Walnut Splash Pad (artist's conceptual drawing)

Nearly two-years after the concept of creating a water attraction in Walnut was devised, a dedication ceremony for the new, $200,000 “Splash Pad” will be held next week. The event at Fireman’s Park takes place 5-p.m. Friday, June 3^rd. Completion of the project was made possible through a variety of fundraising efforts, donations and grants.

City officials say the “opening day” celebration and dedication ceremony will feature hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks, for your free-will donation. There will also be a variety of giveaways, and the final chance for you to enter a quilt raffle, the drawing for which takes place at 7-p.m. that day.

Order forms will be available also, for you to purchase a memorial or honorary brick, that will become a permanent part of the Walnut Splash Pad. “Cash Splash” tickets will be available as well, for a raffle that takes place in August.

The City of Walnut will be giving away 26- $50 prizes, 4- $150 prizes, and one grand prize of $1,000. One $20 ticket enters you for all 31 drawings, and it is possible to win multiple times.

Be sure to bring your family, camera and lawn chairs to the Walnut Splash Pad dedication and grand opening ceremony, on Friday, June 3^rd, at 5-p.m. And, prepare to “get wet!”

Four area teens were injured over the weekend during a rollover accident Saturday afternoon, about a mile northeast of Shelby. The Shelby County Sheriff’s office said today (Tuesday), a 1999 Ford Expedition driven by 16-year old Kaelly Welsh, of Shelby, went out of control at around 4:20-p.m. on County Road F-66, just east of Hackberry Road.

The SUV traveled onto the south shoulder, into the south ditch, and rolled several times. As the vehicle rolled, Welsh, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected. Three passengers in the vehicle, who were wearing their seatbelts, remained in the vehicle as it rolled. They were identified as 16-year olds Casey Peters, of Shelby, and Carmen Allen, of Avoca, and 15-year old Tayler Engel, of Avoca.

All four of the teens were transported by Shelby Rescue and Medivac Ambulance to Myrtue Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

The Cass County Sheriff’s office reports today (Tuesday) four people were arrested over the past week. On Sunday, 33-year old Timothy Duane Snyder, of Elk Horn, was taken into custody on charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver Meth, Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Snyder was being held in the Cass County Jail on $60,000 bond.

On Friday, deputies arrested 39-year old Dwayne Gavin Clark, of Atlantic, on Cass County Sheriff’s Office warrants for Burglary 2nd Degree, Ongoing Criminal Conduct, Burglary 3rd Degree, and Possession with Intent to Deliver Meth. Clark was taken to the Cass County Jail where he is being held on $50,000 bond.

Last Saturday, deputies arrested 21-year old Stewart Russell Andersen, of Atlantic, on a charge of Public Intox. Andersen was taken to the Cass County Jail where pled guilty and was released later that day. And, 24-year old Justin Allen Knutsen, of Atlantic, was arrested Thursday, also on a charge of Public Intoxication. Knutsen was taken to the Cass County Jail where he pled guilty and was released later that day.

Yesterday (Monday) 20-year old Michael Jay Sherman, of Anita, was arrested on a charge of Simple Assault. Sherman was taken to the Cass County Jail where he is being held on $300 bond pending hearing before the Magistrate.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A Nebraska woman won’t have to pay $835 for parking on the grass earlier this month at the Council Bluffs Sports Complex. Laura Sherman had vowed to fight the $750 fine and $85 court fee.

Sherman won’t have to fight the fine because she’s made a deal with the Pottawattamie County prosecutor. As part of the agreement, the judge will keep the fine in place

but Sherman doesn’t have to pay it. Sherman says that if she behaves until November, the fine will be cut to about $100.

She says, “I absolutely will not park on the grass again.”

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports today (Tuesday), a Prescott man was arrested Sunday on numerous charges. Officials say 19-year old Bobby Jo Farwell was taken into custody in Prescott, for Possession of a Controlled Substance, disorderly conduct, trespassing, and Public Intoxication.

Farwell was being held in the Adams County Jail on $6,000 cash only bond.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors are expected to act on several matters to be brought before them during their meeting Wednesday morning, here in Atlantic. During their 9-a.m. session, the board will receive and act on a funding request for an improvement project at the Cumberland Library.

They’re also expected to act on: approving funding for the County’s portion of sidewalk repairs in the Atlantic City Park; an integrated roadside vegetation management plan; and, a temporary suspension and/or abatement of taxes on parcels of land in or near Anita, with the stipulation the taxes will be payable when the property is transferred.

The board will also discuss funding for the northwest sewer and water extension project. During their meeting May 16^th, the board approved the awarding of a contract for the project, which involves the laying of 3,200-feet of water and sewer lines from Highway 83 to the Amaizing Energy Industrial area, along Glacier Road, and underneath a railroad spur line.

The project, which it’s hoped will spark economic development in the areas, is expected to cost around $534,650. Atlantic Municipal Utilities will act as the flow-through agency for the funds.

