Emergency crews are on the scene late this morning, of a collision between a semi and cement truck. Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon reports one lane of Interstate 80 westbound was closed as of 11:24-a.m. The crash occurred about one-half mile west of the exit to Highway 71 (59.9 mile marker), in the north ditch.  Kennon says two people were hurt and transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by ambulance. The accident was reported at 10:55-a.m.  We’ll have more information when it becomes available.

Ric Hanson photo

Mike Kennon photo

Atlantic Fire and Rescue and Medivac Ambulance have been called to the 60-mile marker of Interstate 80 westbound for an accident involving two semi’s. Unknown at this time if there are any injuries. The accident was reported at 10:55-a.m.  We’ll have more if information becomes available.

(Radio Iowa) — A rare disease that causes muscle weakness, loss of reflexes and even paralysis has appeared in Iowa — twice — in recent weeks and the experts are puzzled. State health officials confirm two cases of a rare polio-like illness which attacks the nervous system called acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM. The first case is a three-year-old boy in Grimes, while the second is in a person under 18 in western Iowa. Minnesota reports seven cases of AFM since mid-September, while 62 are reported nationwide in 22 states.

There is no known cure and federal investigators haven’t been able to identify a common cause in the cases which usually start as a cold.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Department of Human Services figures show that the state’s family planning program is providing far fewer services like contraception a year after state lawmakers excluded Planned Parenthood clinics from receiving state funding. The Des Moines Register reports that the program covered 970 family planning services from April through June. That’s a 73 percent decrease from the roughly 3,600 services covered by the program during those months in 2017.

The department’s data show the number of patients enrolled in the program has dropped from almost 8,600 in June 2017 to less than 4,200 in June 2018. The program aims to help poor and moderate-income level residents obtain contraception. Legislators decided in 2017 to ban agencies that provide abortions from participating in the program. The state lost $3 million annually in federal Medicaid funds.

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

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Michelle Andersen, Director of the Atlantic Public Library presented an Annual Report to the City Council, Wednesday evening. Andersen said statistics from FY 2017-18, dating to back before she took over as Director, until the present time, show there were over four-thousand active member accounts. She said also there were nearly 25,400 annual visits. They also have accounts specified as “Not Atlantic” patrons – meaning they serve Marne and Wiota, as well as “Open Access” members.

There were more than 63,000 physical items checked-out, which is about the same as usual. Use of the digital library has been up, though.  That includes everything you would expect to find at the library, but online: books, audio books, magazines, and about the same amount of use as their other digital resources. Andersen said there is a trend away from less public computer usage at the library, to more Wi-Fi connections on personal devices. She said also, they just closed the library-hosted “Picture Atlantic” digital photo contest as a further celebration of the City’s Sesquicentennial. There were over 100 pictures submitted. The winners will be announced Nov. 2^nd.

Financially speaking, Andersen said 86% of their revenues came from the City of Atlantic, with others coming from donations, State and County contracts. Last year, the County contributed a little more than $14,000, and this year is expected to be increased to $16,000. Expenses are primarily used for staff and circulation.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Michigan man has been given 18 months in prison for ordering drugs online and having them shipped to a friend in Iowa, who then died of an overdose. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that 29-year-old Jay Rickert had pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids to willfully causing the distribution of a controlled substance. Rickert, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, admitted he had ordered a hallucinogenic drug in February 2015 from a supplier in Canada and had it shipped to the friend in Dubuque. Investigators say the woman used the drug, believing it was a hallucinogenic, but the supplier had shipped fentanyl, a powerful and deadly synthetic opioid.

Rickert’s sentence includes three years of supervised release after prison and an order to pay restitution of more than $13,000.

The Creston Police Department reports three people were arrested early this (Thursday) morning. Just before 6-a.m., 35-year old Heather Davis, 29-year old Steven Behlers, and 32-year old Shaune Tindle, were all  arrested in an apartment at 209 E. Mills Street, in Creston. All three were charged with Trespass. Davis was also wanted on a Union County warrant for Failure to Appear in Court on a Child Support matter. She was being held in the Adams County Jail on a $1,300 bond. Behlers and Tindle were being held in the Union County Jail on a $300 bond, each.

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

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The Atlantic City Council met Wednesday evening and approved an Order to enter into an agreement with SWIPCO (the Southwest Iowa Planning Council), for Regional Taxi Service. The City contributes $8,000 per year from the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) Progress fund for regional public transportation. City Administrator John Lund says the funds have been budgeted for in Fiscal Year 2019, and carried forward into the FY 2020 proposed budget, as well as the city’s 10-year budget plan.

The Council also set November 7^th as the date for a Public Hearing on an updated Comprehensive City Plan. The Comprehensive Plan – which has been updated by SWIPCO – is intended to be a guiding document for the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council, when it comes to major decisions on public policy, according to Lund, who says Atlantic’s last Comprehensive Plan was adopted in Dec., 2002. And, while the general practice is for the Comprehensive Plan to be updated every 10-years, but Lund says “Administrative conflicts related to the interpretation of the plan and how it was to be applied to development in the community, resulted in an extensive delay before the updating process was initiated.” The Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed the draft during their meeting on Sept. 20th, and made some suggestions for improvement. They recommend the Council adopt the plan as written, following the required Public Hearing on Nov. 7th.

In his report to the Council, Administrator Lund said he’s wrapped-up everything needed for a 28-E Fire Services agreement with the Atlantic Fire Department and other townships and/or communities they’ve been working with. The agreement, when finalized, will establish special taxing districts for Washington and Bear Grove Townships, and will help to pay for the purchase of a new Atlantic FD Pumper truck the department needs.

Lund said the City’s Department Heads met Tuesday to conduct the annual budget reviews, which he says is “Kind of the official kick-off to the budget season.” He also spoke with City Attorney Mark Bosworth with regard to rental property inspections, which Bosworth will research more, and a committee will follow-up on next month. The inspections, according to Councilman Chris Jimerson, would be conducted on a complaint basis if the plans move forward. Bosworth said he wants to take a closer look at the legal angle of the inspections before anything is written in stone. He wants to know whether other cities have seen the inspections used as retribution between the renters and landlords, rather than legitimate complaints. Jimerson said the committee has discussed what the course of action might be if a complaint by a renter turns out to be unfounded when an inspection is conducted.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council held the second reading of an Ordinance pertaining to speed regulations on Sunnyside Lane, from 10th to 22nd Streets, and the second reading of an Ordinance pertaining to trees in the City Right-of-Way, and the authority of the City Forester. They also approve a Resolution adopting the Building Permit Fee schedule. And, a Resolution pertaining to the City’s Personnel Policy.