The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, Monday, announced the deadline to file nominations for the annual “Angels of Christmas” award has been extended to this Friday, Nov. 21st. Nominations may be submitted hard copy to the chamber at 102 Chestnut Street or via email chamber@atlanticiowa.com.

The Angels of Christmas is a tradition in Atlantic that allows for the recognition and thanking of area residents who symbolize the true meaning of the season. Angels exemplify the true holiday spirit all year long and putting others first, spreading generosity and sharing the holiday spirit with everyone they meet.

This year, the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce and Cass County Health System (CCHS) will honor an Angel of Christmas at our local Holiday Concert on Sunday, December 7th.  The honored Angels of Christmas will receive a gift of AtlanticCash and an angel figurine in appreciation for their spirit of giving and serving others.  CCHS CEO Todd Hudspeth says “We are very pleased to sponsor the Angels of Christmas award this year.  As a healthcare provider, we have many opportunities to see the generous nature of our community all year long.  It’s our privilege to assist in recognizing individuals who truly carry the angel spirit with them every day.”

For more information, contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017.

Officials with the Cass County Health System (CCHS) in Atlantic, say Dr. Roger Drown, D.P.M. will relocate his podiatry practice to Cass County Health System this month. Dr. Drown began providing podiatric care for area residents as a visiting specialist in the CCMH Outpatient Clinics in July of 2013. Since that time, he has decided to make Cass County Health System his only practice location. The doctor says he’s excited to relocate his practice to Atlantic, and that “During [his] time at CCHS, [he] have been very impressed with the physicians, staff and facilities.”

Dr. Roger Drown, D.P.M.

Effective Tuesday, November 18th, Dr. Drown will provide care in Atlantic three days each week—Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The office will remain in its current location within the hospital’s Outpatient Clinics.

Dr. Drown received his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from Des Moines University in 2009. He completed his residency in foot and ankle surgery at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in 2012. Since that time he has practiced with East Village Foot and Ankle Surgeons in Des Moines. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Drown, please call 712-243-7590. No referral is necessary.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — More farmers are filing lawsuits against agrochemicals giant Syngenta in a legal battle tied to the sale of a genetically modified corn seed. Agrisure Viptera is genetically altered to kill corn-eating bugs and is approved by the United States. It was marketed to farmers in 2011.

But China, a major corn market that refuses to buy genetically modified crops it hasn’t tested, had not agreed to import it. It began rejecting U.S. corn last year when Viptera was detected. More than 50 lawsuits have been filed and hundreds more are being prepared. The lawsuits say losing China as a buyer has cost corn farmers more than $1 billion.

Syngenta says the lawsuits are without merit and upholds the right of farmers to use approved new technologies.

The Audubon County Community Foundation, Friday, awarded $39, 770 in grants to four non-profit agencies. ACCF Chair Brett Irlmeier says with this most recent round of grants, the Foundation has distributed more than $1.2-million in grants and scholarships over the last 14-years.

Among the grant recipients is: The Audubon Downtown Stage Revitalization Committee, which received $5,000 for handicap access, signage and other components for the John James Audubon City Park stage structure; The Audubon Recreation Foundation – $15,000, for a Recreation Center project; The Exira Community Club received $5,000 for the Little League Splash Pad, and the Exira Public Library received $14,770 to complete their current construction project.

Of the $39,770: about $2,500 is from the Leon and Iva Milliman Endowed Fund, for the Exira Public Library; $2,800 is from the Charles T. and Kathleen K. Manatt Endowed Fund, $690 came from the Audubon State Bank/Stephen Garst Endowed Fund, and $1,200 came from the Audubon Masonic Association, which was directed to the Audubon Recreation Fund. In addition, $490 was from the Fred and Evelyn Nissen Endowed Fund for Audubon, and $490 from the Merle and Norma Petersen Endowed Fund for the Audubon Downtown Revitalization Stage Committee.

All grantees submitted their grant applications by the September 1st deadline, and met the criteria as Audubon  County non-profit agencies or organizations with charitable missions in the areas of civic, cultural, health, education and social services. Only those organizations providing services in Audubon County were eligible.

For more information about donating or establishing an individual foundation or fund, contact Iowa Foundations Director Dennis Nissen, at 1-800-794-3458.

An Atlantic woman who lied about her daughter having cancer and solicited funds for her treatment, has pleaded guilty to 5 out of 20 counts against her, including four felonies and one serious misdemeanor charge. 30-year old Leatha Kaye Slauson faces up to 21-years in jail when she is sentenced on Dec. 22nd in Cass County District Court.

