(Atlantic, Iowa) – Here’s a final reminder for you to get a kick start to your holiday shopping, by purchasing discounted AtlantiCash, presented by First Whitney Bank & Trust. The opportunity takes place this Saturday only at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. “This has become one of our favorite events to host every year. AtlantiCash is money that has to be spent at local businesses in our community, so not only does it boost Local Option Sales Tax, but it also supports all of our incredible businesses who have so much to offer this holiday season. Last year, we sold $30,000 in about an hour so our goal this year is to sell $35,000,” Bailey Smith, Executive Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said.

From 9 AM – 12 PM Saturday, November 12th only, AtlantiCash will be available in packs of $100 for $80, a 20% discount. Community members can purchase up to three packs. Payment must be made at time of purchase in the form of cash or check only. There is a first-come, first-purchased basis with only a limited amount of AtlantiCash available. “We wouldn’t be able to pull this promotion off without the help of our amazing sponsors. Their partnership helps us support local merchants and put money back into Atlantic,” mentioned Smith.

Discount AtlantiCash is brought to you by First Whitney Bank & Trust, Cappel’s Ace Hardware and the Atlantic Community Promotion Commission. The Holiday Open House will also be taking place Saturday beginning when retailers open. Businesses will be offering a holiday sneak peek as well as treats, giveaways and special promotions. Participating locations include: Aunt B’s, Brown’s Shoe Fit, Brymons Interiors, Cappel’s Ace Hardware, CoffeeGirl, Fareway, Hanson’s Fine Jewelry, Hy-Vee, Jazzercise, Randy’s Computers and SHIFT ATL.

Pick up your Christmas Brochure from area retail businesses, like the Chamber on Facebook or follow on Instagram to find dates and details to celebrate Christmas in Atlantic. You can find a complete list of activities and a printable version of the brochure at www.atlanticiowa.com. Capture the Christmas magic with #MyAtlanticIA and post to the Atlantic Area Chamber’s Facebook page or Instagram (AtlanticIowaFan). Contact the Atlantic Area Chamber with any questions at chamber@atlanticiowa.com or call 712.243.3017.

(Red Oak, Iowa) -Red Oak Mayor Shawnna Silvius has announced she recently received two letters of resignation from City Administrator Brad Wright, and City Clerk, Mary Bolton. Both are planning on retirement after a number of years serving the City. Brad Wright has been with the City of Red Oak for 21 years. His resignation in effective December 30^th. Mary Bolton has served in the Clerk’s Office for almost 39-years. Her last day is December 31^st.

Silvius says she looks forward to moving forward together with the council, department heads and staff; and working directly with the council to establish a plan of action, timeline and delegation of tasks to immediately begin the search to fill these positions while maintaining proficient business operations. Silvius stated “This is a great time to start fresh and focus on moving the community forward with positive momentum.”

Mayor Silvius has called a Special Meeting of the Red Oak City Council to be held Tuesday, November 15 at 3:30 p.m. at the Red Oak Fire Station located at 1904 North Broadway Street, Red Oak, Iowa to discuss how the Council will proceed moving forward. This meeting is open to the public. The Special Meeting Agenda will be published Monday morning.

(Elk Horn and Kimballton, Iowa) – Getting into the holiday spirit is easy in the Danish Villages (Of Elk Horn and Kimballton). Celebrated the weekend after Thanksgiving, the 44th Julefest offers visitors a way to kick start the Christmas season. For forty four years, this magical festival has warmed hearts and provided a way to celebrate all things Danish. Julefest promises an array of traditional Danish food and tasty treats such as pastries, wine, glögg, and pebbernødder. Search for unique Christmas presents and decorations at craft fairs, gift shops and specialty stores, in both towns.

Drink a glass of wine at Danish Countryside Vines and Wines and dine at Julefest sponsored restaurants such as The Kringle Man, Grace on Main and Norse Tavern and new this year come brunch with Santa Friday morning 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Elk Horn Fire station and enjoy the traditional ӕbleskiver and medisterpølse.  Make the most of a winter’s day – tour the 1848 Danish Windmill, enjoy the latest exhibits at the Museum of Danish America and go back in time at the 1908 Bedstemor’s House. 

