Firefighters from Marne and Atlantic were called to the scene of what was initially reported to have been a structure fire in rural northwestern Cass County this morning. According to dispatch reports, there was a blaze was in a barn on the Dale Larsen property at 57384 Boston Road. However an Iowa State Patrol Trooper who was the first to arrive on the scene shortly after the call was dispatched at 6:40-a.m, indicated it was merely a large round bale of hay that was smoldering, and there was no structure fire.

The Atlantic Fire Department said later, that three large, round hay bales were smoldering inside a hay barn on the property. The owner used a forklift to move the bales to his pasture so they could be extinguished. The cause of the incident appears to have been the result of spontaneus combustion. No injuries were reported.

An Atlantic woman was one of five people arrested on drug charges Wednesday, in Red Oak. According to Red Oak Police, 19-year old Jessica Moorehead, of Atlantic, was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, following an investigation into a separate incident. Officials say Red Oak Police officers arrived at 1660 East Summit Street, and upon arrival, smelled a strong odor of marijuana allegedly coming from an apartment. 

A search warrant led to the arrests of Moorehead and 19-year-old Timothy Jennings, of Red Oak, who faces Possession of a Controlled substance/Marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia charges. 41-year old Kevin Eugene Jennings, of Red Oak, was also charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 37-year old Anthony Deon Gregory, of Red Oak, along with 19-year old Timothy Gene Humphrey, of Omaha, were charged with Trespassing.

There’s been a change in ownership at Medivac Ambulance Service. David Miller and his wife Donita have owned the company based in Harlan, since 1979. Miller spoke about the change and trends that they’ve seen over the past year before the Atlantic City Council, during their meeting Wednesday night. He said their over-all call volume has pretty much stayed the same over the past year as the primary paramedic/advanced life-support provider. They average about 1,200 ambulance calls per year. Miller says over the past year, they have increased their staff somewhat. He says two, full-time paramedics have moved from Nebraska into the community of Atlantic and purchased real estate. One of the paramedics has more than 20-years of experience. 

Miller says he celebrated his 40^th year in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) this year, and, while he’s enjoyed his career, “All goods things must come to and end.” With that having been said, Miller introduced the new owners of Medivac, Bob and Nella Seivert, of Harlan. He said the couple has been with the company for 28-years individually, and nothing will change as far as how things operate. 

Bob Sievert said he and his wife moved to the area in 1984, from northwest Iowa. He said they’ve watched Medivac and the EMS field grow over the years. Nell Seivert is an instructor in several areas for the American Heart Association. Bob Sievert serves as the Emergency Management Coordinator for Shelby County, a position he will retain. Nell will become the Operations Manager for the both the Harlan and Atlantic Medivac service. 

Seivert says LaVonne Schroeter, Manager of the Atlantic Medivac division, will also continue in her position with the company. Bob Seivert says he “Looks forward to a long and productive relationship,” with the City, and will continue Miller’s open-door policy of communication.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded $8.3 million in contracts to restore the navigation channel along a nearly 120-mile stretch of the Missouri River in Iowa and Nebraska affected by last summer’s historic flooding. The corps says the project is to repair a 300-foot-wide by 9-foot-deep channel between Sioux City, Iowa, and Rulo, Nebraska. Dikes and other rock foundations are used to create the channel and prevent erosion along the bank. Many were damaged by the high floodwaters. The repairs will take about 250,000 tons of rock and will involve cranes operating from barges. The project is in two sections — from Sioux City to Fort Calhoun, Nebraska and from Fort Calhoun to Rulo. Work is to begin within the week and be completed by September 2014.