(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce will host its Annual Dinner Saturday, January 29th, 2022, at The Venue in Atlantic. Bailey Smith, Executive Director of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce says “It’s a great opportunity for us to reflect on what we’ve accomplished, look forward to what we will accomplish and most of all, highlight all of our members and volunteers that have invested their time and money back into our organization and our community.”

The Chamber will be recognizing businesses, organizations and individual leaders in the community. The 36th Annual Distinguished Service Award will also be given out at the dinner.

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual, business or organization who has made the community a better place to live. They have rendered special services for the benefit of the community and have demonstrated an active leadership role for the betterment of the community through their involvement in business, civic and social service organizations.

Last year, the Distinguished Service Award was given to Cass County Public Health for their unwavering leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cass County Public Health 2020

Nominations for the Distinguished Service Award are due by January 18th, 2022. You can nominate someone by submitting a nomination letter to the Chamber at 102 Chestnut Street, or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com. The Annual Dinner will begin at 6:00 PM with a social followed by dinner at 6:30 PM. You can register for the dinner at www.atlanticiowa.com.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports two recent arrests, and additional charges for a man already in custody. 38-year-old Richard Lee Ray, of Des Moines, was arrested by Greenfield Police at around 9:36-p.m. Friday. Ray was charged with Driving While Barred, after the van he was driving was pulled over for speeding. Ray was cited at the scene and released.

At around 3:08-a.m. Saturday, Stuart Police arrested 18-year-old Brady Alan Caldwell, of Stuart, for Driving While Barred, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Multiple smoking devices), and Possession of a controlled substance/marijuana – 2nd offense. Caldwell was released later in the day, Saturday, on a $3,300 cash or surety bond.

And, as we mentioned last week, 57-year-old Charles Raymond Bradshaw, remains in the Adair County Jail following a pursuit and officer-involved shooting on Dec. 30th.  DPS officials said Bradshaw was charged last week with attempted murder of a peace officer, assault on a peace officer and intimidation with a dangerous weapon, in addition to his prior charges.  Sheriff Vandewater said in his report, an investigation determined Bradshaw fired a handgun toward Deputy Armstrong from inside his vehicle, causing damage to the windshield of the Honda Civic.

Additional information released today (Monday) indicated near the end of the pursuit, Deputy Armstrong, saw Bradshaw holding a gun with one hand on top of the steering wheel. As law enforcement approached the Honda, Deputy Armstrong realized the other officers were in danger. He fired four rounds from his service weapon at Bradshaw, striking him in both arms, and causing him to drop his weapon. Bradshaw received medical attention and was eventually released to law enforcement.

A search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of a Kelltec .9mm handgun on the front passenger side, loaded with five additional rounds in the magazine. There was also a Sig Sauer .9mm Luger spent shell casing in the vehicle.

His cash-only bond is $100,000.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA — The Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) participated in a Mayors’ Roundtable Discussion on the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) hosted by U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) on Friday, January 7, at the Council Bluffs Public Library.

Nine southwest Iowa mayors were on hand to talk about the new law’s impact on their communities. For many, like Hamburg Mayor Cathy Crain, the infrastructure money could not come soon enough. She stressed the importance of flood prevention in towns like hers. “If you don’t have the flood protection, you don’t have the businesses,” said Crain. “Without the businesses, there’s no town.” Hamburg, home to 1,200 residents, experienced major flooding in 2019 that exposed the need for infrastructure repair.

Rep. Axne spoke about the need for towns and cities of all sizes in the region to coordinate and work together to ensure all receive essential resources they need. Mayor Matt Walsh of Council Bluffs agreed, saying he saw opportunities for collaboration with smaller towns in the region.

SWIPCO Transit Director Mark Lander discussed the need for transit dollars to come back to southwest Iowa. “It’s easy to look at this $300 million and think about just big city buses,” said Lander. “But in southwest Iowa that supports SWITA, which is everywhere and includes rides to the doctor for seniors, kids getting to school, and essential workers on the job in our food processing plants.”

“The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will invest $305 million so Iowa can address the 40 percent of public transit vehicles that are operating beyond their lifetime in our state,” said Rep. Axne. “This money will help keep people safe and ensure everyone can get to where they need to go in Iowa’s Third Congressional District. I am proud to have voted in favor of this legislation, which makes significant investments in Iowa’s transit systems, highways and bridges, broadband and water systems, and so much more.”

(Glenwood, Iowa)  -The Mills County Office reports three arrests. Friday afternoon (Jan. 7), 43-year-old John Eric Farris, of Glenwood, was arrested on a warrant for Threat of Terrorism. His bond was set at $5,000.

A little after 1-a.m., Saturday (Jan. 8), 41-year-old Eric William Timblin, of LaVista, NE, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. He was taken into custody at the I-29 southbound rest area, in Mills County, and held on a $1,000 bond. And, 18-year-old Hayden Drake Hoffman, of Malvern, was arrested at around 2:15-p.m., Saturday, for Domestic Abuse Assault. Hoffman was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.