Republican candidate for Iowa’s 3rd District Congressional seat, Monte Shaw, stopped by the KJAN Studios Friday afternoon, to make a final push for your vote during the June 3rd Primary election. Shaw is competing against five other Republicans for the seat being vacated by Republican Tom Latham, who decided not to run for re-election.

The Republican race for Latham’s seat hasn’t been too contentious, but Shaw says Democrat Staci Appel attacked him on religious grounds during a recent debate. He says he was defending the 1st Amendment to the Constitution, saying “The federal government should not be allowed to force religious institutions to provide services at their own expense, that run counter to their religious tenets.” Shaw says “Staci Appel came out and called that extremist rhetoric.” He says “Apparently she thinks it’s fine for the federal government to dictate what religious institutions do with their money, even if it violates their religious tenet.”

Shaw says as for the Republicans, in order for a candidate to emerge as a clear-cut winner in the Primary and move on to the election in November, they will have to show they can stand-up to scrutiny from the Democrats and what – quote — “The liberal attack machine out of D-C is going to through at us.” He says he can stand-up to that scrutiny, and he doesn’t have the baggage that makes for a “Target rich environment.”

Shaw says he has a “track record of getting things done,” and can bring a voice of agriculture to the U-S House. The 41-year old Shaw is a native of Shenandoah and has been the executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association since 2005. His Republican opponents heading into the June 3rd Primary include Robert Cramer, Joe Grandanette, Matt Schult, David Young and Brad Zaun.

The Atlantic Police Department reports a Lewis man was arrested Wednesday. 22-year old Nicholas Anderson was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault by Strangulation. That same day, 28-year old Christopher Castillo, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault. Both men were booked into the Cass County Jail.

And, the P-D says no injuries were reported following an accident Wednesday afternoon near the intersection of 7th and Olive Streets. Officials vehicles driven by Scott Lockard and Chance Young, both of Atlantic, were traveling west on 7th Street at around 2-p.m., when Lockard slowed for traffic in front of him. Young was unable to stop in-time. His vehicle rear-ended Lockard’s, causing a total of $600 damage.

Young was issued warnings for No Proof of Insurance and Failure to Stop in An Assured Clear Distance.

(12:40-p.m. News)

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports two men were arrested this (Friday) morning on drug-related charges in Malvern. 18-year old Ryan Nicholas Griener, of Silver City, and 19-year old Darryk James Leu, of Malvern, were arrested at around 12:30-a.m. in the vicinity of 15th and Main Streets, in Malvern.

Both men were charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance. Their bonds were set at $1,000 each.

The Danish Villages of Elk Horn and Kimballton are celebrating the 34th annual Tivoli Fest this weekend. The theme this year is “Denmark on the Prairie, Let the Festivities Begin.” Tivoli Fest begins at 8-am Saturday, with the M & M 5k Fun Run. Registration is held at the Danish Windmill in Elk Horn. The race ends at the Little Mermaid Fountain in Kimballton.

Lisa Riggs from the Danish Windmill says there is something new this year at Tivoli. “We are hosting the Iowa Craft beer tent which is a large trailer that boasts and promotes the new phenomenon Iowa Craft beer breweries in Iowa and they also feature Carlsberg beer from Denmark. And that’s going to be at the Elk Horn Fire Station. That opens at 11am on Saturday until midnight.”

The beer tent is a fundraiser for the Elk Horn Fire Department and will be open again on Sunday. Riggs says the children can participate in a new activity as well. (“The Museum of Danish America is having the ringridning bicycle competition. It’s actually used to be in Denmark it is on horse with spears and they go at a fast pace to try to get the spear in a ring and they will do that on bicycles this year.”

The Elk Horn Library is another spot for children as a Life-Size Legoland Game will be set up from noon to 3pm Saturday. All the Danish museums in Elk Horn and Kimballton will be open during the festival and the local restaurants will be serving traditional Danish treats all weekend. The Elk Horn City Park will host the Firemen competition from 2 to 5pm Saturday as well as a volleyball tournament.

Activities for Saturday night include live music, Tivoli Feud and fireworks after dark. On Sunday, Tivoli Fest embarks with the 6th annual Tour De Tivoli. Riggs says “You start out at the Windmill registration at 8am and you go out to Prairie Rose and around through Kimballton. It is a beautiful ride. With the registration, you get a t-shirt, refreshments and an ebleskiver meal goes with the price of admission.”

The Danish festival will wrap up on Sunday at the Veteran’s Memorial Park on Main Street with Run for the Fall and Walk of Honor and Five Star Ceremony at 2-pm. The American Legion Post 322 and the Elk Horn Chapter will present a patriotic ceremony with live music. The Walk of Honor from Little Mermaid Trail from Union Street to the Museum of Danish America will contain pictures of local veterans and their military biographies. The full list of the 2014 Tivoli Fest event can be found online at http://www.danishwindmill.com/.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)