Officials with Farmers Cooperative Company (FC) and West Central® Cooperative this week announced a unanimous vote by their Boards of Directors to proceed with a merger vote by members of both cooperatives. Following several months of internal and independent analysis on the potential risks and benefits associated, the Boards approved the plan of merger and recommend a merger.

Pictured…Front row; Sue Tronchetti, Paton-area farmer and West Central Board Chair; John Scott, Odebolt-area farmer and FC Board President. Back row: Milan Kucerak, West Central President and Chief Executive Officer; Jim Carlson, Gowrie-area farmer and West Central Vice Chairman; Sam Spellman, Woodward-area farmer and West Central Board Secretary; Jordan Carstens, Bagley-area farmer and FC Board Vice President; Dan Reynolds, Rockwell City-area farmer and FC Board Secretary; and Jim Chism, FC Chief Executive Officer.

Odebolt-area farmer and FC Board President John Scott, said “Our members own these cooperatives. We encourage each owner to read the plan of merger and proposed articles of incorporation, ask questions, and return their ballot. Every member matters.”

West Central board chair and Paton-area farmer, Sue Tronchetti said “This is a landmark decision for our member-owners. Our Boards, management and employee teams believe we can diversify our businesses, improve member services and protect and enhance member patronage by utilizing our scale to procure more efficiently.”

Members are invited to hear presentations and information on the merger at one of 20 member meetings hosted Nov. 30th-Dec. 11th, 2015. A list of meeting locations and member resources are available online at wccgrow15.com or fcgrow15.com.

For a merger, Iowa law requires 50 percent of each membership to vote, with two-thirds of those votes cast to favor the proposal. Ballots and voting details will be mailed to each cooperative’s voting members approx. Nov. 20th, 2015. The votes will be counted at a special meeting slated for Dec. 18th, 2015.

Should the membership approve the merger, each cooperative will be represented by nine farmer-owners and member equity will roll into the new cooperative on a one-for-one basis. The combined cooperative, to be headquartered in Ames, Iowa, will be led by Kucerak as chief executive officer.

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones is stepping-up to help a Police Officer involved in the Atlantic P-D’s “No Shave” November effort to raise funds for the Police and Police Reserve’s annual “Shop with a Cop” and “Family Dreams Christmas” Programs.

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones

Officers and Reserve Officers are being allowed to grow the beard of their choice in November. The idea is that those officers must raise a minimum of $100 each in donations this month, to be put towards the kids’ programs. Any officer who does not raise the required amount minimum will be making up the difference out of his own pocket.

While the contest works out fine for the department’s male officers, it puts the only female officer, Christin Vavricek at a disadvantage. That’s where the Mayor is stepping up to the plate.

Atlantic Police Officer Christin Vavricek

Jones said he would serve as a proxy for Officer Vavricek and accept donations on her behalf for the children’s and families programs during the contest.

Anyone wishing to donate can contact the officers in person, or drop off your donation in the name of a specific officer or reserve officer at the Police Department. General donations are also accepted. Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green says it has been a tough year for a number of families in the Cass County area, and the needs of the kids are expected to be numerous. Checks should be made to the “Atlantic Police Reserves,” with an indication for the Christmas or Youth programs, in the memo line.

Atlantic Public Library Director Natalie Struecker, Wednesday, updated the City Council on upcoming programs and activities at the Library. One of the events coming up later this month, designed for persons 13-to 18-years of age, is with regard to the upcoming release of the third in a series of adventure novels by American author Suzanne Collins. Struecker says they will be celebrating the Nov. 20th release of the Hunger Games films by having a party.

Natalie Struecker (from her Linked-In page)

One of the movies “Catching Fire” will be shown at the Library at 4-p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10th. And, Mockingjay, Part 1, will be shown 4-p.m., Nov. 17th. The party at 3:30-p.m. Nov. 19th includes games and fun. Pre-registration for the party is required. There’s also a Tween Christmas Party set for 3:30-p.m. Dec. 1st, where young people can make and take crafts and play games to celebrate the season. Again, pre-registration is required.

