Atlantic High School Guidance Counselor Craig Fredin says the counseling staff at Atlantic High School will be hosting a College Planning meeting for juniors and their parents this Thursday, October 30th at 6:00 PM, in the high school auditorium.

A representative of the College Planning Center will present a program which will address the following topics : a review of admission requirements, school selection, dual high school and college level classes, career and college computer searches, and financial aid information.

The counselors from the high school will also be available to answer questions and explain other career and financial aid materials available at the high school.

New Century Art Guild, a non-profit arts organization co-founded by veterans and artists, will sponsor their 3rd Annual Open House and Veteran Appreciation event on Sunday, November 2nd from 2:00 pm to 8:30pm in Kimballton, IA.  This year’s open house will be a carnival theme that features army vehicle rides, face painting, temporary tattoos, caricature artists, carnival games, anda chili cook-off.

Begining at 2:00 p.m., two art galleries on Kimballton’s Main Street will be open to the public to offer a tasting of local wines and a chance to view veterans’ artwork, including that of US Army veteran Roberta “Bert” Leaverton. The carnival games begin at 2:00 at the Cottonwood Barn located a block off Main Street. A chili cook-off will be held at the Cottonwood Barn at 5:30pm. Chili and games will be paid for with tickets sold at the door for $1 apiece.

Chili cooks will be vying for top prizes, to be determined by the most tickets they collect. Proceeds will go to fund NCAG’s student and veteran art scholarships. Entertainment will be provided by the widely popular singing-duo the “Polka Police”. Other attractions include kegs of craft beer, an old fashioned cake walk, a bonfire (weather permitting) and barn dance. This is a family-friendly event and open to the public.

The guild’s mission is to promote career development of emerging and established artists with special attention to the needs of military families and of veterans seeking to make new careers in the creative arts. For more information contact NCAG President Dr. Scott Smith at (712) 249-2184
or NCAG Art Director Troy Muller at (402) 250-9473; email tmuller@mullerstuidos.com

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County say no serious injuries were reported following two, separate rollover accidents. The latest took place early this (Monday) morning, at 380th and PinOak Road, when 20-year old Dakota Smith, of Oakland, swerved to miss a deer as he was headed south on 380th, northwest of Oakland. The 1992 Ford Taurus he was driving went into a ditch and rolled several times before coming to rest. The accident happened just before 3-a.m.

The other accident, also a rollover, happened at around 1:30-a.m. Saturday, when 61-year old Craig Tripp, of Avoca, fell asleep at the wheel of his 1967 Corvette. The car veered off the road near as it was headed eastbound on 380th, near the intersection with Tamarack Avenue, or about two-miles south of Shelby.

Neither driver required transport to the hospital.

Police in Creston kept busy over the weekend. Four people were arrested on separate charges, including a 10-year-old from Creston who was taken into custody for Criminal Mischief and Assault causing injury. The juvenile was referred to Juvenile Authorities.

On Saturday, 48-year-old Patricia Jean Young, of Creston, was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated 1st Offense. She was later released on $1,000 bond. 32-year old Andy Alden Hansen, of Des Moines, was arrested Saturday for Interference with Official acts. He was later released on $300 bond. That same day, 19-year-old Steven Dennis Richardson, of Creston, was arrested on a charge of 5th degree theft. He was later released on his own recognizance.

And on Friday, 38-year-old Jamie Scott Vandel, of Creston, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. He was later released on $300 bond.

With Ric Hanson.

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DES MOINES, Iowa – Most people in Iowa know that smoke detector installation and testing is important, but according to a recent survey, most are likely mistaken about how much time is needed to safely evacuate a burning home. Research from the American Red Cross shows many people think they have five minutes, but it’s really only two.

Brandon Holstrom, preparedness and recovery manager for the Red Cross in Iowa, says that’s why it’s so important to have a plan. “And we’re looking for an escape plan that is actually practiced,” he stresses. “And most people don’t know that that escape plan needs to be an alternate route, such as windows, maybe the front door, maybe a side door that’s typically not used.”

