(Atlantic, Iowa) – UPDATE 8/8/23 – **THE REQUEST HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN, therefore the meeting is cancelled ** The City of Atlantic’s Community Protection Committee will meet 3:30-p.m. Wednesday, August 9th, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. There is one item on their agenda: Reviewing and making a recommendation to the City Council, with regard to a request for target shooting permission at 1401 Sunnyside Lane, in Atlantic (The Iowa DNR Field Office 4 building). The request is being made by Brent Martens, who works for the DNR.

He requests consent to target practice with his box, during his lunch breaks at work. In a letter to Mayor Grace Garrett, Martens he had “Looked west of the building for some time now , and just feel it would be a nice area to get a couple of shots in,” while he’s on break. Martens notes that, to the south of the DNR’s building, there is a hay field, and beyond that, some communication dishes. “Further beyond that,” he says, “Is a building. The building which is the only inhabitable structure is one-quarter [of a] mile,” from where he would be shooting. Martens says if approved, he would use a foam target out to 40-yards.

The City of Atlantic, he acknowledged, has an Ordinance (41.11) making it unlawful for a person to “Throw stones, bricks or missiles of any kind, or to shoot arrows….or other dangerous instruments…” without written consent of the Council.

(Radio Iowa) – Sioux City leaders in the public and private sector have confirmed they have received official notice that the U-S-S Sioux City litoral combat ship will be decommissioned. The U-S-S Sioux City was commissioned in Annapolis, Maryland on November 17th of 2018. It will be decommissioned on August 14th at the Naval Station Mayport Florida at 10 a-m. Several of the ships in this class have had mechanical issues and it is costing millions of dollars to maintain them.

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says they have been looking for a use for the ships, but haven’t had any takers.

(Radio Iowa) – All seven presidential candidates who spoke at Sunday’s fundraiser for Congresswoman Ashley Hinson got a standing ovation from the crowd of 800 Republicans. Former President Trump was not at the event. His name was barely mentioned and no one who took the stage directly referred to the federal indictment filed against Trump last week, but Florida Governor Ron DeSantis promised to appoint a new F-B-I director. Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy promised to shut down the F-B-I. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum told the crowd nothing is more important than having people engaged in the political process. Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley warned that China has been planning for war with the United States for years and it’s the biggest threat we’ve had since Pearl Harbor.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Reynolds has issued disaster proclamations for Lee and Sioux Counties for severe weather that struck on Friday and Saturday. Heavy rain fell in Sioux County on Friday and Saturday. The National Weather Service reports rainfall amounts of seven-and-a-half to more than nine inches in the Sioux Center area. According to the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities, heavy rain fell in southeast Iowa Saturday. Between four and eight inches of rain fell in less than six hours, causing flash flooding and several water rescues in Keokuk. W-G-E-M T-V received an unofficial report from the Keokuk area of 11 inches of rain on Saturday.

The governor’s emergency declaration activates the state’s individual assistance grant program for low-income households. Grants of up to five-thousand dollars are available to cover home or car repairs and replace food or clothing. The grants can also cover the cost of temporary housing.

(Sidney, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Fremont County, Sunday night, sent out a list of arrests made from July 5th through August 6th. See the full list here: July presslog

Some of the most recent and or most notable include:

• 20-year-old Emma Lee Baerbaum, of Red Oak, who was arrested in Sidney at around 2:24-a.m. Sunday (8/6), for Possession of Alcohol under the legal age.  She was released from the scene with a citation.
• 52-year-old Shayne Ray Boehme, of Nebraska City, NE., was arrested Saturday night on the grounds of the Sidney Rodeo, for Public Intoxication. He was released Sunday on his Own Recognizance.
• 21-year-old Thomas Michael Earls, of Creston, was arrested at around 4:07-a.m. Saturday in Sidney, for OWI/1st offense. He was released a few hours later after posting bond.
• Friday afternoon, 27-year-old Francisco Dario Diego-Lorenzo, of Omaha, was arrested on I-29 in Fremont County, for OWI/1st offense. He was later released on a cash bond.
• 45-year-old Angela Louise Elings, of Shelby, was arrested in Sidney on August 3rd, for Failure to Appear/Contempt of Court. She was later released on a cash bond; 38-year-old Christopher Ryan Willard, of Tabor, was arrested Aug. 3rd for Domestic Assault-Choking/Bodily Injury; and, 22-year-old Drake Edward Livingston, of Shenandoah, was arrested Aug. 3rd for OWI/1st offense. He was released on a surety bond.
• Last Wednesday, 38-year-old Danielle Marie Casey, of Silver City, was arrested in Fremont County, for OWI/1st offense. She was later released on her Own Recognizance.

