(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Conservation Board is sponsoring a “Breakfast with the Birds” Program! The program will be held at Sunnyside Park, Camblin’s Addition Shelter in Atlantic, IA on August 20th 2022 at 9 am. Free will donations accepted! Kay Neuman, rehabilitator and Educator at S.O.A.R., Saving Our Avian Resources, will show and discuss several of her permanently injured birds and will hopefully have one that is fully recovered and ready to release back into the wild!!

Kay Neuman, SOAR Executive Director

Please help the CCCB support raptors and education! The Board hopes you will join Conservation staff for this popular event.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Energy Center (IEC) has announced $1,051,872 in grants to four projects. Additionally, the board approved an Energy Infrastructure Revolving Loan for $193,000 to Accu-Steel in Audubon. The company plans to integrate thin solar panels into a fabric prototype building for research and demonstration purposes. They currently manufacture fabric covered buildings for customers like beef cattle producers. This loan program provides low-interest loans for energy infrastructure projects.The IEC Grant Program is funded by Iowa ratepayers, customers who pay for an electric or natural gas utility service through a local electric and/or gas utility. These funds enable eligible applicants to pursue projects that align with one of the key focus areas of the Iowa Energy Plan.

“Iowa is fortunate to have diverse energy resources, innovative companies and academic institutions, and a collaborative spirit,” said Debi Durham, executive director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and the Iowa Finance Authority. “Today, the Iowa Energy Center supported projects that are diverse, innovative and with public-private collaborations which will benefit our state’s energy economy going forward.”

The IEC Grant Program received 51 pre-applications, totaling more than $14 million in funding requests. Eleven of these applicants proceeded to complete the full application with requests totaling over $3 million. Applications were reviewed and scored by a committee of the IEC board members based on alignment with the Iowa Energy Plan, the ratepayer benefit provided, project goals, programmatic capabilities of the applicant and collaboration efforts with other eligible applicants, among other criteria.

Former Vice President Mike Pence will make stops in Des Moines and in Cumming, next Friday, August 19th. His visits coincide with opportunities to support conservative candidates and organizations ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.

In Des Moines, Pence will serve as the special guest at a lunch in support of U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley. Later, Pence will join Senator Grassley, former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, and other Iowa GOP leaders and elected officials at the Iowa State Fair.

In Cumming, Iowa, Pence will appear at a Central Iowa House Party in support of the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition.

On Saturday, August 20, 2022, Pence will join Speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives Pat Grassley and State Representative Sandy Salmon to give remarks at the Bremer County’s Annual Summer Grill and Chill Fundraiser in Waverly.

Previously, Pence visited Independence, Cedar Rapids, and Carroll, Iowa, to support Congressman Randy Feenstra, Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, respectively. Pence also served as the keynote speaker at the Story County Lincoln Highway Dinner, sponsored by the Republican Party of Story County. Pence also spoke at The Family Leadership Summit in July 2021 and at the University of Iowa in November 2021.

(Creston, Iowa) – A 14-year-old female from Creston escaped injury during a single-vehicle accident Friday evening. Creston Police report the teen was driving a 2014 Dodge Durango and pulling into a parking space in front of a Casey’s store on Highway 25 North, in Creston, when she stepped on the gas instead of the brake. The accident happened at around 7:38-p.m.

The SUV struck two concrete barriers outside of the Casey’s building, and sustained heavy front end damage. The barriers and concrete around them were cracked. The damages amounted to $8,700 altogether. No citations were issued.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council in Atlantic will hold the first reading, on Wednesday (Aug. 17th), of an amended ordinance, with regard to Panhandling in the City. If approved after three readings, a new section added to the Code of Ordinances would ban panhandling in public spaces. Violators would be subject to a citation and a $50 fine. Currently, panhandling is managed on private property through trespassing laws.

The new section of Ordinance is based nearly verbatim on one currently used by the City of Manchester, and is based on a recommendation by the Community Protection Committee, which met on July 27th. City officials says added section of the Ordinance “accounts for constitutional protections as they may arise through the State and Federal Supreme Courts.”

In other business, the Council will welcome and Mayor Grace Garrett will swear-in, the City’s newest Police Officer: Phillip Hood. Officer Hood joined the Department earlier this month. He has previously been an A-PD Reserve Officer. Hood and his wife Melinda moved to Atlantic in the winter of 2012. The couple have two children.

Officer Hood is a graduate of Winterset High School and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Buena Vista University. He has worked for Atlantic Carriers for the last several years, and will be attending the 305th Class at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, where is expected to graduate in December, 2022.

