The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors will hold a special meeting Wednesday evening at the Parks and Rec Building at Sunnyside Park (1200 Sunnyside Lane). During the session, which begins at 5:15, the Board will discuss, but take no action, on a 5-year plan for the Parks and Rec Department.

Every year during September and October, first grade students from the Atlantic, Griswold, and CAM school districts visit the hospital and clinics to learn more about healthcare careers, as well as what it’s like to be a patient. With the assistance of the Cass County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the first graders are taken on a tour that highlights areas such as the Atlantic Medical Center, Emergency Department, cafeteria, laboratory, and the nursery.

During the tour, the students also participate in a mock tonsillectomy. Jena Waters, R.N. and Quality Specialist, guides them through the steps of preparing for surgery and recovery. She shows the students x-rays, and explains what kinds of medical equipment they might see as a patient. During the mock tonsillectomy, the kids get involved by playing different roles including admissions clerk, doctor, nurse, patient, parents, or lab technician.

First-graders from CAM North participated in a play that walks the students through a mock tonsillectomy. (Photo courtesy CCMH)

Sheriff’s officials in Union County say an Atlantic man, 35-year old Harold James Shoemaker,was arrested Monday night at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. Shoemaker was wanted on a Union County warrant for failure to appear in court on a child support matter. He was being held in the Union County Jail on $2000 bond.

The Harlan Police Department reports the arrest on Saturday, of 18-year old Brett Keane, of Panama. Keane was taken into custody following a traffic stop and brought to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, prohibited acts penalties, possession of an open container by person under legal age, and was cited for insufficient number of headlamps. A passenger in the vehicle, 17-year old Lucas Keiner, of Westphalia, was referred to juvenile court for minor in possession of alcohol.

That same day (Oct. 3rd), Harlan Police were dispatched to an attempted break-in, in the 1700 block of Lincoln Avenue. As a result of the investigation, 23-year old Zane Hytrek, and 18-year old Shaun McCarthy, both of Avoca, were arrested and transported to the Shelby County Jail, where McCarthy was charged with possession of a controlled substance and prohibited acts penalties. Hytrek was charged with possession of a controlled substance and open container, passenger.

Also on Oct. 3rd, Police Officers in Harlan were called investigate an incident where a juvenile, Logan Klaassen, of Harlan, had been bitten by a dog causing injury. As a result of the investigation, 57-year old Mark Rasmussen, of Harlan, was cited for allowing a dog to run at large.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday morning, are expected to act on the appointment of an Assistant County Attorney. The move follows the sudden resignation in August, of former Assistant County Attorney Jamie Arnold, who also served as Attorney for the City of Atlantic.

In other business, the Board will receive the initial bargaining proposal from AFSCME Union Local #1414 (Representing the Sheriff’s Deputies and Jailors), and present the County’s proposal, for Fiscal Year 2017-through 2019.

The Board of Supervisor’s meeting begins at 8:30-a.m., in their Board Room at the Cass County Courthouse.