A record Mega Millions jackpot might be on the way for Tuesday’s drawing after no ticket matched all the winning numbers in Friday’s estimated $1.25 billion dollar jackpot. The next drawing is now being estimated at $1.55 billion grand prize, which would top the previous record prize of $1.53 billion that was won in South Carolina in 2018.

Friday’s wining numbers were 11-30-45-52-56 with a Mega Ball of 20. Although no one hit the jackpot, lottery officials say two tickets won $2 million and seven others won $1 million by matching the first five numbers.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce report “AtlanticFest,” presented by First Whitney Bank & Trust, will be held Saturday, August 12th, rain or shine. AtlanticFest is an annual festival that serves as a fundraiser for the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. Chamber Executive Director Bailey Smith says  “AtlanticFest is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Chamber. Our sponsors help cover a lot of the costs of the event, allowing us to raise funds through registration fees, pop stand sales and the 50/50 raffle. We use the funds from AtlanticFest to continue to grow community events while also supporting business-based programs. We love this partnership with First Whitney Bank and the experience AtlanticFest offers the community. It also gives us the chance to support local businesses and civic organizations”

Downtown Atlantic will be filled with fun activities for the whole family to enjoy. Come early and start the day with a pancake breakfast or a run/walk in the Annual Road Race with chip timing. There will be crafters from all over Southwest Iowa, as well as some of the best food vendors to help satisfy any appetite. Kids can enjoy bounce houses and games throughout City Park. The 25th Annual Car Show and 9th Annual Motorcycle Show will be taking place once again this year. And with free entertainment throughout the day, you can’t go wrong.

A bags tournament has been added to the fun this year and will be held in City Park. Enter a team of two for $50 and try your chance to win $500, $300 or $200 guaranteed. Registration begins at 10 AM at the City Park Shelter.

Day-of registrations are accepted for events including: car show, motorcycle show, road race and bags tournament. Maps of the event, Atlantic merchandise and more will be available at the Chamber booth in City Park. To learn more about AtlanticFest, visit www.atlanticiowa.com.

The Chamber thanks their AtlanticFest partners for their support: First Whitney Bank & Trust, A.M. Cohron & Son, Atlantic Ag & Auto- Carquest, Atlantic Municipal Utilities, Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling, Atlantic Home Realty, Armour Insurance, Brocker, Karns & Karns, Brown’s Shoe Fit, Camblin Plumbing & Heating, Downtowner, Karl Chevy, McAtee Tire, Nishna Valley Family YMCA, Roland Funeral Home, Rolling Hills Bank, Rush, CPA & Associates, Salute Gymnastics and Wiota Steakhouse.

(August 4, 2023: Atlantic, IA) – Officials with SHIFT ATL report that their Summer Soiree event on July 15th helped raise over $20,000 for the nonprofit organization. Funds raised from this year’s event will be poured directly back into SHIFT ATL’s latest venture, Sunnyside Range, to make facility and programming upgrades to keep a vital community attraction available for years to come.

SHIFT ATL Board Member Jessie Shiels said “We cannot say THANK YOU enough to all of our sponsors, vendors and community members that helped make this event a huge success for our organization. Without the community support and excitement for what we are working so hard to create in Atlantic, SHIFT ATL would not exist. We are grateful to continue carrying out our mission and ensuring Atlantic is a place everyone wants to live, play and work for years to come.”

SHIFT ATL 2023 Summer Soiree

Summer Soirée 2023 is made possible through support of Executive sponsors such as Cass Health, TS Bank, Landus, Camblin Mechanical, AM Cohron and Son, Armour Insurance, Rigid Edge Exteriors, Lindeman Tractor, Elvis Hass State Farm, and Green Acres Lawn and Landscaping. And, Advocate sponsors, include Rolling Hills Bank and Trust, Megan Roberts State Farm, Principal Financial (Mark Smith and Erin Freund), Atlantic Rotary and Venteicher Auctioneering, with Supporting sponsors Henningsen Construction, Anita Supply Center, Rush CPA and Associates, Iowa Corn, and Casey’s. Beverage sponsor Atlantic Bottling and Floral sponsor Farm House and Flowers.

To learn more about each project, to donate or to get involved, contact shiftatlantic@gmail.com, visit the website
shiftatl.org or Facebook page, @shiftatl.

(Radio Iowa) – With kids headed back to school in a few weeks, an expert says now would be the ideal time for parents to start weaning them off of social media so they’ll be able to better focus on their studies. Gerta Bardhoshi, a professor of counselor education at the University of Iowa, says don’t try and force them to quit everything cold turkey, but do offer suggestions on how they can start breaking what may be a slight addiction to their electronic devices.

How much is too much social media? Teenagers themselves may know they may have a problem. A recent survey found one-third of teens say they are online “constantly,” while another third said they spend “too much time” on social media.

Bardhoshi is director of research and training at the U-I’s Scanlan Center for School Mental Health. She says parents should be somewhat lenient and not try to push their child into giving up all social media, at least not all at once.

Kids will model their parents’ behavior and Bardhoshi says that includes when moms and dads set good examples, and not-so-good examples.

Establishing healthy boundaries around phone and social media use, Bardhoshi says, can benefit the entire family.

Scanlan Center link: https://scsmh.education.uiowa.edu/