The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Board met Monday night at the Atlantic City Council Chambers.  One of the main topics of discussion was completion of the city wide tree census as part of the Urban Forestry Grant. They are now waiting for the DNR to process the information and report back to the city.  The purpose of the census was to identify problem trees in the city right of way and to be proactive against the threat of Emerald Ash Borer.

Also during the meeting it was announced that Atlantic is participating in the Operation Re-leaf Program in which trees that started their growth in Iowa will be for sale at discounted prices.  It was also announced that Frank Saddlemire donated 12 trees to the department that will be used throughout the city in need areas.

More discussion also took place regarding demolition and reconstruction of the Kiddie Korral Shelter at Sunnyside Park. Demolition has been scheduled following Labor Day.

The meeting also included the closing date of Sunnyside Pool on August 23rd. The board is looking into the possiblity of a dog friendly event on closing day but no plans are complete.

w/ Chris Parks

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Audubon County Sheriff Todd Johnson reported Monday on two recent arrests.

The Sheriff’s Office arrested 50-year-old Curt Thomas Anstey of Audubon on Friday, August 14th and charged him with Operating While Intoxicated, Driving While Suspended, and No Insurance.  The charges stem from a traffic stop in Audubon and Anstey was taken to the Audubon County Jail and held until being released following an appearance before the magistrate.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office also arrested 38-year-old Kameo Margaret Smith of Exira at her residence on Monday, August 17th on an outstanding Audubon County warrant.  Smith has been charged with Theft in the 4th Degree.  The charge stems from several checks written to a business in Exira and a business in Audubon in late June and early July 2015.  Smith was taken to the Audubon County Jail and held until being released following an appearance before the magistrate.

A Council Bluffs man accused of killing his father has struggled with mental health problems and discussed those problems openly on Facebook. The Omaha World-Herald reports police think the day after  55-year old Robert Schendel died from numerous gunshot wounds, his 21-year old son Sean posted statements on Facebook that he had “never felt more alone” and that “family isn’t forever.” Robert Schendel was found dead in his home, last Wednesday.

Police say Sean Schendel withdrew money from his dad’s bank account and took his minivan to drive to Colorado. Sean was arrested last Friday at a motel in Sterling, Colorado. Authorities say during a police interview over the weekend, he admitted to killing his father. Officials haven’t said what might have led to the shooting.

Two Democratic candidates have emerged as potential challengers for two of Iowa’s Republican congressmen. Kim Weaver of Sheldon — the chairwoman of the O’Brien County Democratic Party — hopes to be the Democratic nominee who will challenge Republican Congressman Steve King in 2016.

“Every day we wake up to have one of the most ineffective and offensive members of congress representing us in Washington,” Weaver said. Weaver announced her candidacy this past weekend during the Iowa Wing Ding in Clear Lake where more than two-thousand Democrats cheered her on — and booed King.

“Hardly a week goes by without him making some kind of derogatory comment and this has to stop,” Weaver said. Weaver supports raising the minimum wage, opposes “privatizing” Social Security and Medicare and she describes herself as “strongly pro-choice.”

“I believe that women should determine their health care and not have it dictated to them by Steve King,” she said. Weaver, a Des Moines native, has lived in Sheldon for the past 24 years. She’s a single mom with two children in college and another who’s a graduate of M-I-T. She is a long-term care ombudsman who travels in 15 counties in northwest Iowa for her job.

The fourth congressional district has a Republican voter registration edge. King plans to seek reelection in 2016 to an eighth term in congress. He defeated Democrat Jim Mowrer in the 2014 election. Mowrer, who is now vice chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, has moved to Des Moines and announced on Monday that he would run again for congress, but in the third district. The seat is currently held by first-term Republican David Young of Van Meter. Mowrer will face a Democratic Primary. In July, Democrat Desmund Adams of West Des Moines announced he would run in the third district. Adams was an unsuccessful candidate for a state senate seat in 2012.

(Radio Iowa)

The driver of a Dodge Caravan and a three-year old boy were injured in a single vehicle accident late Monday morning, in Adams County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 70-year old Ruth Lyons, of Creston, was traveling south on the Corning-Carl Road (County Road N-53), when the van went out of control, left the road and entered the south ditch before hitting a field drive.

