A survey of trees is underway in Atlantic, in preparation for what officials say is the inevitable invasion of the Emerald Ash Borer. Atlantic Parks and Recreation Director Roger Herring and Assistant Director Seth Staashelm told the Parks Board Monday evening, that residents of the community may have seen, or will soon see, a couple of men standing in the public right-of-ways, looking at trees in your neighborhood. Larry Bowman and Eric Sansgaard are conducting an inventory of the trees, their location and condition.

Staashelm said he and Herring have been doing a lot of training which has helped them identify trees and disease and other date for the tree census. Staashelm said everything they have been doing with their training has also put them at the front end of preparing for the Emerald Ash Borer.

In other business, the Parks Board Monday approved a bid of $42,149 from Caliber Concrete, of Adair, for cement work in preparation for the Kiddie Korral project at Sunnyside Park. The current Kiddie Korral will be closed after Labor Day for demolition and reconstruction, so the Parks and Rec Department will not be accepting reservations for the shelter after that date, until the project is complete.

The Board also received and approved a bid of $64, 481 from Bluffs Paving and Utility Company, of Crescent, for the Bull Creek Trail project. The project will be paid for through a Transportation Alternatives Project (or, TAP) grant amounting to $39,000, and a Wellmark Grant amounting to $25,000.

And, the public is invited to the grand opening of the horseshoe pits at Sunnyside Park. The event takes place this morning at 10-a.m. Chamber Ambassadors and others will gather at the Camblin Shelter before moving to the Senior Activity Area for the horseshoe site dedication.

An investigation into a previously announced case of felony Child Endangerment in Montgomery County, has resulted in additional charges against one of the suspects. Sheriff’s officials say 27-year old Kristopher Edward Wayne Davies, of Red Oak, was charged Monday with Sexual Abuse in the 2nd Degree, a Class-B felony.

Davies, who was already being held on $50,000 bond for two counts of Child Endangerment causing serious injury, is now being held on an additional $25,000 cash bond. 23-year old Joslin Nicole Davies, of Red Oak, was also charged with two counts of Child Endangerment causing serious injury. The pair were arrested following an incident that allegedly took place July 14th, in Red Oak.

Joslin Davies was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $50,000 bond.

Deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man early this (Tuesday) morning, on a drug charge. 27-year old Jason Rolphe Aherns, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 2:15-a.m. on a Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, charge. Aherns was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $300 cash bond.

And, at around 8-p.m. Monday, Red Oak Police arrested 54-year old Tony Joe Christensen, of Red Oak, on a charge of Public Intoxication. Christensen was later released on $300 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) — Iowan Zach Johnson has won the British Open in a four-hole playoff over Lewis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman. It’s the second major golf championship for the Cedar Rapids native. Johnson described himself as a “normal guy” from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, when he won the Masters in 2007. And now? He says: “I’m a normal guy from Cedar Rapids … with a green jacket that has something that most guys don’t get to drink out of right now.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A jury has convicted former lottery security official Eddie Tipton of fraud. The Norwalk man accused of rigging a Hot Lotto game so he could win a $14 million jackpot in 2010 now faces up to 10 years in prison. He’ll be sentenced in September. His lawyer is planning an appeal.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad is asking the Iowa National Guard to review security at its facilities in Iowa, in the wake of last week’s shooting in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Branstad asked Iowa National Guard Maj. Gen Timothy Orr to assess the protection for those working at the Guard’s military facilities and recruitment sites. The Republican governor also plans to ask the federal government to review the protections at all military facilities.

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) — A judge has sentenced a former western Indiana man to 40 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the slaying of a teenager nearly 17 years ago. Thirty-five-year-old Clinton Bryan Mackey was arrested in January 2014 and charged with killing 19-year-old Erika Case. She was found dead on Sept. 6, 1998, having been stabbed multiple times while house-sitting in West Terre Haute.

Large dog area (Click on photos to enlarge)

The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors, Monday, agreed to set Friday, July 31st as the date for the grand opening of the Buck Creek Dog Park, located on the northwest side of the Schildberg Recreation Area. Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring said fencing around the park is installed, and the Eagle Scout project for dog playground equipment is in-place.

Small dog area

Assistant Parks Director Seth Staashelm said the equipment, includes a tunnel on both sides (of the small and large dog areas) with scrap plastic by Plastics Professionals in Atlantic, and mulch, to prevent the growth of weeds. There’s weaving poles, an A-ramp for dogs to climb, hurdles for small and large dogs, among other things. Signs, both small and large have also arrived, stating the rules and regulations. Those are set to be installed, soon.

A pergola, or sun shade, will also be erected. The July 31st Grand Opening will be an all-day event, beginning with a ribbon cutting at 10-a.m. Other activities tentatively planned for the day may include dog vaccinations by area veterinarians, Animal Shelter staff on hand for dog registration tables set up for water bottle distribution to dog owners, and more.

The Parks Board reminds persons who use the Schildberg Rec Area, that dog droppings must be picked up by owners, even if the droppings are on the grass. The exception would be in tall grass areas. Bag stations are provided around the area for that purpose.