Dealing with the time change that took place this weekend and getting all your clocks reset is just one of the issues you’ll face as the season changes. Dr. Steve Zorn with Iowa Sleep says you now will be coming home from work in the dark, and that can cause problems. “There’s data that accident rates are worse in the evening — people aren’t used to driving in the dark as much at that time of day,” Zorn says. He says drivers will eventually adjust.

“It usually seems to last a couple of weeks, and then it disappears,” Zorn says. The doctor also treats sleep disorders that are a more longer term problem at this time of year. One of them is Season Affective Disorder or SAD. “Season Affective Disorder is a condition where some people are more sensitive to the lack of light and as a result, when it is dark in the winter months and the earth is rotated, you just don’t get the same amount of sunlight in a 24-hour period,” according the Zorn. He says one of the symptoms of SAD is insomnia.

“It is a depression, and you just don’t feel as good as you normally would like to feel,” Zorn explains. “Some people say that they feel they are in a hole looking up.” The doctor says one treatment is simply getting more light into your life. “There are what’s called light boxes, and they have a higher intensity light. I would think about 10-thousand lux. You can get these now in many places,” Zorn says. Zorn says people with more severe problems may need to be treated with medication.

(Radio Iowa)

The Atlantic Police Department reports the arrest on Sunday of an Atlantic resident on an assault charge. 43-year old Darren Towne was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault by Strangulation, and Domestic Abuse Assault causing injury. Towne was booked into the Cass County Jail.

The Atlantic Area Chamber’s 13th Annual Scrooge Contest, sponsored by Hockenberry Family Care and Great Western Bank, is underway during the month of November. Eleanor Hoover organized the contest back in 2002 just one year after the inaugural Lighted Parade.

The competition has candidates raising money and collecting non-perishable food items for the Atlantic Food Pantry.

Jeff Christensen

Hans Kringel

Rachel Johnson

Heather McKay

David Miller

Vickie Retallic

The 2013 candidates include: Vickie Ratallic, HyVee; Rachel Johnson, Villa Dance and Aunt B’s; Jeff Christensen (donations delivered to Fareway, Pizza Ranch and Cass County Farm Bureau); Heather McKay, Atlantic Community School District; David Miller, Boy Scouts Troop 54 (donations can be delivered to Meyer and Gross Real Estate); and Hans Krengel, Howard’s Clothing.

The Scrooge Candidate who raises the most points serves as the Grand Marshal in the Lighted Parade Dec. 7th at 6 p.m. in Downtown Atlantic. Cash donations are worth two points on the dollar and non-perishable items are worth one point.

Past Scrooge’s have included Devin Ferguson 2002, Eleanor Hoover 2003, Rex McDermott 2004, Tonia Goft 2005, Rick Harlan 2006, Mary Ann Moorman 2007, Dana Halder 2008, Tammy Wise & Janet Huey 2009, Ritchie Anderson 2010, Janet Cappel 2011 and Melanie Petty 2012.

Donations to a candidate can be made by delivering food or funds to their drop off locations or the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information please call the Chamber at 712.243.3017 or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com

Voters will be heading to the polls Tuesday, to cast their ballots for local elected officials. In most locations, the polls are open from Noon until 8-p.m. In Cass County, there are races for City Council seats in Marne, Massena and Wiota. In Marne, 6 candidates are running for 5 open seats (2-year terms) on the City Council, including incumbents Alan Cranston, Randy Henningsen, Lanny Kite, and Angela Redler. They face challenges from newcomers Randy L. Fischer and Lori Holste.

In Massena, four people, including incumbent Robert McKnight, are running for two seats on the Council (4-year terms). Challengers include Jackson R. Bissell, Kevin McCunn and Doug Venteicher. And in Wiota, incumbents Kathryn Havens and Deanna Spry faces a challenge from newcomers Jeff Lillard and Lamar K. Spies for three open seats on the City Council (4-year terms).

Polling sites are as follows: In Anita – at the Anita Community Center; Atlantic…1^st Ward Zion Lutheran Church, 2^nd Ward – Atlantic Public Library, 3^rd Ward – Cass County Community Center, 4^th Ward – United Church of Christ, 5^th Ward – the Heritage House; The polling site in Cumberland is the Community Building, in Griswold it’s at the Community Center, in Lewis, voters head to the Public Library, in Marne ballots will be cast the City Hall. In Massena, the polling site is at the Public Library, and in Wiota, it’s at City Hall.

