ATLANTIC, IA (December 6, 2021) – Produce in the Park will host Christmas Market at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic on Thursday, December 23 from 3-7 pm. This holiday farmers market is being held just two days before Christmas, so shoppers can enjoy delicious local foods on Christmas day. Christmas Market brings “Local” to your holiday table by offering a variety of produce, meats, desserts, and other foods, in addition to handmade decorations, gifts, and stocking stuffers.

Miss NiNi (Janine Knop) with her Best of the Best Lemon Cheesecake, which won Grand Champion Cheesecake at the Iowa State Fair. Miss NiNi is offering over ten flavors of cheesecakes and pies at Christmas Market by pre-order only..

Christmas Market is poised to offer a fantastic selection of premium products that are either homegrown or homemade.
Christmas Market Vendors confirmed as of December 5:
Vendors offering pre-ordering only:
• Harrisdale Farmstead – Produce
• Miss NiNi’s Fine Desserts – Handmade pies and cheesecakes
Vendors offering pre-ordering and in-person shopping:
• Bridgewater Farm – Organic produce, eggs, and meat
• Brun Ko Farm – Beef, pork, chicken, lamb, granola, suet blocks, cookies, and desserts
• Erickson Foods – Produce, syrups, fruit butters, and jellies
• Frosting Inc. – Cupcakes, cookies, hot cocoa bombs, and more
• Johnna Joy Designs – Jewelry and more
• Kingwood Farm – Goat milk soap, detergent, bath shreds, lotion. Pasture-raised pork, eggs,
beef
• Kringle Man – Danish kringle, cream horns, Danish letters, Danish pastries
• Noble Provisions – Beef
• Smudge – Bath and body products, soaps, and candles
• Sweet Sisters Vegan – Vegan health and beauty products
• The Pet Bistro – Dog and cat food and treats; cat toys and beds
• TJ’s Kitchen – Wine bread pastries
Vendors offering in-person shopping only:
• Connie’s Creations – Hand-crocheted dishcloths, hats, hot pads, and more
• DeLaine’s Designs – Doll clothes
• DezaRae Farm Soaps – Goat milk lotions and soaps
• JD Crafters – Items made using a laser and CNC router and a lathe, including Christmas and table
ornaments, signage, cutting boards, coasters, serving trays and catch all trays, and more
• Mandy’s Sweet Tooth Confections – Homemade pies, sugar cookie bars, cupcakes, cookie trays,
candy barks and fudge, savory pretzels and snack mix, and other assorted desserts
• Slightly Sassy Orchid Designs – Tumblers and signs
• Wud Bi Tek – CNC laser carvings and cuttings
Prepared food vendors selling dinner on-site:
• Pomodoro Fresh Italian Food Truck -Homemade pasta, sauces, sandwiches, salads and dessert

Christmas Market Pre-ordering: Christmas Market will offer both in-person shopping as well as preordering. Christmas Market pre-ordering will be available through www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com from Dec. 13-20. Pre-ordering is recommended for customers who want to plan on a particular food item (such as a favorite pie) as well as customers who want to stay distanced this holiday season. Some vendors, such as Miss NiNi’s Fine Desserts, will only be offering
pre-ordered products.

Produce in the Park thanks customers for masking and distancing at indoor markets. Produce in the Park continues to accept vendor applications to Christmas Market and other holiday farmers markets (Sweetheart Market and Spring Celebration Market). For more information visit produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com or contact Market Manager Brigham Hoegh at produceintheparkatlanticiowa@gmail.com or 712-249-5870.

Christmas Market is made possible by sponsorships from the Atlantic Community Promotion Commission, First Whitney Bank and Trust, Camblin Mechanical, Cass County Tourism, Cass County Farm Bureau, the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, Meyer and Gross, and Smith Land Service.

For the latest information on Harvest Market, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/) or sign up for the Produce in the Park newsletter at www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com.

(Radio Iowa) – Former Kansas Senator Bob Dole, the winner of Iowa’s 1988 and 1996 Caucuses, has died at the age of 98. Dole, who survived nearly fatal wounds in World War II and served 35 years in the U.S. Senate, was sometimes called “Iowa’s third senator.”

In both campaigns, Dole stressed his skills as a leader in the U.S. Senate.

Dole made those remarks during a speech in Ankeny, Iowa. Senator Chuck Grassley, who endorsed Dole and campaigned with him extensively, sat beside Dole in San Diego as Dole was formally named the G-O-P’s presidential nominee in 1996. Grassley issued a written statement, calling Dole a loyal friend and trusted mentor who set a standard of selflessness that all public servants should strive to emulate. Monte Shaw, who managed ELIZABETH Dole’s presidential campaign in Iowa, worked as a field organizer in southern Iowa for Dole’s 1996 caucus campaign.

“He was an authentic American hero,” Shaw says, “and he was a good man.” Dole was honored with the 2008 World Food Prize and delivered an acceptance speech in the Iowa Capitol — promising the crowd it would be short.

Dole ended on a somber note, reciting a poem called “The Dash” which focuses on the dash between the dates of birth and death that are listed on a tombstone.

Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, the current U.S. Ag secretary, issued a statement of condolence to the Dole family and he mentioned Dole’s sponsorship of the School Feeding Program that provides meals to children in low-income countries where food is scarce.

(Shenandoah) — A Shenandoah man was taken into custody on numerous charges Saturday night, after leading officers on a foot pursuit. The Shenandoah Police Department reports Officers attempted a traffic stop at the intersection of Highway 59 and West Valley around 11:40 p.m., on a vehicle with an equipment violation. The driver – later identified as 27-year-old Joseph William Michael Haughton – drove the vehicle into a yard, before fleeing on foot.

After his capture and arrest, Haughton was charged with driving while suspended, interference with official acts, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also cited for operating a non-registered vehicle. His bond at the Page County Jail was set at slightly less than $2,100.

MARION COUNTY, Iowa – Authorities have identified 37-year-old Nathan Allen Sharpnack, of Winterset, as the victim in a fatal hunting incident that occurred in Marion County on Saturday.  According to authorities, Sharpnack was participating in a deer drive on the Whitebreast Arm of Lake Red Rock with a large group of hunters when he was fatally struck in the torso.

The investigation into the hunting related shooting is ongoing at this time.

An autopsy is pending on Sharpnack at the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner in Ankeny.