(Atlantic, Iowa) – After a couple of days of wet weather, work at the Atlantic SplashPad site resumed this (Wednesday) morning. Workers with the Henley Group, LLC, began the process of installing a water supply pipe for the nearly 4,000 square-foot project. When it’s completed – sometime around the Labor Day weekend – the Splash Pad will feature numerous amenities, including a giant dump bucket, a small water table for toddlers, an over-spray zone, and a simple ground spray for kids

The project was initially expected to have cost over $600,000, but the low bid came in at just over $550,000. An official groundbreaking ceremony was held May 20th. The concept of having a SplashPad was batted around on-and-off, for nearly a decade. Community meetings held in 2022 eventually resulted in the formation of a fundraising committee and fundraising efforts beginning in earnest, last year (2023). The Fundraising Committee exceeded their goal, thanks to generous donations from the public, private individuals, businesses and grants.

Stamp Construction in Atlantic donated in-kind dirt work for the project in June, to get the pad prepped for additional work.

Henley Group, LCC workers install the splashpad water supply pipe July 2nd, 2024 (Photo courtesy Atlantic Parks & Rec Coordinator Jeff Christensen)

STORM LAKE, Iowa (KCAU) — The former secretary and treasurer of the Storm Lake Volunteer Firefighters Association has been sentenced for stealing from the association.
KCAU-TV reports 39-year-old Jesus Rojo, of Storm Lake, was sentenced to two-years of probation on July 1st, for stealing more than $10,000 from the association. Rojo plead guilty May 6th to second-degree theft, a class D felony.

In addition to probation, Rojo was ordered to pay back the funds he stole from the association. Rojo was the secretary and treasurer of the Storm Lake Volunteer Firefighters Association between January 3 and July 6 and was arrested in September.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A reminder, the Atlantic City Council, during their meeting on June 5^th, set the dates for fireworks use inside the City Limits, as now through Saturday, July 6^th. You may use your fireworks from Noon until 11-p.m. each day. According to the City Ordinance:

• You are only allowed to discharge a fireworks device on property you own or on property where consent has been given. Exceptions are for the use of Snakes, sparklers, or caps, which can be discharged on public property so long as all trash, wrappers, and wires are properly disposed of.
• Sky lantern/open flame devices are not permitted to be released within the city limits, except if tethered by a retrievable rope so long as the person discharging has control over the sky lantern.
• And, No fireworks shall be discharged at any time, within 300 ft. of any Public school building, assisted living facility, or hospital.

Keep in mind also, some fireworks are extremely upsetting to animals and Veterans with PTSD. Please be considerate of your neighbors and celebrate responsibly. Any person who violates the provisions of the fireworks discharging ordinance, or who without reckless intent causes injury, property damage or a fire, may be fined up to $250 in addition to established court costs. Persons who violate the ordinance after having been found guilty of a previous municipal infraction involving fireworks, are subject to a $600 fine, plus associated court costs.

(Creston, Iowa) – Two people were arrested Tuesday evening on separate charges, in Creston. According to the Creston Police Department, 45-year-old Jerry Marion Williams, of Lenox, was arrested at the Creston/Union County Law Enforcement Center (LEC), on a Probation Violation warrant associated with an incident of Domestic Abuse – Bodily Injury. Williams was being held without bond in the Union County Jail, pending an appearance before a Magistrate.

And, 30-year-old Patrick Riley Iiams, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County LEC, for Theft in the 5th Degree, and Consumption of Alcohol in a Public Place/1st offense. He was being held in the jail on a $300 bond.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A variety of aircraft, their pilots and passengers are set to make their way to Atlantic for the annual Flight Breakfast at the Atlantic Municipal Airport, sponsored by the Atlantic Rotary Club. The event includes breakfast with The Pancake Man, from 7-until 11-a.m. There is no charge for pilots to dine at the airport. Area residents and visitors may enjoy an all-you-can-eat breakfast for just $8. That includes pancakes, sausage and drinks. Proceeds to support Atlantic Rotary Service Projects.

The Rotary took over handling the event after the Jaycees Club disbanded. Rotary member Dolly Bergmann says the Flight Breakfast isn’t just about the food, it’s an event for the whole family.

You’ll likely see a variety of “experimental” and commercially produced, privately-owned, aircraft. By attending the event, you don’t have to do the dishes at home, and you’re helping the Rotary to maintain their community projects and services.

(Those are just a few of the events and projects the Atlantic Rotary supports). The Atlantic Airport is located at 59706 Airport Road, and again all the pancakes, sausage and drinks you can handle are available from 7-until 11-a.m.

(Exira) The 159th annual Exira Fourth of July Celebration takes place now through Sunday. The theme of this year’s events is “Reflections. Celebrating like it’s 1924.” You can find the full slate of events in this story on the news page at kjan.com, or on the Exira Community Club’s Facebook page. Greg & Char Bintner, who have been parade announcers for 32-years, are the Grand Marshals for the Exira July 4th parade on Thursday. Greg reflected on how their love of the parade began.