Saturday morning cheer on the Naughty or Nisse 5 k Polar Runners from the Mermaid to the Windmill. Enjoy the annual Julefest Concert and dancing around the Christmas tree Saturday evening at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. Relish in the festive atmosphere of the villages – both towns will be decorated for Christmas and the streets lined with Danish and American flags. Pick up a brochure with a map of the local merchants and happenings at any of the Danish Villages businesses. Schedules will be subject to change.

This year’s Julefest® celebration means the fabulous craft fairs are back! The Main Street Country Boutique will be at the Elk Horn Town Hall on Friday, November 25th from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 26th from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There will be vendors and crafters from all over Iowa set up with their specialties. Some of the items offered at this craft fair will be woven rugs, homemade candies and baked goods, stockings, angels, snowmen, wooden furniture and items and much more. You’ll find something for everyone on your Christmas list or add to your own collections.

A Hometown Christmas, the annual boutique and quilt sale will once again occupy the Kimballton Town Hall on Friday, November 25th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Folk artists will provide an array of homemade giftware and Jeanne’s famous candies and cookies and so much more. This is the place to start your own traditions! Take yourself to the country and visit Rustic Rooster/Two Chicks located 1 mile west of Kimballton on highway 44 and 1/4mile north. They are open Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. They will be featuring vintage Christmas such as antiques, Christmas décor and taking orders for your Christmas baking (call 515-229-0078). They invite you for cider and good cheer.

For more information about these or any events happening Thanksgiving weekend during the 44th Danish celebration of Julefest®, please call the Danish Windmill at 800-451-7960 or visit www.Danishvillages.com. A brochure with all vendors and events can be picked up from any local Elk Horn or Kimballton business. To visit the Danish Villages of Elk Horn and Kimballton, Iowa, take Exit 54 from Interstate 80 and drive six and nine miles north.

(Radio Iowa) – More than two years after being demolished by hurricane-force winds, the Marion Public Library has opened the doors to its new facility. When library director Bill Carroll was first hired, there were still walls missing, following the powerful derecho in August of 2020. Carroll says Thursday was a day to celebrate, as the new 18-million dollar facility debuted.) Carroll says, “Our primary library facility was damaged beyond repair during the derecho, so for us to be opening today, literally right across the street from our old location, is a momentous occasion for our community.”

While the facilities are fully accessible, the library is calling this week’s event a “soft opening,” promising a celebration at a later date. The library is part of the Metro Library Network, a consortium that includes the Cedar Rapids and Hiawatha public libraries.

(reporting by Zachary Oren Smith, Iowa Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Health and Human Services officials are starting the process of significantly updating the state’s child welfare system. The state’s contracted with the Change and Innovation Agency to extensively review and update the state’s policy and procedures along with working to completely replace the I-T system. Janee Harvey, an administrator with Iowa H-H-S, says the current I-T system is so outdated, it’s causing workforce retention issues. “You have to use F7, F12, F1 buttons to navigate through the system,” Harvey says. “We literally have had staff see it, try and learn it and they’re like, ‘I can’t. I want to do this work. I can’t learn the technology you’re telling me to learn.’”

Harvey says they’re updating everything to best serve Iowa children and families. “Quite simply, the question that we need to be able to answer is, are families better off because HHS knocked on their door,” she says, “and unfortunately too often the answer is no.” The system overhaul comes as Iowa has seen several high-profile child abuse cases highlighting failures in its current system.

(reporting by Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)

(Atlantic,Iowa) – One person was transported to Cass Health in Atlantic, following a three-vehicle accident at 7th and Walnut Streets. The collision occurred at around 7:34-a.m.  Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue….

Photos by KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

Chief Hogue says the male driver of the red HHR, which came to rest against a tree on the IWCC property, was taken to the hospital. The three individuals in the Chevy Malibu did not appear to be injured. They left the scene in a personal vehicle following the initial investigation. The driver of the vehicle who was waiting at the light, was not hurt and left the scene in their vehicle, following the initial investigation.

No names were released. Atlantic Police were assisted at the scene by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Atlantic Fire an Rescue, and Cass EMS.

Cass EMS along with Atlantic Fire and Rescue were dispatched at around 7:34-a.m. to a three-vehicle injury accident in Atlantic. The collision occurred at 7th and Walnut Streets. Additional information is not available.