The van continued in the ditch where it overturned and came to rest on its top. Lyons, who was not wearing a seat belt, was transported by helicopter to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines. The unidentified child was taken by Corning Rescue to CHI Mercy Hospital, in Corning. The accident, which took place at around 11:35-a.m., remains under investigation by the State Patrol.

Deputies with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office along with Corning Fire and Rescue personnel, assisted the Patrol at the scene.

In an update to our story last Friday, Police in Council Bluffs said Monday, that a Nebraska man has died from injuries he suffered during a motorcycle accident early Friday morning. 59-year old Michael Sowl, of Kearney, NE., died over the weekend from complications resulting from his injuries. Sowl was driving his motorcycle southbound on South 35th Street at around 2:37-a.m., when the cycle came into contact with the median and went out of control near the intersection with Nebraska Avenue.

Sowl, who was not wearing a helmet, was thrown from the motorcycle and landed on the traveled portion of the road. Alcohol is believed to have played a role in the crash, but the toxicology results were still pending. The accident remains under investigation.

DENISON, Iowa (AP) — Officials for the small western Iowa city of Denison say a local meat processor plans to add about 200 jobs as part of an expansion. The Chamber & Development Council of Crawford County says Quality Food Processors LLC wants to start hiring for the jobs in 2016. The company currently has about 100 employees in Denison.

Evan Blakley, executive director for the chamber, says Quality Food Processors is still seeking local tax incentives and state grant money to move forward with the project. The announcement comes just days after Tyson Foods said it will close its plant in Denison. It employed about 400 people. Blakley says the expansion at Quality Food Processors and pending announcements from other employers offering local jobs is a sign there are work opportunities in Denison.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office released details of multiple arrests by multiple agencies in the county this past week.

36-year-old Cecilio Ramirez of Stuart was arrested by the Stuart PD early this morning for possession of methamphetamine, distributing drugs to a minor, possession of paraphernalia, possession with intent to deliver and child endangerment.  He was taken into custody and held on $10,000 bond.

On Saturday Stuart PD arrested 29-year-old Daniel Fritz Reeves of Stuart for possession of drug paraphernalia and a controlled substance violation. Reeves was also charged with child endangerment.  He was taken into custody and held on $100,000 bond.

On Thursday, August 13th Adair County Sheriff’s Officials arrested 50-year-old Mark Elmer Steil of Bridgewater for Possession of drug paraphernalia.  He plead guilty to the charge and was released on time served.

In other arrests the Greenfield Police arrested 35-year-old Michael Scott Eubanks, Jr. on Sunday for going armed with intent and public intoxication.  He was held on 5,000 bond.

Adair County Sheriff’s Officials arrested 51-year-old Toni Lynn Reese of Bridgewater on Thursday, August 13th for obstructing prosecution.  She was held on $2,000 bond.

On August 10th Greenfield Police arrested 25-year-old Spencer Jordan Leitzel of Greenfield for prescription drug violation, disorderly conduct and reckless driving.  He was taken into custody and held on $1,000 bond.

Finally during the week officials arrested 28-year-old Brandon Kristian Snyder of Clinton and 25-year-old Derik James Martin of Greenfield on valid warrants.  Snyder was released on his own recognizance and Martin was held on $25,000 bond.

The Creston Police Department released information Monday on two recent arrests and one other incident.

On Friday, August 14th at 10:05pm officers arrested 20-year-old Jaseson Cox of Creston at 402 N Oak Street and charged him with Possession of Paraphernalia.  He was released from the Union County Jail on a $300 bond.

On Saturday, August 15th at 2:25am officers arrested 21-year-old Eric Bergen of Albert City for OWI 2nd Offense.  He was released from the Union County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

Creston Police also received a report of a stolen vehicle on Sunday at 3:00pm.  Quinton Kimball of Creston reported that his vehicle, a purple 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee, was taken from his residence sometime between 4:00pm Saturday and 3:00pm Sunday.  The vehicle was later recovered by the owner at the Super 8 parking lot in Creston at 6:45pm Sunday.