Iowa Republican Governor Terry Branstad stopped in Atlantic this (Tuesday) afternoon, where he held a Town Hall meeting at the old Rock Island Depot, home of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. Prior to the public forum, the Governor signed a proclamation recognizing Thursday, Oct. 22nd, as “Lights on After School” day.

Gov. Branstad (Left) reads the Lights on Afterschool Proclamation, w/Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones to his right.

The proclamation read: WHEREAS, the Atlantic Community, stands firmly committed to quality afterschool programs and opportunities because they:
· Provide safe, challenging, engaging and fun learning experiences to help children and youth develop their social, emotional, physical, cultural and academic skills.
· Support working families by ensuring their children are safe and productive after the regular school day ends.
· Build stronger communities by involving our students, parents, business leaders and adult volunteers in the lives of our young people, thereby promoting positive relationships among children, youth, families and adults.
· Engage families, schools and diverse community partners in advancing the welfare of our children.

WHEREAS, First United Methodist Church, Zion Lutheran Church, Atlantic Public Library, ISU Extension, and Nishna Valley Family YMCA has provided significant leadership in the area of community involvement in the education and well-being of our youth, grounded in the principle that quality afterschool programs are key to helping our children become successful adults.

WHEREAS, Lights On Afterschool, a national celebration of afterschool programs on October 22, 2015, promotes the critical importance of quality afterschool programs in the lives of children, their families, and their communities.

WHEREAS, more than 28 million children in the U.S. have parents who work outside the home, and 15.1 million children have no place to go after school.

WHEREAS, many afterschool programs across the country are facing funding shortfalls so severe that they are being forced to close their doors and turn off their lights.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Mayor Dave Jones urges the citizens of Atlantic Iowa and Governor Terry Branstad urges the citizens of Iowa to ensure that every child has access to a safe, engaging place where the lights are on after school; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Mayor Jones and Governor Branstad enthusiastically endorses Lights On Afterschool and is committed to innovative afterschool programs and activities that ensure that the lights stay on and the doors stay open for all children after school.

Launched in October 2000, Lights On Afterschool (LoA) is the only nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families and communities.

The Atlantic program takes place from 4:30-until 6:30-p.m. Thursday at the Nishna Valley YMCA, and features burgers and hot dogs donated by the Afterschool Alliance and prepared by the Cass County Beef Producers, water from the Atlantic Coca Cola Bottling Company, all sorts of fun events for kids, such as obstacle course competitions, pumpkin painting, glow-in the dark goo, magnet making, coloring, spider web building, a paper airplane competition, and information from Beth Olsen, Hy-Vee Dietitian.

Programs during the event will come from the YMCA, ISU Extension, Atlantic Public Library, Zion Lutheran Church, the 1st United Methodist Church, and Iowa Public Television.

Iowa Workforce Development spokesperson, Courtney Greene, says the September report out today (Tuesday) shows the lowest unemployment rate in Iowa since 2006.  “Iowa’s unemployment rate is down another tenth of a percent to three-point-six percent in September, and a year ago we were standing at four-point-three percent,” Greene says.

The unemployment rate in August was three-point-seven percent. July has been the only month this year where unemployment did not drop or stay the same. It went up a half percent in July to three-point-eight. The U-S unemployment rate remained at five-point-one percent in September. The state did lose 21-hundred non-farm jobs in September, but those losses were offset by the gains.

“Leisure and hospitality added the most jobs in September at about 15-hundred, and that was also bolstered by growth and accommodations in food service which added about 500. Education and health care also added 600 jobs. However, there were some losses in September — with the largest being in manufacturing. Just one of Iowa’s 99 counties went against the trend of falling unemployment in September.

“Cherokee was the only Iowa county to see unemployment rise from three-point-nine percent a year ago to four-point-four percent this September. And that rise is due in part to the closing of the Tyson plant in Cherokee last fall, and the nearby Denison Tyson plant that closed its doors in August,” Greene says. The total number of working Iowans was 26-hundred higher than August, and 27-hundred more than one year ago.

