More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce have announced the 2016 schedule of community events. The events include:

• April 29th: The Young Professionals of Atlantic (YPA) Dessert Gala at the Atlantic Golf and Country Club (AGCC). Young professionals in the area will be recognized for their commitment and outstanding work in the community.
• June 17th: Nine and Wine at the AGCC, a 9-hole golfing event where teams of 4 play best ball while enjoying a wine tasting and appetizer at every hole.
• July 16th: Crazy Daze, where local businesses will offer “crazy” deals for the weekend.
• Aug. 13th: AtlanticFest, sponsored by 1st Whitney Bank & Trust, featuring car and motorcycle shows, a Bags Tournament, crafters, road race, pedal pull, & more.
• June thru September: Produce in the Park every Thursday from 4:30-to 6:30-pm at the Atlantic City Park, offering fresh vegetables, fruits, baked items and other products from local producers and crafters.
• Sept. 23-24th: Coca Cola Days, featuring a Tailgate Party, and the Iowa Chapter of Coca-Cola Collector’s Show, Swap and Sell meet.
• Oct. 15th: The Annual Fireman’s picnic at the city park, featuring smoke brisket sandwiches and activities, including the Fireman’s parade later that evening.
• Grand Lighting Ceremony: Nov. 17th.
• Ice Skating Rink on a synthetic rink, with skates provided at a low cost, Nov. 26-27 during the “Small Business Weekend,” with a VIP skate night Nov. 25th for sponsors.
• Lighted Christmas Parade: Dec. 3rd.
• Annual Holiday Concert: Dec. 4th.

If you are interesting in sponsoring or volunteering for any of the events, contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017, or visit www.atlanticiowa.com, on the web.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two men were arrested on separate charges overnight Wednesday into early this (Thursday) morning. At around 12:30-a.m. (Today/Thursday), 28-year old Bradley Edward Sorensen, of rural Essex, was arrested in the 2500 block of 250th Street. Sorensen was charged with OWI/1st offense. His bond at the Montgomery County Jail was set at $1,000.

And, at around 10:35-p.m. Wednesday, 46-year old Troy Daniel Smith, of Emerson, was arrested in Emerson on a valid Montgomery County warrant for Theft in the 5th Degree. Smith was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.

Authorities in Council Bluffs said late Wednesday night that they have arrested a man wanted in connection with a March 7th murder, but are still looking for a woman who is a person of interest in the case. At Around 4-p.m. Wednesday, Detectives with the Council Bluffs Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division, located 30-year old Markis Davis, of Council Bluffs, in 3500 block of West Broadway in Council Bluffs. The man had been considered armed and dangerous.

Davis was taken into custody without incident and brought to the Criminal Investigation Division where he was interviewed. Upon the conclusion of the interview, Davis was transported to Pottawattamie County Corrections and booked on the charges of 1st Degree Murder, Attempted Murder and 1st Degree Robbery. Two other men were arrested within hours of the March 7th murder of 22-year old Anthony J. Walker, and the attempted murder of another man inside a Council Bluffs home.

Authorities however, are still looking for 22-year old Rachel Lewis, of Council Bluffs, and are again asking for the public’s help in locating her for questioning in the continuing investigation. Anyone with any information on her location may contact Crime Stoppers at 712-328-7867.

Rachel Lewis

Markis Davis

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

COUNCIL BLUFFS – Police have located a third suspect wanted in connection with a March 7th murder and attempted murder. A female “person of interest” remains missing and is wanted for questioning.

COUNCIL BLUFFS – Authorities have arrested the a man in connection with the murder of two women whose bodies were found Wed. morning in their home. The women were the mans’ mother and grandmother.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The head of a House legislative committee said Wednesday he intends to introduce legislation that would strengthen oversight of boarding schools in Iowa that are able to operate with little state regulation. Representative Bobby Kaufmann, a Wilton Republican and chairman of the House Government Oversight Committee, says the bill is in response to abuse allegations at the now-closed Midwest Academy in Keokuk.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A panel of state budget experts has maintained its earlier projection on Iowa’s revenue for the current fiscal year, but a state official says revenue for the upcoming year is lower than expected. The three-member Revenue Estimating Conference said Wednesday it predicts the state will take in about $7.04 billion for the fiscal year that began last July.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque radio DJ is being credited for helping alert sleeping college students to an early morning residence hall fire. KCRG-TV reports WVRE DJ Josh Crowell noticed flames coming from the top of Visitation Hall on the Loras College campus early Wednesday. Crowell, who usually arrives at work between 4:30 and 5 a.m., called 911 and ran inside the building to wake up students.

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening, approved an Engineering Agreement with Snyder and Associates Engineers, for the City’s 2016 Street and Alley Improvement Project. The total cost of the projects is estimated at $1.4-million. It will be paid for in-part, through bonds and as a transfer from the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) fund. Any surplus funds will be directed to handle change orders, and anything remaining from that point will be moved into the 2017 Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) Fund, to reduce future bonding needs and save interest costs.

In other business, Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones said persons who ride high speed motorcycles , or “crotch rockets,” as they are commonly called, need to be aware they won’t be getting away with warnings like they did last year, for racing through and around town. Often times last summer, those “bikes,” as Jones referred to them, can be heard all the way across town.

The Mayor said citizens are concerned for about the noise and public safety. He said he’s spoken with Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green and Lt. Dave Erickson, and even to a couple of the speed racers themselves, and is warning those and other such motorcycle enthusiasts, that “There are not going to be a lot of special favors this year,” (such as verbal or written warnings). Jones says “They’re fair game, [for tickets, but] we don’t want them getting hurt in town, on a bike,” either.

Jones also spoke about disparaging comments being made around town, in the paper and elsewhere, about the Atlantic High School, especially in light of the recent sports losses, and in-fighting among School Board members. He said “All I hear is negative stuff…but the last month or month and a-half, the Archery Club did a great job, the Swim Team did a tremendous job again. The basketball team [did well],” and last weekend’s play was well received. Jones said performing in that way inspires confidence and is very good for them.” He added that while other districts are cutting their arts programs, “There’s things that are happening up there at the high school that somebody’s doing something right…a lot of good things are happening up there.”

Police in Council Bluffs early Wednesday afternoon interviewed a person of interest in connection with the death of two people found shot to death in a home, and later arrested 30-year old Michael Dieckmann, of Council Bluffs, on two counts of Murder in the 1st degree.

Authorities say Dieckmann allegedly shot to death his mother, 63-year old Jacqueline Dieckmann and his grandmother, 91-year old Illa Pfeiffer at their home located at 620 Grace Street. The women’s bodies were found at around 10-a.m. by a family member.

Michael Dieckmann

Michael Dieckmann  was being held in the Pottawattamie County jail on $1-million bond. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Investigators say a law officer acted appropriately in a shooting in western Iowa last week. Crawford County Attorney Roger Sailer has announced that Deputy Corey Utech has been cleared of any wrongdoing for his role in a shooting incident that occurred in Schleswig on March 9. Utech fired two shots, striking James Scott Champion two times in the torso, after Champion had fired a shotgun at officers. Sailer also stated that Champion will be charged with two counts of assault on a peace officer.

(Radio Iowa)