United Group Insurance

Atlantic Sesquicentennial T-Shirts available at the Chamber

News

March 1st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

To commemorate Atlantic’s Sesquicentennial this year, the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce is selling t-shirts on behalf of the Sesquicentennial Committee to celebrate the milestone. Chamber Executive Director Baily Smith said “We’re happy to provide the community with something to remember the year by. Community members will be able to keep these shirts as a memento for this community accomplishment.”

T-Shirts are available at the Rock Island Depot, located at 102 Chestnut Street, for $15. Sizes range from small to 3XL, with a limited amount of each size. There are also youth sizes available for $10. All proceeds from the shirt will go towards fireworks for the 4th of July. Sesquicentennial Co-Chair Steve Livengood said “The committee felt this was a great way to visually represent the city’s 150th birthday and a way to get the community involved to help celebrate.”

For information regarding events scheduled throughout the year, visit www.atlanticiowa.com or call City Hall at 712.243.4810. The Sesquicentennial Committee, co-chaired by Steve Livengood and Barb Barrick, meets the third Tuesday of every month at 5:30 PM at City Hall for those who are interested in getting involved.

Posted in News |

IA Gov. ordered flags at half-staff for Billy Graham

News

March 1st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered all state flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff from sunrise until sunset on Friday, March 2, 2018, in honor and remembrance of Reverend Billy Graham. The governor’s order is issued in conjunction with President Donald Trump’s proclamation to lower all United States flags to half-staff for the same length of time.

Flags will be at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex. Flags will also be half-staff on all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

Posted in News |

Cass County man sentenced to 3-years on MO. rape charge

News

March 1st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Nodaway County Missouri Attorney’s Office reports a man from Cass County, IA, was sentenced Monday to three-years in prison on a rape charge. 21-year old Hunter Bechtol, of Atlantic, was found guilty by a grand jury, of Felony 2nd Degree Rape. The jury handed-down its unanimous verdict after just three-hours of deliberation, following a two-day trial in late January.

Bechtol was charged with having sexual intercourse without consent, with a confidential victim on the Northwest Missouri State University campus, last April. Second degree rape in Missouri is punishable by up to seven years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or any combination of the two penalties. The prosecution had argued for a seven-year sentence, while Bechtol’s attorneys asked for probation.

Posted in News |

“STEM Kids” after school program enjoyed by East Pott. County youth

News

March 1st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The East Pottawattamie County 4-H program offered “STEM Kids” after school program on Wednesday’s in February from 3:00 – 4:30pm at the Carson Fire Station Meeting Room for all 4th grade youth.  11 excited youth spent Wednesday afternoons leaning about science, technology, engineering and math through hands on activities, teamwork and experiments.  Throughout the month of February, youth learned about the engineering design process by making their own “machines” to move and sort candy; force and energy through making their own roller coasters with loops and hills out of pool noodles; did experiments with popcorn, and learned why bubbles are round along with different bubble experiments.

The Cooking with Kids Afterschool program is being offered to 4th graders attending the AHSTW Schools on Tuesday’s during the month of March.

STEM Kids Riverside – Dane Martens, Trent Spiering, Bailey Richardson, Jackson Allen, Jayka Mark, Adaline Martens, AJ Kremkoski, Sam Bernard, Keagan Allensworth, Danika Feigenbutz

Posted in News |

Suspect in north Iowa slaying ends standoff peacefully

News

March 1st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

(Updated 10:40-a.m.) CRESCO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man suspected of killing a woman in northern Iowa has been taken into custody, ending his standoff with officers. Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation spokesman Mitch Mortvedt said Thursday that an Iowa State Patrol SWAT team sent to the Cresco home early Thursday morning negotiated a peaceful surrender.Cresco officers had been dispatched around 1:30 a.m. to check a report of gunshots. Mortvedt wasn’t sure how long the man kept officers at bay, nor could he say whether any shots had been exchanged. The woman’s body was found inside the home after the man gave up. Mortvedt says he can’t yet release any names or provide other details.Law enforcement had asked local schools to delay classes two hours as a safety measure.

Posted in News |

Eric Branstad left Trump Administration weeks ago, opening PR office in DSM

News

March 1st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Branstad who ran Donald Trump’s 2016 general election campaign in Iowa has left the Trump Administration and is returning to consulting work. Eric Branstad is the oldest son of Terry Branstad, the former Iowa governor who Trump named U.S. Ambassador to China. Eric Branstad had been serving as White House liaison to the U.S. Department of Commerce since Trump took office. His wife and children remained in Des Moines.

