ATLANTIC, Iowa (AP) — Republican presidential hopefuls Michele Bachmann and Tim Pawlenty are trying to use the downgrade of the nation’s credit rating to their political advantage ahead of this weekend’s Iowa straw poll.

It’s a high-stakes event for both. Bachmann hopes to keep her momentum going with a strong showing while a struggling Pawlenty is looking for a much-needed boost.

Both were packing their campaign schedules ahead of Saturday’s test vote.

In Atlantic, Iowa, Bachmann blamed President Barack Obama’s spending policies for the rating downgrade. The Minnesota congresswoman voted against raising the debt ceiling.

Pawlenty, a former Minnesota governor, echoed that theme while in Ames. He says the decision by the rating agency makes it clear that the federal government is out of control and needs to be cut back.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators from states lining the Missouri River are asking the Army Corps of Engineers to outline plans for next year’s flood preparations. The senators say in a letter sent to top Corps officials on Monday that the agency must learn from this year’s devastating flood season and apply those lessons to next year’s plan. The delegation is also asking what authority the Corps has to make changes to its annual operating plan for the river, and whether any additional authority will be needed. The Corps has come under heavy criticism for its management of the Missouri River, which compromised levees in Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri after heavy spring rains and late snow melt.

For the last year, Cass County Home Care and Atlantic community members have been working diligently to collect valuable data to address safety concerns in Atlantic through a project called I-WALK, an Iowa Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program.  In late August, a summary of the data will be provided to the community.

The one-hour presentation will address barriers and opportunities identified as well as recommendations for our community to become a safer place for people of all ages.   The presentation is brought to you by Cass County Home Care and conducted by representatives of the Iowa Department of Public Health and Iowa State University Extension.

The presentation is open to the general public and will be held on Friday, August 26, at 12:00 pm at Cass County Home Care, 1500 E 10^th St, Atlantic.  Attendees should RSVP to Denise Coder, 712-243-7475 or coderda@ihs.org.

Two men were arrested Sunday, in Atlantic. According to Atlantic police, 30-year old Aaron Latus, of Atlantic, was taken into custody on a Fremont County warrant for Serious Injury by Vehicle.

And, 52-year old Carlton Owens, of Minden, was arrested Sunday for shoplifting, or, theft in the 5^th degree, and, carrying a weapon.

Both men were booked into the Cass County Jail.

Republican Presidential Candidate & Congresswoman  Michele Bachman (Rep.-MN), will hold a town hall meeting this morning, in Atlantic.  The Iowa native will speak in the Atlantic room, at the Cass County Community Center, beginning at 11:45-a.m., according to her campaign staff.

Bachman is touring the state prior to Saturday’s Straw Poll, in Ames.

w/ Ric Hanson

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A Louisiana man was arrested Saturday near Lake Anita. According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office,  24-year-old Jacob Ellard, of Monterey, Louisiana, was taken into custody following a traffic stop.

Ellard was charged with 1^st offense OWI. He was brought to the Cass County Jail and held on $1,000 bond, until being released later that same day.

w/ Ric Hanson

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The Fremont County Sheriff’s office reports four arrests over the past week. On Wednesday, 46-year old Jeffrey Scott Ruckman, of Council Bluffs, and, 47-year old Tina Marie Handy-Zoltowski, of Omaha, were arrested on charges of trespassing, and 5^th degree theft.

Last Tuesday, 50-year old Shelly Ann Elsen, of Hastings, IA, was arrested for contempt of court. And, on Monday, 25-year old Brian Keith Palm, of Des Moines, was arrested for a probation violation, and on a Monona County warrant.

Strong storms Saturday night brought large hail and damaging winds to western and southwest Iowa. The storms blew through the area between 8:15-and 11-p.m.

In Stanton, sustained winds tore off a large chunk of the gymnasium roof at the Stanton High School. In Atlantic, thunderstorm winds at around 9:50-p.m., toppled a large tree limb onto a power line, which fell on a truck.

Hail the size of pennies began to fall in Crawford County at around 8:15. Golfball-sized hail was reported in Shelby County at around 8:30-p.m., damaging several vehicle windshields. Within the next half-hour, pea-to quarter-sized hail was reported near the Audubon Airport, and quarter-sized hail near Kimballton, along with winds gusting up to 60-miles per hour. Quarter-sized hail continued to fall near the Audubon Airport for about 10-minutes, after 9-p.m.

At about 9:30, winds gusting up to 60 miles per hour were recorded four-miles northeast of Anita, along Interstate 80. Thunderstorm winds caused 4-to 6-inch diameter tree limbs to fall near Corning, at around 10:10-p.m. Saturday, and winds gusting up to 71-miles per hour were reported northwest of Creston about 20-minutes later, causing tree and roof damage. A tree was also reported to have fallen on a house, in Creston. At about the same time, the American Legion Building in Macksburg sustained wind damage from the storms.

Storms spotters northeast of Orient reported 65-miles per hour winds and torrential rain at around 10:40-p.m., Saturday. About 20-minutes earlier, winds gusting over 60-miles per hour damaged metal sheds and peeled off part of a roof two-miles southeast of Orient. A tree was also reported to have fallen on a trailer east of Orient, and a roof was torn off of a hog house.

Those same storms pushed their way into south central Iowa overnight Saturday, into early Sunday morning. There were no reports of injuries.