A 2011 “Scrooge” candidate in Atlantic got a big boost in their votes Wednesday, and the Atlantic Food Pantry received a healthy donation of non-perishable food items, thanks to the family of Trevor Frederickson. The family visited their favorite “scrooge” candidate, Janet Cappel Wednesday evening, and dropped off 329 items for the food pantry. 

Frederickson Family donation for Atlantic Food Pantry

Scrooge candidates are raising funds and non-perishable items for the Atlantic Food Pantry through December 2^nd. The Scrooge who raises the most will get to serve as the “Grand Marshal” in the Lighted Christmas Parade on December 3rd, in downtown Atlantic.

Candidates for the 2011 “Scrooge” contest include: Aaron Siggins, with the Atlantic Hy-Vee store; Janet Cappel, from Cappel’s Ace Hardware; Nancy Fredrickson, with Geis Perry Jewelry; Brad Peerbolte, with Peerbolte Chiropractic; and, Karen Nelson, from the Handbag Ranch.

Each candidate will accept donations at their respective businesses. Many have special promotions in the works. One dollar or one non-perishable item equals a vote for the Scrooge candidate.

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office this week, reported about 20 head of hogs were killed during a tractor-trailer rollover last Saturday evening (Nov. 12^th), near the intersection of Highway 25 and White Pole Road (Hwy. 6).  The accident happened at around 6-p.m., when a Freightliner semi registered to Christensen Farms, of Sleepy Eye, MN, went out of control and rolled onto its passenger side. The driver of the truck, Phillip Osborn, of Fairmont, MN, was not injured. 

Officials say the accident happened when Osborn reached for a piece of pizza. As he did so, the truck went off the road onto the unfinished shoulder. The wheels on the passenger side sunk nearly a foot into the shoulder. When Osborn attempted to get the vehicle back onto the paved road, the semi swerved back across both lanes of pavement and rolled onto the highway, sliding to a stop on its side, and blocking both lanes of traffic. 

Twenty hogs died in the crash, while the rest were deemed unsuitable for market. Damage to the Freightliner was estimated at $100,000. Osborn was cited for failure to maintain control of his vehicle.

A report in the Guthrie Center Times says a fire in a pickup truck last Friday morning (Nov. 11^th) in Panora was caused by a mobile meth lab mishap. Police in Panora told the paper the Panora Fire Department was called at 11:30-a.m. to a vehicle fire at the Troy Downing residence. An investigation determined the 1999 Dodge Ram pickup registered to 34-year old Frank Howey, Jr., of Panora, began with a meth lab inside the vehicle.

Local authorities notified the Iowa Narcotics Division. A follow-up investigation resulted in Howey being arrested on felony charges which included: manufacturing methamphetamine (under five grams); possession of drug precursors; and, receiving precursors. Howey was also charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was being held in Guthrie County jail on a $20,000 cash only bond. His preliminary hearing, which was to have been held yesterday (Thursday), was instead continued until Monday (Nov. 21^st). 

In addition, 36-year old Troy Downing, of Panora, was arrested on a felony charge of furnishing a precursor, and prohibited acts, an aggravated misdemeanor. Downing posted a $10,000 cash  bond Monday afternoon and was released from Guthrie County jail. 27-year old Brooke Whitney, of Panora, was arrested on a felony charge of with furnishing a precursor. She was being held in the Guthrie County jail on a $10,000 cash only bond. Her preliminary hearing was set for Nov. 21^st.

Home sales and prices were both up in Iowa last month compared to a year ago. Iowa Association of Realtors president Dale Gross reports 2,606 homes were sold in October — 287 more than October 2010.  Gross said prices climbed just 2.1% over the year with the average sale price last month at $138,739. The October report did show homes are spending more days on the market. Last month, the average number of days on the market was 109 – up from 105 days in October 2010. But, Gross notices things are beginning to turn around.

“Earlier on in this year, it was 120 days and now we’re back down to 109. So, that says we’re selling homes quicker at this point in time,” Gross said. He credits a growing agriculture economy and lower interest rates. “The underwriting rules are a little more stringent and difficult, but if somebody really wants to buy a home, four-percent interest rates and 30 year notes are out there,” Gross said.

Gross, who lives in Atlantic, just recently took over as the new president of the Iowa Association of Realtors.

(Radio Iowa)