He says the parade is a great way to see friends you may not have seen in a while.

Char Bintner says the Exira Community Club is young and active, and have made the event exciting for the community, and are set on keeping it going. Greg agrees.

The Parade starts at 10:30 a.m., Thursday. There’s also a Bags Tournament, Thursday, along with a Kid’s Tractor Pull, and the Grand River Rodeo at Kickapoo Park, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The Fireworks Display will begin at dusk at the Spartan Football Field.

There’s also a great variety of yummy food and treats.

The holiday festivities – which continue on Friday and Saturday – includes amusement rides. The events conclude Sunday with a church service at the Exira City Park, and Alumni Coffee at 2:00 p.m.

(Radio Iowa) – State Fire Marshal Dan Wood says if you plan to shoot off fireworks this holiday, take some time to plan out what you are doing to avoid any problems.

“It’s still a good idea to have that bucket of water or a hose nearby in case you have an accidental flare up of dry grass,” he says. Even with the rain we’ve had lately they’re still dry grass.” Wood says for the fireworks or bottle rockets that shoot into the air, make sure they are going to land somewhere that is safe.

“If they get near gutter on your roof and you have you know leaves up there or whatever, that can that can start a fire and be bad news,” he says. There is a large variety of fireworks available in the state with some elaborate devices that do different things. Wood says you should know what is coming before lighting the fuse. “It is always a good idea to read those instructions and make sure they are consumer fireworks. There are some fireworks out there that for whatever reason, get sold or get somehow acquired and are not consumer fireworks,” Wood says. “To be safe make sure you’re shooting consumer fireworks and leave the commercial fireworks to the professionals.”

It is legal to buy fireworks in Iowa, but local governments are allowed to ban them. Wood says to be sure and check your local regulations before shooting off any fireworks.

(Radio Iowa) – A recent poll found nearly half of Iowans or those close to them experienced a serious mental health issue at least once in recent years. The Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll also showed 57-percent of those surveyed say it’s difficult to access competent mental health treatment. Christie Harris, a wellness education specialist at Gundersen Health, says mental and physical health are both vital to our lives, but they often aren’t perceived of as equals.

“Like if we had a broken arm, we would share that story with somebody and we would talk about why we went to the doctor and this is what they did,” Harris says, “but when we have mental health, we just don’t seem to be as open about that. Sometimes, that can be the barrier between somebody feeling like they truly are supported.” While there are improvements and strides being made, Harris says stigmas about mental health still exist, and some people hesitate to talk about it freely.

“Mental health is mental health. Physical health is physical health. They both affect each other and they’re both really important,” Harris says. “It would be really healthy for just about everybody to see someone regarding their mental health even if it was just for a little tune up and I think that’s where we’re lagging a bit.” Courage is needed to take the next step and seek mental health treatment, Harris says, and it’s a tremendous help if those we’re close to are open and supportive.

“As human beings and friends and family members, we could maybe be more comfortable and confident in having conversations with people that we love and that we care about, to check in on them more frequently,” Harris says. “I think that is definitely getting better, but we still have a ways to go with that.” While it’s normal to be a little nervous if you’ve never had mental health treatment, she says there has to be a leap of faith to try it in order to begin the healing process.

Gundersen Health System has clinics in Calmar, Decorah, Fayette, Lansing, Postville and Waukon, and a hospital in West Union.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A man from Red Oak was arrested Tuesday evening on a Pottawattamie County warrant. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 21-year-old Braden Alan Gray was arrested at around 8-p.m. in the 1800 block of E. Summit Street, in Red Oak. He was wanted on a Pott. County warrant for Violation of Probation. Gray was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

ANKENY, Iowa [KCCI-TV] — An Ankeny firefighter faces first-degree theft charges for allegedly embezzling more than $72,000 from the Ankeny Professional Firefighters Local 4814 union. According to court documents, Zach Farrell was the union’s treasurer from 2020 to May 2024. A month later, in June, an investigation began.

The City of Ankeny says Farrell is a member of the Ankeny Fire Department and he is currently on administrative leave. The investigation started mid-June when union leaders reported a theft.

According to court records, union leaders say Farrell began acting “weird” a few months ago, when they were considering moving the union’s bank accounts from one bank to another. A search warrant shows the leaders realized Farrell was the only person with access to the accounts and despite calling him to gain access, those calls were not returned.

However, court records show the union leaders did eventually gain access to the accounts, looked through bank statements from the last five years, and saw transactions that were not related to the union: payments to personal credit cards, MidAmerican Energy bills, and cash withdrawals in Farrell’s name.

According to a criminal complaint, Farrell did admit to investigators that he used union funds to make “personal expenditures” not related to the union.