The Atlantic Parks and Rec Board, Monday evening received signs from J&J Graphic Designs, that feature art work created by local Girl Scout Cadet Troop 40116.

Members of the Atlantic Parks and Rec Board, and Girl Scout Cadet Troop 40116 proudly display the new signs intended for the shelter areas at Sunnyside Park. (Ric Hanson/Photo)

The signs respectfully asks patrons of area parks not to smoke around playground equipment and other areas. The girl scouts came up with the idea while working on their Journey Books called “Breathe,” which teaches them about clean air.

The Parks Board last month approved the purchase of the signs, which cost $25 each, for a total of $300. The local Girl Scouts Troop picked up half the cost, with the Parks & Rec Dept. paying for the balance. The roughly 11″x14″signs will be placed at various locations within Sunnyside Park, as soon as possible.

Future plans calls for the locally designed and made signs to be posted throughout Cass County, and perhaps the State.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey has announced that he will be visiting Cass, Buena Vista and O’Brien Counties on Wednesday, June 17th. Northey will address an FFA Field Day for the Future in Lewis at Noon, at the ISU Armstrong Research Farm (53265 Hitchcock Ave.).

Later in the day he’ll speak at the grand opening for Farm Nutrients in Rembrandt, attend an avian influenza support/prayer dinner in Albert City and speak at Iowa Corn Growers BBQ in Sheldon.

Northey, a corn and soybean farmer from Spirit Lake, is serving his third term as Secretary of Agriculture.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A nonprofit says around 140 volunteers have collected an estimated 10 tons of trash from the Missouri River in western Iowa. The Daily Nonpareil reports that volunteers on Saturday morning picked up the trash at a number of sites along the river. The effort was part of an event by Missouri River Relief, a nonprofit based in Columbia, Missouri, that coordinates clean-ups from South Dakota to St. Louis.

Among the findings by volunteers were multiple propane tanks and an arrow. Missouri River Relief has other clean-up events scheduled into the fall in other states.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says an Atlantic man was arrested Friday on a drug charge, and on a warrant out of Shelby County. 32-year old Sean Patrick Gifford, was taken into custody on charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver. Gifford was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was later released to Shelby County, where he was also wanted on a warrant.
Today (Monday) deputies with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested 50-year old Tary Joseph Scholz, of Lincoln, NE, on two District Court warrants, one for Burglary 3rd Degree and Criminal Mischief 3rd Degree; and one for Burglary 3rd Degree and Criminal Mischief 4th Degree, as related to area burglaries in October 2013 of car washes and laundromats. Scholz was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $11,500 bond.

The Cass County Emergency Management Agency is continuing to monitor both the Troublesome Creek and East Nishnabotna Rivers, in Atlantic. Troublesome was bank full and out of its banks to the south just east of the Olive Street bridge as of 11-a.m. At 10-a.m., the river was at 14.57-feet. Flood stage is 19-feet. The river is expected to crest at 15.5-feet, but Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon said that depends on how much more rain we get locally and upstream.

No flood warnings have been issued for Cass County at this time, however a Flood Warning is in effect for the East Nishnabotna River at Red Oak, until early Tuesday morning.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest last Thursday night, of 39-year old Gabriel Aaron Dabney, of Pacific Junction. Dabney was charged with Willful Disturbance and Interference with Official Acts. Bond was set at $600.

And, last Friday morning, 25-year old Christopher Lee McDaniel, of Pacific Junction, was arrested on a Warrant for Violation of Probation. McDaniel was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports a Guthrie Center woman was arrested by Police in Adair on June 9th. 31-year old Lisa Marie Ebrecht faces several charges, including Animal Neglect/Death or Injury. According to the sheriff’s report, the woman allegedly had the power shut off to a home at 602 Adair Street, knowing there were animals in kennels inside the home during the day. Ebrecht was also cited for Disorderly Conduct, Obstructing an Emergency Call, Criminal Mischief in the 3rd degree, Trespass – causing injury or damage in excess of $200, and Harassment in the 2nd degree. She was being held in the Adair County Jail on $2,000 bond.

The Sheriff’s Office said also, 46-year old Kevin Eugene Stark, of Adair, was arrested June 11th in Adair, by authorities with the Iowa Dept. of Corrections. Stark was taken into custody on a warrant. His bond was set at $2,000. And, 33-year old Michael Joshua Jones, of Creston, was arrested June 11th by Adair County deputies, on a charge of Harassment in the 1st degree. His bond was also set at $2,000.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports 37-year old Norman Dallas Olson, of Creston, was arrested Friday afternoon at the Union County Jail. Olson was taken into custody on a Union County warrant for probation violation. He was being held in the jail on $2000 bond.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday), released a report on recent arrests. Officials say on Sunday, 30-year old Sarah Kathleen Hansen, of Omaha, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. Last Wednesday, deputies arrested: 41-year old Denise Lynn Esquivel, of Shenandoah, who was sentenced to two days in jail, and 30-year old Zachary Michael Anderson, of Sidney, who was arrested for Failure to Comply with the State’s Sex Offender Registry.

And on June 7th, Fremont County deputies arrested: 27-year old Kassandra Lee Kudlacek, of Thurman, for Serious Domestic Assault; 39-year old Jason Michael Housh, of Bennington, NE., for OWI/2nd offense, Child Endangerment, and Excessive Speed, and 27-year old Jeremy Neil Anderson, of Omaha, for OWI/2nd Offense.