Other, family-type events at the Library include a Star Wars Party, to celebrate the new film coming out. Registration is also required for that party, which will be held 4-p.m. Dec. 17th. A book fair also is on the slate for December. It takes place Dec. 8th from 10-a.m. until 6-p.m.

Natalie says also, a Brown Bag Book Discussion will be held at Noon on Nov. 13th and Dec. 11th. And, there are recipe swaps taking place starting Nov. 16th. Drop off your favorite recipes at the library by Dec. 11th. Booklets with the recipes will be made available beginning Dec. 21st.

For more information on those, and other events at the Atlantic Public Library, go to www.atlantic.lib.ia.us, or call 243-5466.

Sheriff’s officials in Union County say a man from southeastern Iowa’s Scott County was arrested Wednesday afternoon on several warrants. 38-year old Norman Dallas Olson, of Blue Grass, was transferred from the Madison County Jail to the Union County Jail on warrants for failure to appear on a theft 3rd degree charge, violation of probation, and failure to appear on an OWI 1st offense charge. Olson was being held in the Union County Jail on $2000 bond.

Basketball season starts soon, and the physical therapists at Cass County Health System are out in the community to speak with players about preventing injuries. Laura Hickman, DPT, ATC/L and Erin Johnson, PTA were recently at the Atlantic High School to talk with the varsity basketball teams about common knee injuries and ACL injuries including what causes them and ways to prevent them.

All of the athletes received information about exercises, tips to avoid ACL injuries/tear…s, warm-ups, and post-play cool downs. Laura and Erin both suffered ACL injuries as high school athletes, and they are now passionate about helping youth compete safely. They also spoke with the athletes about concussion symptoms and how to safely return to activity, and reminded them of the free injury screenings available to all student athletes any time they have a concern.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests this week. On Tuesday, 30-year old Albert Alexander Johnson, of Atlantic, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear. Johnson was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released Wednesday, on his own recognizance.

And on Monday, deputies in Cass County arrested 55-year old Barry Dean Schmidt, of Massena, on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Schmidt was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $10,000 bond.

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.8MB)

Subscribe: RSS

An Adair County man was arrested this (Thursday) morning on drug charges, in Creston. Police in Creston say 24-year old Allen Switzer, of Bridgewater, was arrested at 806 Laurel Street in Creston, just after 5-a.m.  He faces charges that include Theft in the 4th Degree, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Switzer was being held in the Union County Jail on $1,000 bond.

Creston Police report also, the arrest of two people, on Wednesday. 34-year old Cynthia McIntosh, of Orient, was arrested on a Union County warrant for Violation of Probation, and 53-year old Kirby Konkler, of Creston, was arrested on Union County warrants for: Assault causing bodily injury; Assault with the intent to inflict serious injury; assault, and burglary in the 1st degree.

Konkler  and McIntosh were being held in the Ringgold County Jail, where Konkler was being held on a $25,300 bond, and McIntosh was being held without bond.

Three people were injured during a collision Wednesday night, in Creston. Authorities say 17-year old Kristie Hallett, of Creston, and a passenger in her car, 21-year old Travis Kifer, of Grinnell, were transported by ambulance to the Greater Regional Medical Center following the crash that happened at around 9:40-p.m.

Officials say the accident occurred when 24-year old Ismael Ornelas, of Creston, failed to stop at the intersection of Sumner Avenue and W. Prairie Street.  His 2004 Cadillac Escalade collided with the passenger side of a 1997 Pontiac Grand Am, driven by Hallett. Ornelas complained of back pain following the crash, but was not transported to the hospital. He was cited for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign.

Damage from the crash amounted to $2,200.

The area’s top news at 7:07-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.0MB)

Subscribe: RSS