Atlantic will be buzzing with vintage military vehicles and their owners, tomorrow (Saturday, May 21st), when the Second Annual Ba-Da-Ba-Da Bing Bang Rally takes to the streets. Steve Livengood, President of the Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise, and founder of the Rally, says it’s an opportunity for military vehicle owners to meet to share their interests, and for the public to view the vehicles, visit with owners and take in military-related exhibits. The event is at the American Legion Memorial Building, formerly known as the National Guard Armory at 201 Poplar Street, Atlantic.

Livengood says 25 military trucks and other vehicles will be on display. One of the trucks is so big, he says, it won’t fit in the parking lot, and will have to be placed across the street. Among the vehicles is a Harley Davidson motorcycle that’s over 70-years old.

Unlike a typical car show, where you can look but not touch, most of the military vehicles’ owners won’t mind if you touch their machines. And, they’re more than happy to answer your questions about their pride and joy, machines. He strongly suggests you ASK the owner for permission, first.

Livengood is well known for his own, vast collection of military equipment and memorabilia, but this year he’s adding something new to the event: 1944-45 Military heating and cooking stoves.

Activities for Rally participants are scheduled to take place from 9-a.m. to 4:15-p.m. That includes a cruise through parts of Atlantic, from 3:30- to 4:15-p.m.. Spectators are invited to view the vehicles and other equipment and/or collections, from 10-a.m. to 3-p.m.  A noon meal will be available for you to purchase, and, there’ll be a vendor of military surplus such as clothing equipment and other items, available on the grounds.

A free tour of the American Legion Memorial Building is available. It includes a military museum and library.

The Denison Police Department reports the arrest on May 18th, of Oscar Aguilar Gamiochipe. The Denison man was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Marijuana and Sexual Abuse 2nd Degree.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports two people were arrested on assault charges, Thursday. 21-year old Dylan Daniel Hudson, of Shannon City, was arrested at  the Union County Law Enforcement Center on a Union County warrant for assault with intent to inflict serious injury.  He was later released on $2,000 bond. And, 34-year old Timothy Robert Hudek, of Winterset, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on a Union County warrant for assault with intent to inflict serious injury.  Hudek was later released on $2,000 bond, also.

Sheriff’ officials said also, 52-year old David Dwain White, of Creston, was arrested Thursday at the Union County Jail, for 5^th degree criminal mischief.  White was issued a citation to appear in court, and released.

Officials with the Cass County Health System say the topic of this month’s “Healthy U,” in Atlantic, is “Breathe Easy with Respiratory Therapy.” The educational session will be held at noon on Thursday, May 26^th in Conference Room 2 at CCHS.         Chelsey Anderson, Certified Respiratory Therapist, will present an overview about the work of a Respiratory Therapist. Anderson says  “Obviously, breathing is very important. We’ll talk about what we do as therapists and cover general lung health, too.”

Chelsey Anderson

Respiratory Therapists offer a variety of services including diagnosing lung and breathing disorders, providing treatments, consulting with physicians on therapy, managing ventilators and artificial airways, responding to emergency respiration situations, and educating patients and families about lung disease.

Again, the session will be on Thursday, May 26^th at noon in Conference Room 2 at Cass County Health System. Healthy U is a free educational series offered by Cass County Health System that focuses on a different health topic each month. All registered attendees receive a healthy boxed meal in addition to the educational program presented by medical professionals.

For more information, or to make a reservation for Healthy U, call 712-243-7479.

Officials with SWITA (The Southwest Iowa Transit Agency), says they’ll be offering summer excursion trips for families in Atlantic, this year. SWITA will provide transportation to the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, the Walnut Splash Pad, and the Avoca Swimming Pool. Nine trips are planned, three to each location, from June through August.

The cost is just $5 per person round trip, to visit the Splash Pad or Swimming Pool, and $10 per person round trip, to the zoo. The rates are unchanged from last year, thanks to the generous donations from the Atlantic Rotary Club and other area organizations. In addition, students who have the unlimited summer fun bus pass, are allowed to ride for FREE. Admission to the zoo, pool and splash pad, as well as meals, are NOT includes in the transit price, and are the responsibility of the rider.

An adult is required to accompany all children on the trips. All buses and vehicles are equipped with seat belts that must be worn at all times, as well. All trips are open to the public, and are ADA accessible.

The schedule for future trips is as follows:

June 9, July 8, & Aug. 12th – Avoca Pool

June 14, July 20, & Aug. 2nd – Henry Doorly Zoo

June 24, July 15, & Aug. 17th – Walnut Splash Pad

For more information on the scheduled trips, visit the SWITA website at www.swipco.org, or call 243-2518.

Senator Joni Ernst has credentials that check some of the boxes on Donald Trump’s list of qualities he’s seeking in a running mate. Ernst is a combat veteran and she has experience in government at the county, state and federal level. So, if asked, would she agree to be Trump’s V-P? “That’s a hypothetical, of course, and I’m very focused on Iowa issues right now,” Ernst says. “No one from the campaign has reached out.”

Earlier this month, Governor Branstad indicated he was seeking a private meeting with Trump in order to tout Ernst as a running mate. Ernst has not met personally with Trump, but she’s talked with other members of congress who did meet Trump privately last week. “A number of my colleagues stated that they really appreciated the fact that he was very thoughtful in his responses to them,” Ernst says. “He was very serious. He was very different in those meetings maybe than what you’ll see out on a stage somewhere, what you might see in Twitter.”

A few months ago Ernst aired concerns about some of the comments Trump made on the campaign trail. “I did have concern about his tone,” Ernst says. “…I don’t agree with every statement that Donald Trump has said, but I will tell you that there are other candidates as well that I would probably not agree 100 percent with their statements either. I would like to see as we move forward more talk about policy…Now that he is the presumptive nominee, I think he has that opportunity.”

Ernst made her comments during taping of the Iowa Press program that will air at 7:30 this evening (Friday) on Iowa Public Television.

(Radio Iowa)