(Atlantic, Iowa) – A residential fire in Atlantic Wednesday evening is believed to have been caused by an electrical issue between the basement and first floor of the home. Atlantic Fire Chief Tom Cappel explains what they encountered after crews were dispatch to 213 W. 14th Street, at around 7:02-p.m.

There were no injuries, as no one was at home, but a family dog succumbed to smoke inhalation. Crews were ventilating and rehabbing the scene until about 8:30-p.m.

Ric Hanson (Photo)

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Firefighters with the Atlantic Fire Department are on the scene of a house fire at 213 W. 14th Street. The call about a fire in the attic of the home was received at around 7-p.m.

No other details are currently available.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council, during their meeting Wednesday evening, reviewed and briefly discussed and then acted to approve a contract for the City’s website development. Code Enforcement Officer Kris Erickson presented the council with a fact sheet on three companies (A, B & C), who were not named so as to maintain a fair perspective on each companies services, and cost. After review, the Council voted to issue a contract with “Company B,” which, among other things, has support services in Iowa, as opposed to on either U-S Coast.

In other business the Council, following public hearings, passed an Ordinance to repeal an Ordinance, and grant Interstate Power and Light Company a non-exclusive, 25-year franchise to erect, construct, reconstruct, maintain and operate a plant and systems for the distribution of natural gas in the City of Atlantic, and “sell, distribute, and supply natural gas [to the city and it’s occupants],” and requiring the company to pay a franchise fee to the City. They Council also passed a resolution adopting a Revenue Purpose Statement (RPS), for the use of expenditures from the revenues gained through a natural gas service fee.

The move means a source to will be available to fund pay increases for the Police Department to make the City more competitive in the retention and hiring of new Officers. A five-percent natural gas franchise fee is expected to result in an increase of $4-dollar per month on the average gas bill. Conversely, it will eliminate the current local sales tax already charged to Alliant Energy gas customers.

The Atlantic City Council passed, after three readings, an Ordinance amending the City’s Zoning Code, because elected officials, it was noted, are concerned that low-value properties are being acquired and converted for rental apartments, with no consideration for the safety of the tenants or the well-being of the surrounding neighborhood. The change say first-story properties on Chestnut Street, north of 7^th, will be limited to commercial uses, unless a conditional use permit is allowed. Second story residential units would continue to be maintained as a permitted use.

And, the Atlantic City Council held the third and final readings of Ordinances that serve to discontinue the Cable Television and Community Promotion Commissions.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening, accepted without comment, the resignation of Parks and Recreation Director Wyatt Adderton, retroactive to June 26, 2023. Adderton had taken over the Parks Director position in February, 2023. He submitted his resignation in May, citing a hostile work environment and issues of harassment. After much consideration and discussions with the Mayor and others, he had agreed to try and work things out, but is now moved on and left the City

The City Council Wednesday, heard a presentation from Library Director Michelle Andersen, with regard to her efforts to obtain grants and other funding opportunities to enhance the services and public accessibility to the Library. Andersen said they have received a $20,000 “Libraries transform communities accessible small and rural libraries” grant to improve library services for people with disabilities. The Atlantic Public Library, she said, was one of 240 nationwide, to receive the grant.

She wrote the grant with the idea of modernizing the library’s aging elevator, in-mind. The Library’s Board of Trustees has since signed a contract with Schumacher Elevator Company, out of Denver, Iowa. Work on the elevator is expected to begin this fall. Anderson said there may be times the library needs to close, to allow that work to take place. The grant funds, she said, will be applied to the $93,000 total project cost.

Another grant the Atlantic Public Library received, was from the American Libraries Association’s “The Great Stories Club,” with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Atlantic’s Library was one of 58 selected nationwide, to participate in the club, which is a reading and discussion program for teens. Youth Services Librarian Sue Petersen will work with small groups of teens to read and discuss stories that explore questions of race, equity, identity and history.  Family Crisis Network is the local partnering agency. The Atlantic Public Library, Andersen said, will receive a programming stipend of $500 and 11 copies of each of the books which will be gifted to book club participants.

And finally, the Library is participating in an American Heart Association (AHA) program, “Libraries with Heart,” in cooperation with Cass County Public Health. Andersen applied for, and was awarded three blood pressure monitors for home use. The BP cuffs and monitors will automatically measure a person’s blood pressure, and there are three sets, each with two-sizes of arms cuffs that will be available to check-out soon, from the library, and for weeks at a time. The monitor’s/cuffs have an option to run on a battery or through a wall outlet. A kit that comes with the units will have information from the AHA about how to take accurate BP readings, when to contact your doctor, and a log to record the readings.

She says the kits will hopefully be available for check-out, by the end of this month.

KIMBALLTON – The city of Kimballton in Audubon County has issued a bottled water advisory for the community of 291 residents through August 1st. Current construction of an upgraded water treatment plant has temporarily resulted in drinking water above the health advisory level for manganese at 1.77 mg/L.

