Officials with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Tuesday), issued a report with regard to a shooting incident that took place at around 9:43-p.m. Nov. 11th, in the parking lot of the Griswold Casey’s Store. Authorities say upon investigation, 39-year old Jessica Jo McMillen, of Red Oak, was found to have a gunshot wound in her hand. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office last Friday arrested McMillen on charges that include (Felony) Reckless Use of a Firearm Causing Bodily Injury, and Carrying a Weapon While Intoxicated (A Serious Misdemeanor). She was released later that day on a $5,000 bond. At the time of initial investigation, 33-year old Geoffrey Russell George Elias, of Lake Isabella, MI, was arrested for Public Intoxication. Elias was released the following day on his own recognizance.

Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director Bryant Rasmussen, Monday evening, updated the Parks Board on various projects and studies. Rasmussen said there’s been a lot of progress at the Schildberg Recreation Area over the past month.

The portable toilets at Schildberg will be removed, since the waterless restroom is open for use. The bathhouse is also done, but will remain closed for the Winter. It will be opened up in the Spring at the same time as the Campground. The small at Schildberg is also in-place. The big dock will likely be installed next Spring. Both were heavily damaged during flooding earlier this year.

Rasmussen said the roads at Sunnyside Park will remain open until at least the first moderate snowfall. Work on the Ice Skating Rink will be underway before the ground gets too hard. He said they hope the rink will be more successful this year than last.

New Gazebo installed on the southwest corner of the Atlantic Sports Complex, as part of a T-Bone Trail attraction. (Ric Hanson/photo)

And, as we mentioned earlier, the T-Bone Trailhead gazebo on the southwest corner of the Atlantic Sports Complex is up and ready for use. He said they are working with Nishna Valley Trails’ Dave Chase on what he thinks needs to be located inside the gazebo.

Rasmussen said also, they harvested seeds from the AMU Well Field for planting in the parks to create wildlife refuges and better stabilize the banks along Bull Creek.

He said the seeds include Kentucky Blue Grass and other native plants. And, he said a Fluvial Geomorphologist and District Forester did a walk through of the Bull Creek pathway to help identify solutions to property erosion along the creek.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Creston Police Department reports 46-year old Maria A. Medina, of Creston, was arrested at around 9:15-p.m. Monday, on a charge of Interference with Officials Acts. Medina was later released from the Union County Jail, on a $300 bond.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Burlington is set to become a stop for a major river cruise line in the next few years. City officials signed a two-year agreement Monday with Viking Cruises, which is based in Basel, Switzerland. The agreement says the city will lease docking facilities to Viking for two years, and Viking will pay $1 per passenger that comes onto the docks. Viking has ordered the ships that will cruise the Mississippi River, but they won’t be ready until 2022.

The Viking ships are set to dock at Burlington 30 times between July 2022 and October 2023. Eventually its ships may be stopping daily at Burlington. The agreement allows the city to offer its docks to other cruise ships.

Melanie Petty, spokesperson for the Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund report, everyone had a great time last week at the Southwestern Community College annual dinner. Petty says they were able to meet the Fund’s three scholarship recipients and new coaches for the Spartans baseball program. Petty says back in 2008, Trevor received a baseball scholarship and it made all the difference in him continuing to play his second year.

She says they are thankful to the SWCC community for being such a huge part of Trev’s life and happy that they are able to pay it forward. Thanks for a great night to: Jordan Camp, Mitchell McIntyre, Luiz Torres, Robert Ortiz and Brian Soto.

The Washington G.E.M 4H Club recently attended County Convention on Sunday, November 10th.  The club had the winning secretary and historian book and was also awarded highest club enrollment and the community service award.

Photo submitted by Melanie Petty

The club was also received top herdsmanship for sheep, at the Cass County Fair.  Melanie Petty, Project Coordinator for Industrial Steam, says “4H is a wonderful program to get kids involved in.  If you are interested in joining 4H reach out to the Iowa State Extension Office at 712-243-1132 and find a club that’s right for you.”

(Radio Iowa) — Creighton University economist Ernie Goss is projecting growth for retailers in Christmas sales this year.  “Based upon our surveys, in these two surveys of manufacturers and bank C-E-O’s in ten states, including Iowa — the overall numbers are pointing to a positive Christmas holiday buying season — up three to four percent,” Goss says. He says on-line shopping will see an even bigger boost. “Online buying by consumers is going to be up 14 to 15 percent, so much better on online buying,” Goss says. “…some of what is limiting it is finding qualified workers to fill those retail positions.”

Goss says you may see the impact of the worker shortage as you look to buy gifts. “You’re going to maybe in some cases spend more time standing in line to pay for your gift item than you did finding your gift. So it is a challenge for a lot of retailers out there,” Goss says. “And also, retailers have been through a tough couple of years and they’ve been through a lot of cost cutting. So, they’ve been cutting back on manpower as well.” He says with low unemployment, low gas prices and a good overall economy, there is plenty to spend on gifts. “Consumers are pretty flush with at least confidence and with some spending power. Although, consumer debt is at record levels — particularly for millennials and those who have college debt,” Goss says.

He says that college debt could impact some of the buying from those consumers. Goss does have a word of caution looking forward. He says the growth in holiday sales comes as the economic growth is down from last year, signaling slower economic growth and somewhat higher unemployment levels in the weeks and months ahead.

(Radio Iowa) — It’s predicted tens of thousands of Iowans will be traveling at least 50 miles from home next week to share a Thanksgiving meal with family and friends. Rose White, at Triple-A-Iowa, says the state’s highways and interstates will be especially busy, no matter what the weather forecast may hold. “Thanksgiving holiday travel will reach 55.3-million travelers, an increase of nearly 3% from a year ago and the second-highest on record,” White says. “Of those traveling, 49.3-million will reach their destination by car, 4.4-million will travel by air and another 1.5-million will travel by other modes, including rail and ship.”

The motor club says filling the gas tank will be a bit cheaper than Thanksgiving of 2018. “For those traveling by car, gas prices are fluctuating a bit,” White says. “Currently, the national fuel average is 5-cents lower than last year with unleaded averaging $2.59 a gallon. Across Iowa, the prices are about 18-cents lower than the national average, currently at $2.41 a gallon.”

When compared to Christmas and New Year’s, White says Thanksgiving is more condensed, making it the busiest — and potentially the most hazardous — travel holiday of the year. “We do see a high volume of people hitting the roadways during that short window which officially begins on Wednesday and ends on Sunday,” White says. “We anticipate the busiest day for travel will be Wednesday afternoon. We advise people hitting the road to get plenty of rest the night before to prevent drowsy driving, which can be just as dangerous as driving drunk.”

Travel numbers are expected to rise this Thanksgiving, based on several factors. White says consumer spending remains strong, thanks to increasing wages, disposable income and household wealth, and travel remains one of the top priorities for the holiday season.