SIOUX CENTER, Iowa (AP) — A northwest Iowa fifth-grade teacher already charged with lascivious acts with a child now faces 84 counts of sexual abuse and other charges. Police say 36-year-old Curtis Van Dam, of Sioux Center, also is charged with 14 counts of sexual exploitation by a teacher. Jail records say he remained in custody Thursday.

Police say the charges stem from incidents involving numerous children between August 2013 and last month. A news release says the crimes occurred at various locations, including Sioux Center Christian School, where Van Dam worked. Police began investigating after a complaint was filed alleging inappropriate conduct between Van Dam and a student at the school.

Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce want you to “Get a kick start to your holiday shopping and purchase discounted AtlantiCash, presented by Hanson’s Fine Jewelry, this Saturday only at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. Bailey Smith, Executive Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, said “We wanted to think of something new and exciting to do for the community to encourage them to do their holiday shopping locally,”

From 8-a.m. until 11-a.m. Saturday, November 11th only, AtlantiCash will be available in packs of $100 for $80, a 20% discount. Community members can purchase up to three packs. For each pack purchased, merchants will be entered into a drawing for an additional $100 in AtlantiCash. Payment must be made at time of purchase in the form of cash or check only. There is a first-come, first-purchased basis with only a limited amount of AtlantiCash available. Smith says “The really awesome part about this promotion is the money goes directly back into Atlantic. By offering it at a discount, community members can purchase their AtlantiCash and spend it holiday shopping in Atlantic or give it as a gift.”

The Holiday Open House will also be taking place Saturday beginning at 9-a.m.  Businesses will be offering a holiday sneak peek as well as treats, giveaways and special promotions. Community members can receive double stamps on their Shop Local Passport, presented by First Whitney Bank & Trust, by shopping at participating businesses. You can find a complete list of Holiday Open House and Passport participating businesses at www.christmasinatlantic.com.

Pick up your Christmas Brochure from area retail businesses, like the Chamber on Facebook or follow on Twitter to find dates and details to celebrate Christmas in Atlantic. You can find a complete list of activities at www.christmasinatlantic.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 with any questions at chamber@atlanticiowa.com or call 712.243.3017.

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

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A man from California was arrested Wednesday evening in Creston, for Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense. 57-year old Bret Jorgensen, of Galt, CA, was taken into custody at around 6-p.m. and later released on a $1,000 bond. And, at around 9:15-a.m. Wednesday, a woman from Cedar Rapids reported to Creston Police that sometime around 5:30-p.m. Tuesday, her purse was stolen from her vehicle. The incident happened while the vehicle was parked near the Southwestern Community College Nursing Building. The loss was estimated at $80.

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

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Atlantic Fire & Rescue, Medivac Ambulance and Atlantic Police responded to a call about thick smoke coming from a home on Atlantic’s west side late Wednesday night. The call came in from a home at 511 Front Street at around 11:15-p.m.  Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNees told KJAN News Atlantic Police Lt. Paul Wood (who is also a volunteer firefighter) was first on the scene and confirmed thick smoke was emitting from the structure, which had been evacuated prior to authorities’ arrival. One person was transported by Medivac to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, for treatment of smoke inhalation.

McNees said they thought at first the fire was in the basement, and perhaps from a dryer or furnace. But after they entered the home, it was discovered the smoke was coming from a pan of grease on the stove that registered 1,200 degrees on the thermal imaging device. He said it was a “miracle” the grease didn’t erupt into flames, because it was splattered around the pan, as well.

Crews were on the scene for about 45-to 60-minutes, ventilating the home, which sustained primarily smoke damage.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — In a story Nov. 6 about people sickened by carbon monoxide exposure at a Marshalltown, Iowa, church, The Associated Press, relying on a city fire official, reported erroneously that one person had died. Fire Chief David Rierson now says officials were mistaken and no one died. A corrected version of the story is below:

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a number of people suffered breathing problems and some were hospitalized after breathing carbon monoxide at their church in Iowa, where a gasoline-powered generator was running in the unvented basement to provide heat and lighting. Medics and police officers found several people with headaches and breathing difficulties at about 2:45 p.m. Sunday at the Church of God in Marshalltown. First responders helped churchgoers get treatment at a Marshalltown hospital. Some of the victims later were taken to hospitals in Iowa City and Des Moines.

