The Sunnyside Ice Rink opening has been delayed due to the inconsistent weather pattern. Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director Seth Staashelm said Monday he had hoped to have the rink open by this Saturday, Dec. 22nd, but now it looks like it won’t be until after Christmas. He says it’ll still be weather dependent. They tried to fill the rink the other day, but that didn’t work, because it didn’t hold water. They’ll work on getting the liner installed Tuesday, in preparation for filling with water.

In the meantime, Parks staff will be working on Winter projects, such as making their own Curling rocks so young adults can try out the sport of Curling, which is an Olympic event. Staashelm said ice skates are available for use on a first-come first-served basis, but they are not in good condition, meaning the skates are not very sharp, and they are not very attractive. If you have your own skates, you’ll probably want to use them, instead.

He said also, the Schildberg Campgrounds are closed, and the roads inside Sunnyside Park are closed, but the park remains open for Winter activities. In other business, Jolene Smith with the Atlantic Royal Neighbors organization, have presented a check for $900 to Staashlem, for a black bench that’s been placed in the downtown City Park, south of the restrooms/shelter house. Parks and Rec Board member Charlene Beane commended Smith for her efforts over the years to spearhead fundraising for various projects.

Parks & Rec Director Seth Staashelm accepts a check from Board Member Jolene Smith with the Atlantic Royal Neighbors.

And, the Parks and Rec Board, Monday evening approved a proposal for staggered four-term Park Board terms, instead of the current six-years. They had approved it during their last meeting as well, but Staashelm wanted to consult with the City Attorney to make sure it was legal to change the terms, in an effort to reduce burn-out and get other people interested in serving.

Parks and Rec Board members are elected to their seat, not appointed. The City Council will consider the proposal at an upcoming meeting.

Officials with Nishna Valley Trails have conveyed a section of recreational trail to the City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Department and the Atlantic Municipal Utilities’ Board. NVT’s Dave Chase said during Monday evening’s meeting of the Parks and Rec Board, and earlier at the AMU meeting, that the $138,000 Troublesome Creek to AMU Wellhead Site Connector Trail located adjacent to the Atlantic Little League Complex, has been completed thanks to donations, and with the cooperation and input of the Parks Department and AMU, the organization coordinated the design of the trail by Snyder and Associates of Atlantic.

Dave Chase (NVT) presents a certificate conveying the completed trail system to Parks and Rec Dir. Seth Staashelm. From left to right: Snyder & Associates Engineer Dave Sturm, Staashelm, Chase and Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones.

Since the project has been paid for, Chase said the group “Thought it appropriate to dedicate [the] trail section to the Public, and add to our community trail system.” The completed hard-surface connection adds about six-miles of trail to the current system in Atlantic, and ties in the Schildberg Quarry to the west and AMU Wellhead trail system to the east.

Chase said the next project the group wants to tackle in the coming year, is a gazebo that will act as a trailhead, a shelter and a place where trail users can get maps and other information about the community, its businesses and services available. The gazebo will be located just off Olive Street, with a hard surface ramp to an area on the Little League Complex grounds. The project is expected to cost about $12,000. He said funds have already been given toward the project by the Atlantic CPC, other organizations and individuals, including memorials from estates.

Trail Head Gazebo concept for the Little League Complex

Chase said also that “We’re not done yet.” That’s because they are looking toward the further implementation of the Atlantic Recreation Trail Comprehensive Plan that was adopted by the City in 2015. Chase said that includes through the use of additional painted lanes, signage and further development of the existing trails. They will enhance the current and proposed trails by making them even more pedestrian and bicycle friendly.

The 2015 Comprehensive Trail plan which was modified a bit in 2017. (click to enlarge)

Those routes and methods are being further identified and supplemented by a recent “Walking Audit” of the City, conducted by the Wellmark Foundation and sponsored by Cass County Public Health.

(Radio Iowa) — Fire destroyed a building in downtown Grinnell this (Monday) morning. Grinnell Fire Chief Dan Sicard says crews were called at 6 a.m. on the report of flames coming from the roof of the building, which housed a Mexican restaurant. “The fire was in the roof and crawl space area,” Sicard said. “We kept it from expanding into any of the buildings next to it and after the collapse happened, we were able get inside and finish putting it out.”

The cause of the fire is under investigation. People in nearby apartments made it out safe and no one was seriously hurt. “Everybody was evacuated from the apartments, we have one minor injury to a firefighter,” Sicard said. The Grinnell Fire Department was assisted by crews from Gilman, Kellogg, Searsboro, Malcolm, and Brooklyn.

ONAWA, Iowa (AP) — A western  Iowa man has pleaded not guilty in the death of his grandmother.
The Sioux City Journal reports 21-year-old Eliot Stowe pleaded not guilty Monday in Monona County District Court. He is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 66-year-old Cheryl Stowe, whose body was found June 27 wrapped in a rug in an area near her home in the tiny community of Castana.

Authorities found Stowe’s body after being contacted by co-workers, who were concerned she hadn’t shown up for work. An autopsy found she died due to “complex homicidal violence.”
Eliot Stowe, also of Castana, was already in custody on an unrelated case when he was arrested Nov. 20 on the murder charge.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of a Red Oak woman on Monday afternoon. At 1:02pm Officers arrested 24-year-old Ashley Marie Matthews for Shoplifting at the HyVee food store in Red Oak. Matthews was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 bond.