An Iowa State Historical Society exhibit will be shown in Avoca, tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday. The “History on the Move” traveling Civil War exhibit will be open for viewing in the parking lot of the Farmall-Land USA Museum just south of Interstate 80, near the Embers Restaurant. The New Town Avoca Historical Society says the group, along with the Town and Country Junior Federated organization in Avoca, are sponsoring the exhibit. 

Rich Price, member of the New Town Avoca group says all ages are welcome to tour the free exhibit, which is designed to bring national and local history with regard to the war, to life. Price says a local landmark set the stage for volunteers to enlist in the fight. A one-room school on the east edge of Avoca, which was moved from its original location south of town at the New Town settlement, is where local residents signed up for the war before they walked to the Council Bluffs rail head to begin their enlistment. The Civil War exhibit, Price says will come to Avoca in a trailer, which has been touring the state since the 150^th Anniversary of the Civil War took place, last year. Actual Civil War memorabilia…including personal stories of Iowa soldiers, historical documents, maps and artifacts will be on display. And, a computer program will allow visitors to research the Civil War, and look up ancestors who may have fought in the conflict. Price says the local historical society will have many items on display, as well, including original cannonballs, uniforms, and letters from soldiers, along with cemetery records of the 70 veterans from Avoca who served in the war. The group is also working with the local school to learn about the role the community played during the war. 

The exhibit will be open from 10-a.m. to 8-p.m. both Thursday and Friday. In celebration of the event, Jerry and Joyce Mez, owners of the Farmall-Land Museum, are offering half-price admission to their museum.

w/ Ric Hanson

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A 28-year old man from Shenadoah was arrested on a drug charge early this (Wednesday) morning, following a traffic stop. According to Shenandoah Police, Lyle Stogdill was taken into custody on a Possession of a controlled substance/Marijuana charge, after Police Officer Brandon Allen stopped a vehicle Stogdill was in, on West Valley Street.  The officer located marijuana in the vehicle during a search. Stogdill was brought to the Page County Jail, where he is being held on $2,000 bond. 

In a separate incident, 38-year-old Tracey Bailey, of Shenandoah, was arrested for disorderly conduct, after Shenandoah police investigated a noise complaint in the 200 block of West Lowell. Bailey was cited into court, and released.

Officials with the Iowa Lottery say Faye Slate, of Council Bluffs, is the state’s latest $1-million dollar winner in the Powerball drawing. Slate claimed her prize Tuesday, at the Lottery’s headquarters in Des Moines. She won the prize in last Wednesday’s Powerball drawing by picking the first five numbers correctly, but missing the Powerball number itself.

It was the third winning One-million dollar prize ticket purchased in the state, in  a little more than a month. Gary Higens of Des Moines claimed a $1 million Powerball prize on March 1st, close on the heels of Steve Petty of Adair, who had claimed a $1 million Powerball prize on Feb. 20th.

Slate bought her winning ticket at the Hy-Vee store on Madison Avenue, in Council Bluffs.

In a follow-up to our story Tuesday morning, Police in Council Bluffs early today (Wednesday), said 56-year old Donald Shamblen, of Council Bluffs, was charged with Interference with Official Acts and Failure to Appear in Court, following a stand-off in the city, that began at around 5:30-p.m. Monday and ended early Tuesday morning.

Officials say officers were dispatched to 2330 South 13th Street in reference to a man who had a warrant for his arrest. When officers arrived, Shamblen fled on foot into a detached garage. The officers attempted to make contact with Shamblen, who allegedly threatened to kill himself and Police.

Officers at the scene set up a perimeter and called-in the Emergency Services Team (EST), along with negotiators with the Council Bluffs P-D. Negotiators made contact with Shamblen through a secure phone, and after several hours of negotiations, the EST forced their way into the garage, taking Shamblen into custody without further incident.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

Gardeners of all interest levels are invited to join the Cass County Master Gardeners for the 14th Annual Spring Garden Seminar on Saturday, April 21 at the Atlantic High School. The day will start with registration at 8:30 AM and the last workshop will conclude at 3:00 PM. Gardeners can expect a full day of educational speakers, interactive workshops, an expert advice panel and more! In addition, anyone pre-registered by the 13th of April will be eligible to win one of the many door prizes donated by local supporting businesses.

The day starts off with well-known garden columnist Jan Riggenbach sharing “Big Ideas for Small Gardens” at 9 AM. Dr. Cynthia Haynes from Iowa State University Extension will then discuss “New Plants for 2012” at 10 AM, before joining a panel of local and state horticulture experts to take questions during an open Q & A session around lunch.

A full luncheon will be served and attendees will also have time to visit booths from local vendors and gardening organizations beginning at 11 AM. Following the lunch break, Susan Appleget-Hurst will present “Your First Herb Garden” with ideas on how, where and when to plant and harvest herbs. The last session of the day gives participants a choice between 9 hands-on workshops on a variety of topics, from creating garden sculptures to arranging flowers, and composting to growing peppers.

Registration for the entire day, including morning snacks, lunch, materials and a “take-home” from the final session, is only $35. A full schedule for the day, along with a registration form, can be found on the Cass County Extension website at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass or can be picked up from the Cass County Extension Office, the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce, or many downtown businesses.

Denise Coder, Site Manager for Cass County Home Care has announced Blue Zones officials recently notified the City of Atlantic that its application to be chosen as a “Blue Zones” demonstration site will not advance to the site visit level at this time.  Blue Zones officials noted that ten smaller Iowa communities have been identified for site visits in the next few months.

Blue Zones did not give details at this time about the reason that Atlantic was not chosen, but intend to visit Atlantic sometime in the summer to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of its overall application.  Bethany Rogers, Cass County Wellness Coordinator, observed that the ten communities that were chosen all ranked higher than Atlantic in citizen votes.  She says “Atlantic’s current percentage of citizens voting is 15.48%.  Blue Zones stated early on that citizen commitment would be important in their choice.”

The Atlantic Blue Zones team will meet with state Blue Zones officials in the summer, and the local team still plans to implement chosen components of Blue Zones, based upon local capacity and technical assistance available from the state.  Atlantic intends to reapply, if the opportunity arises in the future.

Rogers reminds residents that voting remains an important component of the project.  “If you haven’t voted and are willing to make a personal commitment to improving your health and the health of Atlantic, it is important that you log on today and vote to support Atlantic.”  Voting will provide access for residents to ongoing information about health topics and local activities.  Residents can visit www.bluezonesproject.com to vote for Atlantic.  Also, a Facebook page has been established for the Atlantic Blue Zones project.  Log on to Facebook and search for Atlantic Blue Zones.

Cass County Extension Youth Coordinator Susan Oliver Tuesday, delivered 500 Easter eggs to Atlantic Nursing and Rehab Center (ANRC) in preparation for the April 7th Easter Egg Hunt.

Susan Oliver delivers Easter Eggs to ANRC

Each year ANRC Administrator Kellie Jimerson seeks supporters for the hunt, during which there are more than 15,000 eggs to be found, as well as bikes to give away, hot dogs, chips, soda and popcorn.

Cass County Extension staff filled their eggs with 4-H stamps, silly bands, wristbands and even some candy.  4-H is open to all youth in grades K-12.  For more information about the fun Cass County Extension 4-H & Youth Programs have to offer visit: www.extension.iastate.edu/cass