Firefighters in Atlantic kept busy over the weekend putting out fires on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Crews were called to 1006 Maple Street just before 12:30-p.m. Sunday.Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNees told KJAN News the home owner left for a brief time and returned to find smoke inside, and flames coming from the rear of the house. The structure sustained damage from flames in a bedroom, and substantial smoke damage elsewhere. McNees said it appeared an overheated pump for a fish aquarium was to blame. He said the man and his daughter were not injured, but some pets didn’t make it out alive. Firefighters saved three cats, but some birds were lost to the fire. McNees said the house probably would have been lost, had the home owner not come back when he did. He says a few minutes later, the flames would have spread even further, and they “Would’ve had a real problem.”

And, an electrical problem was apparently the blame for a vehicle fire south of Atlantic Saturday afternoon. Crews responded to a report of a fully engulfed vehicle fire on Highway Six, about a mile south of 29^th Street, at 4:45-p.m. When they arrived, firefighters observed an SUV on fire, and heavy black smoke drifting across the road, which caused traffic to come to a complete stop. A woman and her daughter escaped the vehicle without injury. Deputies with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office assisted with traffic control at the scene.

President Barack Obama travels to Council Bluffs today for a grassroots campaign event at Bayliss Park. The stop kicks-off his three-day bus tour of Iowa. It will be the Democrat’s fifth trip to Iowa this year. His other stop today includes a visit to Boone. The rally in Council Bluffs is expected to begin at around 11:25-a.m.  Tickets are required in order for you to attend. The gates to the park will open at 9:15 a.m.

Meanwhile, the new Republican vice presidential contender, Paul Ryan, will meet with voters at the Iowa State Fair, in Des Moines.  He’s scheduled to speak at the Des Moines Register’s Soapbox at 1:00-p.m. Since Mitt Romney named Ryan as his running mate on Saturday, the Obama campaign has been attacking Ryan’s plans to transform Medicare into a voucher system and to re-shape the nation’s tax system.

The Audubon City Council is slated to vote tonight on setting August 27th as the date for a public hearing, with regard to the issuance of $1.75-million in bonds. The move will follow action on a Resolution to declare the City’s official intent to issue debt to reimburse the City for certain original expenditures paid, in connection with specified projects. That includes pool repairs, the airport, water plant & towers/ and refunding Streetscape bonds. In related action, the Council is expected to authorize the mayor to sign a letter of engagement with the Ahlers Law Firm, pertaining to the Bond proceedings.

In other business, the Council will hold a public hearing this evening, with regard to the selling of property at 118 East Division Street, in Audubon. They’ll also hold the second on final reading of an ordinance setting the sewer rates. During their July 9th meeting, the Council voted to draft an Ordinance increasing the rates by 15-percent. They’ll also hold the first reading of an ordinance creating a No Parking zone on a portion of the 700 block of North Division Street, among other business. The meeting begins at 7-p.m., in the Aububon City Hall.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

The Clarinda Police Department reports one arrest took place this weekend, and there were two reported incidents of vandalism. Police Chief Keith Brothers said Sunday, that on Saturday, August 11^th, two residents on Tarkio Street, reported that unknown persons had vandalized their mailboxes sometime during the night. The damage was estimated at $100 altogether

On Sunday, August 12^th, Clarinda Police responded to a report of a fight in progress at 309 E. Garfield Street.  When officers arrived at around 1:20-a.m., they learned that two males had been involved in an altercation at the residence. Officers were able to restore order and no arrests were made.

And, on Friday, August 10^th, officers responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at 315 E. Logan Street. When they arrived, a 41- year old female who resides at the residence alleged that she had been assaulted by 36-year old William Ray Phillips, of Clarinda.  Phillips was arrested on suspicion of simple misdemeanor domestic abuse assault. He was taken to the Page County Jail and held without bond, pending an appearance before a Page County Magistrate. The female victim did not sustain any injuries as a result of the assault and did not require medical attention.