In light of recent public outbursts during the Atlantic City Council meeting, and subsequent verbal sparring with the Mayor and Councilpersons, the Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening, will review a Resolution pertaining to Public Forum Procedures. City Administrator John Lund says the Council passed a Resolution in Feb., 2002, which set the rules of procedure at Council meetings. The first rule states “THe Mayor shall preserve order and decorum and shall decide all questions of order, subject to an appeal to the Council.” Lund says the Council may choose to amend the current resolution, but until any changes are adopted, the Mayor is still entrusted to execute the Resolution.

Lund says the Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC), a non-profit organization that helps local governments better serve their citizens by providing legal and policy guidance on any topic, says “Limiting public comment time in a council meeting is not a violation of the 1st Amendment, as some have claimed. Meetings must be public, according to Iowa Code, which also outlines specific instances where a governmental body may enter into a closed session. The law does allow the public the right to attend those meetings, but does not require those bodies to allow a public forum. Most cities, however, allow audiences to speak at meetings, even though it not required (except in the case of published Public Hearings).

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will discuss and consider a possible Business Grant Program in the form of a CDBG, or Community Development Block Grant, specifically for downtown facade restoration. The City already has an Economic Development Revolving (EDR) loan fund for Atlantic businesses. And, the City contributes between $30- and $43,000 to non-profit entities, according to Lund, that are considered to be charitable. That doesn’t include contributions to their economic development partners SWIPCO, CADCO and the Atlantic Chamber.

The Council will act on an order closing certain streets for the American Legion Post #43’s “Welcome Home” event this Sunday, from 10-a.m. until 3-p.m. The event is designed to honor members of Company K, 168th Infantry Battalion, who served in World War II. Those soldiers did not receive a homecoming event upon their return from the War. The members of that unit all passed on, but the ceremony is fitting, according to City officials, in light of Atlantic’s Sesquicentennial observations.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Sen. Joni Ernst has harsh words for President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Chinese goods. The Republican senator from Iowa, in a significant parting of ways with Trump, says the tariffs “are nothing more than a tax on Iowa farm families.”

In a statement released Tuesday Ernst said the “escalating trade war is putting the livelihoods of our rural communities in the crosshairs.” She says she supports Trump’s effort to equalize a trade imbalance but the United States should focus on access to new markets and completing new trade deals rather than imposing dangerous tariffs.

Trump says he’ll impose tariffs on an additional $200 billion in goods from China in addition to tariffs announced earlier, which Ernst says puts U.S. producers at risk of permanently losing valuable market access.

POLK CITY, Iowa (AP) — A toddler pulled from a central Iowa lake over the weekend has died. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says the 2-year-old girl died Tuesday morning at a Des Moines hospital.

The girl was with her family Saturday at Big Creek State Park, just north of Des Moines, when was pulled from Big Creek Lake just before 9 p.m. First responders performed CPR on the girl, who was flown by helicopter to the hospital.

Officials have not released the girl’s name. An investigation into her death continues.

Officials with the Harlan Police Department, Tuesday, released their most recent report on arrests and incidents. Authorities say two people were arrested Monday. 56-year old Melanie Marie Mogensen, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop near 7^th and Baldwin.  Mogensen was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with operating while intoxicated 2^nd, failure to yield right of way, and open container. Also arrested Monday, was 34-year old Andrew Jacob Smith, of Harlan. Following a traffic stop, Smith was found to have had an active warrant out of Pottawattamie County.  He was transported to the Shelby County Jail where, in addition to his warrant, he was charged with driving while suspended, operating a non-registered vehicle, and failure to prove security against liability.

On Sunday, 61-year old Cindy Jo Cassidy, of Harlan, was arrested following a call about an unwanted person on the premises in the 1100 block of Chatburn Avenue.  Cassidy was cited for trespass in the 2nd degree. Last Saturday, 29-year old Dustin Allen Delgado, of Harlan, was arrested following a call about a reckless driver in the 1000 block of Chatburn Avenue.  Delgado was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with operating while intoxicated.

And, on June 9th, 37-year old Chantel Rea Andersen, of Defiance, was arrested on an active Crawford County warrant.  She was transported to the Crawford County Jail.

Harlan Police also investigated separate accidents occurring on June 6th, 14th, 15th and 16th. None of which resulted in any injuries.

Council Bluffs Police, at around 10-a.m. Tuesday, located a stolen vehicle in the area of S. 9th and 2nd Avenue. When officers attempted to stop the 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup, the vehicle took off. At S.16th and 2nd Avenue, a Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputy picked up the pursuit. The vehicle continued to flee from officers until it went out of control, drove through a fence and into the yard of 820 9th Avenue.

Kimberly Golden

The driver of the stolen vehicle, 28-year old Kimberly Golden, of Coin, was placed under arrest for Theft 2nd degree (for possession of a stolen vehicle) and eluding. She was also wanted on an outstanding warrant. A 20-year old passenger was identified and released, because there were no active charges on her.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports 46-year old Tadd Quincy Madden, of Shambaugh, was arrested at around 9:45-a.m. today (Tuesday), on a warrant out of Adams County. The warrant was for OWI 1^st Offense.

Madden was transported to the Page County Jail where he posted a $1,000 cash bond, and was released.