According to the survey, nearly seven in 10 parents believe their children know what to do if their house catches on fire, but fewer than one in five families with children has actually practiced home fire drills.

Holstrom also explains that the escape plan should also include a place to meet and stay put, such as a nearby tree or the home of a neighbor. “Because that is also a concern that we have is that people re-enter the home after they’ve left it, maybe to get Fido, their favorite dog, or maybe it’s a memory of theirs, a wedding ring or something else,” he explains. “Once you’re out, stay out.”

It’s recommended that smoke detectors be installed in each bedroom and regularly tested. About 2,300 people died in house fires and 13,000 were injured in 2012, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

(Iowa News Service)

Three Pottawattamie County residents were arrested on drug charges this (Monday) morning, in Fremont County. The Sheriff’s Office reports deputies conducted an investigation into the delivery of illegal narcotics that resulted in the arrest of 33-year old Benjamin Franks, 57-year old Joyce Franks, and 51-year old Mark Pike, all of Council Bluffs. Each was charged with Delivery of Methamphetamine.

Benjamin Franks, who was also charged with Possession of Meth, was wanted on warrants out of Council Bluffs and Montgomery County. Mark Pike was also wanted on warrants out of Council Bluffs. Both were being held in the Fremont County Jail on $100,000 cash bond.

Joyce Franks was being held in the Montgomery County Jail, also on $100,000 bond.

The week of Oct. 24th through the 31st is known as “Red Ribbon” week. The Red Ribbon Campaign was started when drug traffickers in Mexico City murdered DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena in 1985. The incident began the continuing tradition of displaying Red Ribbons as a symbol of intolerance towards the use of drugs. The mission of the Red Ribbon Campaign is to present a unified and visible commitment towards the creation of a DRUG-FREE America.

Atlantic Middle School Builder Club (STAND – Students Taking Action Now for a Difference) in collaboration with their school, Kiwanis, Elks Club Drug Awareness Program and KJAN have planned a week of activities and education to students and their families. Fact or Fiction sheets will give middle schoolers information that they can use to answer questions about drug and alcohol use.

Red ribbons will be displayed on the school lawn today (Monday). Informational messages were recorded at KJAN by Builder Club members Codi Russell, Emma Joyce Joyce, Chamilla Colton, Abby Evans and Ethan Simmons. They will be heard throughout the week in Middle School and on KJAN.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The factory in northwest Iowa’s Great Lakes region that produces the popular Indian and Victory lines of motorcycles is now making a new three-wheeled machine called the Slingshot. Chris Doucet, Slingshot’s commercial director at Polaris headquarters in Minneapolis, says the futuristic-looking roadster has two front wheels and one in the back, with an open two-seat cockpit, giving it a sleek appearance. (View the video at http://www.polaris.com/en-us/slingshot )

2015 Polaris Slingshot (Image from Polaris.com)

“You sit in the vehicle, not on the vehicle, compared to motorcycles,” Doucet says. “What most people tend to love about this vehicle is the side-by-side seating so you’re talking, you’re engaged with your partner all the way through the ride. It isn’t front and back like your standard motorcycle where you talk at various stops, you’re engaged with your partner the whole way through the ride.”

Production of the Slingshot is already underway at the 23-acre factory in Spirit Lake. Another Polaris plant is in nearby Milford and combined, they have more than one-thousand employees. Doucet says, “Over the last six months, the ramp-up has led to 300 incremental jobs, some of those directly related to Slingshot, some directly related to the supporting features that go to having us increase businesses down there, welding and painting and those types of things.” While the Polaris factory produces about 60 of the Indian and Victory motorcycles per day, Doucet wouldn’t elaborate on production numbers for the Slingshot.

“We do know how many we’re going to be making, that is proprietary information, but I will tell you we are all in on this investment,” Doucet says. “We’re very excited about it. Since the launch, since we’ve shown it to our dealers, the response has been overwhelming. Consumer demand, dealer response, can’t wait to get it, you’re not building enough of them.” Two models will be offered, ranging from around 20- to 24-thousand dollars. The vehicles should begin arriving in dealerships nationwide later this month.

(Radio Iowa)