Two people were arrested in Atlantic, Monday. The Police Department says 27-year old Jonathan Nelson, of Atlantic, was arrested on charges of Child Endangerment and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana. And, 43-year old William Garside, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant charging him with 5th Degree Theft. Both men were booked into the Cass County Jail.

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Iowans who are curious or concerned about where their food comes from might consider a trip to Ames for tonight’s (Tuesday) event, called a Food Dialogue, or they can participate via the internet. Mindy Williamson is spokeswoman for the Iowa Corn Growers Association, which is teaming up with the U-S Farmers and Ranchers Alliance to sponsor the program. Williamson says, “It’s supposed to be a conversation about food and we are focusing on organic, talking about the definition of local food and also talking about GMOs.”

The issue of genetically-modified organisms continues to be a topic of discussion for many consumers, farmers and activists, and she says it will definitely be a point for conversation at this event.  “We have an evenly-balanced panel of experts and farmers who are going to give consumers, the general public who are in attendance and also those who are live streaming the opportunity to ask questions and get answers straight from the sources.” She says they’ve assembled a panel that is very knowledgeable on an array of ag issues, the G-M-O debate in particular.

Williamson says, “We have some farmers who use conventional farming practices here in Iowa and we also have some farmers who grow organically to talk about what are the issues, what do we need to be concerned about as consumers or what do we not need to worry about as consumers.” Panelists include: Larry Cleverly, an organic farmer, supplier and farmers market vendor; Dr. Wayne Parrott, a professor with the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at the University of Georgia; Wayne Humphreys, a crop and livestock farmer; Dave Murphy, founder and executive director of Food Democracy Now!; Katie Olthoff, a Common Ground volunteer and turkey farmer; and John Schillinger, a crop researcher.

The Food Dialogue begins at 7 P-M at Iowa State University’s Scheman Building. It’s open to the public and it will be streamed live online at www.iowacorn.org.

(Radio Iowa)

The Atlantic Parks and Rec Board Monday, set Dec. 5^th , 2013 as the date for an open house and tour of the new Park Maintenance Building. The event will take place from 4-to 6-pm, which the Board hopes will allow shoppers and those just getting off of work an opportunity to check out the new facility and enjoy some snacks and refreshments. The recently finished metal framed building features a concrete floor, plenty of room for equipment, an office, lobby/reception area, and cabinets purchased from the Cass County Memorial Hospital.

The cabinets were no longer needed at the hospital because of their recent renovation project, which Park and Rec Director Roger Herring said saved thousands of dollars in fabrication costs. The heavy tops for the cabinets and work benches were made from unused skate park high density fiberboard.

In other business, through a cooperative effort with the wellness group Healthy Cass County and through grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Iowa Community Transformation, three different walking paths have been identified throughout the downtown Atlantic area. He says bike racks will be placed in strategic places along the paths as well, in addition to signage indicating which walking path you are on.

The paths are color coded: Green (1-mile route), Red (2-miles) and Orange (1.5-miles). Information about the paths is being circulated throughout the community, with additional details planned for release later.

Police in Red Oak arrested one person early this (Tuesday) morning on a harassment charge. 53-year old Victor Audie Stephens, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 1:05 at 104 E. Walnut Street, for Harassment in the 3rd Degree. Stephens was booked into the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on a $300 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The former CEO of Texas-based Reliant Energy is expected to be the latest Iowa Republican running for U.S. Senate in 2014. Fifty-one-year-old Mark Jacobs plans to announce his intentions Tuesday. Republicans seeking to succeed retiring Democrat Tom Harkin include radio host Sam Clovis, state Sen. Joni Ernst, lawyer Paul Lunde, former car salesman Scott Schaben, former U.S. Attorney Matt Whitaker and former Senate aide David Young. U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley is the only Democrat.

EDDYVILLE, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man was pinned to the wreckage of a car for nearly two days over the weekend. The Wapello County Sheriff’s Office says 60-year-old Patrick Allen Douglas, of Ottumwa, was discovered Sunday afternoon in a car near Highway 63, south of Eddyville. The car entered the median between two bridges, near a creek. Authorities believe the crash happened between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Friday. Douglas told officials he fell asleep while driving.

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) — A northeast Iowa man’s murder conviction won’t be reviewed by the state Supreme Court. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports the court denied a request by 32-year-old James Dean Raymond, of Clarksville, to review his 2006 conviction of first-degree murder in the death of Jesse Patchin, of Charles City. Prosecutors say Patchin died after an argument over a drug deal in a mobile home near Nashua around Oct. 1, 2005.