Marshalltown Deputy Fire Chief Christopher Cross couldn’t provide the name of those who were injured. Cross said the building didn’t have electric or gas service and lacked a city occupancy permit.

Iowa Republicans gathered in Des Moines Wednesday night for a party fundraiser and the G-O-P’s top leaders urged the crowd to avoid complacency. Ronna Romney McDaniel — the chairwoman of the Republican NATIONAL Committee — was a keynote speaker.”This is the most critical time for our party, just as critical as this last election. If we lose these midterms, if we give up our majorities in the senate and the house, we know that our government will stall out, the president will not be able to accomplish his agenda and we will go into 2020 a weakened party.”

Sean Spicer, the man who served about eight months as White House press secretary, also took the stage, with a microphone in his hand. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to stay away from the podium. I told my wife I was giving them up for good.” Spicer, as you may recall, was parodied on Saturday Night Live by actress Melissa McCarthy who crashed a mobile lectern into a group of reporters. Spicer encouraged the crowd of Iowa Republicans to avoid “fighting with each other” and imposing “litmus tests” on G-O-P candidates in 2018. “There is a stark difference between the worst Republican and the best Democrat.”

Spicer later added that he’s “really worried” the 2018 midterms. “I see the sacrifice that so many people are making and then sometimes the silliest skirmishes get in the way of progress and success because there was this: ‘Someone didn’t get the credit they deserved.’ Or they think someone’s establishment or they’re not pure enough on something.”  Last night’s event started about 24 hours after the polls closed on statewide elections in Virginia and New Jersey that saw Democrats score victories. Iowa G-O-P chairman Jeff Kaufmann told reporters the lesson for the G-O-P in 2018 is to “be aggressive.” “Don’t be complacent,” Kaufmann said. “If Republicans show up, Republicans are going to win.”

Romney McDaniel, the national party chairwoman, rejects the idea Tuesday night’s election results were a surprise. “Virginia’s a state that’s been trending blue. New Jersey had its own unique circumstances. It wasn’t a surprise that it went blue for their governorship. It means we’re at the status quo and I think it means we’re going to go into a very competitive 2018,” she told reporters during a brief news conference. “The RNC’s very well positioned. We’ve raised record funds and we’re putting staff on the ground all across the country and we’re going to have staff here in Iowa.”

President Trump criticized the Republican who lost the Virginia governor’s race for failing to fully “embrace” Trump’s political brand. Romney McDaniel says Trump “is in line” with his core supporters and his policies will “resonate” in 2018. “There is no problem running as the party of Donald Trump,” McDaniel says. “Look at record fundraising for the RNC. We’ve passed the $100 million mark for the first time in a post-presidential year, mainly on the support of small dollar donors that are giving under $200. That’s the enthusiasm for the president.”

The chairwoman of the Republican National Committee also told reporters she expects Iowa’s Caucuses will be the lead-off event in the 2020 presidential race. “We have a site-selection committee and I don’t see anything changing,” Romney McDaniel says.  Mitt Romney, the G-O-P’s 2012 presidential nominee, is her uncle and Romney McDaniel says she has “fond memories” of campaigning for him here.  “One of the things that I think is special about Iowa and the First-in-the-Nation status is I saw firsthand how seriously the voters took it here when I came in for the (Iowa GOP) Straw Poll. They love seeing the candidates. They get out. It’s a state that you can travel to all the 99 counties. You can afford the media markets, so I think it’s a state that takes that roll very seriously and I don’t see any changes.”

Iowa G-O-P’s chairman, who was standing beside McDaniel, joked that he was “tearing up” over her comments about the Iowa process.

(Radio Iowa/Des Moines)

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman sent a note out to the media Wednesday afternoon indicating an error in the Anita City Council results. The name of write-in candidate Tim Wheelock was left off of the worksheet in error, Tuesday night. Wheelock’s name was written-in as a candidate for one of three seats on the Anita City Council. The winners, with Wheelock’s numbers thrown into the mix are:

• John Knutson, 68 votes.
• Ben Daughenbaugh, 58 votes.
• Tim Wheelock, 42 votes.

The other candidate, incumbent Mark Harris, received 25 votes. There were a scattering of 12 other, write-in votes.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County say a traffic stop a little after 11-p.m. Wednesday resulted in the arrest of a woman on an OWI charge. 63-year old Rosana D. Taylor, of Red Oak, was taken into custody for OWI/1st offense. Taylor was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 cash bond,