Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNees has announced the winners of the Fireman’s Parade that took place Saturday, Oct. 13th:

• The Harlan Fire Dept. was the “Most trucks” division winner.
• 1st place float: Cass County Creators – Clover Kids Club
• 2nd place float: Olsen’s/Olsen’s BP
• 3rd place float: CCAC/Dr. Victora (Cass County Animal Care)

McNees said there were 13 fire departments represented in the parade, and a total of 29 fire trucks. There were around 120 total entries. Fire departments who came to participate include: Atlantic, Anita, Marne, Lewis, Harlan, Red Oak, Elk Horn, Wiota, Griswold, Massena, Adair, Exira, Hancock and Walnut.

Atlantic Fire and Rescue were called to the scene of a school bus versus car accident on Interstate 80 eastbound at mile marker 60 (Highway 71). The crash was reported at around 2:45-p.m. The Harlan Community School bus was carrying 17 passengers, none of whom were reported to have been injured. The bus was blocking both lanes, but one lane was said to have been opened up at around 3-p.m. A female in the car was hurt, though. According to dispatch reports, the car apparently rolled over multiple times.

The Atlantic School District had planned to send a bus to transport the passengers on the bus involved in the accident, but Harlan advised their bus was enroute. Heavy wet snow was falling at the time of the crash that happened just east of the bridge. Multiple, other accidents, none of which resulted in known injuries, were also occurring Sunday afternoon in the area.

Members of the City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Dept. Board will meet 5:15-p.m. Monday, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. Parks and Rec Director Seth Staashelm will provide the Board with updates on: The Schildberg Development Project, including – the west playground, west restroom proposal and bath house/shelter agreement; An update on the Sunnyside Entrance sign (which was installed last week); a Park Shelter Reservation Proposal; Atlantic Sports Complex plan, and updates on plans for Community Parks.

Staashelm is also expected to report park restrooms are, or will be, closed for the season, but the parks will remain open.

UPDATE 12:20-p.m.: The phones are back up and working.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports the business/admin phone system at the Clarinda Police Department and Clarinda City Hall are not working. It is not known when repairs will be completed.

The Audubon School District’s Board of Education will meet 6:30-p.m. Monday, in their Board Room at the High School. Action items on their agenda include (but are not limited to):

• Personnel matters
• SBRC Request for On-time funding
• The first reading of polices concerning: Student Expression; Online courses; Investments; Free or reduced price meals eligibility; Meal charges; and District Emergency Operations Plan.
• The rescinding of a policy for Bomb Threats.
• The 2nd and final reading of Graduation Requirements.
• And action on a policy pertaining to Superintendent Qualification, Recruitment and Appointment.

The Audubon School Board will also discuss:

• Final enrollment numbers.
• Possible dates for meetings with Sharing Partners.

And, they’ll reports from Superintendent Brett Gibbs, along with the district’s Principals.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly meeting 8:30-a.m. Monday (Oct. 15), in Atlantic. On their agenda, is:

• Approval of a Rural Transit System Joint Participating Agreement (with SWIPCO).
• Action on an update of the Worker’s Compensation designated physician/clinic policy, to include the Atlantic Medical Centers in Anita, Griswold and Massena.
• And approval of plans for a reinforced concrete box culvert project on Quincy Road over Hoyt’s Branch (replaces a wood trestle bridge).

Two arrests took place early this (Sunday) morning, in Montgomery County. Red Oak Police report 29-year old Daniel Joseph Peck was arrested in the 400 block of E. Washington Avenue, at around 2:25-a.m.  Peck was taken into custody for Public Intoxication and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where his bond was set at $300. And, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 40-year old Ernest Hayes Gibson, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 12:30-a.m. in the 1800 block of Hickory Avenue, for Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense. Gibson was also transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where his bond was set at $1,000.

(Radio Iowa) — A-A-R-P Iowa and the Latino Political Network are offering a non-partisan effort to inform Iowa’s voters who are 50 and older, as well as the Latino population, about changes to the state’s voting laws. A-A-R-P Iowa state director Brad Anderson says the two organizations are launching a statewide tour next week to help voters understand some of those changes.

“While there are some new laws, our message is pretty simple,” Anderson says. “Early voting has started and voting in Iowa is still very easy to do, so we’re encouraging everyone to get out there and do it.” Anderson says one of the questions that’s being frequently asked is about the elimination of straight-party voting.

“You are going to have to vote for each individual candidate,” he says. “We want to make sure that people avoid confusion there. I know there’s been a lot of questions at the county auditor’s office about, ‘Where did straight-party voting go?’ That was part of this new law, with it eliminating straight-party voting.” Anderson says since there’s been a lot of talk in the news about Voter I-D, that’s also led to a lot of confusion.

“While you don’t need an ID for this election and you can just sign an affidavit, you will need your ID moving into 2019,” he says. “We also want to answer any questions about Voter ID and whether or not you need an ID to vote.” Anderson says the majority of Iowans voting are over the age of 50.

“The last mid-term election in 2014, the 50-plus community represented 64-percent of the electorate. In the presidential election in 2016, the 50-plus community represented 55-percent of the electorate,” he says. “Whether it’s a mid-term or a presidential election, the 50-plus community is the largest voting block in Iowa, so obviously that’s a community that AARP is very focused on. But it’s not just the 50-plus community, everyone needs to know that there are some new voting laws on the books.”

Events will be held on Tuesday in Mason City and Marion, Wednesday in West Des Moines and Shenandoah, and Thursday in Bettendorf. Registration is required by calling 877-926-8300, or you can find a link to the online event registration at https://states.aarp.org/events-ia/

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation agent from western Iowa has resigned during an investigation into misconduct allegations that are being withheld from the public. A spokesman for the Department of Public Safety says Ashley Jones-Goodsell resigned Friday, following a 10-year career.

The spokesman, Sgt. Nathan Ludwig, says Jones-Goodsell was placed on paid administrative leave on Oct. 1. He and other department officials haven’t responded to questions and an open records request about the reason for her leave and nature of the misconduct investigation.

Jones-Goodsell had said earlier this week that she had done nothing wrong and was being represented by a labor union during the investigation. She confirmed Friday that she had resigned from her job, which paid $69,000 this year, but said she wasn’t yet ready to comment further.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Mason City man has been sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter in the stabbing death of another man. The Globe Gazette reports that 21-year-old Braedon Bowers was sentenced Friday in Cerro Gordo County District Court. Bowers was found guilty in August of voluntary manslaughter. He had been charged with first-degree murder in the May 30, 2017, stabbing of 23-year-old Wraymond Todd in Mason City.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris of California is making her first campaign trip to Iowa before Election Day, adding to speculation about a potential presidential run in 2020. Harris plans to visit the state on Oct. 22-23. It’ll be her first visit to the leadoff presidential caucus state since she was elected to the Senate in 2016. She’s among a large group of Democrats, including several senators, who are contemplating a challenge to President Donald Trump.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa state law enforcement officials are warning the public to be on guard for a telephone scam in which the callers pretend to state police and demand payment. The Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Division of Criminal Investigation says scammers pose as employees of the “Iowa State Police” and claim to have seized a vehicle registered to the call recipient in which drugs were found. The scammers then demand immediate payment.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — The Salvation Army in Cedar Rapids is gearing up to help the less fortunate this coming holiday season. Registration for the Salvation Army’s Toys for Tots and holiday food assistance programs begins Monday and runs through Friday. Registration for the Salvation Army’s Toys for Tots and holiday food assistance programs begins Monday and runs through Friday. Registration opens again Nov. 12 for Christmas food assistance. Applications will be available at The Salvation Army.