The pilot of a single engine aircraft, which was apparently a crop duster, was transported by private vehicle after the plane crashed into a soybean this (Friday) afternoon, west of Atlantic. The accident happened at around 3:25-p.m., just west of 570th Street, between Galveston and Highland road.

Atlantic Fire and Rescue and Medivac ambulance were dispatched to the scene. Deputies with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, officers with the Atlantic Police Department, and Cass County Emergency Manager Mike Kennon also responded. The pilot was out of the plane and in a vehicle shortly after the crash.

A report on the pilots condition and other details are not currently available.

The Carstens Farmstead in Pottawattamie County is the site for a family fun weekend as the 1880 Farmstead Days are here. This is the 31^st year for the Carstens Farmstead Days featuring horse, steam and gas power exhibits. Over two hundred restored antique tractors will be on hand. Terry Torneten, member of the 1880 Carstens Committee, says the event starts out with the most important meal of the day.

He says  “The activities start right on Saturday morning with a breakfast by the Shelby Fire Department. The thresher breakfast will starting at 6:30 in the morning.” The breakfast will be held on both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday night is highlighted by the Staley’s chicken supper at 5:30pm with proceeds going towards the maintenance of the farm. This year the Carstens days plans to feature Case IH tractors. Torneton says “We have the Heartland JI Case collectors club looking to invite people to bring their tractors to display. They want to make sure this is the biggest turnout of Case IH tractors ever at Carstens.”

As far as entertainment, Carstens has invited Cloggers to perform at 12:30pm on Saturday, Country Kickers America performs on Sunday at 12:30 and a few local bands will play a variety of music during the entire celebration. The 2013 Carstens 1880 Farmstead Days will also have a quilt show, crafts galore and several vendors selling antiques. Admission is $5 per day for everyone nine years or older. The Carstens farm is located off I-80 exit 34 south of Shelby where signs will be posted.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce is reporting counterfeit money has been in the area. The bills are slightly smaller than normal and the ink is darker. If you encounter a person attempting to pay with counterfeit bills, contact your local authorities. The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce also issued an alert to its member merchants about phony $20 bills. The Chamber says one bill that was received did not have the security string in place, and a test marker turned the bill brown. The Chamber advises its members to look closely at suspect $20 bills and run the marker test if there’s any doubt about its authenticity.

A vacancy on the Walnut City Council created by the departure of Councilperson Mayre Bierbaum, will be filled by the voters on November 5th. City Clerk Terri Abel told the Daily NonPareil Bierbaum resigned August 30th because she was moving out of town.

The Nov. 5th election will include ballots for four council members and the mayor. The fifth council seat, which is not up for re-election, is held by Kathy Humann.

Volunteers are needed this weekend for a clean-up project along the Missouri River’s banks in the Omaha-Council Bluffs area. Jeff Barrow, spokesman for the group Missouri River Relief, says there’s plenty of work to be done. “Trash comes in from upstream and collects in the woods and islands in the metro area,” Barrow says. “We’ll probably get ten tons of trash with the volunteers who turn out on Saturday.”

This is the fifth annual event to clean up the river and Barrow says volunteers are key in making it a success. “River Relief has the boats and equipment and tools to run the event but we need the volunteers to provide the muscle and the heart and soul,” he says. “That’s what gets the job done.

During last year’s event, volunteers hauled out 58 tires, three refrigerators, four T-Vs, 400 pounds of metal, 100 pounds of rebar, a 500-gallon metal diesel tank and a plastic pink flamingo. If you can offer a hand, Barrow says to dress accordingly. “They don’t call it the Big Muddy for nothing,” he says, “so wear good shoes that are strong and that you don’t mind getting dirty.”

The clean-up is from 9 to noon on Saturday, rain or shine. Registration will be at the Riverfront Marina at Lewis and Clark Landing in Omaha. Volunteers will be treated to a complimentary lunch. Details are available at “riverrelief.org“.

(Radio Iowa)

AMES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa State student is being treated for tuberculosis that was caught during screening required for incoming international students.  The university said in a website posting on Friday that the student lives on campus but will remain isolated until officials approve the individual’s return to classes.  The student’s name and other personal and school information are not being released.

People who have had close, prolonged contact with the student will be contacted by Homeward/Story County Public Health for screenings. Allan Lynch of the Iowa Department of Public Health says tuberculosis is not easily transmitted in schools or the workplace.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says tuberculosis usually affects the lungs but also can affect other parts of the body, including the brain or kidneys.

The public is invited to attend an open house this (Friday) evening for the Atlantic Middle School. The event will be held from 5-to 7-pm, prior to the start of the Atlantic football game. Parents and patrons of the district will have a chance to check out the recently completed renovations at the Middle School, which include a new science lab, new windows and refurbished classroom floors. You’ll also have a chance to discuss future Capital Improvement Projects planned for other district buildings, with Design Alliance Architect firm representative Jerry Purdy.

Among the projects planned are four new classrooms at Washington Elementary as well as a lunch room, and the moving of third grade students from Washington Elementary to Schuler Elementary, which requires the creation of 11 additional classrooms at Schuler. A commons/dining area is also planned for the Atlantic Middle School, the addition of seven classrooms and expanding the art room at the Atlantic High School, and the addition of an access road behind Washington, to help deal with traffic congestion on 14th Street in front of the school.

Other projects include the replacing of 18-year old heat pumps at the high school, new bleachers in the Atlantic Middle School gym, and seats in the auditorium. School officials have said increased enrollment and the need for addition space to house special classes, are the reasons they are considering the projects.

Police in Atlantic report the arrest on Thursday, of 25-year old Kayla Ashburn, of Atlantic. Ashburn was taken into custody on a Cass County warrant for Theft in the 5th degree. She was brought to the Cass County Jail and held pending an initial court appearance.

w/ Ric Hanson

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The City of Atlantic’s Planning and Zoning Commission will meet Tuesday evening at City Hall. One of the topics of discussion during the meeting that begins at 5:30-p.m., Tuesday under “New Business,” is the Poet, LLC ethanol rail site, located north of the Rock Island Depot on north Chestnut Street.

City Administrator Doug Harris told KJAN news earlier this week that City Zoning Administrator John Lund issued a “Stop Work” order, which required Poet to cease construction of an ethanol “transloading station in Atlantic, because it did so without the City’s permission.

An e-mail to Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNees from Rail Portfolio Manager Christian McIlvain, said as many as eight railcars at any given time will be loaded at the transloading station, each of which will be equipped with track spill pans to serve as a spill containment. The company intends to transload fuel from tanker trucks coming to town from Coon Rapids, into as many as 25 railcars, weekly. Physical movement of the cars will be handled by crews with Iowa Interstate Railroad.

City officials and others met with representatives from Poet Thursday morning. City Attorney Dave Wiederstein has acknowledged federal law pertaining to rail operations prohibits the City from stopping the project, but they City does have a say when it comes to the project complying with electrical, plumbing and fire codes.

City officials are concerned about public safety and wear and tear on Commerce Street (the main access road to the transloading site), but officials with Poet have said they are willing to work with the City with regard to any damage and repair of the street. And, Atlantic Fire Chief McNees told KJAN News he’s satisfied the company will have the proper safety precautions in-place when the stations are built.