The Atlantic Police Department reports one arrest and one recent accident. Officials say 34-year old Kevin Jensen, of Atlantic, was arrested Friday on a warrant for Violation of his probation. Jensen was booked into the Cass County Jail.

And, an accident at around 3:40-p.m. Friday at 8th and Plum Streets caused $8,000 damage, but no one was seriously injured. Officials say vehicles driven by Nadine Gladwin, of Des Moines, and Devon Bretey, of Atlantic, collided when Gladwin failed to obey a stop or yield sign as she was headed east on 8th Street, and Bretey was traveling north on Plum. Gladwin’s car hit the Bretey vehicle on the left side. Gladwin complained of minor injuries, but declined medical assistance.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest Sunday (3/16) of 23-year-old Scott Nathaniel Belew of Audubon on a Possession of Controlled Substance, Marijuana charge.  Belew was arrested at approximately 7:00pm Sunday after a traffic stop on Davenport Street in Audubon.

Belew was transported to the Audubon County Jail and later posted bond and was released.  He is set to appear in court on March 20th.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The Woodbury County Board chairman is defending more than $180,000 in county funding for the nonprofit organization he manages.  George Boykin told the Sioux City Journal that it would not be fair for Sanford Community Center to suffer because he’s on the county board.  Boykin is the center’s executive director. It operates after-school and summer programs for at-risk young people, as well as coordinates numerous outreach efforts.

Boykin says has never had a say in funding that goes to the center and abstains from funding discussions on it. James Van Bruggen, of the Taxpayers Research Council, says it seems to him that the center is “getting favoritism, because they are getting six figures of money.”

With spring set to officially arrive later this week, many people across the state are in the mood to do some cleaning, and with a few simple tips, the process doesn’t need to be so daunting. According to professional organizer Amelia Hatcher, for most people, it’s not realistic to maintain a home in perfect order each day, but they can focus on clearing out the clutter.

“Clutter is anything that causes frustration, anxiety or chaos in your life,” as she defined it. “It completely drains you of your energy. It could be the pile of paper on your desk. It could be the pile of laundry. It could be your dumping ground like your kitchen table, and it just completely causes stress.” “Amelia the Clutter Queen” also recommends only cleaning and organizing one area at a time, so as not to become overwhelmed.

Hatcher was drawn into the clutter-fighting line about five years ago when she began helping family and friends. She said that for other caregivers, getting rid of the clutter not only helps get rid of chaos, but also helps improve safety of mobility.

“I’ve had several situations where people have fallen, broken a hip, and it’s actually not safe in the home,” she recalled. “So it’s my goal to go in and change things around to where the home is more accessible to things like walkers, possibly a wheelchair.”

Hatcher said that, among other points to look at, old medications should be properly disposed of, and no-longer-needed documents with personal information should be shredded to protect against identity theft.

More information is at AmeliaTheClutterQueen.com/a>.

(Iowa News Service)