The Atlantic City Council unanimously approved the final reading of two rule changes and the first reading of another at their Wednesday meeting.

The Council passed the final reading of a rule change regarding the number of days the Atlantic Animal Control Office holds an animal before it becomes available for adoption. Animal Control Officer Kris Erickson had requested that the number of days an animal is held be changed from seven business days to three. The change aligns the city with the state required three days. The city hopes this helps animals minimize their stay and stress. Licensed dog owners will be contacted if their pet is found wandering.

The Council also approved the final reading of an ordinance changing zoning regulations. A number of changes to building heights and setbacks were included in the ordinance in hopes that residential property owners would have greater flexibility to improve their properties. These changes would eliminate the costly and time-consuming process of applying for a variance in some instances.

The first reading of an amendment to traffic code enforcement procedures was also passed. The changes will increase the fine amounts for regular parking violations and snow emergency violations. The changes will align the city with fine amounts in other nearby cities. The Personnel and Finance Committee recommended the council approve the fine increases which will go from $10 to $30 for regular violations and $25 to $50 for snow emergency violations.

The council also approved a key monitoring policy for the city. Alexis Fleener was appointed to the Community Promotion Commission and Megan Mewhirter was added to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Board of Adjustment. Those appointments replace the resignation of Christina Bateman from those spots.

The Iowa Grocery Industry Association announced this week the winners of their 2018 Hall of Fame awards, honoring champions of Iowa’s grocery industry, and a local business was honored. Atlantic Bottling Company was named Supplier of the Year.

The honor announcement states, “Atlantic Bottling’s commitment to Iowa and the many communities it serves, the grocery industry, and its employees has continued to grow alongside its business. The company’s devotion to quality and integrity has helped it forge lasting business relationships that contribute to its success. Atlantic Bottling supplies Iowa-based companies Hy-Vee, Fareway, Kum & Go, Casey’s and a large number of independent grocers, as well as many other companies. As Atlantic’s business has grown so has its support of the Iowa grocery industry.”

Atlantic Bottling is a privately owned independent bottler that distributes Coca-Cola products for almost all of Iowa, parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri. The company operates from nine locations with its headquarters located in Atlantic, IA and employs more than 700 people.

Atlantic Bottling will be honored along with other award winners at the Iowa Grocery Industry Association Hall of Fame Dinner on Wednesday, November 7th at the Prairie Meadows Events and Conference Center in Altoona.

Police in Council Bluffs reports Omaha Police terminated their pursuit of a green, 1995 Chevy pickup truck at the Iowa/Nebraska State Line today, at around 1:50-a.m.  Their pursuit ended on the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge.

Council Bluffs Police Officers found the vehicle abandoned in the 4100 block of Veteran’s Highway. The suspect is unknown at this time. Additional details about the pursuit are not available at this time.

An elderly Adams County woman missing since 10-p.m Monday, was found late Wednesday morning, and is receiving medical treatment in Des Moines. According to reports, Judy Stalcup was located at around 11:45-a.m., Wednesday. She was suffering from a broken ankle and dehydration, but is expected to recover.

About 300 volunteers gathered early Wednesday morning near Prescott, in northern Adams County, to search for the woman. There was no immediate word on where she was found.

The woman had last been seen wearing a blue nightgown and shoes.