(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with Vision Atlantic have announced the EF & Sylvia Schildberg Foundation has granted $11,000 to Vision Atlantic’s transformative project, which will bring a housing development, new child development center, and YMCA expansion to Atlantic. Mark Schildberg said in a news release, “The Schildberg Foundation was started by my grandparents as a way to give back to the communities in our service areas. Childcare is a much needed cornerstone in building and maintaining a thriving community. Vision Atlantic is a perfect way to ‘pass it forward’.”

As previously mentioned: Vision Atlantic, through extensive research and surveying of the community and surrounding region, identified three areas that will help increase Atlantic’s population: expanded childcare, quality housing and quality of life amenities. Infrastructure for the 142 mixed-unit Camblin Hills housing development and 300 capacity child development center is almost complete, with construction of 48 homes currently underway. Construction of the child development center and YMCA expansion is slated to begin early 2026.

Pictured: Mark Schildberg with Vision Atlantic board members and volunteers. (Photo submitted)

Vision Atlantic has a fundraising goal of $39 million, which will be used to construct the YMCA expansion and child development center. To date, they have raised $26.5 million of that goal, thanks to an $8.6 million lead grant from the Charles E. Lakin Foundation and significant support from local donors. In addition to their grant support, the Lakin Foundation has created a separate investment fund of $23 million that will be used to construct homes in the Camblin Hills housing development. The capital will be used as a line of credit, and as the dollars are paid back, the Foundation will donate up to 5% of the interest paid back to Vision Atlantic, who will use those dollars to operate the child development center.

Vision Atlantic’s Project Committee is actively working to secure the remaining $12.5 million needed to meet their fundraising goal. If you are interested in helping transform Atlantic, whether it’s through monetary donations or acts of volunteerism, please contact Vision Atlantic at visionatlanticiowa@gmail.com. Visit www.visionatlantic.org and follow on Facebook for behind-the-scenes access to project updates and in-depth information of the project scope.

Vision Atlantic is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to empower growth, enhance lives, and build a thriving community together through the economic development of Atlantic, Iowa.

(Radio Iowa) – Two U.S. senators from neighboring states say rural hospitals will take a financial hit if tens of thousands of residents in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin lose Affordable Care Act subsidies. The federal tax credits available to middle income Americans buying health insurance on the Affordable Care Act Marketplace will expire December 31st if congress doesn’t vote to extend them. Democrat Amy Klobuchar, a U.S. Senator from Minnesota, says the loss of those tax credits would be a major blow to rural America.

“As one of my soybean farmers recently told me, this is a perfect storm of ugly,” Klobuchar said, “between the tariffs, between the input cost increases because of the tariffs, because of the other problems that have been out there for a while for our farmers with the cost of land and the like and then these health care cuts.” Democrat Tammy Baldwin, a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, says if congress fails to take action, many rural Americans won’t be able to afford the spike in their premiums and will be uninsured next year.

“Rural hospitals are teetering on the edge,” Baldwin said, “and they may face the options of either closing vital services like delivery and mental health services or close all together, meaning people have to drive much further for their health care.” In 2009, the Affordable Care Act passed congress solely with Democrats’ votes and Republicans have never voted for the subsidies that are expiring — arguing problems in the law must be addressed. Baldwin says congress can’t resolve the structural issues in the health care system between now and December 31st, when the tax credits for 22 million Americans expire.

“More than one in four farmers nationwide relies on the Affordable Care Act for (health insurance) coverage,” Baldwin said, “and the expiration of these tax credits will be just yet another blow.” Klobuchar says rural hospital officials are bracing for more uninsured patients who often require more expensive care because they’ve quit taking expensive prescription drugs and skip regular check-ups. “If people start dropping their health care because they simply can’t afford it, then they have uninsured people sadly showing up in emergency rooms,” Klobuchar said. Klobuchar and Baldwin made their comments during an online news conference.

South Dakota Senator John Thune, the top Republican in the U.S. Senate, has said Republicans are willing to discuss extending the tax credits — once more Democrats in the Senate join Republicans and vote to reopen the federal government.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Farmers are pondering the question of whether or not this is a good time to apply anhydrous ammonia to their fields after the harvest. Aaron Saeugling ISU Extension/Outreach Field Agronomist for Cass County says it’s a “difficult question to answer, with several variables,” but Saeugling says “I will say NO it is still too warm we need soils to cool a bit further to reduce the conversion to nitrate.  We want spoils that are trending downward in temperature the 4-inch soil temp fluctuates more in dry soils and with sunny days.  Some folks will justify this by that timing to get it all applied is challenging, while I do agree that getting it applied is a challenge just prepare your self to lose more nitrate than if you are to wait.” He urges crop producers to “Be safe!”

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• Drug Trafficking 5GM to 100KG Meth
• Intent to Manufacture/Deliver Fentanyl
• 2 counts of Drug Tax Stamp Violations
• Unauthorized Credit Card Use < $1,500
• Possession Marijuana 1st.

Shannon was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held. And, on October 29th, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 50-year-old David William Devall, of Griswold on the charge of Driving while license suspended, denied, revoked, or barred – OWI. Devall was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and later released on his own recognizance.

(Creston, Iowa) – A Union County woman was arrested recently for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense-Causing Bodily Injury. Creston Police say 29-year-old Crystal Whitney Jacobe, of Creston, was arrested at a residence in the 400 block of Livingston Ave. Jacobe was transported and processed at the Union County Jail and then transported to the Adams County Jail and held until seen by a judge, and later released on her own recognizance.

