DES MOINES – Alliant Energy residential customers can purchase landscaping trees for their homes at a deep discount this fall. Customers may reserve up to two trees per address and pick them up at Operation ReLeaf events in Cerro Gordo, Decatur, Hamilton, Linn, Poweshiek, and Winneshiek counties in October.

Operation ReLeaf is an energy-efficiency program from Alliant Energy that helps customers save energy by using trees to shade their homes from the summer sun and winter winds. For maximum energy efficiency, trees should be planted within 30 feet of the east and west sides of the house. Evergreens should be planted as a windbreak on the north and west sides.

“We enjoy trees for their beauty and environmental benefits, and they can become a family legacy,” said Doug Kopp, President of Alliant Energy’s Iowa utility. “When you plant a tree as a family and get the kids involved, it can be fun and meaningful. Ten, 15 years later, you can look back and see how it’s grown and changed with you.”

Operation ReLeaf makes high-quality landscaping trees affordable. The trees retail for $65 to $125 each, but are available for just $25 through Operation ReLeaf on a first-come, first-served basis.

“This is a great way for homeowners to get a quality tree at an affordable price,” said Jeff Goerndt, state forester with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

For best results from your planting projects, the DNR recommends variety. “Planting a diverse mix of trees on your property and in your neighborhood will reduce the likelihood of losing a large number of trees to forest health threats,” said Goerndt.

Operation ReLeaf is an Alliant Energy program administered by the Iowa DNR with assistance from local partners. Order forms and tree species are available at alliantenergy.com/releaf.

CHEROKEE, Iowa – Aug. 16, 2018 – A road construction project on U.S. 30 east of the north junction with U.S. 59 in Denison will require closing the roadway to traffic starting at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22, until 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Cherokee construction office.

During this closure, traffic will be detoured around the work zone using Seventh Street, Avenue C, Iowa 39, and U.S. 59.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

The latest traveler information is available anytime through our 511 system. Visit 511ia.org; call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide); stay connected with 511 on Facebook or Twitter (find links at https://iowadot.gov/511/511-social-media-sites); or download the free app to your mobile device.

To receive email or text alerts about traffic incidents, road closures, traffic delays, and other restrictions that affect this highway route or other routes you travel, the Iowa DOT offers the “Your 511” option on 511ia.org. It’s easy to subscribe to Your 511 and sign up to receive the email/text alerts. Visit https://iowadot.gov/511/511-full-feature-website-help/how-to-videos for simple, step-by-step instructions.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports an arrest early Thursday. At 12:54am Deputies arrested 37-year-old Ellonna Christine Anders of Henderson for Obstruction of Emergency Communication. Anders was taken to the Mills County Jail and held on $300 bond.

The Creston Police Department reports one arrest and a reported theft on Wednesday.

At 10:30am Officers arrested 20-year-old Kole Andrew Lovely of Creston on the charge of Driving While Suspended. He was taken to the Union County Jail on $300 bond.

Also on Wednesday at 8:45pm a resident on North Sycamore Street reported that sometime over the previous night a shotgun was taken out of his garage. The loss was estimated at $550.

w/ Chris Parks

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The Union County Communications LMR(Land Mobile Radio) upgrade project will be holding two public forums for the press and the public to attend.  These public forums are to inform the public of the LMR radio project, the issues with our current system and the proposed solution to fix it. Members of all public safety agencies will be present to answer questions. We will also be providing a facebook live session for each of these public forums for the public to view if they are unable to be present.

The dates for these public forums are August 23^rd and August 29^th 2018 at 6PM.  They will take place at Union County Emergency Management Agency, 705 E Taylor St in Creston.

The Atlantic City Council unanimously approved the final reading of two rule changes and the first reading of another at their Wednesday meeting.

The Council passed the final reading of a rule change regarding the number of days the Atlantic Animal Control Office holds an animal before it becomes available for adoption. Animal Control Officer Kris Erickson had requested that the number of days an animal is held be changed from seven business days to three. The change aligns the city with the state required three days. The city hopes this helps animals minimize their stay and stress. Licensed dog owners will be contacted if their pet is found wandering.

The Council also approved the final reading of an ordinance changing zoning regulations. A number of changes to building heights and setbacks were included in the ordinance in hopes that residential property owners would have greater flexibility to improve their properties. These changes would eliminate the costly and time-consuming process of applying for a variance in some instances.

The first reading of an amendment to traffic code enforcement procedures was also passed. The changes will increase the fine amounts for regular parking violations and snow emergency violations. The changes will align the city with fine amounts in other nearby cities. The Personnel and Finance Committee recommended the council approve the fine increases which will go from $10 to $30 for regular violations and $25 to $50 for snow emergency violations.