Leatha Kaye Slauson (Cass Co. Sheriff’s Office photo)

In her plea bargain, Slauson agreed to plead guilty to Class D felony charges that include two counts of Child Endangerment/Bodily Injury, with regard to the administering of Cannabis Oil and Neupogen to her daughter Riley, as well as a count of Administering Harmful Substances. She also plead guilty to a Serious Misdemeanor charge of Unlawful Possession of a prescription drug/Neupogen, and a reduced felony charge of Theft in the second degree, also a Class D- felony. She was originally charged with Theft in the 1st degree, a Class C felony.

Slauson will be released from custody and allowed to live with her mother in Hampton, Iowa. She is not allowed to have contact with her children or her husband, and must complete a mental health evaluation prior to her sentencing. Cass County Attorney Dan Feistner answered a question many people have with regard to the money.

He said at least $13,000 of the money Slauson garnered from various fund raising activities for her daughter’s supposed cancer treatment has been frozen at a local bank. Another nearly $13,000 was spent by Slauson. The remaining funds are not officially accounted for, but she will likely be required to make restitution. But when and how much she must repay has yet to be determined.

Slauson attorney Jay Mez said overall, he’s pleased with the agreement.

At a hearing Monday (11/17) morning at the Cass County Courthouse Leatha Slauson pleaded guilty to 5 out of 20 counts including 4 felonies, and 1 serious misdemeanor.  Slauson will face the potential of 21 years in prison at a sentencing that will take place on December 22nd at 9am.

The Atlantic Police Department has released details about an accident that occurred at 9th and Poplar Streets in Atlantic  last Friday, November 14th.  Officials say a vehicle driven by Jesse Simmons of Atlantic was traveling southbound in the 900 block of Poplar Street entering the intersection at 9th Street, when it was struck by a vehicle driven by Marilyn Mundorf ,of Atlantic.  Mundorf had stopped at the stop sign in the 100 block of West 9th Street facing eastbound, and proceeded to enter the intersection, when she hit Simmons’ pickup, causing it to roll on it’s top.

Mundorf was cited for failure to stop or yield at an intersection. Her vehicle sustained $4,500 damage.  Simmons was cited for Driving Under Suspension and No Liability Insurance. His vehicle sustained $8,200 damage.

A single vehicle rollover accident with injuries occurred Saturday, November 15th south of Elk Horn.  The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene on Highway 173 near the 400 Block south of Elk Horn at 12:20pm. Officers discovered 17-year-old Zachary Thompson of Elk Horn had lost control of the 2005 Chevy Trailblazer he was driving southbound and went into the east ditch and rolled onto the roof and came to rest.

Elk Horn Fire and Rescue responded to the scene and transported Thompson to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic where he was then transported to Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha for further treatment.

The roadway was ice and snow covered at the time of the accident and no further details are known at the time of this report.

3 suspects are in custody following a narcotics investigation by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.  Officials say a search warrant was executed at the residence of 35-year-old Benjamin Allmon, in Westphalia today (Monday, November 17th).  The Cass County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit assisted with the investigation at 409 Weber Street in Westphalia.

Three suspects were arrested at the residence and face various charges.  Allmon was charged with Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine), Possession with Intent to Deliver (Methamphetamine), Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp, and Prohibited Acts. 28-year-old Amanda Hourani, of Defiance, was charged with Gathering where Controlled Substances are used, Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine). 48-year-old Darius Jacobs of Omaha, Nebraska, was charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver (Methamphetamine), and Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp.

All three suspects are currently being held in the Shelby County Jail. Allmon and Jacobs were being held on $100,000 bond, while Hourani’s bond was set at $2,000.

A book is being released today (Monday) detailing the long history of a long road, U-S Highway 20, which cuts across Iowa and the nation. Author Michael Till grew up along the historic roadway in the northeast Iowa town of Independence, where it was Main Street, and says he always found Highway 20 fascinating.  “I knew as a small child that it went from coast to coast, from Boston to Newport, Oregon,” Till says, “but I hadn’t really given it a great deal of thought in terms of traveling it until I got a bit older.”

The road was completed 88 years ago and runs across 301 miles of Iowa, from Sioux City to Dubuque. As Till began exploring the many miles of highway, he started collecting postcards that featured landmarks along the route. “Now I have a collection of over 3,000 postcards going all the way from Boston to Newport,” he says. “Highway 20 is 3,365 miles long so that would come to approximately one postcard every mile.”

His latest book is tailored for the Iowa market as it’s called “Along Iowa’s Historic Highway 20,” though he’s also written books about Highway 20 in Massachusetts, New York and Ohio. Till will make stops in several Iowa cities on his book tour starting December 1st, including in: Waterloo, Independence, Webster City, Ackley and Williams. The book can be ordered through Arcadia Publishing, Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

(Radio Iowa)