(Radio Iowa) – Hundreds of Iowa families will lose access to their childcare providers next week because of the government shutdown. The Head Start program at Community Action of Eastern Iowa runs out of funding on Saturday. C-E-O Daniel Sheridan says the five-year grant is expiring, but no federal approval can be made to renew it. Forty-five staff members will be laid off and some 300 children will lose access to childcare. Sheridan says families are in disbelief. He shared the story of a father who has two kids.

“Because of all the layoffs, he lost his job, and now he’s losing his childcare, and then also with the potential of losing SNAP,” Sheridan says. “You can see fear in people’s eyes. This is deeply, deeply distressing.” Families living in South Central counties will also be impacted by the cuts to Head Start. Lori Ferris, executive director of the Iowa Head Start Association, says these programs are important, especially for Iowans who are living in childcare deserts. “The goal is to break the cycle of poverty, and it really is a multi-generational program,” Ferris says. “So not only do we support the children, but we also empower the parents to better themselves.”

Head Start has been billed as the nation’s leading federally-funded early learning program, with the goal of promoting the school readiness of children ages three to five years.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Montgomery County are being asked to contribute to a case involving local control of carbon pipeline projects. During the Board’s meeting Tuesday morning in Red Oak, West Township resident Jan Norris asked them to approve the Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) request for funding for an Amicus brief in an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case.

Each of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors received a letter from ISAC asking for a donation. An amicus brief is a legal document submitted by a third party who is not directly involved in a lawsuit but has a strong interest in the outcome. Related legal terminology, “amicus curiae” translates to “friend of the court,” and the brief’s purpose is to provide the court with additional information, expertise, or arguments that can help inform its decision. Those briefs are often filed in cases of public importance and can support or oppose a party’s position by offering unique perspectives or legal analysis

Earlier this month, Shelby and Story County officials filed a petition in their case against Summit Carbon Solutions. Both counties seek to appeal the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling in June that upheld a lower court’s ruling barring counties from implementing ordinances regulating carbon sequestration projects–such as the proposed Midwest Express CO2 pipeline.

Norris says ISAC is asking each county to consider a $500 contribution or more, to cover the total cost of $25,000 to file the amicus brief and represent counties during the legal proceedings.

The Board acknowledged the matter is worthy of consideration and discussion, and it will be placed on their agenda for Wednesday, Nov. 5th.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa furbearer season opens Saturday, and the D-N-R furbearer biologist Vince Evelsizer says the trapping prospects look good. “Overall the furbearer populations around the state are in great condition. The only two species that are of concern would be muskrats and gray fox. Both have a declining population, or with muskrats, somewhat stable,” he says. Evelsizer says the wet start to the year helped fill up waterways, which benefits furbearers, especially beaver and muskrats. “Having some water out there on the landscape helps them all with litter rearing,” he says, “and then also gives them a place for the winter that doesn’t dry up. And so it just helps with them to do have a better year population wise.” Evelsizer says the fur prices are still in the low category for those who do take part.

“The species that are most popular these days in the current world typically are still raccoons, and to some extent otters, and bobcats have become fairly popular as well,” he says. Evelsizer says we’ve been holding around 15-thousand licensed trappers over the last several years. He says efforts to introduce young people to the sport have been successful. “We’ve partnered with the Iowa Trappers Association and the D-N-R’s Hunter Ed program and the D-N-R’s conservation officers. All have been great to work with and getting more beginner trapper events going, with the Iowa Trappers Association leading several of those beginner trapper events. And what’s neat with that is that we’re seeing quite a few youth and females and males attending those events.”

Evelsizer says the young trappers are getting into it for a lot of reasons. “It’s not just fur market driven, they’re doing it to learn the outdoor skills. They’re doing it to get a few nice tanned pelt, that sort of thing, so neat to see,” Evelsizer says.

You can check the Iowa D-N-R’s website to find out all the rules and regulations for the trapping season.

(Radio Iowa) – As Iowa trick-or-treaters hit the streets this weekend, parents are being reminded about a few of the real-life scares to beware of during the Halloween season. Janna Day, a nurse and education manager at the Iowa Poison Control Center, says kids will be eager to sink their teeth into their bags of loot, but parents need to give those sweet treats a close inspection first. “Make sure that the candy is in its original packaging, and usually we’re not seeing anything weird,” Day says. “Sometimes we hear about these stories where maybe candy is contaminated, but it’s generally not something that is seen.” Speaking of being seen, Day says Halloween masks can pose a visibility problem for kids, so make sure they can see clearly while in costume.

“We’re worried about pedestrian safety during Halloween,” Day says. “It’s getting dark outside, and lots of cars are driving around, and lots of really excited kids are out and about, so if we have a mask over their face, it might be hard for them to see those vehicles driving.” She suggests skipping masks completely and going with make-up or face paints instead, though test those out well ahead of time to ensure there’s no skin irritation or allergies. Also, glow sticks, flashlights and even L-E-D lights attached to their costumes can help make your little goblins more visible. Once they’re home, Day suggests parents pay special attention to the types of items in the trick-or-treat bags.

“If your child has an allergy to any type of candy, make sure you’re being mindful of that,” Day says. “Also remember that pets can have issues with candy, so chocolate could be potentially poisonous to your dogs or to your pets.” The Sioux City-based Iowa Poison Control Center is staffed around-the-clock and can be reached at 1-800-222-1222.