The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said Saturday, a Cass County teen was arrested late last week, near Elliott.  16-year old Brandon Dwayne Clark, of Atlantic, was taken into custody at around 11:45-p.m., Thursday, following a traffic stop at Highway 48 and Kirkwood Avenue. The vehicle Clark was in, was being sought following an incident involving an alleged assault earlier that same evening in Red Oak.

Clark was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and was brought to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, where he was processed and later released to the custody of a parent.  The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in conducting the investigation, by officers with the Red Oak Police, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa State Patrol.

Plans for the “Christmas in Atlantic” celebration are getting underway with the nominations for the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce’ annual Elect-a-Scrooge contest having been announced Friday.  The “games” begin November 1st. Megan Roberts,  Executive Director of the Atlantic Chamber says “In the Elect-a-Scrooge Contest everyone is a winner. The participants always have fun, the Food Pantry gets a large donation and the community truly supports this holiday time of giving a hand up to those in need.”

Scrooge candidates raise funds and non-perishable items for the Atlantic Food Pantry from November 1st to December 2nd, and the Scrooge who raises the most serves 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 listed businesses and many have special promotions in the works. One dollar or one non-perishable item equals a vote for the Scrooge candidate. For more information contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712.243.3017 or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com

Officials with the Iowa Department of Transportation announced Friday evening that Interstate 680 in Pottawattamie County will be reopened at approximately 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 2nd. The Iowa DOT’s fast-track flood recovery effort and accelerated pace of construction by the contractors has led to the quick reopening. Working 24 hours a day at times since construction started Sept. 28th, Peterson Contractors Inc. of Reinbeck and Reilly Construction Company Inc. of Ossian and their subcontractors, consultants and suppliers have completed work in only 34 working days.

All four lanes of I-680 will be reopened to traffic. The ramps at the 130th Street interchange (exit 1) will remain closed due to the closure of the intersecting local roadways.

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, Iowa Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds and Iowa DOT Director Paul Trombino III will be hosting a grand reopening ceremony at 1 p.m. at the I-680/130th Street interchange. Joining them will be U.S. DOT Federal Highway Administration Administrator Victor Mendez, Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan and Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle. The Nebraska Department of Roads has also been invited. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

For complete details on the grand reopening ceremony, visit: www.iowadot.gov/floods/I680_opening.html

In an update to a story we first brought you Thursday morning on KJAN. Authorities in Pottawattamie County have released additional details about a traffic stop that resulted in the recovery of 226-pounds of marijuana.  Pott County Sheriff Jeff Danker says 63-year-old Richard Giffels, of Springfield, Oregon was arrested after the GMC pickup he was driving was stopped for speeding by Deputy Brian Miller. The vehicle was pulled over on eastbound Interstate 80 in Council Bluffs, at around 11:25-a.m., Wednesday.

Giffels faces charges which include possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, a drug tax stamp violation, prohibited acts and excessive speed.

Atlantic Police say no injuries were reported following three separate accidents Thursday. The first took place just before 10-a.m., at the intersection of Highways 6 and 71. Officials say vehicles driven by Atlantic residents Pauline Elming and Charles T. Smith, were traveling east on Highway 6 and passing through the intersection, when Elming began to slow down and was rear-ended by the Smith vehicle. Damage from the accident amounted to $3,000. No citations were issued.

The second, chain reaction accident happened just after Noon, Thursday, at the intersection of 7th and Olive Streets. According to Atlantic Police, vehicles driven by Christina Blake, of Wiota, Kelsey Schmidt, of Massena, and Amanda Lovejoy, of Atlantic, collided as all three were traveling east on 7th Street.  The Blake and Schmidt vehicles were stopped at the traffic light at 7th and Olive, when Lovejoy failed to stop in time. Her vehicle hit the back of Schmidt’s car, which was shoved forward into the back of Blake’s vehicle. Damage from the mishap amounted to $4,300. Officials say Lovejoy was cited for Failure to Maintain Control and/or reduce speed.

Thursday’s third accident happened just before 2-p.m., at 5th and Olive Streets in Atlantic. Officials say vehicles driven by Judith Camblin and Merlin Eshelman, both of Atlantic, collided when Camblin failed to observe a stop sign as she was traveling east on 5th Street. Her car collided at the intersection with Eshelman’s vehicle, as he was headed north on Olive. The damage amounted to $6,500.  Judith Camblin was cited following the accident investigation, for Failure to Obey a Stop or Yield sign.