Others arrested in Fremont County this past July include:

• 35-year-old Nicholas James Grosscup, of Etna, OH, who was arrested July 23rd at Sapp Brothers in Percival, on charges that include: Trafficking Methamphetamine (5gm-100kg); Possession of Cocaine (<10gm); 2 Drug Tax Stamp Violations; 3 counts Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia. He was released the next day on a Recognizance Bond. 23-year-old Kayla Marie Craig, of Grove City, OH, was also arrested at Sapp Brothers on July 23rd. She was charged with Trafficking Methamphetamine (5gm-100kg); Possession of Cocaine (<10gm); 2 Drug Tax Stamp Violations; PCS; and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia.
• 49-year-old Chaundra Lynn Story, of College Springs, was arrested July 21st in Shenandoah, for PCS and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia. She was released on a surety bond.
• On July 11th, 62-year-old Sherman Allen Saylor, of Eagle Rock, MO., was arrested in Fremont County, for PCS and Poss. of Paraphernalia.
• July 10th, 18-year-old Jesse Lee Lytle, of Sidney, was arrested on a Felony warrant for Trafficking Stolen Weapons/1st offense.
• On July 9th, 18-year-old Lane Allan Harris, of Sidney, was arrested for Eluding; PCS; OWI/1st offense; Possession of a False License/ID Card, and Poss. of Paraphernalia.
• and, on July 5th, 24-year-old Jeremy Wayne Rhoades, of Hamburg, was arrested in Sidney on a Felony warrant for Violation of Probation.

(Union County, Iowa) – A man from Creston faces charges following an accident that took place Sunday afternoon. The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports 35-year-old Julian Albert Rex Allsion, of Creston, was driving a 2000 Ford Taurus westbound on Cromwell Road at around 3:40-p.m. Sunday, when the vehicle left the road and broadsided a guardrail, causing it to override the car.

Allsion left the scene but was later identified by witnesses. He confessed to being the operator of the vehicle, which sustained $5,000 damage and had to be towed from the scene. Allsion was not injured during the accident.

He was charged with Failure to Maintain Control, and Driving While License Revoked.

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds has requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration for seven Iowa counties where significant damage was sustained from spring flooding. 

The governor requested funding under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance Program for Allamakee, Clayton, Des Moines, Dubuque, Jackson, Lee, and Scott counties for the Mississippi River flooding that occurred from April 24-May 13, 2023.  

Following a joint federal, state, and local damage assessment of the affected counties, it was estimated the flooding caused more than $6 million worth of damage that could be eligible under the Public Assistance program. Funding from this program is used to rebuild damaged infrastructure that may include roads, bridges, culverts and other public facilities, or to cover costs of emergency work during, and debris removal after, severe weather. 

In addition, the governor requested funding to conduct hazard mitigation activities for the entire state. 

DES MOINES – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, today (Sunday) issued a disaster proclamation for Lee and Sioux counties in response to severe weather that occurred beginning Aug. 4th. The governor’s proclamation activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program and the Disaster Case Advocacy Program.

The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and temporary housing expenses. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The grant application and instructions are available on the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management website at  https://homelandsecurity.iowa.gov/assistance. Potential applicants have 45 days from the date of the proclamation to submit a claim.

 The Disaster Case Advocacy Program addresses serious disaster-related needs. Disaster case advocates work with clients to coordinate services and resources to address disaster-related unmet needs, build a recovery plan, and access available resources. There are no income eligibility requirements for this program; it closes 180 days from the date of the governor’s proclamation.  To sign up for the Disaster Case Advocacy Program, contact your local Community Action Agency: https://iowacommunityaction.org/find-an-agency/.

(Montgomery County, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report a woman from Red Oak faces an OWI charge, following an accident in the 1900 block of 200th Street, in Red Oak, Friday evening. 37-year-old Sara Sue Batten was transported to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital for treatment of injuries she suffered during the accident. As a result of an investigation, deputies found Batten’s blood alcohol content was more than four-times the legal limit. She was charged with OWI/1st offense and issued a written warning for Failure to Maintain Control. She was cited into court.

Red Oak Police report two arrests took place Friday: 33-year-old Dylan Thomas Griffeth, of Red Oak, was arrested for Domestic Assault/1^st Offense, and on a Red Oak Police Department warrant for Domestic Abuse Causing Bodily Injury. Griffeth was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail, pending an appearance before the magistrate.

Red Oak Police also arrested 30-year-old Isaias Guerra, of Red Oak, Friday. He was taken into custody on a Montgomery County warrant for Violation of Probation. Guerra was transported to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on a $5,000 bond.

In addition, a 16-year-old male faces charges associated with a collision Friday afternoon, at the intersection of S. 2nd Street and E. Park Avenue, in Red Oak. Authorities say the teen – whose name was not released – was charged with Failure to Obey Stop Sign and Yield Right of Way, Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability, Violation of Instruction Permit, and Operation Without Owners Consent. The police report said the teen was traveling northbound on S 2^nd Street at a high rate of speed and failed to obey a stop sign before the vehicle he was driving struck a westbound 2012 Dodge Avenger. No injuries were reported.

(Atlantic, Iowa) –  The Cass County Conservation Department reports Nishna Valley Trails is holding a Kids Bike Ride August 12th, 2023 10:30 AM at Schildberg Recreation Area west parking lot, in Atlantic. Check-in and start the ride at the West Parking lot.

Three age groups ride a length of the trail according to age. The event is FREE, and all ages welcome. After the ride check out Atlanticfest going on in the downtown area!

The Kids Bike Ride is co-sponsored by Atlantic Parks and Recreation, Cass County Conservation, Fareway, and West Side Diner, in Atlantic. For questions, call Cass County Naturalist Lora Kanning, at 712-769-2372.