(Radio Iowa) – The director of the University of Iowa Public Safety Department says the introduction of alcohol sales in Kinnick Stadium has led to some positive changes. Director Mark Bullock told the Board of Regents he didn’t anticipate that happening. “I was personally, I think, like many others, not skeptical, but curious about how that was gonna turn out. And I saw a study that was done by our emergency department that actually showed what I believe is a 40 percent decrease in hospital admissions on game days since the sale of alcohol started,” Bullock says. Some 70-thousand people turn out on Saturdays, and he says there appears to be less drinking in the parking lots before the game.

“One of the things that you notice that I think is just an interesting indicator is the amount of trash at the entrances, at the gates, people aren’t taking alcohol with them to the gates because they can get it inside,” he says. Bullock says that cuts some of the excessive drinking before the game. “We’re seeing less people come through the gates heavily intoxicated than we did before — and it’s making for from our perspective a better game day experience,” Bullock says.

Mark Bullock (Board of Regents photo)

Alcohol sales at Kinnick Stadium were first allowed in the 2021 season. A report by the U-I evaluating that first season found while alcohol-related offenses were the leading cause of arrests, there was a significant decrease in the total number of alcohol-related arrests and alcohol-related medical emergencies during football games at Kinnick. A U-I report shows net sales at Kinnick Stadium were two-point-four million dollars in the first year.

(Afton, Iowa) – The Union County Sheriff’s Office says no one was injured and no citations were issued, following an accident Thursday morning, near Afton. Authorities say 35-year-old Jacob R. Ashby, of Lorimor, was driving a 1999 Chevy Blazer southbound on Grand River Drive, when he fell asleep at the wheel.

The SUV veered off the road onto the west shoulder and crashed into a guard rail. The accident happened at around 8:30-a.m. Ashby told authorities he was on his way to work, closed his eyes and the next thing he knew his vehicle was in the ditch. He was unable to call law enforcement, due to his cell phone being broken.

County crews replaced the guardrail, which cost and estimated $2,500. The Blazer sustained about $5,000 damage, and was towed from the scene.

(Radio Iowa) – For the first time in 66 years, every member of Iowa’s federal delegation in D.C. will be a Republican when congress convenes in January. Christina Bohannan is the Democrat in Iowa’s first congressional district who lost to Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks. “There’s going to have to be a lot of soul searching about where the Democrats invest,” Bohannan says. “My opinion is that we have for some time now in the national Democratic Party focused way too much on the coasts and the big cities and way too little on the Midwest, small towns and rural counties like we have in Iowa.”

In 2020, Bohannan, a University of Iowa law professor, was elected to a two-year term in the state legislature that will end in early January. Bohannan says running for federal office is far different and Democratic candidates for congress in Iowa were at a competitive disadvantage because they were massively out-spent by Republicans and their allies. “We did not have any significant investment from the national Democrats — not in the senate race, not in the congressional races except some for Cindy Axne and, in my opinion, not enough for her either,” Bohannan says, “and we saw the results.”

Congresswoman Axne, a Democrat from West Des Moines, lost to Republican Zach Nunn by seven-tenths of a percent. Bohannan lost to Miller-Meeks by seven points. Democrat Liz Mathis lost to Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson by 18 points. Bohannan says President Biden’s low approval rating in Iowa and concerns about inflation were a factor in those losses, but she says Democrats facing the same headwinds won in other states – because those candidates had party resources to be competitive.

“As a party, that is something that we’re really going to have to think about,” Bohannan says. The worst enemy for Iowa Democrats in the future will be a defeatist attitude, according to Bohannan. “We have to recognize we can win in Iowa,” Bohannan says. “We have to be more organized and assertive than we’ve been in the past.” Bohannan says she has no regrets about running for congress. She describes it as an incredible experience.

“I also gained a lot of insight about Iowans,” Bohannan says. “People are very tired of the fighting. They really don’t like all of the anger. They want to get back to being able to talk with one another regardless of political party, but there are people, groups, parties in this country who are trying to divide people because they think that serves their political interest to gain power.” Bohannan says Democrats need to — in her words “not take the bait” and “disagree without being disagreeable.”