The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce says the annual Coca-Cola Days parade, a popular finale for Coca-Cola Days festivities, is on track and accepting entries for a 4 p.m. start on Saturday, Sept. 22nd.  Formerly for ages 12 and under only, the parade is now open to all wanting to participate. Entries from area clubs, businesses, and individuals are accepted, although only the children’s Coca-Cola themed costume contest for 12 and under will be judged and awarded AtlantiCash prizes.

Incorporating the theme of Mixing up Happiness for 20 years is the only requirement. Parade entry forms will be available at 6^th and Chestnut in City Park the day of the parade for late entries. The parade is sponsored in part by the Iowa Chapter of Coca-Cola Collectors Club.

Other Coca-Cola Days activities include the Show, Swap & Sell and Collectors Showcase from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Herring Building located at 2^nd & Poplar Streets. Merchandise including a Coca-Cola Days ornament will be for purchase with the 2012 shirts. For more information regarding the weekend activities visit CocaColaDays.org or call the Atlantic  Area Chamber of Commerce at 712.243.3017.

The owner of a bed and breakfast business in Atlantic who is in violation of the City’s Minimum Maintenance Code, has been given a little more time to complete the exterior portion of his project. City Code Enforcement Officer John Lund said the decision was reached during a meeting this (Thursday) morning with S.F. Martin House owner, Roger Steffens. He says Steffens has been given a 30-day extension, but no more. After that, he will face fines for violating the City’s Code. Lund says the City understands the scope of the project, but at the same time, Steffens has been as much, if not more time than other residents to get their properties into shape, when given a compliance notice.

He says November 1^st is the final deadline. Lund says they tried to make it as fair as possible. Regardless of what the National Register of Historic Places guidelines are, he says the City’s “Minimum Maintenance Code is called that for a reason. He says it’s “Not the Historical Victorian Standards Maintenance Code,” and the City is only asking Steffens to get the front entrance way taken care of, siding in-place and for the structure to be painted. Lund says six-months was an unreasonable amount of time for that to take place, to begin with.

Prior to his meeting with Lund, Steffens had faced an October 1^st deadline to complete repairs on the exterior of his business, which is on the National Register of Historic places. The building has been what several people have described as an “eye sore” in Atlantic, especially on the east side. Work on the exterior of the house has been underway for at least 15-years, while the inside is pristine. When confronted with the earlier deadline, Steffens said during Wednesday night’s Council meeting that he needed more time to “Do the work the right way,” and that he’s already spent “Tens of thousands of dollars” on the on-going project, but he’s not willing to do the job hap-hazardly.

Atlantic City Councilman Shawn Shouse says it not the type of work being done that is the problem, it is all about the amount of time it is taking to get it done. Shouse said by Steffens’ own admission, he is taking too long. He says that’s what the council feels, as well. Steffens thought he was being singled-out by the City, but Shouse said that’s not the case. Shouse said the City has sent out notices to other property owner’s who are not in compliance with the Code.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two men were arrested on OWI charges, Wednesday. 34-year old Christopher Anthony Morresi, of Underwood, was taken into custody on charges of OWI 1^st, Driving While Barred, and Driving Under Suspension. Morresi was brought to the Cass County Jail and later released on $2,000 bond.

And, 52-year old Mark David Carroll, of Griswold, was arrested Wednesday, on a charge of OWI 2^nd Offense. Carroll was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was being held, pending a court appearance.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Authorities in Union County say the Afton Police Department received a report Wednesday afternoon from two, 10-year old girls, who claim they were confronted by a 50- to 60-year old white male. The incident took place on East Grand Street just west of the East Union School Campus and near the City of Afton REC Fields.  Several East Union After School Daycare staff members observed the confrontation and helped to get the girls to safety on the school campus.

Authorities say the person of interest connection with the incident, had brown eyes, and some brown hair, but was mostly bald on top. He was driving a Green Jeep or Chevy Blazer type 4×4 vehicle with a spare tire on the back. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Afton Police Chief John Coulter at 641-347-5255, or local law enforcement. The Afton Police Department is following up on other leads.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Strong farm income helped Nebraska and Iowa record an increase in median income last year while nationally median income declined 1.3 percent and most states saw their median income shrink. A new Census report released today (Thursday), said Nebraska’s median income grew 1.1 percent to $50,296 in 2011. Iowa’s median income grew 0.1 percent to $49,427.

Only 13 states and the District of Columbia recorded an increase in median income between 2010 and 2011. Vermont led the nation with a 4.1 percent increase. The University of Nebraska at Omaha’s David Drozd says the strength of agriculture has helped Nebraska and Iowa withstand the economic uncertainty of the past few years, and it’s a factor in these income figures.  The relatively low unemployment rate in both states also helped boost income.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Four out of five senior citizens in Iowa are taking medications, but a study finds many of them don’t understand how the drugs may affect their abilities, especially to drive. Rose White, at Triple-A-Iowa, says the motor club is launching a website that allows you to input whatever meds you’re taking to learn about their impact.  “RoadwiseRX provides details on the common side effects of prescription and over-the-counter medications,” White says. “The free online tool generates personalized feedback on how medications or herbal supplements and foods, and their interactions with each other, can impact safety behind the wheel.”

