Atlantic Parks and Recreation Dept. Director Roger Herring reports the Atlantic Swimming Pool, which has been open since May 24th, has been very, very busy.  He says attendance is way up, with anywhere from 75-to 100 people using the pool each day since it opened. Herring told the Parks and Rec Board Monday evening that there’ve been no equipment problems, the facility was used for two private parties, and there’s been one special theme day, with another, family-friendly, kid-focused event in the works for July 4th.

He says for example, there’ll be a coin toss for a number of age groups, where kids jump in to retrieve coins they can keep, and a gold fish chase. There will also be trinkets from the Oriental Trading Company given away. More details about the events planned for July 4th will be released as the date approaches. Speaking of swimming, Herring reports 60 students are registered for the Swim Team, a number of whom are also registered in the Nishna Valley YMCA program. Herring says the team is doing well in competition. The team has competed two away events thus far, and placed second at both events.

In other business, Roger Herring said grading on the Senior Activity area site at Sunnyside Park has been delayed due to the weather, but work will begin as soon as possible. And, he says the number of people using the walking trails at the Schildberg Recreation Area have continued to grow. Herring said counters keeping track of users for the purpose of obtaining a Vision Iowa grant, have indicated 100-people per day are taking advantage of the outdoor walking paths to get their exercise and fresh air.

He says the counters have been taking their numerical survey for 40-days. So far, on the north side, nearly 4,000 “clicks” have been recorded. A click on the counter represents a person who is observed walking the longest portion of the trail. The inside trail is getting nearly as much use.

A two-vehicle collision in Red Oak Monday afternoon resulted in one of the vehicle ending up in a 10-foot deep hole, and both drivers being taken to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital. Red Oak Police says officers responded to the crash at the corner of east Reed and north 3rd Streets, at around 4:50-p.m.  When officers arrived, a 2003 Ford Ranger pickup was found to be in a hole where an abandoned building used to be. The front end of the pickup was in the dirt, while the rear was resting on rocks and cement.  The other vehicle, a 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser, came to a stop in the middle of the intersection.

An investigation revealed the pickup, driven by 83-year old Donovan Johnson, of Red Oak, had stopped at the intersection on north 3rd Street and left the sign too soon. The truck was struck by the PT Cruiser, driven by 28-year old Ronald Dolph, of Red Oak, as he was headed east on east Reed Street. After the collision, Johnson stopped on the road as if he was going to park, but his vehicle then took off and ended up in the hole, where it became stuck.  It’s believed Johnson mistakenly stepped on the gas instead of the brake.

Damage from the accident amounted to $9,200. No citations were issued.

An investigation into an explosion that injured six people March 27th in Pottawattamie County has resulted in a Council Bluffs man being cited for Possessing an Incendiary Device. The Omaha World-Herald, citing court records, reports 50-year old Erik Moore was cited for the incident that injured six people attending a Boy Scouts meeting at a home in Council Bluffs.  Moore is scheduled to make his initial appearance in court, on Wednesday.

Fire Chief Justin James told the paper the scouts and fathers at the meeting had been conducting an experiment that involved gunpowder and powdered coffee creamer, when something sparked an explosion.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

STATE/REGION  – Thousands of people are without power this morning as storms pummel the Midwest. 1 fatality 19 injuries reported in Nebraska as the result of tornadoes.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Six teams competed in dragon boat races in the Cedar River in Waterloo as part of an annual event. The 20-person teams competed in the Sunday races, which were part of My Waterloo Days events. Rowers struggled to work together as they paddled the 40-foot boats with a dragon’s head and spiky tail.

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — A San Diego man charged with enticing a minor while posing as an actor from the “Twilight” movie series has pleaded not guilty. Thirty-three-year-old David LaVera entered a written plea of not guilty Monday. LaVera was arrested June 10 and charged with enticing a minor, carrying weapons and failure to have a valid driver’s license. A criminal complaint says he told a 14-year-old girl from Baxter he was an actor from the movie series. He touched her inappropriately and took her to his vehicle.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Relatives say an Iowa City man who drowned over the weekend at Coralville Lake was a fun-loving man dedicated to his family and young son. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that 36-year-old Somphaeng Syvixay drowned Saturday while swimming in Coralville Lake. His cousin, Connie Phommaly, says he was an outgoing, happy man who was “big on family.” He had a 2-year-old son.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police used ground radar to search the basement of a Des Moines house in connection with a woman who went missing more than 50 years ago. Officers were checking the south-side home Monday after