An official swearing-in ceremony was held Wednesday evening in Atlantic, for a new police officer. And, while that happens in communities all over the State, the event held here was extra special, because the “Officer” is a six and one-half year old boy Massena, who was presented with a certificate, an official badge and the title of Honorary Police Officer for the City of Atlantic.  Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones conducted the swearing-in ceremony, with Police Chief Dave Erickson kneeling next to Myles Jones.

Mayor Dave Jones swears-in the City’s Honorary Police Officer (click on the pictures to enlarge)

Chief Erickson was beaming as he pinned a badge on the young boy. He said “Good job officer. We’re proud of you.” Myles is the son of Erick and Sara Beth Jones, of Massena. His parents, brother Hayden and baby sister Caroline attended the ceremony. Myles was asked later why he wanted to become a police officer.  He said “Because it’s really cool and I like the outfit.” He said also that he likes to run after the bad guys.

Chief Erickson pins a badge on “Officer Myles”

“Officer Myles” was Honored for his efforts to raise money for the Atlantic Police Department’s children and families Christmas and other programs. Myles challenged the community to give towards those programs, and singlehandidly raised $3,725. The funds were presented Dec. 7th to the Police Chief and Reserve Officer Jeff Hackwell. Last Sunday (Dec. 16th), Myles helped the Department with their annual “Shop-with-a-Cop” program at the Atlantic Wal-Mart. When asked why he raised the funds, he said “It’s just my duty.”

His mom said the response from the community toward his efforts was unexpected, and provided her son with a invaluable lesson on helping others, which is what police officers do. She said she hasn’t told her son how big of a star he has become in the town, as evidenced by the response on social media, on the street and in school. Sara Beth Jones said she wants her son to remain humble, remember what he did it for, and not “get a big head.”  The young man may undertake a similar fundraising endeavor next year, too.

“Officer” Myles Jones.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The latest Census estimates show that Nebraska’s and Iowa’s populations continued growing at a slow, steady pace over the past year. The U.S. Census Bureau released the latest state population figures as of July 1 on Wednesday. Iowa’s estimated population grew 12,508 to 3,156,145. Iowa grew at a rate of 0.4 percent.

Nebraska’s population rose to 1,929,268 between 2017 and this year. The state gained 11,693 residents and grew at a rate of 0.61 percent.

Researcher David Drozd with the University of Nebraska’s Center for Public Affairs Research says the growth should ensure that Nebraska will keep all three of its Congressional districts in 2020.
The United States population grew by more than 2 million to 327,167,434. The nation’s population grew at a rate of 0.62 percent.

(Radio Iowa) — For the past three weeks, love has been in the air in Marshalltown. The hope is the love will remain there for a few more weeks. A Marshalltown life coach, came across the idea of putting up a billboard that just says “love” on it, from a colleague in Spokane, Washington. Jody Wunsch thought, why not do that in Marshalltown? She and her husband purchased one billboard for one month, while donations helped put up a second billboard. Three weeks later, Wunsch says the response has been heartwarming.

“I’ve really gotten a lot of feedback from people…people emailing me,” Wunsch says. “They start out “…I don’t know you, but…”. You know that it has touched them and how much they love it. It’s creating conservation and what I have been getting back is all positive.” Wunsch is now looking for further help to keep the love billboards up past Christmas Day. The cost of one for an additional 30 days is covered.

“We’re working on the second one. One’s definitely going to be up, and we’re hoping we’ll get enough yet to keep the other one up as well,” Wunsch says. A fund has been set up at Home Federal in Marshalltown to receive any “love” donations. Wunsch says if they don’t get enough money to keep the second love billboard in place, the donations will be given to the tornado relief effort in Marshalltown.

OSKALOOSA, Iowa (AP) — A judge has ordered a new trial for a woman found guilty more than four years ago of killing her daughter in south-central Iowa’s Mahaska County. Court records say Judge Daniel Wilson last week set aside the first-degree murder conviction of 25-year-old Alicia Ritenour, agreeing with her arguments that her trial attorney had been ineffective. The judge did not release her from state custody and set bail at $500,000. The new trial has not yet been scheduled.

Authorities went to Ritenour’s Oskaloosa apartment in January 2014 following a 911 call. Officers found 17-month-old Ava Ritenour dead. An autopsy showed she died of head trauma.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg made scheduled stops around southwest Iowa, Tuesday. Their final visit was to the Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, late Tuesday afternoon. The Governor covered a wide array of topics in her meeting with the Tyler family, owners of the plant, and other local dignitaries. She said she will deliver her “Condition of the State” (COS) address in front of the Legislature on January 15^th, where she will layout the program her administration wants to see move forward.

One of the things she and the legislature will tackle, is the availability and quality of Iowa’s Workforce. Reynolds said additional funding is needed for Future Ready Iowa initiative so other programs can be better served that will build skills and the knowledge needed to fill many jobs in the Trades sector. She will also speak during her COS message, about the Empower Rural Iowa Initiative. Reynolds established the three-fold initiative by executive order in July. “Those three areas are to connect, grow and connect.” Reynolds said. “We can’t grow and we can;t keep young people in our young people in our communities if they can’t get on the phone and utilize it the manner that they’re accustomed to.” As part of her plan to grow rural Iowa, Reynolds said the Investing in Rural Iowa Task Force, the Growing Rural Iowa Task Force and the Connecting Rural Iowa Task Force held idea summits in six rural locations around Iowa. During those meetings, they took into consideration ideas submitted by task force members and the public.

Representative Tom Shipley, from Nodaway, reminded the Governor, that part of the plan for growing rural Iowa, should not include moving the Iowa DOT District 4 Office from Atlantic to Council Bluffs. Several meetings have already been held on the matter, and several letters have been sent from various area governmental groups to the Legislature and the Governor, against a long-range proposal to move the associated engineering jobs to Council Bluffs. Shipley, and Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Executive Chairman Jim Tyler left no doubt on what their position was. Shipley said he will never go along with a plan like that., Tyler said that “It might not be important in Des Moines, but it’s damned important in Atlantic I can tell ya, and it’s important in Union County, in Adams County, in Ringgold County, all those counties.” That’s because they don’t want to have to travel to Council Bluffs to submit their soil samples and other technical services. They want the Office to stay in Atlantic because it is centrally located. Reynolds said “We’ll take a look at it.”

Reynolds also said the legislature needs to figure out how to sustain Comprehensive Mental Health Care reform that was passed last year, and the establishment of a Children’s Mental Health System. She said also they will endeavor to get SSA (School Supplemental Assistance) rates set within the first 30 days. Districts factor-in State Aid when trying to determine their budgets each year. She said the issue won’t be “kicked down the road” as a bargaining tool, as it has been in years past, causing districts to be in a budget crisis.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines massage therapy businesses will need to obtain a license or close under a new city ordinance designed to fight prostitution and human trafficking. The Des Moines Register reports the City Council this week unanimously approved a measure requiring massage therapy businesses to have a state license or shut down. Officials made the move because of concern that unregulated massage businesses were centers for prostitution and human trafficking. Other Iowa cities have taken similar actions, including Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Coralville and the Des Moines suburbs of Johnston and Urbandale.

Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert says police have a list of business suspected of illegal actions that officers will begin checking. The ordinance takes effect immediately.