MACY, Neb. (AP) — Leaders of the Omaha Tribe in Nebraska are considering land in western Iowa for growing marijuana. The Sioux City Journal reports tribal members approved three referendums Tuesday giving the Tribal Council the authority to legalize marijuana for medicinal and recreational use and to grow plants for industrial hemp. The tribe is based in northeast Nebraska, but its reservation extends into Iowa’s Monona County.

Tribal Chairman Vernon Miller says a study will examine whether the business would make financial sense. Miller says leaders will watch the performance of the Flandreau Santee Sioux’s marijuana resort on its South Dakota reservation. Miller says it’s unclear whether the Omaha Tribe’s casino, Blackbird Bend, could become a similar resort. Miller says the tribe will ensure its efforts wouldn’t violate federal or state laws.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today (Thursday) thanked the 40 schools in 17 communities across the state that participated in the Iowa Farm to School’s “A is For Apple” initiative this fall. The schools received funds to buy locally grown apples and classroom supplies to teach students about the value of eating well and supporting local farmers. The “A is for Apple” initiative provided grants to 40 classrooms to support the purchase of fresh, locally grown apples from an orchard in their area while they are in season. A portion of the funds could also be used to purchase frozen apples that can be eaten anytime during the year.

Schools also received classroom supplies such as books, cookbooks or apple corers. The Guthrie Center School District was among the schools that participated in the initiative.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office says one person was injured during a collision Wednesday at the intersection of Highways 2 and 59. During the investigation it was determined that 47-year old Franklin Leroy Ramsdell, of Shenandoah, was stopped at the stop sign for westbound traffic on Highway 2 at the intersection. Ramsdell was operating a 2006 Ford Crown Victoria. 39-year old Angela D. Mace, of Rock Port,MO, was northbound on Highway 59 south of the intersection in a 2000 Honda Coupe.

Ramsdell pulled into the intersection in front of the Mace vehicle causing a collision. A juvenile passenger in the Mace vehicle was transported to the Shenandoah Medical center by private vehicle with unknown injuries. Deputies cited Ramsdell was cited for failure to yield on left turn. Damage from the collision amounted to $3,500.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office says a Bedford man was arrested this week for submitting a false report to law enforcement. 18-year old Austin James Cavin was booked into the Page County Jail and later posted a $1,000 bond. Authorities say his arrest followed an investigation Monday afternoon, into an alleged incident of criminal mischief perpetrated on a vehicle just west of Clarinda on 220th Street.

Austin James Cavin

During the investigation, it was determined that the vehicle had not been damaged
from Criminal Mischief, but from an accident.

A website currently housing information for the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce is being revamped, and will soon connect the City of Atlantic with local economic development entities, parks and recreation and other services, is scheduled to be operational next week.

City Administrator John Lund says the updated site will launch Tue., Nov. 10th. It will feature an online option for park reservations, online payment for storm water bills, as well as links to various City, County, Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce and other, economic sub-sites.

The site www.atlanticiowa.com, is being developed through 5Q Communications, based in Atlantic.

Officials with Farmers Cooperative Company (FC) and West Central® Cooperative this week announced a unanimous vote by their Boards of Directors to proceed with a merger vote by members of both cooperatives. Following several months of internal and independent analysis on the potential risks and benefits associated, the Boards approved the plan of merger and recommend a merger.

Pictured…Front row; Sue Tronchetti, Paton-area farmer and West Central Board Chair; John Scott, Odebolt-area farmer and FC Board President. Back row: Milan Kucerak, West Central President and Chief Executive Officer; Jim Carlson, Gowrie-area farmer and West Central Vice Chairman; Sam Spellman, Woodward-area farmer and West Central Board Secretary; Jordan Carstens, Bagley-area farmer and FC Board Vice President; Dan Reynolds, Rockwell City-area farmer and FC Board Secretary; and Jim Chism, FC Chief Executive Officer.

Odebolt-area farmer and FC Board President John Scott, said “Our members own these cooperatives. We encourage each owner to read the plan of merger and proposed articles of incorporation, ask questions, and return their ballot. Every member matters.”

West Central board chair and Paton-area farmer, Sue Tronchetti said “This is a landmark decision for our member-owners. Our Boards, management and employee teams believe we can diversify our businesses, improve member services and protect and enhance member patronage by utilizing our scale to procure more efficiently.”

