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Election night correction from Cass County Auditor’s Office

News

November 9th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman sent a note out to the media Wednesday afternoon indicating an error in the Anita City Council results. The name of write-in candidate Tim Wheelock was left off of the worksheet in error, Tuesday night. Wheelock’s name was written-in as a candidate for one of three seats on the Anita City Council. The winners, with Wheelock’s numbers thrown into the mix are:

  • John Knutson, 68 votes.
  • Ben Daughenbaugh, 58 votes.
  • Tim Wheelock, 42 votes.

The other candidate, incumbent Mark Harris, received 25 votes. There were a scattering of 12 other, write-in votes.

Skyscan forecast & weather data for Atlantic: 11/9/17

Weather

November 9th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Today: Partly Cloudy. High 37. N @ 15-25.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Low 12. NE @ 5.

Tomorrow: P/Cldy. High near 40. SE @ 10-15.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy w/light rain. High near 50.

Sunday: Mo. Cldy w/light rain early. High near 46.

Wednesday’s High in Atlantic was 49. Our 24-hour Low (ending today at 7-a.m.) was 16 (at 5:30-a.m., it was 31). Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 60 and the low was 26. The Record High in Atlantic on this date was 73 in 1999. The Record Low for this date was 8 in1973.

ELAINE M. CHRISTENSEN, 88, of Exira (Svcs. 11/13/17)

Obituaries

November 9th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

ELAINE M. CHRISTENSEN, 88, of Exira, died Tue., Nov. 7th, at the Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn. Funeral services for ELAINE CHRISTENSEN will be held 2-p.m. Monday, Nov. 13th, at the Exira Lutheran Church. Kessler Funeral Home in Exira has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home, where the family visitation is from 3-until 5-p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12th.

Burial will be in the Exira Cemetery.

ELAINE CHRISTENSEN is survived by:

Her sons – Jerry (Cheryl) Christensen, of Neola; Lyle (Lisa) Christensen, of Clive; Dale (Sandra) Christensen, of Adel.

Her daughter – Shirley (Dennis) Garnett, of Exira.

4 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

Red Oak woman arrested for OWI Wed. night

News

November 9th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County say a traffic stop a little after 11-p.m. Wednesday resulted in the arrest of a woman on an OWI charge. 63-year old Rosana D. Taylor, of Red Oak, was taken into custody for OWI/1st offense. Taylor was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 cash bond,

Man & woman from NE arrested on drug and child endangerment charges in IA

News

November 9th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

A traffic stop Wednesday afternoon in Fremont County, near Bartlett, resulted in the arrest of a man and woman from Nebraska on drug and child endangerment charges. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports 24-year old Deavan Donner and 24-year old Nicole Frieze, both of Omaha, were taken into custody on two counts each of Child Endangerment, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Donner

Frieze

Deavan was also arrested for Driving While Barred, Habitual Violator. Both parties are being held at the Fremont County Jail, pending initial appearance with the Magistrate.

Their arrests took place at around 4:45-p.m. after the Fremont County K9 Unit stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation on Western Avenue, near Bartlett, Iowa. were inside the vehicle, from which Deputies noticed the distinct odor of narcotics. They located marijuana and drug paraphernalia used in the ingestion of both marijuana and methamphetamine, inside the vehicle.  Deputies also located drug paraphernalia and narcotics concealed inside a diaper bag.

Iowa early News Headlines: Thursday, 11/9/17

News

November 9th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:04 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — U.S. Postal Service workers have taken to the sidewalks to protest job cuts at Des Moines’ main post office and other postal facilities across the country. About 100 people, consisting of postal workers, customers, teachers and others, turned out Wednesday afternoon in front of the post office near downtown Des Moines to protest recent cuts. Mike Bates, president of the Des Moines Area American Postal Workers Union, says the cuts have led to long lines and delayed service for customers.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have identified two people found slain inside a northern Iowa home and say a man arrested in their deaths is their grandson. Mason City police say the bodies of 61-year-old Kenneth Hackbart and his wife, 64-year-old Kathleen Hackbart, where found in their home Tuesday morning. Police say 25-year-old Codie Matz, who was arrested charged with murder in the deaths, is the couple’s grandson and that he lived with them in their home.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa school district accused of sending students to secluded, padded rooms for even minor infractions says it will stop using the rooms by the start of the next school year. Iowa City school Superintendent Stephen Murley said in an email Tuesday that the district has eliminated seven of its seclusion rooms and plans to eliminate the rest by next fall. The state Education Department determined the district had illegally sent students to seclusion for minor reasons, such as foul language.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Some of Donald Trump’s fiercest advocates are offering different approaches for the Republican Party’s way forward after some tough losses Tuesday. Former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer and Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel are calling on Republicans to unite, while former White House strategist Steve Bannon is calling for rebellion against establishment Republicans.

