a timeline which includes having a superintendent hired by April 8th.

A member of the search firm suggested posting the job opening on Feb. 18th. Once the candidate applications are received, the Board could narrow down the list to six in March, and possibly having the top three candidates finalized by March 31st.

The finalists would be interviewed, and meet with stakeholders in both districts on April 7^th. A decision could then be made by both boards on April 8^th.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans can expect much heavier-than-normal traffic on the state’s roads Sunday, as people dart to the grocery store to stock up on snacks, or head for a tavern, restaurant or friend’s house to watch the big game. Iowa State Patrol trooper Paul Gardner, based in Fort Dodge, says it may be Super Bowl Sunday, but it could be a far-from-super day for those who don’t follow the rules. “Whether you’re an Eagles fan or a Chiefs fan, we want to make sure that everyone is getting to the end zone safely,” Gardner says. “If you are out partying it up this weekend, make sure you have a designated driver. That’s going to be your most valuable player of the night. Make sure that if you’re consuming alcoholic beverages, whether you’re at a get-together or at a bar or restaurant, make sure that you’ve got a plan in place to get home safely.”

Gardner says dozens of additional law officers will be working Iowa’s roads Sunday, trying to spot drivers who are a danger to themselves and others. “We’ll see an increase of traffic. We’ll have extra troopers. I know other law enforcement agencies will also have other officers involved and out there watching for impaired drivers,” Gardner says. “We just want to make sure everyone has a game plan in place to get home safely.” Statistically, he says Sunday is a dangerous day for Iowa drivers. “OWI incidents are 22% higher on Super Bowl Sunday than any other Sunday of the year,” Gardner says, “and usually close to half of the fatalities involve a blood-alcohol content in a driver of point-08 or higher.”

Iowa State Patrol photo

Gardner says there were two fatalities and ten personal injury accidents in Iowa during last year’s Super Bowl weekend.

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(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Mayor of Atlantic issued the Oath of Office Wednesday evening to the City’s newest Police Officer. Grace Garret spoke about Christian Holzapfel’s background before swearing him-in.

A-PD Facebook photo (by Chief Devin Hogue)

Holzapfel said he was “Happy to be back” in the community.

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(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council in Atlantic, Wednesday night (Feb. 5th), received request for a commitment to contribute more than $6 and a quarter million-dollars towards expansion of the Nishna Valley Family YMCA, in Atlantic. The request was made as part of a presentation by Vision Atlantic Committee members Christina Bateman, YMCA Executive Director Dan Haynes, and YMCA Board President Bob Sharp.

Christina Bateman started-off by expressing Vision Atlantic’s appreciation the City’s previous “Timely generous support of [our] projects through the contribution of the housing land and the development agreement.”

If an initial budget appropriation of at least $2.5-million dollars is approved by the Council, Bateman says Vision Atlantic would like to “engage in discussions [with the City]…to work and find a way to contribute the remaining $3.77-million dollars.” Dan Haynes said if the City doesn’t agree to contribute toward the fundraising effort, it risks losing a grant from the Charles E. Lakin Foundation for an new Day Care Center and project.

Haynes said the YMCA Board and staff have raised about $2-million dollars over the past 21-years to upgrade and renovate the YMCA to keep it current and maintained.

Haynes pointed out also, that Vision Atlantic has assumed almost the entire financial risk for the (separate) housing expansion project, and because they’ve taken on the TIF incentive as a rebate, thereby removing the bonding requirement for the City of Atlantic. City Councilman Mike McDermott asked Atlantic City Administrator John Lund about funding options. Lund said he thinks he can fit the funds into the budget.

The Atlantic City Council will hold a Budget Work Session Tuesday, Feb. 11^th beginning at 5:30-p.m., during which they will discuss and possibly agree to commit the requested, initial $2.5-million for YMCA Expansion Project funds.

(Radio Iowa) – There are now two different Republican plans for state funding of Iowa’s K-through-12 schools. Governor Kim Reynolds and Senate Republicans have suggested a two percent increase in general state funding, which is based on a per pupil formula. House Republicans are proposing a two-and-a-quarter percent increase and House Speaker Pat Grassley says there’s more above that to cover other expenses.

“Hearing from our school districts things that are important to them like operational sharing, like cost per pupil, like transportation costs that they’re seeing, other inflationary costs, so we tried to come up with more of a menu,” Grassley said. “…We decided to add a few more things to the conversation to make sure we’re being very thoughtful about it.” House Republicans are proposing a one-time infusion of 22-point-six million in state assistance for public school districts struggling to pay bills.

“We’ve heard a lot about what the inflationary costs that school districts are facing,” Grassley says. “…If we can try to help get through these inflationary times, that was important to us.” The House G-O-P plan also would provide over five MILLION dollars more to cover busing costs and let school districts split up to 25 positions with another district. School districts get a state incentive to have the same person serve two districts in an operations type position, like a superintendent or H-R director.

The current limit on shared positions is 22. Grassley uses the word “reasonable” to describe the education spending package House Republicans have developed. Democrats say none of the Republicans are proposing enough — and the state should boost per pupil spending on schools by five percent.

(Radio Iowa) – There’s a legal challenge to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission’s decision to grant a state license to a Cedar Rapids casino. Mark Weinhardt, an attorney for the Riverside Casino and Golf Resort, says the commission lacked the authority to make that decision due the wording wording in a recent gambling referendum that passed with 55 percent support.  “We believe that the 2021 referendum simply asked Linn County voters the wrong question to support the issuance of a gaming license,” Weinhardt said.

Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission chairman Daryl Olsen addressed the legal wrangling during yesterday’s (Thursday’s) commission meeting. “After consulting with our legal counsel and a representative from the (Iowa Attorney General’s office), a majority of the commissioners are satisfied that we have the authority to move forward and make this decision,” Olsen said.

Four of the five members of the commission then voted to grant a state casino license to Cedar Rapids yesterday (Thursday). Weinhardt says lawsuit seeks a ruling that would nullify that decision. “We’re also asking the courts to find, as we believe, that the cannibalization of other gaming properties by the proposed new casino is inconsistent with Iowa law,” Weinhardt said.

During recent proceedings in the Iowa legislature and meetings of the Racing and Gaming Commission, the word cannibalization has often been used. It means a Cedar Rapids casino would draw customers and revenue away from nearby casinos, particularly those in Waterloo and Riverside.

Later this (Friday) morning at 11 a.m., a groundbreaking is scheduled in Cedar Rapids for the Cedar Crossing project. Developers say they hope to open the casino complex on New Year’s Eve 2026.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird says she has opened an investigation into a northeast Iowa sheriff who has said his department will not help Immigration and Customs Enforcement take unconstitutional actions. Earlier this week, Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx posted a statement on social media.

Marx said his office will assist if federal agents have proper and valid paperwork or court orders, but Marx said he shares the concerns many have expressed to him about the actions of ICE and FBI agents.

Marx said his department will try to “block, interfere and interrupt” any detention that does not meet constitutional parameters. On Wednesday, Governor Reynolds filed a complaint about the sheriff with the attorney general.

And, in a statement issued late Thursday, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird said Iowa law is clear…and specifically requires law enforcement to comply with ICE detainers or risk the loss of state funding.