A recent move by the Iowa Department of Transportation to close the rest areas along Interstate 80 near Waukee has been a boon for the City of Atlantic. The rest areas officially closed April 1st. Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director Roger Herring said Councilman Dana Halder stopped by the rest area around the time they were set to close, and inquired about what the plans were for the heavy duty park benches. He learned from the DOT’s Rest Area Administrator, that the plan was to put those items up for auction for sale to municipalities. Halder and Herring worked with the Administrator to purchase several of the benches and trash receptacles before they went to auction.

A Power Point image of the cement picnic tables and receptacles being loaded onto a flatbed trailer heading for Atlantic.

The tables and receptacles are made entirely out of cement. The tables weigh 500-pounds each, while the trash containers are about 900-pounds. All were made in Denison when they were new, at Petersen Manufacturing and concrete products. The purchase price was $80 a piece for 14 concrete tables, while nine trash receptacles cost $40 each. The trash containers would normally cost $300-to $400 new. The picnic tables would have cost close to $700 new.

Herring and Mayor Dave Jones spoke with Cass County Engineer Charles Marker about using the County’s flatbed truck and trailer to haul each piece, with the City reimbursing the County for labor and fuel to help load and haul the pieces to Atlantic. The Atlantic Street Department brought in a dump truck to haul away seven large boulders from the rest area as well for placement near the entrance to the Schildberg Recreation Area. The boulders were made available at no cost to the City.

Most of the tables will be dispersed at the Schildberg Rec Area, while others will be located near the Sunnyside Pool in the play area between the softball field and the baby pool area. The Parks Board was pleasantly surprised by the news during their meeting Monday night.

An incident in Pottawattamie County late Monday morning resulted in the arrest of an Underwood man on a trio of charges and local schools being placed on lockdown. Sheriff Jeff Danker reports at around 11:23-a.m., deputies were dispatched to the Jack Link’s plant in Underwood, in reference to an employee making threats toward another employee. The reporting party indicated that 52-year old David A. Roth had allegedly threatened to return to the Jack Link’s facility and shoot another employee.
At approximately 12:15-p.m. Roth was located at an apartment in Underwood, and taken into custody without incident. He was brought to the Pottawattamie County Jail and charged with Harassment in the 1st Degree; Possession of Controlled Substance/Marijuana; and, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
During the incident, Underwood Schools were placed in “lock-in” status, which allows for classes and interior movement to continue as normal. There are no outside activities and main doors are monitored by administration.

Two people were arrested recently, in Mills County, and one accident was reported. Sheriff’s officials say 32-year old Tristan Aaron Bonilla, of Glenwood, was arrested Saturday night for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000. And last Thursday, 54-year old Kathy Ann Johnson-Hart, of Pacific Junction, was arrested on a warrant for being a Fugitive from Justice. Her bond was set at $2,000.

And, no injuries were reported following an accident Saturday afternoon near 195th and Hilman Road, in Mills County. Sheriff’s officials say a 2007 Nissan driven by Gale Clark, of Red Oak, was traveling west when the vehicle began to hydroplane on the road at around 2:25-p.m. As the vehicle spun 180-degrees and traveled in reverse, the driver’s side hit a steel guard fence on the north side of the road. The vehicle then went across the roadway and came to a rest in the median, facing west.

An Atlantic woman was arrested Sunday on a Cass County warrant for Operating a Vehicle without the Owner’s Consent. 18-year old Selena Hansen was booked into the Cass County Jail.

Two people from Pottawattamie County were arrested today (Monday), in Cass County. The Sheriff’s Office reports 19-year old’s Russell Logan Barker and Emily Shelby Green, both of Council Bluffs, were arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine/1st offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Green also faces a charge of Possession of Marijuana/1st Offense. Both individuals were taken to the Cass County Jail. Barker later released on his own recognizance, while Green remains held on a Pottawattamie County warrant.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Department of Transportation says it plans to spend a record $700 million on construction on state and interstate highway projects this year. The Des Moines Register reports the department spent $656 million on road projects in 2014. A 10-cent-per-gallon tax gasoline tax increase, which took effect March 1, will provide about $200 million annually to cities and counties across the state. There are statewide plans to fill potholes, repair aging bridges and install new concrete and asphalt pavement.

Des Moines Public Works Director Jonathan Gano estimates the city’s budget will receive an additional $3.7 million annually because of the tax increase. Officials say that up to 500 work zones will be set up statewide from now until the end of the road construction season in November.

The Iowa District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration has named the City of Manning as the recipient of its 2015 Iowa SBA Small Business Community of the Year. This is the inaugural year for the award, which highlights community efforts to support small business. Communities (defined as a city, town, county, regional economic development or planning district) were invited to submit nominations to the SBA’s Iowa District Office showcasing their efforts to support small businesses. Submissions were judged on the following criteria:

• Key programs and incentives implemented to attract and retain small businesses.

• Leveraging of community resources with other federal, state, county and local programs to benefit the small business community.

• Examples of how the community directly contributed to the success of a local small business.

Manning, a community with a population of about 1,500 in Carroll County, was selected for demonstrating an ideal collaborative environment for small business success, utilizing revolving loan funds, TIF financing, Main Street program, Iowa Challenge Grants, tax abatement policies, funding from local utilities, Community Block Grant Programs and local community foundations.

Manning’s leveraging of federal, state and local government, higher education and community resources was also recognized for helping the community create an ideal small business culture. The city also identified cultural, health care and education initiatives as critical resources for small business success.

Jayne Armstrong, district director of the SBA’s Iowa District Office, says “The SBA is honored to recognize Manning as the inaugural winner of the SBA Iowa Small Business Community of the Year. The city has leveraged a large number of programs and partners to create an ideal environment for small business.”

The award will be presented to Manning at the Iowa Smart Conference in Des Moines on May 7th. The SBA also plans to re-present the award at a special ceremony in Manning at a later date this spring. Manning was selected among 11 nominations from small towns, larger cities and regional economic corridors from throughout the state.