Officials with Atlantic Municipal Utilities (AMU) and the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce have announced the winners of the 2015 Holiday Christmas Lighting Contest “Deck the Homes”. The contest encouraged the community to nominate their favorite merry & bright home.

Deck the Homes Contest Winners (Chamber supplied photo)

First place winners of AMU’s Annual Christmas Lighting Contest are Kevin & Amanda Maier, whose outdoor light display can be seen at 206 E. 9th Street in Atlantic. The Maier’s received a $100 credit toward their AMU utility services.

The second place winner is a resident at 1700 Lomas Circle in Atlantic. Congratulations to Tara Peterson for her spectacular outdoor light display. Peterson was awarded a $75 credit to her AMU utility services.  Third place winners are Ruth & Suzanne Meyer, residents at 1004 Chestnut Street in Atlantic. The Meyer’s will receive a $50 credit for their light display.

Delta Zeta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Donation Picture

The Chamber thanks AMU for its continued support of the Annual Holiday Christmas “Deck the Homes” lights contest. Thanks also to the Delta Zeta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi for their donation of $200. The money will be used to maintain downtown lighting. The 2016 Atlantic Area Chamber Image Builders committee will also be up-cycling the existing poles on Walnut and Poplar Street.

Two people were arrested early this (Friday) morning on assault charges, in Red Oak. Police say 25-year old Mark Alan Lear, Jr., of Council Bluffs, and 26-year old Heather Lynn Lear, of Red Oak, were arrested for Domestic Abuse/Serious Assault. The pair were taken into custody at around 1:25-a.m. in the 300 block of E. Market Street, in Red Oak. They were brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond.

Authorities in Montgomery County report two people were arrested Thursday night. Red Oak Police arrested 21-year old Eric Eugene Fichter, of Shenandoah, at around 10:15-p.m.  on a felony, Delivery of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, charge. Fichter was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 cash bond.

And, at around 8:10-p.m., deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office arrested 44-year old Dan Joseph Steyskal, of Council Bluffs, following a traffic stop just west of Stanton. Steyskal was taken into custody for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say a 20-year-old Des Moines man suffered a head injury after four masked men broke into his home. The Register reports that the home invasion and robbery happened around 4 p.m. Tuesday just west of Drake University. Police say several electronic items were stolen.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A Davenport music producer has announced plans to bring about 30 bands to the city for an inaugural three-day music festival. The Quad-City Times reports that Sean Moeller intends to bring bands that he thinks will have breakthroughs in 2016 to perform at the Daytrotter Downs festival. Moeller says he named the festival after the Quad-City Downs, a former racetrack in East Moline, Illinois. The festival is scheduled to kick off February 18th at the Adler Theater in Davenport.

WEST BRANCH, Iowa (AP) — A judge is ordering the city of West Branch to pay nearly $500,000 in tax rebates to a manufacturer of wind turbines. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jon Scoles ruled Thursday that the city breached an agreement with Acciona Windpower when it refused to reimburse part of its property taxes in 2013 and 2014.

GRANGER, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a body found in a pond in central Iowa belongs to a 17-year-old boy who had been reported missing Sunday. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says a body discovered Thursday in Granger was identified as Sam Kemp of Des Moines. An autopsy has been scheduled.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Federal officials called for a two-month delay in Iowa’s switch to a private Medicaid program but signaled the state likely will get approval to make the change. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Thursday ordered a halt until March 1 of plans to hand over management of the $4.2 billion health care program for 560,000 poor and disabled residents to for-profit insurance companies.

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad had planned to make the switch beginning Jan. 1. Branstad surprised the medical community and lawmakers last January with the plan he says will save $47 million in the first six months. Federal regulators told state officials Iowa needs more time but that approval is anticipated once the state is ready for a seamless transition that will not disrupt care.