Branstad left his D.C. job several weeks ago. Branstad is joining Mercury, a “public strategy firm” that has companies and politicians as well as other COUNTRIES as clients. Eric Branstad will be a managing director and will open an office for the firm in Des Moines.

Branstad’s move was first reported this (Thursday) morning by Politico Playbook, a daily newsletter. Eric Branstad had worked as a political consultant before he joined the Trump campaign in the summer of 2016.

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in News |

John Deere leaders address tax reform & huge quarterly loss

Ag/Outdoor

March 1st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Tax reform and how it will affect the bottom line were topics addressed at Wednesday’s John Deere annual meeting in the Quad Cities. Sam Allen, chair and C-E-O of Iowa’s largest manufacturing employer, was asked about the 900-million dollar hit Deere reported in its first quarter earnings due to tax reform. Deere spokesman Ken Golden says in the long run, the drop in federal taxes will be good for the company, for Deere dealers and for farmers. “Each year until the new tax reform law went into effect, depreciation was an annual decision,” Golden says. “We saw customers waiting to make their decision on buying equipment based on what was going to happen to the law. The permanence is really what Mr. Allen was talking about in smoothing out this kind of impact that depreciation has on large equipment purchases.”

Deere opened the shareholders meeting with a video celebrating the 100th anniversary of entering the tractor business. Tony Knobbe is one of the organizers of this year’s Gathering of the Green. He invited Allen and the audience to next month’s convention for John Deere tractor collectors. Knobbe is very proud of the theme the group selected — “Legend, Made Legacy.” “If you look in their annual report, on the second page you’ll read, ‘The Hundred Year Legacy of the John Deere Tractor’,” Knobbe says. “And down here, it says ‘The Legend Runs On’. I know we didn’t steal it from them because this wasn’t produced when we produced our theme.”

During the meeting, Sam Allen quoted an old letter from a Deere board member. It was written before the company bought the Waterloo Gas Engine Company in 1918, and said, “The tractor will never replace the mule.”

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in Ag/Outdoor |

Page County man arrested Thursday morning for OWI

News

March 1st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

A traffic stop at around 2:30-a.m. today (Thursday), resulted in the arrest of a man from Coin. The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports a Ford F-150 pickup was pulled over about two-miles west of Coin, near the intersection of 260th and F Avenue, for a traffic violation. During the traffic stop the driver, and only occupant, 37-year old Gary Dean Williams, Jr., of Coin, was found to be under the influence of Alcohol. Williams was arrested for OWI 1st offense. He was transported to the Page County Jail where his bond was set at $1,000.

Williams, Jr.

Posted in News |

MARCH 2018

Birthday Club

March 1st, 2018 by admin

March 1st:

  • Jim Casson of Atlantic (Winner)

March 2nd:

  • Joanne Potts of Elk Horn (Winner)
  • Tyler Roenfeld of Atlantic
  • Terry Bengard of Exira

March 3rd:

  • Sally Will of Atlantic (Winner)

March 4th:

  • Craig “Bub” Sorensen of Exira
  • Jean Stamp of Atlantic
  • Tamara Sheeder of Bayard

March 5th:

  • Jeff Oakley of Audubon (Winner)
  • Sharon Witt of Atlantic
  • Hazel Miller of Hancock

March 6th:

  • Connie Nevins of Atlantic (Winner)
  • David Claussen of Anita

March 7th:

  • Madison Jensen of Lewis (Winner)
  • Janice Brown of Atlantic
  • Tom Hill of Exira
  • Delma Bennett of Atlantic

March 8th:

  • Jen Wede of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Josh Bigor
  • Abby De Jong of Atlantic
  • Judy WHeeler of Exira
  • Dorothy Kerkhoff of Audubon
  • Mary Ellen Yarger of Massena

March 9th:

  • Nedra Perry of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Gavin Fell-Nichols of Lewis

March 10th:

  • Doug Kelly of Griswold (Winner)
  • LeAnn Atkinson
  • Eric Nelson
  • Hugh Lunt of Oakland

March 11th:

  • Harold Rochholz of Casey (Winner)
  • Lloyd Munson of Atlantic
  • Margory Walker of Exira

March 12th:

  • Hillary Zellmer of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Kevin Schlake of Atlantic
  • Becky Mosier of Atlantic
  • Norma Gongestad of Atlantic

March 13th:

  • Julie McNees of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Al Wede of Atlantic
  • Ranaye Siggins of Atlantic