Although manganese is a common, naturally-occurring mineral found in rocks, soil, groundwater, and surface water, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has developed a health advisory level for manganese in drinking water of 0.3 mg/L which is intended to be protective of lifetime exposure for the general population.

The US EPA recommends that infants up to 6 months of age should not be given water with manganese concentrations greater than 0.3 mg/L for more than a total of 10 days per year, nor should the water be used to make formula for more than ten days per year.

Please do not give the water to adults and children of any age. Adults, children, and infants who drink water containing manganese above the health advisory level may be associated with adverse health effects. Bottled water or an alternative source should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, and food preparation until further notice.

The water may be used for bathing and other similar purposes.

• Water, juice, and formula for children under six months of age should not be prepared with tap water. Bottled or other water low in manganese should be used for infants until further notice.
• DO NOT BOIL THE WATER. Boiling, freezing, filtering, or letting water stand does not reduce the manganese level. Excessive boiling can make the manganese more concentrated because manganese remains behind when the water evaporates.

Additional information about manganese can be found here: Manganese in Drinking Water Fact Sheet and Frequently Asked Questions

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett, this (Wednesday) evening, swore-in the City’s newest Police Officer.  Forrest Fromm, who joined the Department this month (July, 2023). Fromm is a Veteran of the Iowa National Guard, which he joined at the age of 18.

His rank is that of Staff Sergeant, and he’s a squad leader for his unit. Fromm was deployed to Doha, Qatar from 2020 to 2021, where he served as a Team Leader. He also previously worked for the Ankeny Police Department. Officer Fromm is originally from the eastern Iowa town of Bellevue. He attended the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, in 2022.

Mayor Garrett congratulates Officer Forrest Fromm.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report two people were transported to the hospital following a collision this (Wednesday) afternoon at Osage Street and Highway 34. Authorities say a 2023 Chrysler Voyage van driven by 42-year-old Matthew J. Slutsky, of Philadelphia, PA, was traveling west on Highway 34 at around 2:30-p.m.  A 2004 Nissan Titan pickup driven by 19-year-old Jaxayra A. Matul, of Osceola, was stopped at the intersection stop sign.

Matul told police that there was a vehicle in the turn lane, and she could not see any other vehicles. She proceeded south through the intersection. The van was still traveling west and could not stop to avoid striking the pickup. A witness told police Slutsky did everything he could to avoid the crash, but could not. During the collision, airbags in the van deployed. No injuries were reported to the three occupants of the van.

The pickup sustained heavy damage to the driver’s side rear. Two passengers in the box of the pickup truck were injured. They were transported by ambulance to the Greater Regional Medical Center, in Creston. Two other occupant were uninjured.

Matul was cited for Failure to Provide Proof of financial liability and failure to yield the right-of-way. Damage from the crash amounted to $15,000.

DES MOINES – Today, Governor Reynolds announced she will convene the General Assembly of Iowa on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. for a special session with the sole purpose of “enacting legislation that addresses abortion and protects unborn lives. ”

“Iowans have elected representatives willing to stand up for the rights of the unborn and, in doing so, they have voted strongly in support of pro-life principles and against the arbitrary destruction of innocent, defenseless lives,” stated Governor Reynolds.

“In 2018, I proposed, the legislature passed, and I proudly signed into law legislation that protected unborn babies from abortion once a heartbeat was detectable. After years of litigation, the Iowa Supreme Court was split 3-3 last month in its opinion regarding whether a lower court’s injunction of the Fetal Heartbeat Law should be dissolved. This lack of action disregards the will of Iowa voters and lawmakers who will not rest until the unborn are protected by law.

“I believe the pro-life movement is the most important human rights cause of our time. Not only will I continue to fight against the inhumanity of abortion, but I will also remain committed to supporting women in planning for motherhood, promoting fatherhood and parenting, and continuing policies that encourage strong families. These are the most essential building blocks of our society, and they are what will keep the foundation of our state and country strong for generations to come.”

The governor has issued a Proclamation of Special Session in accordance with Article IV, Section 11, and Article III, Section 2, of the Constitution of the State of Iowa.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a vehicle hit-and-run property damage incident. Authorities say at around 9:30-a.m. Monday, a man reported a hit-and-run accident from the previous night at Diamondhead Lake. The Sheriff’s Office says they took another report of a hit-and-run Sunday night near the man’s residence, and that the suspect vehicle was a UTV that was running into parked vehicles.

A Deputy who arrived on the scene observed damage to the driver’s side of the reporting party’s 2017 Chevy Colorado pickup. The damage was discovered by the vehicle’s owner Monday morning, before he called the Sheriff’s Office.

The pickup sustained $6,000 damage. The incident remains under investigation.