The Atlantic Police Department investigated a single vehicle accident in the Wal-Mart parking lot Tuesday afternoon. Mary Smith of Lewis was driving east in the parking lot and started to turn down a parking aisle to park. Smith struck a concrete post with the left front corner of her vehicle. Smith was taken to Cass County Hospital by Medivac and a passenger complained of injuries but refused transport. Damage to the Smith vehicle listed at 6-thousand dollars. No citations were issued.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors visit Atlantic Motor Supply (NAPA) to celebrate 50 years in business. Atlantic Motor Supply has been in business for 50 years but has over 100 years of experience. The business expanded in 1995 after a downtown fire. Atlantic Motor Supply is one of the largest downtown stores in Iowa.
“When we expanded in 1995, we decided to be bigger, better and cleaner than the other automotive stores,” owner, Kelly Schlake said.
The store prides themselves on great customer service and encourages customers to come and ask questions with over 100 years of experience they will have the solution for you.

Pictured are: Gary Clausen, Greg Hawkins, Preston Harter, Randy Eden, Sheena Hagen , Carol Schlake, Kelly Schlake, Gary Christensen, Janet Cappel, Tara Jennerjohn, Nedra Perry, Connie Wailes, Sue Muri, Debbie Leistad, Lana Westphalen, Dolly Bergmann, Carole Schuler, Julie May, Tammy Waters, Arlene Drennan, JoAnn Runyan, Dr. Mitch Peerbolte, Jolene Roecker, Dr. Haley Kickland, Bill Saluk, Dr. Keith Leonard, Donnie Drennan, Diane Harris, Kerry Jepsen, Melanie Petty, Rich Perry, Dr. Jim Kickland, Chip Hansen, Tyler Mosier, and David Schwab.

The Council Bluffs Police Department is investigating an armed robbery of a convenience store this morning. The lone suspect entered the Casey’s located at 510 23rd Avenue armed with a black semi-automatic handgun and demanded money. After his demand was not met he fled the store on foot going east. The suspect is described as a white male, 5 feet ten inches tall, weighing 150-160 pounds. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants, black shoes, and a grey ski mask. No injuries were reported to the nine people in the store at the time of the robbery. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Council Bluffs Police Department at 712-328-S-T-O-P.

An Emerson teen was injured in a single vehicle accident Tuesday afternoon. 15 year old Cody D. Parker was injured when the car he was driving went off the roadway in the 19-hundred block of 200th street. Deputies report Parker was out of his vehicle when they arrived and had visible bruising to his right eye and a minor abrasion on his lower left abdomen from the seatbelt. Parker told authorities he had been driving east on 200th street coming to a school function when he was adjusting his radio and nearly went off the roadway. When he noticed his vehicle drifting towards the ditch he yanked the steering wheel to the left causing it to cross the center line and leave the north shoulder. The vehicle continued east on the shoulder of the roadway until he struck a driveway causing the vehicle to become airborne for a short period of time. The vehicle then traveled into a yard where he struck a light pole owned by David and Wayne Bailey, shearing it off. Parker indicated he did lose consciousness briefly, and when he came to he contacted his parents.

No citations were issued in the accident. Damage to the Parker vehicle was listed at 7-thousand dollars and 15-hundred dollars to the light pole. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Red Oak Police Department as well as the Red Oak Fire and Rescue.

w/ Mark Saylor

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A new study confirms what anyone watching Iowa television probably knows already — Gov. Terry Branstad is massively outspending his Democratic opponent Jack Hatch in the Republican incumbent’s drive for re-election.

The data compiled by the non-partisan Center for Public Integrity shows that $2.9 million has been spent on television advertising in Iowa state level races — such as governor or the state legislature — through Sept. 8.

Nearly all the money has been spent on the governor’s race, with $2.2 million coming from Branstad’s campaign, and just $129,200 from the Hatch campaign.

Three people were injured Tuesday evening when a semi struck an SUV in Dallas County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2000 Freightliner semi driven by 24-year old Eric Almanza, of Lenox, was traveling west on Ashworth Road at around 6:15-p.m., when the rig failed to stop at the intersection with Ute Avenue. The semi hit a southbound 2002 Chevy Blazer, driven by 29-year old Nicholas Gordan, of Winterset.

Gordan, and an unidentified minor female in the SUV, also from Winterset, were transported by Dallas County EMS to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines. Almanza, was transported by Dallas County EMS to Mercy West Lakes Hospital.

The accident remains under investigation.

The City of Atlantic’s Personnel and Finance Committee met Tuesday evening to discuss and act on recommending to the full Council, a severance package for City Administrator Doug Harris. Harris said he was asked to resign last Thursday, and he agreed his last day at work would be October 3rd.

City Attorney Dave Wiederstein layed out the tentative terms of the severance package, which was essentially what was stipulated in Harris contract when he came to the City in Jan., 2010.

The terms are as follows:  Doug Harris will resign as the City Administrator, and his last day of employment will be on October 3, 2014; The City will pay Doug Harris $52,049, which is an amount equal to six months of Doug Harris’ aggregate salary. This amount will be paid to Doug Harris in twelve equal installments of $4,337.42 (twice each month for six months beginning in October, 2014); Health insurance and retirement benefits received by Doug Harris during his term of employment will continue in full force for six months from October 3, 2014. The vehicle allowance and City-provided cell phone will discontinue as of October 3, 2014.; The City will compensate Doug Harris for all accrued and unused vacation and sick time as of October 3, 2014. Unused vacation and sick time will be paid to Doug in eight (8) equal semi-monthly installments beginning in April 2015 through July 2015.; There is a Mutual Release of Liability, and DougHarris agrees to not seek unemployment benefits from the City.

