A book is being released today (Monday) detailing the long history of a long road, U-S Highway 20, which cuts across Iowa and the nation. Author Michael Till grew up along the historic roadway in the northeast Iowa town of Independence, where it was Main Street, and says he always found Highway 20 fascinating.  “I knew as a small child that it went from coast to coast, from Boston to Newport, Oregon,” Till says, “but I hadn’t really given it a great deal of thought in terms of traveling it until I got a bit older.”

The road was completed 88 years ago and runs across 301 miles of Iowa, from Sioux City to Dubuque. As Till began exploring the many miles of highway, he started collecting postcards that featured landmarks along the route. “Now I have a collection of over 3,000 postcards going all the way from Boston to Newport,” he says. “Highway 20 is 3,365 miles long so that would come to approximately one postcard every mile.”

His latest book is tailored for the Iowa market as it’s called “Along Iowa’s Historic Highway 20,” though he’s also written books about Highway 20 in Massachusetts, New York and Ohio. Till will make stops in several Iowa cities on his book tour starting December 1st, including in: Waterloo, Independence, Webster City, Ackley and Williams. The book can be ordered through Arcadia Publishing, Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

(Radio Iowa)

Two Creston residents were arrested Friday on separate charges. The Creston P-D says 15-year old Mauricio Andres Trejos Castaneda was referred to Juvenile Authorities, after he was allegedly found to be in possession of marijuana. The teen was then released to his step-father. And, 20-year old Patrick Riley Liams was arrested at around 10:15-p.m., for Public Intoxication. He was later released from the Union County Jail on his own recognizance.

The Creston P-D is also investigating three reports of theft. Last Thursday, a Creston man reported his wallet was stolen, and his credit cards were used for an unknown amount. The loss was estimated at $30. On Friday, a Creston man reported his 2001 MCKD Mac-Lander Trailer was stolen sometime between Oct. 14th and Nov. 14th. The loss was estimated at $2,500.

And on Sunday, a Creston woman reported to police someone entered her residence sometime between 1:20-p.m. and 7-p.m. on that date. She was missing a Google laptop computer, Nexus 7 tablet, and $100 cash. The loss was estimated at $650.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A Nebraska hospital says an Ebola patient being treated in its biocontainment unit has died. Nebraska Medical Center said in a news release Monday that Dr. Martin Salia died as a result of the disease.

Salia contracted Ebola while working as a surgeon in Sierra Leone. He arrived Saturday to be treated at the Omaha hospital, where two other Ebola patients have been successfully treated.

Ebola has killed more than 5,000 people in West Africa. Salia was a citizen of Sierra Leone.

The Atlantic Police Department’s Reserves are once again sponsoring a “Family Dream Christmas.” On December 20th, 2014 the Atlantic Police Reserves will be sponsoring the 7th annual Family Dream Christmas program. The program is for Cass County Residents only. During the program, we will furnish the officers and transportation to take the selected families shopping here within Atlantic. Families will be taken shopping in Atlantic to purchase items that they are in need of as well as to purchase gifts for the children from their parents, and for the parents from the children.

A-PD photo

On December 21st, 2014 the Atlantic Police Department will be holding the 14th annual Shop with a Cop Program. This program is for children of Cass County. During the program, officers will take children shopping in our local Wal-Mart store. Children will be assisted in finding items that they are in need of such as; coats, hats, gloves, boots, as well as other clothing. Children will also be able to pick out some items that may be on their wish list for the year.

The Police Reserves will be accepting cash donations to help support these two programs from now through the 17th of December. Donations can be dropped off at the Atlantic Police Department. Officials are asking for primarily cash donations this year.

Applications for families wishing to participate in the Family Dreams Christmas Program can be picked up at the Atlantic Police Department. Applications can be picked up starting November 13th and must be turned back in by December 10th by 4:00 PM to be considered. After all applications have been received, they will be reviewed and the chosen families will be contacted. There is no set limit on the number of families chosen; it will correspond to the amount of donations received. The Reserves will try to help as many families as possible.

The Atlantic Police and Reserve Departments would like to thank everyone in the past that has helped and would also like to thank those of whom are anticipating on helping with our wonderful programs. For questions or inquiries call the Atlantic Police Department at (712) 243-3512.

Facts
***In 2013, the Family Dreams program sponsored 10 full families***
***Additionally helped 2 other families with toys and assistance***
***In 2013 Shop with a Cop sponsored 25 children***
***Spent just over $12,000 on the two programs, all which was Donated by the public and local businesses***