Results of the City of Atlantic election will be canvassed by the Board of Supervisors beginning at 1-p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7^th, with the rest of the County’s results to be canvassed on Tue., Nov. 12th, beginning at Noon.

In Adair County, there is one race we’ll be following, and that’s in Fontanelle, where Rodney Dukes, Ron Reed and Jim Warrior are running for two seats on the City Council. In Adams County, Jerry M. Anderson and Edward E. Harlow are vying to become Mayor, in Carbon, and in Corning, the race for Mayor includes candidates Timothy Paul Blaisure, Janet Scheilzwood, Jilly Steele-Moralez, and Courtney Turnis. Also in Adams County, six people are running for 5 positions on the City Council in Nodaway. The candidates include incumbents Hartford Cooper, Christine Dunn, Becky Poen and Christine Wiechman, along with challenger Renee Boysen.

In Audubon County, there is a race for three open City Council At-Large seats, in Audubon. The candidates include Delyte A. Borkowski, Jason Hocker, Teresa Murray and Thomas R. Nielsen.

In Montgomery County, two candidates seek the 2^nd Ward seat on the City Council, including Jerry Daffler and Bill Haufle, while three others are running for an At Large seat. They include incumbent Fred Pilecki, and challengers Roger Waggener and Rusty Williams.

There are several contested races to watch across the KJAN listening area once the polls close Tuesday evening at 8.

In Guthrie County, for instance, Emily Chapman Olesen, Jamie Galivan, Deanna Gibson and Ruth Riley are vying for three seats on the City Council in Bagley. In Bayard, Dean Hopkins, Gary Allen Long, Ben Sease and Tom Wardyn are also hoping to fill three seats on the City Council. Another Council race in Guthrie County, is in Casey, where Marilyn Harden, Dan Irlbeck and Robbi Sneller are running for two open seats. In Guthrie Center, Ruth Ann Newell, Randy Nickel and Dennis Patrick are competing for two seats on the Council. And, in Menlo, four candidates are vying for two seats on the City Council. They include Deanna L. Harwood, Larry Jacobson, Bob Sudbrock and Briana Wolfe.

In Shelby County, there are races for seats on the City Council in Harlan, Westphalia and Tennant. Candidates for the three seats in Westphalia include Brian Arkfeld, Julie Goetzinger, Diane Hall and Bill Holzer. In Tennant, Dennis A. Oellerich, Harold Peters and Mark W. Tearney are hoping voters chose them for two seats on the Council. In Harlan, Mike Kolbe and Corey Sorensen will compete for city council Ward 3. Current councilmember Kate Kohorst was appointed to Ward 3 after former member Orv Roecker passed away earlier in the year. Kohorst decline to run for the position. Another Harlan City Councilmember Keith Kaufman is stepping down from his position in Ward 1. Jay Christensen is running unopposed for Kaufman’s seat.

And in Pottawattemie County, there are races for the City Council in Carson, Carter Lake, and Council Bluffs, where there is also two men running for Mayor. Other Council races include those in Macedonia and Walnut, and a challenge for the Mayor’s job in Neola.

Polls open at 7-a.m. Tuesday in Avoca, Carter Lake Council Bluffs, Crescent, Minden, Neola, Treynor, Underwood and Walnut, while elsewhere, they open at Noon. All polls close at 8-p.m.

Authorities in Cass County say charges are pending following an accident that occurred Sunday night, west of the Atlantic airport. Officials say a 2007 Dodge driven by 35-year old Michael John Hansen, of Atlantic, was traveling north on 585th Street at around 9:40-p.m., when the vehicle ran through a stop sign at the T-intersection with Highland Road (Cass County Road G-30).

Photo courtesy Mike Kennon, Cass County Emergency Mgmt. Agency

The car hit a power pole and came to rest in the ditch north of the intersection. Two juveniles in the vehicle were transported by private vehicle to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, while Hansen was taken to the hospital by Medivac Ambulance. All of the victims suffered minor injuries.

The accident remains under investigation.

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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