(9-a.m. News) – The Atlantic Area Chamber’s Annual Scrooge Contest is underway during the month of November. Eleanor Hoover, who passed away in 2019, organized the contest beginning in 2002 just one year after the inaugural Lighted Parade. Scrooge contestants raise money and collect non-perishable food items for the Atlantic Food Pantry. The 2020 candidates include: Brian Ruge, Brown’s Shoe Fit; Tami Shellberg, Atlantic Hy-Vee; Jon Martens, Aunt B’s; and Jeff & Heather Lundquist, Atlantic News Telegraph & Atlantic Community Schools.

Contestants are responsible for collecting and submitting their points to the Chamber by November 24th at noon. The contestant with the most points will be named Scrooge and all proceeds will benefit the Atlantic Food Pantry. Winner of the Scrooge Contest serves as the Grand Marshal in the Lighted Parade on December 5th at 6 PM in Downtown Atlantic. Cash donations are worth 5 points on the dollar and one non-perishable item earns the contestants one point. Donations to a contestant can be made by delivering food or funds to their drop off locations. For more information please call the Chamber at 712.243.3017 or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com.

This year, the Atlantic Food Pantry is asking for a specific list of food items, with a focus on monetary donations due to limited storage space. The money will help them purchase food items as needed, including meat and refrigerated items. The list of needed food items includes:

• Cream of Chicken/Mushroom Soup; Tomato/Chicken Noodle Soup
• Ramen Noodles
• Hamburger Helper
• Canned Beef Ravioli/Spaghetti O’s
• Instant Sides (Packages) – Pasta, Sauce or Potato
• Boxed Cereal
• Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
• Saltine Crackers
• Canned Fruit
• Bar Soap
• Canned Tuna/Chicken
• Macaroni & Cheese
• Canned Vegetables
• Toilet Paper
• 18 oz. Creamy Peanut Butter
• Quick Oats (no milk needed)
• Pancake/Waffle Mix (no milk needed)
• Pancake/Waffle Syrup
• Boxed Noodles
• Pasta Sauce
• Chili Beans
• Diced Tomatoes
• Canned Manwich or Sloppy Joe

Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bailey Smith says “Our food pantry has seen a very high increase of individuals and families in need of food assistance this year due to COVID-19. We have such a great group of candidates this year. They’re all very determined people who already do a lot for our community. I have no doubt this will be a successful outcome for the food pantry.”

Past Scrooge titles have been awarded to: Mary Ann Moorman 2007, Dana Halder 2008, Tammy Wise & Janet Huey 2009, Ritchie Anderson 2010, Janet Cappel 2011, Melanie Petty 2012, David Miller 2013, Mark McNees 2014, Ted Robinson 2015, Jon Johnson 2016, Rob Stamp 2017, Rob & Sonya Clausen 2018 and Billie Hoover, Jackie Sampson & Lori Christianson 2019. The contest will run now to November 24th.

(Radio Iowa) – While several close races captured much of the attention in the election coverage, there was a clear decision by Iowa’s voters on calling a constitutional convention. This year’s General Election ballot asked voters if there should be a convention to revise the state’s constitution. It’s a question that’s required to be submitted to Iowa voters once every decade. By a rate of more than two-to-one, the voters said “no.”

The final tallies show 407-thousand people said yes, while 971-thousand opposed the idea. A constitutional law professor at the University of Iowa says such a convention is only appropriate if voters think the system is fundamentally broken and needs significant changes. Iowa’s constitution was ratified in 1857 and has since been amended 48 times.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — The last of of those convicted in the 2017 killing of a Burlington man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole. The Hawk Eye reports that 32-year-old Emmanuel Spann was sentenced Monday in Des Moines County District Court for the killing of 26-year-old Demarcus “Peanut” Chew on Sept. 10, 2017, outside his mother’s apartment in Burlington. A jury in February found Spann guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy.

Spann was one of five men charged in Chew’s death. Prosecutors say the five men followed Chew from Expose nightclub in Gulfport, Illinois, to his mother’s home in Burlington.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Department reports an Underwood man was arrested Tuesday afternoon at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Forgery. 23-year old Kaleb Jack Knight was being held in the Mills County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police in Des Moines have arrested a woman accused of keeping 11 exotic birds in deplorable conditions. The Des Moines Register reports that 63-year-old Deborah Barber faces charges of four counts of animal neglect. She was arrested Tuesday after police conducted a search of her home in late October and discovered the living conditions of the birds.

Animal Rescue League of Iowa spokesperson Stephanie Filer says three Moluccan cockatoos, four Goffin’s cockatoos, two Amazon parrots and two cockatiels were rescued from Barber’s home. Filer says the birds were found in “filthy enclosures” and suffered health problems, including one that had self-mutilation wounds caused by stress.

The Creston Police Department reports three people were arrested on separate charges, Tuesday, and one person was arrested this (Wednesday) morning. Tuesday afternoon, 40-year-old Aaron Riepe, of Creston, was arrested at his residence on two counts of Theft 2nd. He was released from the Union County Jail on a $10,000 bond. And, 36-year-old Amanda Speed (Jones), of Creston, was arrested in the 400 block of N. Mulberry, on the charge of Violation of a Protection Order. She was being held in the Adams County Jail while awaiting bond hearing.

Tuesday evening, 31-year-old Kenny Cunningham, of Shannon City, was arrested at Taylor/Birch in Creston, for Driving While Suspended. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a $300 bond. And, at around 2:50-a.m. today (Wednesday), 34-year-old Cory Mitchell, of Thayer, was arrested at 1700 W. Townline, in Creston, for Public Intoxication. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a $300 bond.