(7-p.m.: corrects name in 2nd graph to Tiffani Burks)

Several groups and individuals took the polar “Plunge for Landon” Sunday afternoon, at the Schildberg Recreation Area in Atlantic. Last Friday morning, members of the Atlantic Police Department took “Plunge,” to show support for 5 month old Landon Shaw from Tarkio, Missouri. Landon is battling cancer, and the Tarkio community came up with the “Plunge Challenge” as a way to show support and raise funds to help the family.

The first group gets ready to jump in.

At around 3:30-p.m. Sunday, Tiffani Burks from Anita was challenged by her employees at REM Iowa Community Services, to take the plunge. Burks will donate $5 for each of the employees who takes the plunge where she works. Amy Nelson from Griswold also took plunge, promised to donate $5 for each of the Griswold Fire Department members who take the plunge, and, Charlie and Lisa Mills, from Massena challenged their son Ted Mills and staff at the Cumberland Fire Department to take the challenge and raise funds for Landon.

Then it was time for members of the Cass County Sheriff’s Office to accept the challenge from the A-PD’s Devin Hogue. Taking the plunge Saturday was Deputy Josh McLaren, who issued his own challenge to the Ft. Dodge Police Department and a local radio station. McLaren said he would donate $10 for Landon for each group that completes the plunge.

Cass County Deputies McLaren, Shields and Quist get ready to take the plunge.

Deputy Tyler Shiels issued a similar challenge to the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office. Cass County Deputy Kyle Quist and his partner Vader took the plunge as well. He was challenged by the A-PD and the Nodaway County, MO. K-9 Dept. to take the challenge. Quist in-turn issued a challenge to Guthrie County K-9 officer Kent Gries, Cass County Deputy Ryan Johnson, and IA DOT Officer Brian Rink.

Once the soggy trio of McLaren, Shiels and Quist emerged from the lake, Cass County E-911 Director Rob Koppert and 9-1-1 Dispatcher Shawn Page ran into the lake. Koppert was challenged to take the plunge by Montgomery County 9-1-1. He pledged $10 and is issued a challenge to Pottawattamie County Communications and their Director Bob Anderson, Tom Ling and the Mills County 9-1-1 staff. Page challenged Atlantic Boy Scout Troop 54 and Pack 53.

Rob Koppert & Shawn Page

The Atlantic Fire Dept. was set to take the plunge at the fire station, at 5-p.m.