March 14th:

  • Grace Nelson of Kimballton (Winner)
  • Jeffrey Tagwell of Atlantic
  • Eric Vogl of Anita
  • Arline Gans of Irwin
  • Karri Ogden of Adair
  • Rayna Blay of Elliott
  • Katie Aupperle of Wiota

March 15th:

  • Susan Jensen of Audubon (Winner)
  • Roger Petersen of Exira
  • Drew Skartvedt of Atlantic

March 16th:

  • Peggy Hansen of Elk Horn (Winner)
    Bernadine Johnson of Exira
  • Lori Figgins
  • Nicole Gary of Atlantic
  • Greta Parks of Atlantic
  • Lawrence Eilts of Cumberland

March 17th:

  • Jake Skartvedt of Atlantic (Winner)

March 18th:

  • Kay Rudolph of Audubon
  • Rose Pangburn of Atlantic
  • Emily Soper of Atlantic
  • Alex Howe of Griswold
  • Julie Earnardt of Exira

March 19th:

  • Jayden Fiebelkorn of Exira (Winner)
  • Kathy Blazek of Atlantic
  • Isaac Harry of Atlantic
  • Linda Herman of Atlantic

March 20th:

  • Tammy Butcher of Lewis (Winner)
  • Mike Conley of Atlantic
  • Kael Cameron of Atlantic
  • Edward Figgins of Atlantic
  • Delbert Christensen of Exira

March 21st:

  • Mike Barnes of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Devon Thompson of Lewis
  • Lynda Martens of Anita
  • Lyle Hartmann of Cumberland
  • Randy Cranston of Atlantic
  • Dell Marten of Audubon

March 22nd:

  • Joann Hansen of Atlantic (Winner)

March 23rd:

  • Christie Boysen of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Crystal Parker of Exira

March 24th:

  • Jacob Nelson of Kimballton (Winner)
  • Karen Guyer of Hancock
  • Helen Ernst of Adair
  • Andrea Reilly of Atlantic

March 25th:

  • Dani Mathisen of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Teresa Murray of Audubon

March 26th:

  • Nancy McCunn of Massena (Winner)
  • Marie Livengood of Atlantic
  • George Schultes of Exira
  • Phyllis Jensen of Hamlin
  • Linda Thelen of Atlantic

March 27th:

  • Melanie Bishop of Atlantic

March 28th:

  • Lucille Wittrock of Auduobn (Winner)
  • Don Patchin of Adair
  • Tom Nelson of Audubon
  • Kim Black of Exira
  • Karen Blum of Harlan
  • Gale Newman of Griswold
  • Dan Matthisen

March 29th:

  • Nathan Paulsen of Exira (Winner)

March 30th:

  • Mary Lee Jensen of Exira (Winner)
  • Ashley White of Atlantic
  • Amanda Bloomfield of Atlantic
  • Diane Martens of Atlantic
  • Shirley Warne of Atlantic

March 31st:

  • Dawn Walton of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Todd Madsen of Harlan

Posted in Birthday Club |

Report: Midwest business conditions index rose in February

News

March 1st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A business conditions index for nine Midwestern and Plains states rose over the past month, pointing to continued improvement in regional economic conditions, according to a report issued today (Thursday). The Mid-America Business Conditions Index hit 59.7 in February, compared with 57.3 in January, the report said. The December figure was 59.0. Good news abounded in several economic sectors, including manufacturing, the report said.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, who oversees the survey, said “At this point in time, according to our surveys, Mid-America manufacturing firms are outperforming their U.S. counterparts. However, government data indicate that U.S. non-manufacturing activity is exceeding that of Mid-American non-manufacturing firms.”

The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth in that factor. A score below that suggests decline. The February employment index jumped to 59.4, from 52.3 in January. Goss said “Sixty percent of firms in our survey expect to add workers in the next six months.” The wholesale inflation gauge continued to reflect inflationary pressures, climbing to 82.0 from January’s 74.5. According to Goss, “Both our regional wholesale inflation index and the U.S. inflation gauge are elevated” and are expected to showing up at the consumer level, Goss said. “As a result, I expect the Federal Reserve’s interest rate setting committee to raise short-term interest rates by one-quarter of one percentage point at its next meeting on March 21st.”

Looking ahead six months, the business confidence index dropped to a still strong 74.5 from 80.5 in January. Goss says “Healthy profit growth, still low interest rates, and the recently passed tax reform package pushed business confidence into a range indicating vigorous business confidence.”

Posted in News |