(Radio Iowa)

Authorities say two people suffered minor injuries during a single vehicle rollover accident this (Tuesday) morning, northeast of Atlantic. The accident at 650th (Highway 71) and Fayette Road, was reported just after 11-a.m.

Authorities say the Dale Pauley was driving a Cadillac SUV was traveling southbound on Highway 71 and attempting to pass a tractor and grain wagon, when the SUV made contact with the tractor, entered the west ditch and rolled over. Deputies on the scene said Pauley, and his passenger, Ila Pauley, both of Atlantic, suffered from minor lacerations and were transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by Medivac Ambulance. The driver of the tractor, William Wilson, of Exira, was not hurt.

Atlantic Fire and Rescue and Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted at the scene.

The Atlantic Police Department reports two men were arrested on assault charges, while another was arrested on drug charges. 28-year old Aaron Macias, of Atlantic, was arrested Saturday for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and on a Cass County warrant for Controlled Substance Violation. That same day, 37-year old Edward Sharp, II, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault, and on a warrant out of Cerro Gordo County for Theft in the 3rd degree.

On Oct. 13th, 20-year old Bryce Baker, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. And, on Oct. 12th, Atlantic Police arrested 24-year old Scott Downer, of Atlantic, for Driving While Barred. 26-year old Mykel Thoren, of Atlantic, was arrested that same day, for Theft in the 4th degree, and Interference with official acts.

All subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The state auditor says improper management of city finances over a five-year period cost the city of Neola more than $230,000. City officials requested a special audit after a new city clerk discovered financial irregularities following the firing of previous clerk Deb Schierbrock in August 2013.

State auditors say in a report released today (Tuesday) they found more than $41,000 of improper spending and $122,000 of payments that couldn’t be confirmed as legitimate city expenses. Auditors also found Schierbrock didn’t bill late fees to herself and others failing to pay utility bills on time. The audit covers city finances from 2009 through 2013.

Schierbrock hasn’t been charged.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – One of the three men suspected in the death of a Council Bluffs man has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge. The Daily Nonpareil reports that 18-year-old Caine Petersen‘s attorney submitted a written plea on Friday.

Petersen and 23-year-old Christopher King, of Lincoln, Nebraska; and 22-year-old Sarael Duncan, of Omaha, Nebraska, are accused of robbing Jacob Combs of marijuana. Authorities say the 20-year-old Combs died in a hospital Aug. 15th, after being found in a Council Bluffs street.

Officers say Combs jumped onto Petersen’s vehicle as the three men fled the scene but then fell or was thrown, suffering head injuries when he was struck.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports an Essex woman was arrested last Thursday on a warrant out of Pottawattamie County, for Harassment in the 2nd degree. 29-year old Colbie Jo Sue Fike was taken into custody at the Shenandoah Memorial Hospital.  Fike was transported to the Pottawattamie County Jail where she was held without bond, pending an appearance in front of a magistrate.

Authorities in Page County are investigating a single-vehicle accident that happened Monday afternoon. Sheriff Lyle Palmer says deputies were notified at around 3:50-p.m., about a vehicle in the ditch at the intersection of Hersey Street and Highway 71, in Shambaugh.  When they arrived, the driver of the vehicle, Karen Gay Spicer, was being attended to by Clarinda Ambulance Service and being removed from the driver’s seat of the 2007 Ford Taurus that she had been operating.

An initial investigation showed that Spicer was driving north on Highway 71, and as she turned onto Hersey, took the turn too wide. Her car entered the ditch, where it became hung up due to the grade of the ditch. Spicer was transported to the Clarinda Regional Health Center by the Clarinda Ambulance Service for treatment of unknown injuries. No charges were filed pending completion of test results from the Iowa DCI (Division of Criminal Investigation) Laboratory.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County say a rural Red Oak man was arrested Monday afternoon on a felony charge of Child Endangerment causing injury. Matthew A. Davis was taken into custody at around 3:30-p.m. following an investigation into a reported case of child abuse that allegedly occurred Oct. 10th. Authorities say Davis was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $5,000 bond. An investigation into the incident, continues.