Atlantic Fire & Rescue, Medivac Ambulance and Atlantic Police responded to a call about thick smoke coming from a home on Atlantic’s west side late Wednesday night. The call came in from a home at 511 Front Street at around 11:15-p.m.  Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNees told KJAN News Atlantic Police Lt. Paul Wood (who is also a volunteer firefighter) was first on the scene and confirmed thick smoke was emitting from the structure, which had been evacuated prior to authorities’ arrival. One person was transported by Medivac to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, for treatment of smoke inhalation.

McNees said they thought at first the fire was in the basement, and perhaps from a dryer or furnace. But after they entered the home, it was discovered the smoke was coming from a pan of grease on the stove that registered 1,200 degrees on the thermal imaging device. He said it was a “miracle” the grease didn’t erupt into flames, because it was splattered around the pan, as well.

Crews were on the scene for about 45-to 60-minutes, ventilating the home, which sustained primarily smoke damage.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — In a story Nov. 6 about people sickened by carbon monoxide exposure at a Marshalltown, Iowa, church, The Associated Press, relying on a city fire official, reported erroneously that one person had died. Fire Chief David Rierson now says officials were mistaken and no one died. A corrected version of the story is below:

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a number of people suffered breathing problems and some were hospitalized after breathing carbon monoxide at their church in Iowa, where a gasoline-powered generator was running in the unvented basement to provide heat and lighting. Medics and police officers found several people with headaches and breathing difficulties at about 2:45 p.m. Sunday at the Church of God in Marshalltown. First responders helped churchgoers get treatment at a Marshalltown hospital. Some of the victims later were taken to hospitals in Iowa City and Des Moines.

Marshalltown Deputy Fire Chief Christopher Cross couldn’t provide the name of those who were injured. Cross said the building didn’t have electric or gas service and lacked a city occupancy permit.

Iowa Republicans gathered in Des Moines Wednesday night for a party fundraiser and the G-O-P’s top leaders urged the crowd to avoid complacency. Ronna Romney McDaniel — the chairwoman of the Republican NATIONAL Committee — was a keynote speaker.”This is the most critical time for our party, just as critical as this last election. If we lose these midterms, if we give up our majorities in the senate and the house, we know that our government will stall out, the president will not be able to accomplish his agenda and we will go into 2020 a weakened party.”

Sean Spicer, the man who served about eight months as White House press secretary, also took the stage, with a microphone in his hand. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to stay away from the podium. I told my wife I was giving them up for good.” Spicer, as you may recall, was parodied on Saturday Night Live by actress Melissa McCarthy who crashed a mobile lectern into a group of reporters. Spicer encouraged the crowd of Iowa Republicans to avoid “fighting with each other” and imposing “litmus tests” on G-O-P candidates in 2018. “There is a stark difference between the worst Republican and the best Democrat.”

Spicer later added that he’s “really worried” the 2018 midterms. “I see the sacrifice that so many people are making and then sometimes the silliest skirmishes get in the way of progress and success because there was this: ‘Someone didn’t get the credit they deserved.’ Or they think someone’s establishment or they’re not pure enough on something.”  Last night’s event started about 24 hours after the polls closed on statewide elections in Virginia and New Jersey that saw Democrats score victories. Iowa G-O-P chairman Jeff Kaufmann told reporters the lesson for the G-O-P in 2018 is to “be aggressive.” “Don’t be complacent,” Kaufmann said. “If Republicans show up, Republicans are going to win.”

Romney McDaniel, the national party chairwoman, rejects the idea Tuesday night’s election results were a surprise. “Virginia’s a state that’s been trending blue. New Jersey had its own unique circumstances. It wasn’t a surprise that it went blue for their governorship. It means we’re at the status quo and I think it means we’re going to go into a very competitive 2018,” she told reporters during a brief news conference. “The RNC’s very well positioned. We’ve raised record funds and we’re putting staff on the ground all across the country and we’re going to have staff here in Iowa.”

President Trump criticized the Republican who lost the Virginia governor’s race for failing to fully “embrace” Trump’s political brand. Romney McDaniel says Trump “is in line” with his core supporters and his policies will “resonate” in 2018. “There is no problem running as the party of Donald Trump,” McDaniel says. “Look at record fundraising for the RNC. We’ve passed the $100 million mark for the first time in a post-presidential year, mainly on the support of small dollar donors that are giving under $200. That’s the enthusiasm for the president.”

The chairwoman of the Republican National Committee also told reporters she expects Iowa’s Caucuses will be the lead-off event in the 2020 presidential race. “We have a site-selection committee and I don’t see anything changing,” Romney McDaniel says.  Mitt Romney, the G-O-P’s 2012 presidential nominee, is her uncle and Romney McDaniel says she has “fond memories” of campaigning for him here.  “One of the things that I think is special about Iowa and the First-in-the-Nation status is I saw firsthand how seriously the voters took it here when I came in for the (Iowa GOP) Straw Poll. They love seeing the candidates. They get out. It’s a state that you can travel to all the 99 counties. You can afford the media markets, so I think it’s a state that takes that roll very seriously and I don’t see any changes.”

