(Atlantic, Iowa – 8:a.m.) – This past fourth of July weekend, there were numerous displays of fireworks across the City of Atlantic, some of them quite spectacular. Others were not so impressive, such as the City’s paid fireworks display July 4th near the Little League Complex across from KJAN. By most accounts, the display lasted less than 15-minutes. Mayor Dave Jones addressed the matter, and complaints about citizen displays infringing on the rights of their neighbors, during Wednesday’s meeting of the Atlantic City Council.

Jones said the Atlantic Volunteer Fire Department is NOT responsible for fireworks. J&M Displays is responsible. Fire Department personnel were simply on-hand in case something went wrong. With all the displays taking place around town, Councilman Dick Casady was a bit confused as to which display he saw had been sponsored by the City.

Councilperson Grace Garrett was among those who thought the City sponsored display was “pretty short.” Councilman Gerald Brink asked why the display the City paid for was so short. City Clerk Barb Barrick said they were expecting more than what they got. Fire Chief Tom Cappel, she said, concurred.

Brink said, “If it’s not adequate, we should do something to at least make the show decent.” Mayor Jones said the City should draft a letter to the company who was hired to shoot-off the fireworks expressing our disappointment, and have the Fire Chief send it to J&M Displays. Councilman Jim Behrens suggested there may have been an issue with the computer-controlled display. In years past, fireworks were set-off manually, he said, making the show seem longer. Computer controls can last as long as needed, but if there was an issue with the programming, it could have set them off in rapid fire, instead of a more normal pattern.

Behrens said at the Fire Department meeting Tuesday night, they discussed other issues that popped up the Sunday night at the Little League Complex, as well as matters pertaining to the Wild Willy’s Fireworks Demonstration event on June 12th. The issues boiled down to a lack of communication.

He said “Next year we need to take a deeper look into allowing somebody to shoot fireworks off on City property.” With regard to Parks and Rec Department personnel being on-hand Sunday night, Behrens said they apparently were not asked to be there.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports on Friday, July 2nd, at 11:00 p.m. officers of the Clarinda Police Department served a search warrant on the occupants at 515 S. 10th St., lot #11 at the Maplewood Trailer Court. Police confiscated approximately 60 grams of a substance believed to be methamphetamine, cash, packaging material, assorted drug paraphernalia and a 2013 Chevrolet Impala

Officers arrested Lonny Ray Brown, age 43, Terry Mark Brown, age 64, and Hannah Madeline McCormick, age 23, all of Clarinda. Each faces charges that include conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, fail to have required drug tax stamps and unlawful gathering for the purpose of distributing and/or using controlled substances. The trio was transported to the Page County Jail and held without bond pending an initial appearance before a Page County Magistrate.

Reports have been forwarded to Page County Attorney’s Office for formal charging decisions.

The Atlantic Police Department says the Cass County Sheriff’s Office received reports at around 2-a.m. Monday (July 5), of a large number of cattle out in the area of Littlefield Road and 350th Street. While at the scene, a member of the Cass County Drone Team utilized the Sheriff’s Office equipment and assisted with the call. Over the course of two hours, a Cass County Drone with thermal imagining capabilities was used to locate and bring over 40 head of cattle back to the pasture where they belonged.

During the event, the pilot launched and landed multiple times and eventually found several groups of cattle that had broken off to different areas. The ability to use thermal imaging during the call, authorities say, proved to be invaluable in locating all of the cattle while working in the dark. The availability of the equipment also saved time and resources by speeding up the process of recovery.

The Drone Team consist of members of the Police Department, Sheriffs Office, and Atlantic Fire Department.

(Radio Iowa) – For the second time in a week, a teacher in the Marshalltown Community School District has been arrested on charges of sexual exploitation by a school employee. Adam Edgington turned himself in to Marshalltown Police on the charge yesterday. The 42-year-old English teacher at Miller Middle School is accused of starting a relationship with a 13-year-old student. Edgington was released pending a court appearance on Monday. A statement from the school district says Edgington has been placed on administrative leave. ]

This is the second arrest of a district employee on the charge of sexual exploitation in recent days. Marshalltown High School instructor Mark Esquivel was arrested on June 30th on the same class D felony.