Even if you’ve taken a drug for some time, White says you may not be aware of how it may affect your senses, particularly if multiple meds are involved. “Our research shows that more than 80-percent of drivers age 65 and older regularly take medications, yet only half have talked to a medical professional about the possible safety issues and side effects related to driving,” White says. “With this tool, we hope they’ll use it, input the information, print the results and share it with their doctor.”

Certain antidepressants have been shown to increase crash risk by up to 41-percent. Ingredients like diphenhydramine, found in over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines, can have the same effect on driving as being above the legal limit for blood-alcohol levels. “In most states, including Nebraska and Iowa, a motorist can be charged for driving under the influence of drugs, which includes prescription and over-the-counter medications,” White says. “For that reason, it’s important to know and understand the side effects of any medications being consumed before you operate a motor vehicle.”

It’s estimated that by 2020, just eight years from now, nearly one in six people will be 65 or older — and most of them will still be licensed to drive.

(Radio Iowa)

This is National Farm Safety Week as experts look to try and cut down on the over 300 farm-related deaths that happen each year.Iowa State University extension safety specialist Charles Schwab, farming ranks as one of the most hazardous occupations. “The agricultural industry, as a whole, has a much higher death rate than any other industry, and higher than the whole average, nine times higher, than all the other industries combined. So it’s a huge number of fatalities that we deal with in our population,” Schwab says.

Tractor roll overs account for the most farm deaths, and Schwab says they can be prevented if tractors have roll over protection or ROPS. “The phrase in Iowa which is very viable is we haven’t had a fatality from a roll-over with a tractor with ROPs and all of them have been with tractors without ROPs, and so a good life insurance policy is get the ROPs on the tractor,” according to Schwab. La Vonne Galles is the coordinator for Agri-Safe of Plymouth County, a division of the Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars. Galles says many times farm accidents occur because of fatigue, so she tells farmers to “take a break” from the busy harvest season.

“The main thing is just be careful, to think before we do anything, and try not to be, you know, so tired. I guess if we can take rest breaks and we can go at a pace that is conducive for good, safe, conduct, then that’s what I think we should be doing,” Galles says. She is worried the summer drought may present a new hazard on the farm in the form of aflatoxin mold in grain. “Yeah, its a respiratory issue of course and so that dust or mold that gets into our respiratory track. If we can avoid that by just using a mask, you know I think that is really important,” Galles says. “Think of that first before we enter into those grain bins, or even any close area that has the grain.” Galles warns that combines, grain trucks, wagons, and grain bins can often times be a playground for children, and she reminds farmers to always know the whereabouts of their children before moving equipment.

(Radio Iowa)

The owner of a bed and breakfast business in Atlantic is set to meet with City officials today at 10-a.m., to request more time to meet an October 1^stdeadline to complete repairs on the exterior of his business, which is on the National Register of Historic places.

S.F. Martin House property owner Roger Steffens faces fines if he doesn’t complete work on his property by Oct. 1st. (Ric Hanson-photo)

Roger Steffens, owner of the S.F. Martin House at 5^th and Poplar Streets, told the Council Wednesday evening, he has taken, and continues to take, steps to complete the restoration of the structure in a historically correct manner, but rushing to complete them by the October 1^st deadline would result in a less than aesthetically pleasing appearance. Steffens said he wants 2-more years to complete the job. The building has been an eye sore in Atlantic, especially on the east side, for nearly 15-years, while the inside is pristine. Steffens said he received a letter from City officials  saying he would be fined $250 every month after October 1^st, if the work is not completed according to City Code, by the deadline.

Steffens said also, he received a letter from the City saying work must be completed on one specific side of the structure. City Administrator Doug Harris acknowledged the City sent Steffens a letter in May, saying work needed to be done on the west side of the building, but sent a corrected letter on April 30^th to say it was the east side that needed the most attention immediately. Steffens said he only received two letters from the City, one in May the other in August. Harris produced a copy of the letter sent in April, but Steffens claims he never received it. Steffens said he will need more time to “Do the work the right way,” and that he’s already spent “Tens of thousands of dollars” on the on-going project, but he’s not willing to do the job hap-hazardly.

Atlantic City Councilman Shawn Shouse says it’s not the type of work being done that is the problem, it is all about the amount of time it is taking to get it done. Shouse said by Steffens’ own admission, he is taking too long. He says that’s what the council feels, as well. Steffens thinks he’s being singled-out by the City, but Shouse said that’s not the case. Shouse said the City has sent out notices to other property owner’s who are not in compliance with the Code.