Iowa G-O-P’s chairman, who was standing beside McDaniel, joked that he was “tearing up” over her comments about the Iowa process.

(Radio Iowa/Des Moines)

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman sent a note out to the media Wednesday afternoon indicating an error in the Anita City Council results. The name of write-in candidate Tim Wheelock was left off of the worksheet in error, Tuesday night. Wheelock’s name was written-in as a candidate for one of three seats on the Anita City Council. The winners, with Wheelock’s numbers thrown into the mix are:

• John Knutson, 68 votes.
• Ben Daughenbaugh, 58 votes.
• Tim Wheelock, 42 votes.

The other candidate, incumbent Mark Harris, received 25 votes. There were a scattering of 12 other, write-in votes.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County say a traffic stop a little after 11-p.m. Wednesday resulted in the arrest of a woman on an OWI charge. 63-year old Rosana D. Taylor, of Red Oak, was taken into custody for OWI/1st offense. Taylor was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 cash bond,

A traffic stop Wednesday afternoon in Fremont County, near Bartlett, resulted in the arrest of a man and woman from Nebraska on drug and child endangerment charges. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports 24-year old Deavan Donner and 24-year old Nicole Frieze, both of Omaha, were taken into custody on two counts each of Child Endangerment, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Donner

Frieze

Deavan was also arrested for Driving While Barred, Habitual Violator. Both parties are being held at the Fremont County Jail, pending initial appearance with the Magistrate.

Their arrests took place at around 4:45-p.m. after the Fremont County K9 Unit stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation on Western Avenue, near Bartlett, Iowa. were inside the vehicle, from which Deputies noticed the distinct odor of narcotics. They located marijuana and drug paraphernalia used in the ingestion of both marijuana and methamphetamine, inside the vehicle.  Deputies also located drug paraphernalia and narcotics concealed inside a diaper bag.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:04 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — U.S. Postal Service workers have taken to the sidewalks to protest job cuts at Des Moines’ main post office and other postal facilities across the country. About 100 people, consisting of postal workers, customers, teachers and others, turned out Wednesday afternoon in front of the post office near downtown Des Moines to protest recent cuts. Mike Bates, president of the Des Moines Area American Postal Workers Union, says the cuts have led to long lines and delayed service for customers.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have identified two people found slain inside a northern Iowa home and say a man arrested in their deaths is their grandson. Mason City police say the bodies of 61-year-old Kenneth Hackbart and his wife, 64-year-old Kathleen Hackbart, where found in their home Tuesday morning. Police say 25-year-old Codie Matz, who was arrested charged with murder in the deaths, is the couple’s grandson and that he lived with them in their home.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa school district accused of sending students to secluded, padded rooms for even minor infractions says it will stop using the rooms by the start of the next school year. Iowa City school Superintendent Stephen Murley said in an email Tuesday that the district has eliminated seven of its seclusion rooms and plans to eliminate the rest by next fall. The state Education Department determined the district had illegally sent students to seclusion for minor reasons, such as foul language.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Some of Donald Trump’s fiercest advocates are offering different approaches for the Republican Party’s way forward after some tough losses Tuesday. Former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer and Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel are calling on Republicans to unite, while former White House strategist Steve Bannon is calling for rebellion against establishment Republicans.

The Atlantic Area Chamber’s Annual Scrooge Contest, sponsored by Hockenberry Family Care, is underway during the month of November. Eleanor Hoover organized the contest back in 2002 just one year after the inaugural Lighted Parade.

The Scrooge contestants raise money and collect non-perishable food items for the Atlantic Food Pantry. The 2017 candidates include: Jack Jensen, Robison True Value Hardware; Rob Stamp, Stamp Construction; Cody Weaver, MAHLE Engine Components and Nick Harris, Brocker, Karns & Karns.

“Candidates can choose any method they want in collecting their points,” Hoover said. “In the past, candidates have hosted soup suppers and put pictures and boxes in local businesses to collect food donations.”

According to Hoover, contestants are responsible for collecting and submitting their points to the Chamber by November 28th at Noon. The contestant with the most points will be named Scrooge and all proceeds will benefit the Atlantic Food Pantry. Winner of the Scrooge Contest serves as the Grand Marshal in the Lighted Parade on Dec. 2nd at 6 PM in Downtown Atlantic. Cash donations are worth one point on the dollar and two non-perishable items earn the contestants one point.

Past Scrooge titles have been awarded to: Mary Ann Moorman 2007, Dana Halder 2008, Tammy Wise & Janet Huey 2009, Ritchie Anderson 2010, Janet Cappel 2011, Melanie Petty 2012, David Miller 2013, Mark McNees 2014, Ted Robinson 2015 and Jon Johnson 2016.

Hoover said the Scrooge title is used because, “Contestants find the meaning of Christmas by giving to others,” explaining that is the real honor of being named Scrooge. “Therefore, I am hoping that together as a community we will assist the contestants to provide many neighbors and friends the same joy of having a meal to celebrate the holidays.”

The contest will run now to November 28th. Donations to a contestant can be made by delivering food or funds to their drop off locations or the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce.  For more information please call the Chamber at 712.243.3017 or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com.