(Atlantic, Iowa) – The annual Lighted Parade will fill downtown Atlantic with holiday cheer this Saturday, December 4th, starting at 6 PM. According to Bailey Smith, Executive Director of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, “It’s always fun to see how creative people get with their lighted displays.”

Each float will have a holiday theme, lighting and music. If you would like to participate in the Lighted Parade, visit www.atlanticiowa.com for a registration form. Line-up begins at 5 PM at 6th & Walnut Street with judging beginning at 5:30 PM. Registration is not required but encouraged.

Awards will be given for: Best Overall, Best Holiday Spirit and Twinkle Twinkle award. Winners will be notified before the parade. Fireworks, sponsored by A.M. Cohron & Son, kick off the Christmas magic over the Rock Island Depot, starting at 6 PM.  Before the parade, Santa will be in his Cabin, presented by Atlantic Rotary Club, at City Park from 3 – 5:30 PM. Free Carriage Rides, presented by Lloyd & Meredith, will also be at City Park from 3 – 5:30 PM.

Pick up your Christmas brochure from area retail businesses, like the Chamber on Facebook or follow on Instagram to find dates and details to celebrate Christmas in Atlantic. You can find a complete list of activities at www.atlanticiowa.com. Capture the Christmas magic with #MyAtlanticIA and post to the Atlantic Area Chamber’s Facebook page or Instagram (AtlanticIowaFan). Contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce with any questions at chamber@atlanticiowa.com or call 712.243.3017. Christmas in Atlantic is presented by Momentum Exterior Services.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports two rollover accidents occurred over the weekend, neither of which resulted in injury. A rollover accident occurred at around 8:30-a.m., Saturday, at 215th Street and Redwood Avenue. Authorities say 50-year-old Francisco Javier Gaspar-Delgadil, of Des Moines, was traveling south on Redwood and had turned to make a left (West) turn onto 215th, when his 2003 Chevy pickup went out of control.  Gaspar-Delgadil over-corrected, sending the vehicle into the north ditch, where it rolled over and came to rest on its top, sustaining $5,000 damage. Authorities say an investigation determined the man was traveling too fast on the gravel road. He was cited for Failure to Maintain Control and Driving without a valid driver’s license.

The second rollover accident happened at around 8-p.m. Sunday, near White Pole Road and Victory Trail. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office says the accident occurred when a 15-year-old female from Menlo swerved to avoid a deer. The 2001 Chevy Impala she was driving went out of control and entered a ditch before rolling once. The damage was estimated at $10,000. No citations were issued.

The Glenwood Police Department reports three arrests took place over the past week. On Sunday, 34-year-old Keegan Rooney, of Glenwood, was arrested for OWI/2nd Offense (Bond $2,000). Last Thursday, 28-year-old Frida Guerrero, of Glenwood, was arrested for OWI/1st offense (Bond $1,000). And, on Nov. 24th, 24-year-old Dylan Harris, of Glenwood, was arrested on a Mills County warrant for Probation Violation. His bond was set at $5,000.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council in Atlantic has a short agenda for their first meeting in December, this Wednesday (12/1). The meeting begins at 5:30-p.m. in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall, and will include discussion and action on:

• A Resolution approving the CY (Calendar Year) 2022 budget for Atlantic Municipal Utilities (AMU),
• and, a required nutrient reduction study (NRS) with Snyder & Associates for the wastewater treatment plant.

City Administrator John Lund says AMU is an entity of the City, but they are governed by their own oversight board (Atlantic’s Utility Board of Trustees). In accordance with the Code of Iowa, the City must approve their budget, in order for it go into effect. The City traditionally passes the AMU budget without issue, because there is oversight by the Trustees. And, with regard to the NRS, the City of Atlantic was granted an amended National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDS) permit for the wastewater treatment plant. The permit requires a report that evaluates the feasibility and reasonableness of reducing the quantity of phosphorus the City discharges into the East Nishnabotna River.

The permit for the City’s Plant to continue operations requires a nutrient reduction strategy (NRS) for phosphorus to be turned in to the Iowa DNR by August 1, 2022. John Lund says Wastewater Superintendent Tim Snyder is developing several strategies to improve the City’s numbers, using the technology it currently has in-place. Crews with the plant have attended EPA webinars in an effort to learn new ideas and processes for optimizing nutrient reduction in the discharged water. A proposal for a nutrient reduction study by Snyder and Associates has a lump sum fee of $19,750. Development of alternatives for nutrient reduction compliance will be an hourly fee, Lund says, but the estimated will be $9,600, for a combined cost of $29,350.

Lund says that “may seem like a lot, but it is a drop in the bucket compared to the consequences of a poorly prepared report. He notes, if approved, this would be the second NRS conducted by Snyder and Associates. The original study was approved by the Council in July, 2014, at a cost of $9,700.

Police in Red Oak say no injuries were reported following an accident Thursday evening, at the intersection of Highway 34 and N. Eastern Avenue. Officers found a 2017 Chevy Traverse driven by 29-year-old Trisha M. Gomez, of Stanton, was traveling west on Highway 34 at around 5:22-p.m., and was slowing down for the vehicle ahead of her, that was slowing down to make a left turn onto N. Eastern Avenue. When Gomez’ SUV slowed, it was struck from behind by a 2009 Ford F-150 pickup registered to Seipold Farms, and driven by 53-year-old Rodney L. Seipold, of Hastings (IA).

Seipold admitted to Police that he was not paying attention. Damages from the collision amounted to $26,000. Seipold was cited for Following too closely and Violation of a his restricted license.