JEFFERSON, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa elementary school was placed briefly on lockdown after a high-speed police chase was called off near the campus. The chase began in Slater when an Iowa Department of Transportation enforcement officer clocked a car traveling at more than 100 mph in a 55 mph zone. The Des Moines Register reports the vehicle sped into Jefferson toward Jefferson-Scranton Elementary School. Officials soon called off the chase, but a suspect was later taken into custody.

Police in Red Oak report the arrest Monday night of 21-year old Cody Dean Johnson, of Red Oak. Johnson was taken into custody near 3rd and Coolbaugh Streets at around 10:50-p.m., on a charge of Theft in the 5th Degree. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail a $300 cash bond.

The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department officially has two new members. Prior to the start of their regular meeting Monday evening, Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones recited the oath of office to incoming members Erin McFadden and Charlene Beane, who were elected to the Board during the November 5th City elections.

Erin McFadden (left) and Charlene Beane (Center) are sworn-in by Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones.

The new board then got down to business by electing their officers for the next two-years. It turns out there was no change, with Stuart Dusenberry having been re-elected as Chair, Mary Strong, Vice Chair, and Jolene Smith as Secretary.

During their meeting, Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring reported a fish kill can be expected soon in Lake number 1 at the Schildberg Recreation Area. Last month, Brian Hayes, Fisheries Biologist with the DNR reported to the Board the Gizzard Shad has overpopulated the lake and stunted the growth of other game fish.

Gizzard Shad fish

Hayes said to deal with the menacing Gizzard Shad, the DNR will have to administer a dosage of Rotenone. Herring warned the Board that the DNR will be treating the lake possibly within the next week, or before the first ice freeze at the very least, and the result will be visually shocking to the point where the Board can expect calls from the public.

He said there will be a “sizable fill kill out there,” and will result in a lot of fish floating on top of the water. The media will be notified 48-hours in advance of the kill, which is designed to improve the fish population. While the floating fish carcasses might be a bit disturbing, Herring says Brian Hayes told him there is a plus side, in that the fish will attract predatory birds. That means there may be several Bald Eagles drawn to Atlantic. The rotenone will be in such small concentrations, that it will not harm the animals or birds that eat the fish which were killed by the chemical application.

In other business, the Atlantic Parks and Rec Board approved for remittance to the City Council, a draft of the Tobacco Free Policy for Sunnyside Park, with a slight modification. It was created using the City of Adel’s Ordinance which says tobacco use is prohibited in designated areas of City parks, trails, and outdoor recreational facilities, and all public building grounds at all times. Designated park areas include: restrooms, athletic fields and in the spectator areas of athletic fields during a sporting event; tennis courts; disc golf courses; playground areas; recreational trail rest areas; and any pavilions; shelters and benches located in a park or on a public ground.

Atlantic’s version would add the basketball court, but remove the disc golf course from the list of areas where the use of tobacco products would be prohibited. It would also be submitted as a proposed ordinance instead of a “Policy.” Herring said the police department is recommending it be submitted as an ordinance because it would be more enforceable than a “Policy.” The final version will be written by the City Attorney and presented before the City Council at a future meeting for their approval.

The Stuart Police Department reports one person was arrested on arson and other charges, Sunday, following a reported fire at the Super 8 hotel just off Interstate 80 at the Stuart exit. Officials say evidence discovered during the investigation resulted in the arrest of Jason McGowan, of Stuart.  McGowan was arrested at the scene of the fire and taken to the Adair County Jail, where he was charged with 1st Degree Arson, filing False Reports (Arson) and False Reports to Public Safety Entity in relation to the fire.

The incident began at around 5:35-p.m. Sunday, with reports of a fire at the Super 8 Hotel located at 203 SE 7th St. in Stuart. Officers arrived and found a guest room on fire. According to Stuart Police Chief David Reha fire alarms were not working in the building at the time of the fire. Stuart Police evacuated the hotel by going room to room. Officers later discovered that one of their vehicles had been intentionally damaged while they were inside evacuating the hotel. The hotel room was a total loss and damage is estimated in excess of $3,000.00. Damage to the police vehicle was estimated at $200.

Due to suspicious circumstances surrounding the fire, a cooperative investigation was conducted by members of the Stuart Police Department, Stuart Fire Department, and Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office, which led to McGowan’s arrest. In addition to the arson and false report charges, McGowan was charged with Criminal Mischief,  with regard to the damage caused to a police vehicle.