OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Thanksgiving travel is underway for thousands of people, The Omaha Airport Authority said Tuesday is the second-busiest day for Thanksgiving travel. This coming Sunday is expected to be the busiest. They added they’re expecting to see more than 185,000 travelers moving in and out of the airport, which they said is a 3 percent increase from last year. The Omaha Airport Authority said you won’t see any major changes from what you’re used to flying in and out of Eppley. They said the construction is not really affecting travel. But still, it doesn’t hurt to have some pointers. Chief strategy officer Steve McCoy recommends arriving no later than two hours before your flight.

If you’re picking someone up, help keep the lanes outside the terminal open by parking in one of the two free cell phone waiting lots until your traveler arrives. There is one cell phone waiting lot on the north side of the terminal, and one on the south.

McCoy says those picking-up an airline passenger can wait in one of those lots until your guest arrives. When they give you a call or a text message, you can pull-up and pick them up.

Be sure and keep an eye on any flight delays the weather may cause by checking your airline’s website or smart phone app.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Thanksgiving and the day before are the top two days in this country for the chance of a cooking fire to happen in someone’s home. Cooking causes an average of 158,400 home fires per year, which is 44% of all home fires in the United States. The American Red Cross offers safety steps everyone can follow if they will be preparing their family’s Thanksgiving feast.  Emily Holley, Regional Communications Manager for the Nebraska-Iowa Chapter of the Red Cross, says “Cooking is the leading cause of home fires, home fire injuries and the second leading cause of home fire deaths. Most happen because people leave cooking food unattended. We want everyone to have a safe, enjoyable holiday, so don’t leave the kitchen while you’re cooking.”

The Red Cross offers the following cooking safety tips:

• Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you must leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• Use a timer to remind yourself that the stove or oven is on.
• Avoid wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking.
• Keep kids and pets at least three feet away from cooking areas.
• Keep anything that can catch on fire — potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, and towels or curtains — away from your stove top and oven or any other appliance that generates heat.
• Clean cooking surfaces on a regular basis to prevent grease buildup.
• Consider purchasing a fire extinguisher to keep in your kitchen.
• Always check the kitchen before going to bed or leaving home to make sure all stoves, ovens and small appliances are turned off.

(Atlantic,Iowa) – You don’t have to go all-out for your Thanksgiving meal, Thursday, and you don’t even have to do the dishes, if you attend the FREE 3^rd Annual Community Thanksgiving meal Thursday, in Atlantic. The event – with all the traditional fixings, including turkey, ham, dressing and pie, takes place from 11-a.m. Until 4-p.m. At the Cass County Community Center (next to the Fairgrounds), at 805 W, 10^th Street.

Take-out meals and delivery are available in Atlantic, and there are drop locations in Wiota, Anita, Cumberland, Massena, Lewis, Griswold, Marne, Walnut, Elk Horn and Exira (By pre-order only). To order to go meals on Thanksgiving please call or text message 712-250-1599 by no later than 5-p.m. On Wednesday (Nov. 27). Last year over 500 meals were served. Kristen Holaday-Brooks with Holaday Baking Company is serving the meal, thanks to numerous sponsors. Kristin’s family has hosted the event since its inception.

The first family was served after consulting with the Atlantic School District to see who needed the most help on Thanksgiving. From there, the need grew to multiple families.

The first year, she said, they were just trying to figure out the logistics of serving numerous people. They ended-up served about 450 meals.

As of last week, there were at least 159 meals ordered for delivery and the drop locations. The meat for the meal is smoked by Troublesome Creek Cattle Company in Exira, the week before the meal. Every meal is homemade.

Their job is made easier thanks to the use of an industrial potato peeler. The Atlantic Bottling Company has donated all of the drinks for the event. That’s also included with deliveries. The deliveries are handled by volunteers. Again, deliveries are made by pre-order only. For more information, call or text Anna at 712-250-1599, or visit the holadaybakingcompany’s Facebook page.