A day-long event celebrating Armed Forces Day takes place Saturday, in Atlantic. Steve Livengood and his wife Marie created the “BaDa BaDa Bing Bang Rally” four-years ago. The event also serves to recognize Atlantic’s Sesquicentennial year with the monthly theme being “Atlantic Salutes the Military.” Owner/operators come from all over the state of Iowa. They also come from Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri. The rally continues to grow every year. Steve says most of the military vehicle owners will allow you touch and explore their vehicle, if you ask. He said many of the participants will already be there in the morning, but some will come a bit later. The event wraps up by 3-p.m.

At that time, a cannon will be fired, and each of the military vehicles will begin a cruise through the town and out. The vehicles will make their way back into town, stopping at Wal-Mart for ice cream at around 3:20-p.m., and then finally its back to the Armory. His goal was to put 150 military equipment tires on the ground for Atlantic’s 150^th birthday. The equipment ranges in age from early World War Two [1940 or so] to some of the newest equipment…a span of about 55-to 60-years. There won’t be any tanks though, due to their weight and other issues.)

More than 35 vehicles are planning to be at the Rally providing 173 tires on the ground. The event will begin and end at th Armory (the American Legion Memorial Building), located at 201 Poplar Street in Atlantic. Inside the Armory, the Military Museum and Military Library will be open for viewing. A display of military rations, cooking, eating and cleaning, is set up in the Museum. A display of hundreds of military weapons and related items will be in the Memorial Hall. It includes high explosives, none in working condition.

A lunch for free will offering is provided by Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise (ARISE), hosts for the Rally.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A railroad company intends to demolish a historic train depot in northern Iowa. Canadian Pacific Railway spokesman Andy Cummings tells the Mason City Globe Gazette that the Milwaukee Road Depot in Mason City is scheduled for demolition. Cummings says the depot has been vacant since the railway relocated its operations to another structure in 2013. He says the structure can’t be repurposed because it’s next to an active rail yard. The depot was originally built around 1895.

Bob Storozuk is the president of the Milwaukee Road Historical Association. He says the depot acted as a focal point for the town, offering transportation and a location to pick up packages and telegrams.
Cummings didn’t say when demolition would begin or how much it would cost.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have arrested a man accused of fleeing after his vehicle injured his girlfriend’s 11-year-old daughter near their Waterloo home.
Black Hawk County Court records say 52-year-old James Smith is charged with leaving the scene of an injury accident, child endangerment causing serious injury, and other crimes. The records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for him.

Police say the girl was injured April 18 when Smith drove out of the home’s driveway. The girl’s mother, 32-year-old Anita Nelson, told officers she didn’t know who struck the girl and denied Smith was involved. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that prosecutors have charged her with making a false report.

Authorities in Pottawattamie County are investigating an accident that claimed the life of a Nebraska man. Officials say at around 7:50-p.m. Thursday, Pottawattamie County deputies were dispatched to County Road L-34 and Whippoorwill Road for a motor vehicle accident involving a motorcycle and a truck pulling a livestock trailer. Deputies arrived at approximately 8:03 PM. Upon arrival of Neola Fire and Rescue, the driver of the motorcycle was determined to be deceased. A preliminary investigation indicates that 19-yearold Joseph Jensen, of Neola, was southbound on County Road L-34 in a 2012 Dodge Ram truck and making a left turn on to Whippoorwill Road. The truck was pulling an empty livestock trailer.

26-year old Adam Blake, of Omaha, NE was southbound on County Road L-34 behind Jensen’s truck and trailer. Blake’s 2006 Suzuki motorcycle struck the rear of the livestock trailer, resulting in fatal injuries.