A reminder from the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce: Christmas in Atlantic begins this evening (11/19). Grab your family and friends and celebrate the start of the Holiday Season. The Grand Lighting, Snowflake Drop, Santa and his reindeer and carriage rides start tonight in Historic Downtown Atlantic at 5:30 pm! Be sure to come early to shop and to enjoy the recipe walk.

New this year, the Chamber will be having a Snowflake Drop that will be held during Grand Lighting. The Chamber has partnered with local businesses to provide a “snow shower” full of spectacular savings to be redeemed on Small Business Saturday. Snowflakes with incentives will be dropped from the sky for community members to ‘scoop’ up. The Snowflake Drop is sponsored by McDermott & Son Roofing and Brown’s Shoe Fit Co.

In addition to the Snow Flake Drop, Santa’s Reindeer will be at City Park from 5:30-7:30 pm. There will be free horse-drawn carriage rides from 5:30-7:30 pm. Following Grand Lighting, Santa will be taking visitors in his cabin, along with hot cocoa and popcorn from 6:15-7:30 pm. Santa’s Reindeer are sponsored by Atlantic Animal Health Center, Geis Perry Jewelry, Hy-Vee, Marne & Elk Horn Telephone
Company, McCurdy Investments, Megan Roberts State Farm, Nishna Valley Credit Union and Renew Ag Supply. Carriage Rides are being sponsored by Alan & Brenda Zellmer, First Whitney Bank & Trust and Wells Fargo Bank. Santa’s Cabin is sponsored by the Atlantic Rotary Club.

Warm up and enjoy flavors of the season in downtown retail stores with the Recipe Walk. Participating businesses will offer sweet and savory treats and recipe cards for holiday favorites as you shop. Pick up a list of participating businesses at the Chamber starting Wednesday, November 18th anytime from 10 am-5pm.

Grand Lighting is only the beginning of the Chamber Sponsored holiday events, followed by the Lighted Parade and Fireworks on December 5th, starting at 6 pm. Please submit lighted parade entries to the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce by calling 712.243.3017 or emailing chamber@atlanticiowa.com. Pre-registration is not required, but is encouraged. The Lighted Parade and Fireworks are sponsored by
A.M. Cohron & Son and Meyer & Gross Real Estate.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports one person was arrested on drug charges Wednesday afternoon. 19-year old Keegan Wayne Williams, of Corning, was allegedly found to be in possession of individual baggies of marijuana at 10th and Washington Streets, in Corning. Williams was arrested for Possession with the Intent to deliver on real property, interference with officials acts, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a Red Oak man was arrested early this (Thursday) morning, for Driving While Barred. 36-year old Joshua Duane Mohn was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $2,000 cash bond.

LYTTON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say one of the three men hurt in an explosion at a protein processing plant in Iowa has injuries that are life-threatening. The Sac County Sheriff’s Office says 34-year-old Earl Lee Moore of Milford Center, Ohio was in a large storage tank for repair work when the explosion occurred Tuesday night at the Proliant facility in Lytton. Authorities say he has life-threatening injuries.

A second man, 32-year-old Manuel Ruiz, of Columbus, Ohio suffered injuries that authorities described as severe. Both men, employees of an equipment company in Ohio, were transferred to a hospital in Omaha.

Fifty-two-year-old Dana Boom of Lake View, Iowa was also hurt. The Proliant employee was taken to local hospital for treatment and later released. Authorities say they’re still investigating the cause of the explosion.

FARRAGUT, Iowa (AP) — A southwest Iowa school district has been dissolved after officials say it has run with a negative balance and sub-minimal educational standards. The Des Moines Register reports that the Iowa Board of Education voted to close the Farragut School District Wednesday. State officials say the district had a five-year period of deficit spending that was approaching $1 million.

The Green Hills Area Education Agency will take over day-to-day operations so students can finish the school year. The Iowa Department of Education will redraw boundaries, and the students will have options on which nearby schools to attend. The department will also divide the district’s assets.

This is the third time the state has closed a school district, which is seen as a last resort when programming or financial issues are too difficult to solve.