Atlantic Chamber: Elect A Scrooge – Annual contest is underway

News

November 8th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

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

The Scrooge contestants raise money and collect non-perishable food items for the Atlantic Food Pantry. The 2017 candidates include: Jack Jensen, Robison True Value Hardware; Rob Stamp, Stamp Construction; Cody Weaver, MAHLE Engine Components and Nick Harris, Brocker, Karns & Karns.

“Candidates can choose any method they want in collecting their points,” Hoover said. “In the past, candidates have hosted soup suppers and put pictures and boxes in local businesses to collect food donations.”

According to Hoover, contestants are responsible for collecting and submitting their points to the Chamber by November 28th at Noon. The contestant with the most points will be named Scrooge and all proceeds will benefit the Atlantic Food Pantry. Winner of the Scrooge Contest serves as the Grand Marshal in the Lighted Parade on Dec. 2nd at 6 PM in Downtown Atlantic. Cash donations are worth one point on the dollar and two non-perishable items earn the contestants one point.

Past Scrooge titles have been awarded to: Mary Ann Moorman 2007, Dana Halder 2008, Tammy Wise & Janet Huey 2009, Ritchie Anderson 2010, Janet Cappel 2011, Melanie Petty 2012, David Miller 2013, Mark McNees 2014, Ted Robinson 2015 and Jon Johnson 2016.

Hoover said the Scrooge title is used because, “Contestants find the meaning of Christmas by giving to others,” explaining that is the real honor of being named Scrooge. “Therefore, I am hoping that together as a community we will assist the contestants to provide many neighbors and friends the same joy of having a meal to celebrate the holidays.”

The contest will run now to November 28th. Donations to a contestant 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.

Officials: Body of man found in burned out Iowa storage unit

News

November 8th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

MILFORD, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say the body of a man has been found in the burned remains of a northern Iowa storage unit. The Sioux City Journal reports that firefighters were called Tuesday night to the storage unit in north Milford for a report of a fire. Arriving firefighters from Milford and Arnolds Park-Okoboji found the fire had spread to other units.

After the blaze was extinguished, the body of a man was found inside a unit. An autopsy has been ordered. The Dickinson County Sheriff and the Milford and Arnolds Park police departments are among those investigating. The identity of the man has not been released.

US Postal Service workers in Iowa picket to protest job cuts

News

November 8th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — U.S. Postal Service workers have taken to the sidewalks to protest job cuts at Des Moines’ main post office and other postal facilities across the country. About 100 people, consisting of postal workers, customers, teachers and others, turned out Wednesday afternoon in front of the post office near downtown Des Moines to protest recent cuts.

Mike Bates, president of the Des Moines Area American Postal Workers Union, says the cuts have led to long lines and delayed service for customers. Bates says 36 of approximately 300 jobs have been cut from the main Des Moines post office, and another 34 jobs are set to be cut in February. He says that amounts to a staff reduction of more than 20 percent.

Bates say the cuts are occurring across the country.

Cass County Sheriff responds to rumors

News

November 8th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Cass County Sheriff Darby McLaren wants to set the record straight about rumors flying around concerning his status and supposed recent events. He said in a statement to the media, and online, that “It’s a sad day when as Cass County Sheriff I have to address fake news and social media garbage. For those of you who do not understand what I am talking about, a social media frenzy has made it necessary for me to address a rumor racing across the area.”

McLaren went on to say that “Media outlets have been inquiring about these rumors, to a point where I found it necessary that I be direct with an answer. I am not, nor is any person in the Sheriff’s Office, under investigation by any agency for illegal or unethical activity. The rumors and accusations are false. My deputies and I are dedicated to the people of Cass County and the accusations have no merit.”

The Sheriff concluded by saying “As citizens, I encourage you to exercise due diligence by getting your news from sources you know are reputable, doing your research, and reading beyond the headlines. The most effective way to stop a false story from spreading is to not share it.”

Cass County Attorney David Wiederstein said in a previous statement to the media, that “As County Attorney, I serve as the chief law enforcement official of Cass County. In response to media inquiries about reports of investigations and illegal activity occurring within the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, I can confirm and verify that all such reports are blatantly false and unfounded.”