CASEY – The DNR investigated a fish kill in an Adair County private pond south of Casey Monday afternoon. About noon Monday, the pond owner reported hundreds of dead bluegill in his farm pond. When the DNR arrived on scene, ammonia levels were highly elevated according to Keith Wilken, DNR environmental specialist.

The DNR traced the source of ammonia to a holding pond used by the Casey office of Agriland FS of Winterset. The holding pond normally collects runoff at the site.

However recent heavy rainfall filled the holding pond. An employee opened a gate on the holding pond to prevent it from overtopping which allowed runoff to flow about
one-fourth mile downstream to the farm pond.

The DNR will conduct a fish kill count and continue the investigation Tuesday morning. The DNR will follow up with Agriland FS to prevent future problems and take
enforcement action as appropriate.

(DNR Press Release)

The 4^th Annual Western Iowa No-till (WIN) Demonstration Field Day is planned for June 14 at the Carstens 1880 Farmstead just south of Shelby, Iowa. Registration and vendor displays will open at 8 a.m. on the 14^th; with speakers beginning at 9 a.m. Topics at this year’s field day will include creating an effective weed management program for no-till, an overview of emerging technology in no-till equipment, planter settings and an update on grain marketing. Lunch will be provided free of charge to all in attendance, including steak sandwiches grilled by the East Pottawattamie County Cattlemen.  Ernie Nelson, a no-till farmer from Moville, will deliver the keynote address after lunch. The afternoon will also include a special feature on precision agriculture equipment and data utilization, as well as a weather outlook from Elwynn Taylor.

Anyone with an interest in soil stewardship, from long-time no-till producers to those who are interested in learning more about no-till, is encouraged to attend this daylong educational event.  Over 200 ag producers and ag professionals attended the 2010 event, learning about residue management, crop rotation, fertilizer management and other considerations for a successful no-till program. In addition to the educational sessions at the 2011 WIN Field Day, there will be plenty of time for farmers to visit informational displays, vendor exhibits and network with other producers. CCA Credits will also be available for Certified Crop Advisors needing additional continuing education units this year.

There is no charge to attend this event, but pre-registration is required by June 9^th.  Registration can be completed by e-mailing csgorham@iastate.edu or by calling the Harrison County Extension Office at 888-644-2105. Registrations may also be faxed to 712-644-2100 or be mailed to: ISU Extension Harrison County, 304 East 7^th St., Logan, IA 51546.   The complete schedule and registration form are posted on the Web at www.extension.iastate.edu/harrison, or can be picked up at your local NRCS or ISU Extension Office in Harrison, Pottawattamie or Shelby County.

The field day is brought to you by NRCS, ISU Extension and the Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) in Harrison, Pottawattamie and Shelby Counties.  Sponsors for the day include Farm Bureau, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Farmers & Merchants State Bank, Shelby County State Bank, Brokaw Supply Company, United Bank of Iowa, the Iowa Soybean Association, A&M Green Power, Titan Machinery, K & K Enterprises, The Farm Service Company, Heartland Technology Solutions, Sorensen Equipment Company and Heartland Ag.

USDA is an equal opportunity employer and provider.  USDA, SWCD and Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, or disability.  Persons with disabilities who require accommodations to attend or participate in meetings/events/functions should contact Robert Lawson at (712) 755-2417 (Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339), or Robert.Lawson@ia.usda.gov by June 11.

(Press Release/Shelby County Extension)

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An official groundbreaking ceremony will be held Wednesday afternoon in Atlantic for a $23.5-million dollar expansion and renovation project at the Cass County Memorial Hospital. CCMH Administrator and CEO Pat Markham says planning for the project actually began not long after the last major project was completed, in 1994. She says as the changes in health care have occurred over the years, especially the transition from in-patient to out-patient care, the hospital realized the need to consolidate the in-patients services and expand upon their surgery and the out-patient services.

Markham says CCMH Board of Directors began working on the financing and budgeting process for the expansion and renovation last Summer. When complete, the facility will feature a new, state-of-the-art Emergency Room and O-R surgery services, along with same-day surgery, which will be on the first floor of the new addition. Markham says all of the in-patient services will consolidated into the second floor of the addition. 

Following that, a renovation will occur in a number of areas at the hospital, including the outpatient clinic, expansion of the oncology and cardiology and cardiac rehab areas. All of the facility’s rehab services will then be moved to what’s currently the surgery and O-B areas. The three in-patient wings at the hospital will be demolished, which is the last piece of the project.

Just about a year ago, the facility added a new Home Care Hospice center, which will be demolished as part of the current renovation project. Markham says that’s because since it was built, the hospice services have been transitioned to Iowa Health Home Care, and is no longer under the auspices of the Cass County Health System. 

She says it was only intended to serve as a temporary location to develop the service and gauge the communities’ response to such a service. Markham says it was not the “ideal situation,” and the service providers and staff preferred to see it in a totally separate location, with a more “residential” feel.

Markham says Wednesday’s brief, groundbreaking ceremony for the new addition and renovation, will take place at 1-p.m. in the east parking lot at CCMH.