The Atlantic City Council will hold a regularly scheduled session Wednesday evening, at City Hall. During the meeting, which begins at 5:30-p.m., Mayor Dave Jones is expected to sign a proclamation declaring June 15th-through the 19th as “Ride SWITA Transit Week.” The Southwest Iowa Transit Agency serves as the public transportation system for Atlantic and the surrounding region, operating under the umbrella of the Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO). SWITA provides rides to school, work, shopping and medical appointments for local citizens.

The Mayor and Council will also recognize former 5th Ward Councilperson Lori Stuart, for her contributions to the community. Stuart resigned last month and her family moved to Cedar Rapids. The Council approved the appointment of Richard “Dick” Casady to fill her seat on June 4th. Casady hold the position until at least the November General Election.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on an order for the Mayor to enter into a marketing agreement with Utility Service Partners, Inc., for the Service Line Warranty Program. The Council has stipulated the company should use local contractors for any repairs or warrant work, as much as possible. City Administrator John Lund has contacted three other communities in Iowa to get their opinion on the value of the service USP provides. According to his report, no complaints have been received from the citizens of those communities, but two of the three Public Works officials contacted strongly suggested an informational media campaign be conducted to make the public aware of the optional warranty service.

And, the Council will act on passing a Resolution that repeals and replaces a section of the City’s Personnel Policy manual, with regard to longevity pay. The pay scale section of the Personnel Policy, according to Lund, has not been updated since 1997. Salaried employees and Union members will not be affected by the adjustments, which pertain to 11 employees, and would cost to the City just under $3,800.

Finally, Mayor Dave Jones, Wednesday, will make a proclamation calling for “No Parking on the entire length of 22nd Street and west of the 900 block of Olive Street.”

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A prosecutor says a 27-year-old Sioux City man has rejected another plea offer and will proceed to trial for the death of his 2-month-old son. Michael Williams is charged with three counts of neglect of a dependent person, a count of child endangerment resulting in death and one of child endangerment resulting in injury. His trial is scheduled to begin July 7.

The Sioux City Journal reported Tuesday that County Attorney Patrick Jennings declined to discuss details of the plea deal. Williams also rejected a deal in October. Authorities have said little Leonard Williams was taken to an emergency room on April 29 last year. An autopsy later showed he died of malnutrition and dehydration.

The trial of his mother, 24-year-old Rebekah Williams-McCarthy, is scheduled to begin Aug. 4th.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Two workers at Sioux City’s wastewater treatment plant are no longer employed by the city.  Human Resources Director Bridey Hayes confirmed to KTIV-TV that superintendent Jay Niday and operations supervisor Pat Schwarte no longer work for the city. Hayes said she couldn’t comment further about their departure.

It’s unclear if the employees’ departure is connected to an ongoing investigation by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The agency is investigating whether an employee changed chlorine levels in wastewater samples to meet standards outlined in a state-issued permit that allows treated wastewater to be discharged into the Missouri River. City officials have said they are cooperating with the state and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

A unique sculpture created by the owner of a local iron works company will be featured during the parade for the Lewis Day Festival on June 27th, and in an international art competition. Duane Weirich, of Weirich Welding, in Lewis, said he started working on a steel sculpture of an Eagle, in January. He later learned of a contest that’s held in Grand Rapids Michigan called “Art Prize Seven,” (www.artprize.org/) which runs from Sept. 23rd through Oct. 11th. Wierich entered his project April 20th, and has a venue lined-up to display the piece, which is made entirely out of scrap iron.

The Eagle is 12-feet from wing-tip to wing-tip, eight-feet tall, and weighs roughly 400-pounds. The base alone weighs 2,200 pounds. When finished, it will sit on top of a metal globe that turns. The project is entitled “America, Come Together.” Weirich says the eagle will be clamped to a U-S map on top of a globe.

He says he has about 200 hours into the project so far. The Eagle has 2,000 individual pieces of metal that comprise the feathers.  Wierich says he will travel with the eagle this fall to Michigan for the contest Art Prize contest. Billed as the World’s Largest Art Competition, there were 1,500 entries from 46 countries and 41 U-S States.

The awards are based on “People’s Choice, and by professional judges. There are cash prizes for the top ten finishers. When the contest is over, the Eagle will be sold. Weirich says he already has two people interested in purchasing it.

The parade in which the eagle will be featured on June 27th in Lewis, is military-themed, and features members of last year’s Cass County Honor Flight, along with many other area veterans. Grand Marshall’s for the parade are Dula Thompson and John Robinson, two of the oldest residents of Cass County.

A ceremony dedicating the Cass County Freedom Rock at Pioneer Park in Lewis gets underway at 4-p.m. The Rock was painted by Ray “Bubba Sorensen,” of Greenfield. A salute to Veterans fireworks display rounds out the activities, at dusk.