An Atlantic man was arrested Monday on a warrant charging him with 2nd degree theft. The Atlantic P-D says 33-year old Ryan Richards was booked in to the Cass County Jail. Officials say the charge stems from the discovery of several shopping carts and other items, allegedly stolen from the Atlantic Wal-Mart, which were found in a storage locker that had belonged to Richards.

It’s that time of year when the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce puts out a call for their “Angels of Christmas” nominations.

For the past several years the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce and Stifel Nicolaus have sponsored the Angels of Christmas award, a surprise honor bestowed upon two community members who symbolize the true meaning of the holidays. The “angels” are nominated via written letters of recommendation to the Chamber. The presentation happens in front of a large audience at the end of the annual free holiday concert at the First United Methodist Church on the second Saturday in December.

Nominations are due November 2nd. They should detail the individual or couples’ contributions and qualities and be received at the Chamber during the first week of November. The mailing address is 102 Chestnut Street, Atlantic, IA 50022 or chamber@atlanticiowa.com.

A free holiday concert, sponsored by Aunt B’s, Bonnesen’s, J&R Tax Service, and Unique Salon & Spa and coordinated by Guy Somers, is scheduled to take place December 8th, beginning at 7 p.m.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office says a Sidney woman was arrested Saturday on drug charges. 21-year old Hope Marie Kalkas was officially charged on Monday, with Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Pills, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and for being a passenger in possession of an open container.

The Sheriff’s Office said also, 37-year old Amy Pearl Hunter, of Glenwood, was arrested Saturday on a charge of Theft in the 5th degree, and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. The offenses allegedly occurred on September 26th.

Also on Saturday, 62-year old Danny Richard Miller, of Sidney, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, open container, and driving on the wrong side of a highway, and, 38-year old Kevin Dewitte Booher, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for a violation of his probation.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday, will receive the County Library Association’s Annual report and annual funding request. Last December, the association requested that the current county funding ($60,600) be maintained for FY2013. The Board approved the request during their meeting in March. No action is expected on the request at this time.

The Board will also hear a report from the County Veterans Affairs Commission, and, may possibly act on appointing a member to the Airport Zoning Board of Adjustment for a 5-year term. Their meeting begins in the Supervisors Board Room at the Courthouse in Atlantic, beginning at 9-a.m.

w/ Ric Hanson

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The City of Atlantic’s Community Protection Commision (CPC) is set to meet this (Tuesday) evening, in the Council’s Chambers, at City Hall. During their 5-p.m. session, the Commission will discuss: The Speed Limit on a portion of 22nd Street and a Vicious Dog permit. The issue of a speed limit on 22nd Street evolved after a group of Atlantic residents living along West 22^nd  petitioned the Atlantic City Council to lower the speed limit from 45-miles per hour to 35-miles per hour in the section from Chestnut Street to Palm Street. The Commission will forward their recommendation on to the City Council.

The CPC will also hear updates on matters pertaining to truck parking, and the cat trap-and-release program.

Despite recent rains, reservoirs on the Missouri River are dropping as drought persists and low water levels will translate to higher electric rates for some Iowans. The Western Area Power Administration is responsible for selling power from hydroelectric dams on the river and WAPA spokesman Randy Wilkerson says they’re watching water levels carefully. “Right now, we know that water levels in the reservoirs are low and we’re anticipating less than normal generation over the winter and into the coming year,” Wilkerson says.

The agency delivers power to several rural electric co-ops and municipalities in Iowa and in 14 other states. Wilkerson says WAPA easily met its power projections during last year’s historic flooding on the Missouri. “Everybody had more than enough water and we had excess generation that we could actually sell on the open market,” he says. “This year, if we have less than normal generation, we’ll have to be out on the open market purchasing some power in order to make up our contracts.”

Wilkerson says while WAPA will meet its power contract obligations, they will likely come at an added cost. “It gets built into the rates somewhere along the line,” he says. “We do have a drought adder that periodically takes a look at the rates and identifies how much costs are due to drought or low water levels, so absolutely, yes, ultimately, it gets built into the rates.”

Last year, WAPA delivered more than 42-billion kilowatt hours of electricity to its service areas.

(Radio Iowa)

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department says a Red Oak man was arrested Monday, for allegedly violating a protective order. Sheriff’s officials say at around 6:40-p.m., they received word 27-year old Aaron Allen had violated the court order. Officers with the Red Oak P-D located Allen about two-hours later and brought him to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on a warrant charging him with Harassment in the 1st degree.

Allen was being held in the jail on a total of $2,300 bond.

Authorities in Montgomery County say a Red Oak man was arrested Monday night on two valid warrants.  21-year old James Leroy Christensen, Jr. was arrested just before 8-p.m., on a Sheriff’s Department warrant for Contempt of Court/Failure to Pay on a charge of Illegal Resistance to Order of Process, and, a Red Oak Police Department warrant for a Controlled Substance Violation. Christensen, Jr. was being held in the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on $10,000 bond.