With the holidays around the corner, holiday shopping—and cooking—are beginning to show up on many to-do lists. Local businesses can join in the fun by participating in the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Recipe Walk on Thursday, Nov. 21st, from 5 to 7 p.m. in conjunction with Grand Lighting.  There is no specific theme for the recipes this year, but holiday favorites are always encouraged.

The Recipe Walk will be held in conjunction with Grand Lighting, which will be held in City Park at 5:30 p.m. The Chamber says it’s also not too late for businesses to join others who are hosting the recipe walk. The current list includes the Atlantic Coca-Cola Center and Museum, Aunt B’s, Bonnesen’s, Cappels Ace Hardware, Cullen & Associates, Downtowner Cafe and Catering and Longaberger consultant Dolly Bergmann. There is a $50 fee partake which includes pre-printed recipe cards and marketing of event.

For more information or to register, please contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712.243.3017 or via email at chamber@atlanticiowa.com.

Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz is reminding eligible Iowans to vote in the city elections that will be held on Tuesday, November 5th. Schultz says he hopes “All eligible Iowans take full advantage of their right to vote in the city elections. “Iowans take great pride in performing their civic duty and making their vote count.”

Iowans with questions regarding their voter registration or the location of their polling place are encouraged to contact their local county auditor’s office.

The Atlantic City Council Wednesday, is expected to act on the acquisition of two abandoned, dilapidated properties. The resolutions apply to properties at 611 Linn and 1200 Birch Streets. City Attorney Dave Wiederstein has indicated that even though the taking of the titles to those properties had not (as of last report) been finalized by the court, he believes the judge will enter decrees soon, awarding both titles to the City.

The Council will also receive a report from the Community Development Committee, and hear a request relative to financial assistance for an Atlantic Elderly Affordable Housing acquisition/rehabilitation project from the non-profit RD Atlantic LLLP. The group is seeking Tax Credit Awards from the Iowa Finance Authority for the project, with entails the acquisition and rehabilitation of the Regency Villa Apartments, and plans on investing $2.1-million for the rehabilitation of the living units and construction of on-site storm shelters and a community room. The groups is asking the City for a financial incentives package that includes a $20,000 loan with zero-percent interest for the first 15-years, with no principal paid until the end of the 15-years, and a Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) of $750 per year for the first 15-years.

City Administrator Doug Harris has indicated he believes the amount and term of the loan couple with the PILOT, would bring the project in-line with the General Obligation debt financing cost to the City.

In addition, the Council will act on a request from Mayor Dave Jones to have the City provide fill material to the Nishna Hills Golf Club, for the purpose of building their terraces to slow the amount of drainage in a drainage ditch that runs through their property. The cost to the City would amount to about $500. The City Attorney says if the Council approves the request, it would set a precedent on how the City responds to drainage issues on private property. He noted also, that the Atlantic Golf and Country Club has a similar drainage problem.

The Atlantic City Council meeting begins 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, at City Hall.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report a Glenwood woman was arrested Sunday on drug charges, following a traffic stop at around 8:20-p.m.  24-year old Brooke Weaver was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of multiple pieces of drug paraphernalia. She was brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $1,000 cash bond.

And, police in Red Oak report the arrest Sunday night, of 35-year old Timothy Orville Welch, of Red Oak. Welch was arrested at around 9:05-p.m. in the 500 block of North 6th Street. He was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and charged with Public Intoxication before being released later on $300 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Educators, parents and students will gather today (Monday) for Gov. Terry Branstad’s second summit on bullying prevention. The event will be held in Des Moines. This year’s theme is “Mission Possible: Stepping Up the Response,” and is a follow-up to last year’s summit, which drew about 1,100 people.

The summit’s keynote speaker is Emily Bazelon, author of the book “Sticks and Stones: Defeating the Culture of Bullying and Rediscovering the Power of Character and Empathy.” During the summit, there will be sessions on how students and adults can make a difference. Participants will explore good legal policy and support schools may need to better deal with bullying.

The governor’s push for anti-bullying legislation meant to help school districts combat harassment on social media sites failed during the last legislative session.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Catholics in Waterloo are preparing to lose one of their four priests in reorganization but all four parishes should remain open. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the change will be made whenever an opening is creating by a retiring or reassigned priest. Monsignor Lyle Wilgenbusch says the Archdiocese of Dubuque hasn’t been able to attract enough new priests to replace retiring ones.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A 26-year-old man remained in a medically induced coma yesterday as authorities investigated the assault that injured him. The Des Moines Register reports the Urbandale man was beaten severely outside a Des Moines sports bar early Sunday morning. Witnesses told police the victim had been arguing with a group of men inside the bar before the assault. Police identified a suspect in the case with the help of a tip from the public, but the suspect wasn’t immediately identified Sunday.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating an off-road motorcycle crash that killed one person in eastern Iowa. The Linn County Sheriff’s office says the accident happened around 11:30 a.m. yesterday near Troy Mills.

MORAVIA, Iowa (AP) — A golf course at Honey Creek Resort State Park has received an environmental designation. The state Department of Natural Resources says The Preserve on Rathbun Lake was recently given designation as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Officials say it is one of only six golf courses in Iowa with the designation.

Three people were injured during an accident west of Atlantic Sunday night. According to dispatch reports, the crash happened about a mile west of the Atlantic Municipal Airport at the T-intersection of 585th Street and Highland Road (Cass County Road G-30), at around 9:40-p.m. One of the victims reportedly suffered from head trauma.

Photo courtesy Mike Kennon, Cass County Emergency Mgmt. Agency

Sheriff’s officials say the vehicle was headed north on 585th Street when it went through the T-intersection and crashed into an embankment. Speed was considered to be a contributing factor in the crash. Two of the victims were transported by private vehicle to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, while the third was transported by Medivac Ambulance. The names of the victims and other details is currently not available.

A coughing spell is to blame fora three-vehicle, non-injury accident Sunday afternoon, in Red Oak. According to the Red Oak P-D, vehicles driven by 60-year old James Abbott, of Glenwood, and 24-year old Samantha Ranney, of Red Oak, were stopped at the intersection of North Broadway and West Coolbaugh Streets, waiting for the traffic light to change. A vehicle driven by 25-year old Michael Richards, of Red Oak, was in line behind the other two vehicles, when Richards began to cough and accidentally stepped on the accelerator.

Richards’ 1992 Ford Ranger pickup hit the rear of Ranney’s 1996 Honda Accord,  which then launched forward and hit Abbott’s 2004 Dodge Ram 1600 pickup. A passenger in Ranney’s car complained of pain in her ribs, but refused medical treatment. The accident happened at around 12:35-p.m.

Damage from the collision amounted to $2,300. Authorities say Richards was cited for Failure to Maintain Control and Reduce Speed as Necessary.