The Enhance Iowa Board, on February 8th, heard a presentation from Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director Seth Staashelm, with regard to the City’s application for funds to complete a phase of the Schildberg Recreation Area (SRA) improvements. Staashelm told the Parks and Rec Board Monday evening, that overall, the meeting went well, but there are some additional funds that need to be raised before the Enhance Iowa Board scores the application on March 8th, which is date of the next meeting Staashelm must attend to update their Board.

He said he had 10-minutes to make his presentation for consideration, along with eight other project presenters, and he received a lot of positive feedback. The application did show a “fundraising gap” amounting to approximately $29,000. Staashelm said the City can use funds from the Parks Capital Improvement 2020 Program, from the County and Connect-A-Dock, who is helping with the ADA accessible fishing pier, Cass County Community Foundation, Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs. While some of those are “Pending” funds, Seth says he hopes to get more committed letters of support before the March 8th meeting. He also hopes to use Trust and Agency Funds.

The Parks and Rec Department is seeking $175,000 from Enhance Iowa for the SRA improvements. In other business, Staashelm said has a special deal for persons wanting to attend an Iowa Wild American Hockey League (AHL) game on March 18th, “Atlantic Parks and Recreation Night” at Wells Fargo Arena, in Des Moines. The $22 price per person of the tickets includes the game against the Milwaukee Admirals, followed by a Gaelic Storm Concert and Saint Patrick’s Day hat giveaway. 22 tickets are available by calling Staashelm at 712-243-3542 by no later than March 3rd.

And, Staashelm said Monday that the ice skating rink is closed at Sunnyside Park, due to the obvious change in the weather. The roads in Sunnyside Park are now open again, and the Tennis court nets are up. The Basketball Court should be available for use by Tuesday night, but the restrooms will remain closed until there’s no more chance of frost or freezing temps in the forecast.

A Sioux City woman has confirmed that her son was one of five people wounded in a drive-by shooting early Sunday in Ames. Officers were sent to the scene around 1:30 a.m. Sunday on reports that two groups were fighting as bars closed in the area. As police officers separated the groups, shots were fired from a stopped car into the crowd. Police say two officers fired into the car, which sped away. Three bystanders in the crowd were taken to hospitals for treatment of non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.

Kathy Heaton of Sioux City has confirmed that one of those three victims is her son, Kyle Heaton, who is a student at Iowa State University, and that he sustained a gunshot wound to his leg. Heaton’s mother says her son has been treated and released from an Ames hospital and that the wound was not serious. Commander Geoff Huff of the Ames Police says the two wounded suspects and two other men were found at a Fort Dodge hospital. All four of those men, who are from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, were arrested.

(Radio Iowa)

The Atlantic Police Department released details Monday on multiple arrests this month.

On February 2nd Officers arrested 41-year-old Michelle Gifford of Atlantic for OWI 1st Offense. She was taken to the Cass County Jail and booked in.

On February 8th Officers arrested 56-year-old Rhonda Hafner of Griswold for OWI 1st Offense. She was taken to the Cass County Jail and booked in.

On February 9th Officers arrested 26-year-old Devin Register of Atlantic on Cass County Warrants for two counts of Domestic Abuse Assault Causing Injury. He was booked into the Cass County Jail. Register was arrested again on Sunday, February 19th for Criminal Mischief 4th Degree. He was again taken to the Cass County Jail and booked in.

On February 12th Officers arrested 29-year-old Taylor Andersen of Atlantic for Domestic Abuse Assault Impeding Air Flow. He was taken into custody and booked in the the Cass County Jail.

Atlantic Police also report three separate arrests on Friday, February 17th. 24-year-old Michael Riley of Atlantic was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault Impeding Air Flow. She was taken into custody and booked in to the Cass County Jail. 27-year-old Cameron Misner was arrested Friday for Public Intoxication. He was booked into the Cass County Jail. Also Friday Officers arrested 50-year-old Richard Lewis of Atlantic for Simple Assault.  He was taken to the Cass County Jail and booked in.

A photo featuring a lobbyist shaking Governor Terry Branstad’s hand last Friday has sparked outrage among opponents of the bill Branstad signed moments before the picture was taken. Branstad’s signature on the bill immediately reduced negotiating rights for government workers. AFSCME Council 61 president Danny Homan leads a union representing 40-thousand govenrment workers in Iowa and he says it was “disgusting” to see Branstad and the lobbyist for Americans for Prosperity smiling in that photo.

“That said volumes to me as to who was behind and pulling the strings for the passage of this law,” Homan says. Americans for Prosperity was founded and financed by Oklahoma billionaires known as the Koch (pronounced “Coke”) Brothers. Drew Klein, the state director for Americans for Prosperity, posted the picture on his Twitter account and wrote that he was honored to witness the bill signing. Branstad signed the bill in a PRIVATE ceremony and Klein was the only lobbyist in the room.

“I really don’t even know him, so it’s not that big a deal as far as I’m concerned,” Branstad says. The governor says he poses for lots of pictures with people he doesn’t know. “I try to be very accommodating with people and so there were some people that wanted a picture with me and so I accommodated that,” Branstad says. “That’s not a big deal as far as I’m concerned. I do that for people all the time.” After Klein posted his photo with Branstad online, State Senator Jeff Danielson tweeted that Klein was a “super PAC punk.” Klein responded during a Sunday appearance on W-H-O Television’s “Insiders” program.

“As a state director, I do an awful lot of fundraising for somebody that supposedly was handed a suitcase of cash from the Koch brothers and told to implement some agenda,” Klein said. Klein says the bill Branstad signed is “truly historic” and he rejects the charge Democrats made, that Klein had a major hand in writing the legislation. “They’ve certainly give me some new career aspirations that I may one day be as effective as they believe I am,” Klein said. Klein is a Newton native and a Drake University graduate. He lives in Des Moines and has been working in politics since 2008.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A panel of House lawmakers has approved a bill that would prevent Iowa judicial courts from applying foreign law to state cases. The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa says the bill mirrors anti-Sharia legislation passed in other states, though Sharia law is not directly referenced in the bill.

The GOP-led House Judiciary Subcommittee agreed Monday to support the bill. It now heads to a full committee. Rep. Ralph Watts, an Adel Republican and the bill’s lead sponsor, says the legislation is aimed at ensuring new cultures in America assimilate under the U.S. Constitution. Watts says he’s unaware of any cases where Iowa courts have considered foreign law.

The Iowa Catholic Conference is also registered against the bill. The group says the measure could void agreements referencing Catholic law.