Dolly Bergmann of Atlantic was recently honored as an Outstanding Volunteer by the Iowa Urban Tree Council. The presentation was made Thursday, April 6 at the 27th Annual Urban Forestry Awards Luncheon in Des Moines.

Bergmann has been a part of the Atlantic Trees Forever since 1999 and is currently serving as president. She has raised $156,000 for trees through grants and donations, translating to approximately 3,900 trees planted in the Atlantic community. The trees are planted throughout Atlantic — at entry signs, the hospital, assisted living facilities,the high school and middle school, the YMCA, the fairgrounds, parks, cemetery and in many city and highway rights of way.

Paul Tauke, State Forester (left) and Heath Ellis, President of the Iowa Urban Tree Council (right)

In addition to writing grants, Bergmann has applied for the Tree City Award every year on behalf of Atlantic. She organizes and leads Arbor Day events with the Atlantic School District, planting a tree with the local 4th graders every year for the past decade. Each year she provides an educational program, teaching the importance of properly planting and maintaining newly planted trees.

“Dolly Bergmann is an outstanding example of Iowa’s community forestry volunteers,” said State Forester Paul Tauke. “Her volunteer efforts will enhance our forest resources and benefit Atlantic for future generations.”

Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert says with the lack of rain this weekend it is still dry in the fields and grassy areas, therefore fire will spread more rapidly than anticipated. The Local Fire Danger Index will be in the HIGH Category until at least Thursday.

Seivert thanks the public for calling their planned/controlled burns in ahead of time. That reduces the number of unnecessary response by volunteer firefighters and others. He asks you to  continue calling 712-755-2124 with your burn information, and to inform your local fire chief.

It’s prom season in Iowa and more online retailers are offering to rent formal dresses as an attractive and affordable option for high schoolers. Ellen McKinney, a professor of apparel, merchandising and design at Iowa State University, is studying the growing trend of renting gowns for big occasions. McKinney says most kids love the concept. “On the whole, they are extremely happy,” McKinney says. “They get to wear something that’s unique and special and they don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to do it. In general, they get a lot of positive feedback from other people at the event.”

McKinney says dress rental offers students who don’t have a lot of spending money an excellent advantage. “By renting a dress, they’re paying maybe 10 to 20% of what they would pay to buy it,” McKinney says. “For the same budget, they’re getting a high-quality dress that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to have.”

She says it creates an edge for internet-based merchants versus the brick and mortar businesses for formal wear. “Some of the competitive advantage of the rental service is that they offer all of this information of reviews that they can read,” McKinney says. “It lets people know, okay, how are other people liking this dress? Will I like it? It gives them confidence to order online.”

Consumers are moving away from owning clothes and other products, shifting toward more rental, trading and sharing and she expects the trend to continue. McKinney’s research can be found in the latest edition of the Clothing and Textiles Research Journal.

(Radio Iowa)

A pursuit that began in Washington County, NE early this (Monday) morning ended in Iowa with a crash and the arrest of a man wanted on a Fugitive from Justice warrant from Woodbury County, IA. 23-year old Alan C. Reyes, Jr., of Sioux City, was taken into custody after the SUV he was driving went out of control following a wild chase that saw speeds reach 100 miles per hour and ended near 152nd and Rosewood Road at around 1-a.m.  Reyes was charged with Felony eluding, distribution of narcotics, a drug tax stamp violation, driving while barred, and prohibited acts. Inside the vehicle, authorities found a large bag containing 115.5 grams of methamphetamine. Reyes was also wanted on a warrant out of South Dakota for Failure to Appear on dangerous drug charges.

Three passengers in the vehicle were also arrested: 23-year old Marcos Avila, of Sioux City, was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, no drug tax stamp and prohibited acts; 34-year old Tiffany Radley, of Sioux City, was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, no drug tax stamp and prohibited acts; and, 24-year old Victoria Eyer, of Hornick, was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, no drug tax stamp and prohibited acts.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports also, 18-year old Sydnie Morgan Collins, of McClelland, was arrested Sunday morning for Interference with Official Acts, after authorities forced entry into a home where alcohol was being served to persons under the legal age. Collins, along with eight other individuals – one female and seven males – was also cited for consuming alcoholic beverages at the party, located at a residence in McClelland.

Early Saturday morning, Deputies arrested 40-year old Anthony Joseph Blotzer, of Avoca, following a traffic stop in Avoca, for expired registration tags. Blotzer was taken into custody for OWI/2nd offense, and cited for expired drivers license.  Also arrested Saturday, was 25-year old Matthew John Swanson, of Council Bluffs, who was charged with OWI/2nd offense, eluding, and cited for speeding.

A traffic stop on a motorcycle Saturday, in Underwood, resulted in the arrest of 30-year old Johnathon Daniel Kunze, of Underwood, for Driving While Revoked/OWI Test Failure, and two citations for moving violations.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Saturday morning of 39-year old Timothy Duane Snyder, of Kimballton. Snyder was taken into custody for Domestic Abuse Assault, following an investigation into an incident in Kimballton earlier that same morning. Snyder was later released from custody after appearing before a magistrate.

In an update to our earlier report, the Iowa State Patrol says an 11-year old died and an adult male was injured during a UTV rollover accident Saturday afternoon in Winnebago County. The victim was identified as 11-year old Carter Trunkhill, of Woden. Carter, and 44-year old Matthew Trunkhill, also of Woden, were transported to the hospital in Britt, where the child died from his injuries.

The accident happened when they were riding a 2016 Polaris Ranger and turning left from a private driveway onto 100th Avenue. The machine went out of control and rolled onto its side. The driver was ejected. The accident happened at around 4:15-p.m.

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

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One person was arrested recently on a drug charge in Creston, while two others were arrested on Theft charges. Creston Police say 30-year old Sara Lyn Abell, of Creston, was arrested Friday afternoon for Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st Offense. She was later released on bond.

Saturday night, 40-year old Shelby Lynn Weis, of Creston, was arrested at 806 Laurel Street, in Creston, for Theft in the 3rd Degree. Sunday evening, 39-year old John Michael Burgoyne, of Creston, was also arrested on 806 Laurel Street, for Theft in the 3rd Degree. Weis was released from custody on bond, while Burgoyne was being held in the Union County Jail on a total of $7,000 bond.

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

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Police in Shenandoah responding to a reported assault Saturday evening in the 700 block of Church Street, ended-up arresting a 16-year old male on numerous charges. The teen was arrested at around 6:30-p.m. when, during the investigation, he became involved in a physical confrontation with officers.

The juvenile was charged with 2 felony counts of Assault on a Peace Officer with a Dangerous Weapon, 3 counts of Interference with Official Acts resulting in Bodily Injury, Serious Assault, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – a Simple Misdemeanor.

The juvenile was transported to the Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs, pending further legal proceedings.