However, Harris said during Tuesday’s meeting that he doesn’t feel comfortable with the part of the agreement which refers to unemployment benefits. In particular, he was concerned about waiving his rights to unemployment benefits “forever.” He said it would be fair, and he agrees not to seek those benefits, while he’s being paid six months salary following his separation, but beyond that, if he is not employed, he wants that option open. There is also the possibility he may be allowed to purchase the laptop he uses, with the exception all city material and information would be removed.

There were a number of people in attendance at the meeting, who voiced their concerns over the sudden, recent developments. There were also questions by the media with regard to how and when members of the Council got together with and without Harris, to discuss his “resignation.” Questions remain as to whether those discussions violated the terms of Iowa’s Open Meeting Law. Wiedestein confirmed the Mayor and Harris had discussed the matter, but Committee Chair Kathy Somers denied there were any other discussions held, and that “No open meeting laws had been violated.”

Harris took over the position in 2010 from Ron Crisp, who retired in Dec., 2009. He recently butted heads with the Mayor and City Council over the Tax Abatement for improvements, which the City’s Legal Counsel, Bob Jostens said cannot legally be retroactive to Jan., 2014. The Mayor and the Council however, chose to make the abatements retroactive, and are leaving it up to Cass County Assessor Brenda Nelson to decide if the project qualifies for an abatement and if so, how much.

The Committee’s recommendation will be sent to the full City Council for action during its meeting on Oct. 1st. That meeting begins at 5:30-p.m.

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports that requests for ABSENTEE BALLOTS (ballots cast prior to ‘election day’ by mail or at Auditor’s office) may be sent or brought to the County Auditor’s office. First day to vote in the auditor’s office is Thursday, September 25, 2014 and the last day to vote in the auditor’s office is Monday, November 3, 2014.

VOTER REGISTRATION: In order to vote in Iowa a person must be registered in the person’s current county of residence, under the person’s present name, and at the person’s current address. Registration forms are available at the county auditor’s office, many State of Iowa service offices and on the Secretary of State’s web site: sos.ia.gov

The county election commissioner recommends that persons not currently registered or who have moved since last registering and are planning to vote in the November GENERAL ELECTION pre-register in the office of the County Auditor as soon as possible. You may register or re-register and vote absentee on the same day.

Reminder: You may also update your registration as you update your address for your driver’s license. Since your Iowa driver’s license is often used as official identification, it’s important that the data shown is accurate. In fact, Iowa law requires residents to notify the Department of Transportation within 30 days of an address change. You may be fined for having inaccurate information on your license if you are stopped by a police officer while driving. The easiest method of changing your address is to visit an Iowa driver’s license station – in Cass County that station is in the Cass County Treasurer’s office, Courthouse, Atlantic, Iowa (there is a $1 fee for updating your driver’s license at the driver’s license station).

ABSENTEE BALLOTS: Dale Sunderman, Cass County Auditor, also notes that if a person chooses, he/she may request and vote a ballot before election day (called ABSENTEE BALLOT). You may request that the ballot be sent to you by mail (USPS) or you may vote at the office of the County Auditor.

IF YOU HAVE THE BALLOT MAILED TO YOU: A written request may be mailed or hand delivered to the County Auditor’s office. (Absentee request forms are available at the auditor’s office and on the Secretary of State’s web site: sos.ia.gov). A ballot along with instructions on how to complete the ballot will be mailed to the requester. The package will include a RETURN ENVELOPE with POSTAGE AFFIXED and an AFFIDAVIT ENVELOPE. For the ballot to be counted, the completed ballot, sealed in the AFFIDAVIT ENVELOPE (the voter must sign the affidavit envelope) must be returned by mail postmarked no later than the day before the election. Alternatively the ballot may be returned by personal carrier to the office of County Auditor before the polls close on election day. All BALLOTS MUST BE RETURNED, whether they were voted or not voted.

IF VOTING AT THE COUNTY AUDITOR’S OFFICE: beginning September 25th, the absentee voter may come to the CASS COUNTY COURTHOUSE during the regular office hours of 8 AM thru 4:30 PM, Monday thru Friday, up through the day before the election and cast a ballot. In addition to regular office hours, the office of Cass County Auditor will be open Saturday, October 25, 2014 from 8 AM thru 5 PM and Saturday, November 1, 2014 from 9 AM thru 5 PM.

The address for the Cass County Auditor / Election Commissioner is:

DALE SUNDERMAN, CASS COUNTY AUDITOR, COURTHOUSE, 5 W 7TH ST, ATLANTIC, IOWA 50022 (Phone:712-243-4570; FAX:712-243-4572)

An Odebolt man was arrested on numerous traffic violations after a traffic stop by Guthrie County officials last week. Robert Brummer was stopped for traffic violation in Stuart and during the course of the stop it was discovered to have a suspended drivers license and was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia and controlled substances. Since the traffic stop took place in Adair County, Brummer was arrested and booked into the Adair County Jail on numerous traffic violations and three drug violations including possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana second offense, and second offense possession of methamphetamine. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Stuart Police Department.