The Atlantic City Council meeting begins at 5:30-p.m.,, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Members of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Department Board of Directors, Monday, will discuss a timeline and the process for filling a Park Board Vacancy. Parks Board Member Ashley Hayes is expected to announce during the Board’s meeting at 5:15-p.m. on Monday, she’s resigning from the Board due to a conflict of interest with a new, full-time position she has accepted with SWIPCO, as the part of their Community Development Team.

Mayor Grace Garrett will work with the Parks Board in the selection of a replacement for Hayes’ seat on the Board. An appointment to the Board must be made within 60-days of her official resignation.

The Parks Board meeting takes place in the Council’s Chambers at the Atlantic City Hall.

In other business, the Parks & Rec Board will hear a Budget Proposal, and updates on the Bull Creek and Splash Park projects. Discussion will be held with regard to the Hotel/Motel Tax and Sports Complex Expansion.

In his report to the Board, Parks and Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen will talk about the last day for swimming at the Sunnyside Pool as being August 28th, along with some upcoming events and the Sunnyside Bandstand.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Nishna Valley Trails is holding a Kids Bike Ride this Saturday, August 13^th, 2022.  The event starts at 10:30 AM, from the Schildberg Rec. Area West Parking lot. Check in and start the ride at the West Parking lot of the Schildberg Rec. Area. Three age groups, ride length according to age. FREE, and all ages welcome.

Co-sponsored by Atlantic Parks and Recreation, Cass County Conservation, Fareway, and West Side Diner in Atlantic, IA.

Questions: Call Atlantic Parks & Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen at 712-243-3542. After the ride check out Atlanticfest going on downtown!

(Radio Iowa) – State health officials say they are actively monitoring the state’s monkeypox cases and are strategically deploying its limited vaccinations. Federal officials allocated about 25-hundred doses of the monkeypox vaccine to Iowa, which reports just over a dozen confirmed cases statewide. Iowa Department of Human Services Director Kelly Garcia says the state is following federal guidelines to target the vaccine towards certain populations considered most at risk.

Garcia says, “We’re focused on gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, including transgender individuals who are 18 years of age and have had either multiple new or multiple sex partners in the last month, who have had close contact with others at a venue where there was likely a suspected probable or confirmed case of monkey pox.” Garcia says the state is also reserving a small amount of vaccine doses for -other- close contacts.

“That could be other household members, you know, think about parents or partners that are in the house who might be exposed to this particular disease,” she says, “as well as healthcare professionals who might need it as well.” Iowa’s first case of monkeypox was reported in Polk County on July 11th and there have since been 12 more confirmed cases statewide. Federal health officials report about nine-thousand cases nationwide.

(reporting by Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Authorities in Red Oak say no injuries were reported following a single-vehicle accident Friday morning. The mishap occurred when a wasp landed on the arm of the driver, 18-year-old Dylan Michael Welch, of Red Oak, causing him to swat at the insect and pull on the steering wheel at the same time.

Welch then accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brake. The 2006 Chevy pickup he was driving northbound on N. 8th Street in Red Oak, struck a light pole near the intersection of N. 8th & East Hammond Streets, before rolling onto its side.

Damage to the pole was estimated at $1,600. The pickup was considered a total loss. Welch was issued a written warning for Failure to Maintain Control.

(Radio Iowa) – Many Iowans are taking their last vacations of summer and while they may be excited to share photos of their far-away experiences on social media platforms, it may not be wise to do so when they’re still on the trip.

Hamilton County Sheriff Doug Timmons recommends you resist the urge to post pix of those beautiful beaches or misty mountains. “You go on vacation, you get on social media, you post pictures that you’re gone, you’re saying that your house is wide open and that your life is right there and everybody knows you’re not there,” Timmons says. “Don’t be posting pictures of your vacation until you get home.” 

If one of your Facebook friends comments on or “likes” your vacation photos, it’s possible your settings will also allow that person’s friends to see your photos — and suddenly, hundreds or thousands or people may see that you’re not home.

“When you do leave, if you’ve got a neighbor that you trust, tell them you’re going to be gone, keep an eye on your place, maybe they should have a set of keys for your house,” Timmons says. “Then think about cameras. You wonder what’s going on at home? You can get on your smartphone and you can look around your place to see what’s going on and if anything activated your cameras.”

The sheriff also suggests contacting your local law enforcement agency to see if they offer a vacation watch service, which is often free.