The deadline to file nomination papers for City government positions in Atlantic has passed, and two City Councilpersons will not be running for re-election on November 8th. According to City Clerk Deb Wheatley Field, four-term Councilperson Pat Simmons has decided not to seek re-election to her 3rd Ward Seat.  Ashley Hayes faces no challengers for the seat being vacated by Simmons, who has served a total of 16-years on the City Council. And, Councilman Kern Miller has decided not to seek re-election in the 1st Ward. Miller served three consecutive terms on the council. Running unopposed for Miller’s seat, is Chris Jimmerson.
Atlantic 4th Ward Councilperson Linda Hartkopf and At Large Councilman Dana Halder, are both running for re-election in November, and are unopposed for their seats. Two women are running for seats on the City’s Parks and Recreation Board. Incumbent Mary Strong seeks re-election, while Jolene Smith looks to fill a seat being vacated by Board Chair Nancy Frederickson, who will not be running for re-election.

AMES, Iowa – Sept. 23, 2011 – The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is reporting that the TrapBag removal project along Interstate 29 in Harrison County, just north of Missouri Valley (milepost 77.8 to 78.25), will begin Monday, Sept. 26th. The work is scheduled to be completed Oct. 11th. The TrapBags formed a protective barrier wall from potential flooding from the Missouri River. During the removal process, one lane of both north- and southbound I-29, between exit 75 (U.S. 30) and exit 82 (Harrison County Road F-50 near Missouri Valley), will be closed.

The Police Chief in Clarinda says charges are pending against the driver of a car which collided with a school bus this (Friday) morning. Chief Keith Brothers says no serious injuries were reported after a car driven by 18-year old Taylor Dukes, of Clarinda, broadsided a Clarinda School District bus at the intersection of 22^nd and State Streets, in Clarinda. The accident happened at around 7:50-a.m.    According to Brothers, a bus driven by 50-year-old Serle Kirshner, of Clarinda, was traveling east on State Street and was entering the intersection, when it was hit by Dukes’ car, as it was pulling away from a stop sign at the intersection. Kirshner was not injured, but Dukes was transported by ambulance after complaining of unknown, possible injuries. None of the students on-board the bus were injured, but the were taken to the hospital to be checked out as a precaution.  An investigation into the accident was on-going, with charges pending completion of the investigation.

Police in Atlantic report a local man was arrested Thursday. 21-year old Kevin Engles, of Atlantic, was arrested on charges of Criminal Trespassing and Public Intoxication. Engles was brought to the Cass County Jail and held, pending an appearance before the magistrate.

The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Council Bluffs Construction Office said today (Friday), the entrance ramp from Iowa 192 to westbound Interstate 80/29 will be closed for construction work overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, September 27th and 28th, weather permitting.  The closure is expected to be in place from 10 p.m. Tuesday through 6 a.m. Wednesday.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles and wear seat belts.

Atlantic is celebrating “125 years of Fun” this weekend, as part of the annual Coca-Cola Days festivities. The community, which is the self-proclaimed “Coca-Cola Capital of Iowa,” will play host to the second largest mini-convention of Coca-Cola collectors in the U-S, second only to Atlanta, Georgia, the home of the popular soft drink.

Meghan Roberts, Executive Director of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, says vendors and collectors alike started rolling into the community earlier this week. Roberts says collectors of Coke memorabilia are well known for their expertise about the product and are excited to share their knowledge with others who may be just getting into the hobby.

The Coca-Cola Days festivities begin today (Friday), with a Tailgate Party at the historic Rock Island Depot, from 5:30-to 7:30-p.m., and a “sneak peek” at the Coke collectibles in the Herring Building at 2nd and Poplar Streets. In addition, the Coca-Cola Center and Museum will be open at its new location at 207 Chestnut Street.

On Saturday, there’s a “Show, Swap and Sell” event from 9-a.m. until 2-p.m. at the Herring Building, along with a Collectors Showcase. The Annual “Coca-Cola Days” parade begins at 4-p.m., and is open to all individuals and groups, but only the children’s entries will be judged and awarded prizes. Each float must have a tie to the Coca-Cola theme.

Long and short-sleeved tee-shirts are available for purchase to commemorate the event, and, there’s a raffle for a collectible Coca-Cola machine. The event runs today and tomorrow. For more information, call 712-243-3017, or log-on to www.atlanticiowa.com.

The players may have changed, but the game plan has not. That’s the word out of Guthrie County, with regard to the “Eclipse” Wind Energy Project. The Guthrie Center Times reports a transfer of deed last August between Clipper Windpower out of Ventura, California, and Mid-American Energy, means Mid-American has purchased the rights to the project, which calls for the construction of 60 wind turbines in southwestern Guthrie County.

Plans for the $206.5-million “Eclipse” Project began in 2006, but Clipper Windpower experienced financial setbacks, and, according to Guthrie County Assessor Rusty Pearson, the company had problems securing affordable transmission lines. The project experienced delays in getting underway, to the point where construction, which was to have begun in early 2010, was expected to start late this year.

Officials with Mid-American Energy told Pearson they intend to move ahead with the project, now that they assumed responsibility for it, and look to have construction bids awarded by late this Fall. The company has an incentive to finish the project sooner, rather than later: if it’s not done by the end of 2012, they stand to lose a large government grant.

Iowa currently has more than 2,500 wind turbines creating over 4,000 megawatts of electricity. Projects that are underway are expected to boost that energy output to 5,000 megawatts by the end of 2012. In December 2010, MidAmerican Energy announced a 593.4-megawatt expansion. That includes 193, 2.3-megawatt turbines, which are currently being erected in east- and southeastern- Cass, northeastern Adams, and southwest Adair counties as part of the “Rolling Hills Wind Project,” which is expected to be finished by the end of the year. Other turbines in the company’s expansion project are being built in Marshall and Calhoun Counties. When complete, approximately 26 percent of MidAmerican Energy’s total generation capacity will come from wind.

Sheriff’s officials in Audubon County report one person was arrested on drug charges early this (Friday) morning. 31-year old Spencer Reigh Lile, of Kimballton, was taken into custody at around 1-a.m., following a traffic stop in Hamlin. Lile was being held in the Audubon County Jail on $1,000 bond.

And, 31-year old Paul Timothy Wonser, of Kimballton, was arrested Thursday night on a charge of domestic abuse assault. His arrest followed an investigation into an incident which allegedly occurred at his residence in Kimballton. Wonser was being held in the Audubon County Jail.

A judge in Guthrie County sentenced a Carroll County man to five-years in prison Monday, for his role in a methamphetamine manufacturing operation. According to the Guthrie Center Times, this past July, a jury found 40-year old Tony Richard Meyers, of Coon Rapids, guilty on a charge of Possession of lithium with the intent to use it in the manufacture of meth, but he was found not guilty on a related charge of conspiracy to manufacture meth. Judge Randy Hefner noted in his decision, that this will be Meyers’ second prison sentence for a drug-related crime.

In a separate jury trial held this past Spring, co-defendant, 21-year old Tylor Meyers, also of Coon Rapids, was found guilty on both possession and conspiracy charges. He received a suspended sentence and ordered to live in a residential correctional facility as part of the terms of his probation.

The charges were the result of an incident which occurred in January, 2010, where a man hiking on shoe shoes at the Whiterock Conservancy near Coon Rapids, stumbled across the Meyers’, who appeared to be in the process of manufacturing meth.

w/ Ric Hanson

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