Members are invited to hear presentations and information on the merger at one of 20 member meetings hosted Nov. 30th-Dec. 11th, 2015. A list of meeting locations and member resources are available online at wccgrow15.com or fcgrow15.com.

For a merger, Iowa law requires 50 percent of each membership to vote, with two-thirds of those votes cast to favor the proposal. Ballots and voting details will be mailed to each cooperative’s voting members approx. Nov. 20th, 2015. The votes will be counted at a special meeting slated for Dec. 18th, 2015.

Should the membership approve the merger, each cooperative will be represented by nine farmer-owners and member equity will roll into the new cooperative on a one-for-one basis. The combined cooperative, to be headquartered in Ames, Iowa, will be led by Kucerak as chief executive officer.

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones is stepping-up to help a Police Officer involved in the Atlantic P-D’s “No Shave” November effort to raise funds for the Police and Police Reserve’s annual “Shop with a Cop” and “Family Dreams Christmas” Programs.

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones

Officers and Reserve Officers are being allowed to grow the beard of their choice in November. The idea is that those officers must raise a minimum of $100 each in donations this month, to be put towards the kids’ programs. Any officer who does not raise the required amount minimum will be making up the difference out of his own pocket.

While the contest works out fine for the department’s male officers, it puts the only female officer, Christin Vavricek at a disadvantage. That’s where the Mayor is stepping up to the plate.

Atlantic Police Officer Christin Vavricek

Jones said he would serve as a proxy for Officer Vavricek and accept donations on her behalf for the children’s and families programs during the contest.

Anyone wishing to donate can contact the officers in person, or drop off your donation in the name of a specific officer or reserve officer at the Police Department. General donations are also accepted. Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green says it has been a tough year for a number of families in the Cass County area, and the needs of the kids are expected to be numerous. Checks should be made to the “Atlantic Police Reserves,” with an indication for the Christmas or Youth programs, in the memo line.

Atlantic Public Library Director Natalie Struecker, Wednesday, updated the City Council on upcoming programs and activities at the Library. One of the events coming up later this month, designed for persons 13-to 18-years of age, is with regard to the upcoming release of the third in a series of adventure novels by American author Suzanne Collins. Struecker says they will be celebrating the Nov. 20th release of the Hunger Games films by having a party.

Natalie Struecker (from her Linked-In page)

One of the movies “Catching Fire” will be shown at the Library at 4-p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10th. And, Mockingjay, Part 1, will be shown 4-p.m., Nov. 17th. The party at 3:30-p.m. Nov. 19th includes games and fun. Pre-registration for the party is required. There’s also a Tween Christmas Party set for 3:30-p.m. Dec. 1st, where young people can make and take crafts and play games to celebrate the season. Again, pre-registration is required.

Other, family-type events at the Library include a Star Wars Party, to celebrate the new film coming out. Registration is also required for that party, which will be held 4-p.m. Dec. 17th. A book fair also is on the slate for December. It takes place Dec. 8th from 10-a.m. until 6-p.m.

Natalie says also, a Brown Bag Book Discussion will be held at Noon on Nov. 13th and Dec. 11th. And, there are recipe swaps taking place starting Nov. 16th. Drop off your favorite recipes at the library by Dec. 11th. Booklets with the recipes will be made available beginning Dec. 21st.

For more information on those, and other events at the Atlantic Public Library, go to www.atlantic.lib.ia.us, or call 243-5466.

Sheriff’s officials in Union County say a man from southeastern Iowa’s Scott County was arrested Wednesday afternoon on several warrants. 38-year old Norman Dallas Olson, of Blue Grass, was transferred from the Madison County Jail to the Union County Jail on warrants for failure to appear on a theft 3rd degree charge, violation of probation, and failure to appear on an OWI 1st offense charge. Olson was being held in the Union County Jail on $2000 bond.

Basketball season starts soon, and the physical therapists at Cass County Health System are out in the community to speak with players about preventing injuries. Laura Hickman, DPT, ATC/L and Erin Johnson, PTA were recently at the Atlantic High School to talk with the varsity basketball teams about common knee injuries and ACL injuries including what causes them and ways to prevent them.

All of the athletes received information about exercises, tips to avoid ACL injuries/tear…s, warm-ups, and post-play cool downs. Laura and Erin both suffered ACL injuries as high school athletes, and they are now passionate about helping youth compete safely. They also spoke with the athletes about concussion symptoms and how to safely return to activity, and reminded them of the free injury screenings available to all student athletes any time they have a concern.