The council also approved a key monitoring policy for the city. Alexis Fleener was appointed to the Community Promotion Commission and Megan Mewhirter was added to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Board of Adjustment. Those appointments replace the resignation of Christina Bateman from those spots.

At their regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday night, the Atlantic City Council unanimously approved a street name change to honor Atlantic native Ed Podolak. The small section of East 11th Street in front of the Atlantic Middle School and Schuler Elementary will now be known as Ed Podolak Drive.

Ed was born and raised in Atlantic and is a 1965 graduate of Atlantic High School. He went on to star as a multiple position football player at the University of Iowa before playing professionally for the Kansas City Chiefs. Podolak was part of the 1970 Super Bowl Champion Chiefs during his rookie season in professional football. Ed lead the Chiefs in rushing for four seasons and currently sits 5th on the team’s all-time rushing list with 4,451 career yards and 34 touchdowns. In the Chiefs’ playoff loss to the Miami Dolphins on Christmas Day in 1971 Podolak had a playoff-record 350 total yards: 85 rushing, 110 receiving, and 155 return yards. He was inducted into the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1989.

Following his playing career Podolak turned to broadcasting where he currently serves as the Color Commentator for Iowa Hawkeyes Football broadcasts alongside Gary Dolphin.

New black and gold street signs will go up this week and a dedication ceremony is set to be held on Sunday at 2:00pm at the Trojan Bowl. The ceremony will be at the end of the Atlantic Sesquicentennial Block party on the Atlantic Middle School grounds from 11:00am-3:00pm.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 15, 2018 — Agricultural producers in Missouri who suffered losses and damages due to recent drought on two separate occasions may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans. The loans are made available under the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue.

Drought: 19 counties

For the recent drought, the Secretary has designated Andrew, Caldwell, Carroll, Chariton, Clinton, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Mercer, Nodaway, Randolph, Ray, Saline and Sullivan counties in Missouri as primary natural disaster areas.

Producers in the contiguous counties of Adair, Atchison, Audrain, Boone, Buchanan, Clay, Cooper, Holt, Howard, Jackson, Knox, Lafayette, Monroe, Pettis, Platte, Putnam, Shelby and Worth in Missouri, along with Decatur, Page, Ringgold, Taylor and Wayne counties in Iowa, and Doniphan County in Kansas, are also eligible to apply for emergency loans.

Drought:  Six counties

For the recent drought, the Secretary has designated Adair, Buchanan, Howard, Putnam, Schuyler and Scotland counties in Missouri as primary natural disaster areas.

Producers in the contiguous counties of Andrew, Boone, Chariton, Clark, Clinton, Cooper, DeKalb, Knox, Linn, Macon, Mercer, Platte, Randolph, Saline and Sullivan in Missouri, along with Appanoose, Davis, Van Buren and Wayne counties in Iowa, and Atchison and Doniphan counties in Kansas, are also eligible to apply for emergency loans.

Producers in all designated primary and contiguous counties will have until April 1, 2019, to apply for emergency loans to help cover part of their actual losses.

FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs, in addition to the emergency loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from the impacts of this disaster.

Other FSA programs that can provide assistance, but do not require a disaster declaration, include: Operating and Farm Ownership Loans; the Emergency Conservation Program; Livestock Forage Disaster Program; Livestock Indemnity Program; Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program; and the Tree Assistance Program. Interested farmers may contact their local USDA service centers for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at https://www.farmers.gov/recover.

The Iowa Grocery Industry Association announced this week the winners of their 2018 Hall of Fame awards, honoring champions of Iowa’s grocery industry, and a local business was honored. Atlantic Bottling Company was named Supplier of the Year.

The honor announcement states, “Atlantic Bottling’s commitment to Iowa and the many communities it serves, the grocery industry, and its employees has continued to grow alongside its business. The company’s devotion to quality and integrity has helped it forge lasting business relationships that contribute to its success. Atlantic Bottling supplies Iowa-based companies Hy-Vee, Fareway, Kum & Go, Casey’s and a large number of independent grocers, as well as many other companies. As Atlantic’s business has grown so has its support of the Iowa grocery industry.”

Atlantic Bottling is a privately owned independent bottler that distributes Coca-Cola products for almost all of Iowa, parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri. The company operates from nine locations with its headquarters located in Atlantic, IA and employs more than 700 people.

Atlantic Bottling will be honored along with other award winners at the Iowa Grocery Industry Association Hall of Fame Dinner on Wednesday, November 7th at the Prairie Meadows Events and Conference Center in Altoona.