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The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, acted on several matters, including a request to approve the partial closing of 6th Street between Chestnut Street west, to an alley between Chestnut and Poplar Street, for the purpose of “Produce in the Park” events.

Produce in the Park is scheduled to take place from 4-to 7-pm on Thursday’s, from June 12th through Oct. 30th. Dr. Keith Leonard who explained what the event was about, presented the request to the Council, on behalf of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. Leonard said they might need more street space in the future, it just depends on how many vendors show up the first few times. He said also, it may not go as late as requested, depending on how the weather affects the growing of local crops. The Council approved the request for the temporary street closure during the event.

Mayor Dave Jones asked if the Chamber still planned to hold “Music in the Park” events this Summer and early fall. Dr. Leonard said there will be no organized or sponsored events, but independent musicians are welcome to perform during in the Atlantic City Park on some Thursdays. He said there won’t be a stage for performances, though.

In other business, the Council approved the third reading and adoption of an Ordinance pertaining to the City’s Flood Plain Regulations, as requested by the State of Iowa, and required by FEMA. They also held a public hearing on, and the first reading of, an Ordinance pertaining to the height of structures, objects and natural vegetation, as well as land uses of property in the vicinity of the Atlantic Municipal Airport.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Planned Parenthood of the Heartland is closing two small clinics in southwest Iowa. The Des Moines Register reports that the closures in Red Oak and Creston are among at least 11 satellite clinics the group has closed in recent years. The group uses a video-conferencing system to dispense abortion pills to women in outlying clinics.

Planned Parenthood says the Red Oak and Creston clinics were open only by appointment and are being closed because of “a shifting need for services.” Patients will be referred to remaining clinics, including seven that provide the telemedicine abortions and two that also provide surgical abortions.

Planned Parenthood spokeswoman Angie Remington says the closures were not sparked by abortion opponents’ objections to the clinics.

The largest insurer of homes and vehicles in Iowa and Nebraska has made “staffing adjustments” to help customers in both states affected by Tuesday’s storms. Ann Avery is a spokesperson for State Farm. “It’s the kind of damage that is consistent with a wind and hail storm…we’ve all seen some pretty dramatic photos,” Avery says.

The heaviest damage in Iowa is over the southwest corner of the state. In some cases, homes and cars were battered by fallen trees that were uprooted by 80 to 90 mile per hour winds. Large hail and flooding also caused damage. The total number of insurance claims are adding up quickly. Avery says safety should be the top priority when surveying storm damage. She encourages homeowners to avoid downed power lines and when it’s safe to do so, make temporary repairs to prevent further damage to a home or vehicle.

“We do encourage people to save their receipts for any purchases they incur in the process of doing that,” Avery says. As for permanent repairs, Avery says it’s important to take time to choose a reputable contractor.  “Ask for references, ask about certificates of insurance, maybe consider contacting your local Better Business Bureau,” Avery suggests. “Just take care to choose someone who will help you recover appropriately.”

In the eastern Nebraska town of Blair, which is part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area, thousands of vehicles at a car dealership were badly damaged by baseball-sized hail. The courthouse in Blair sustained at least $1.2 million in damage from heavy rain after the hail shattered windows and skylights.

(Radio Iowa)

A Cass County man faces numerous charges following a traffic stop that resulted in a high-speed pursuit late Wednesday evening. Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy Josh McLaren told KJAN News that chase began after he tried to stop a red Chevy pickup on the northwest side of Massena at 740th and Quincy Road, just before 9-p.m.

McLaren said he knew the driver, 28-year old Trel Curtis Peterson, of Cumberland, and that the man did not have a valid driver’s license. When the deputy activated his lights and sirens, Peterson failed to pull-over. A pursuit ensured westbound on Quincy Road with the pickup reaching speeds that approached 100-miles per hour. He says the chase continued on several roads.

Deputy Kyle Quist picked up the pursuit as the pickup headed east on Victoria Road. During the pursuit, the pickup nearly collided with Quist’s SUV, as well as other vehicles, and it nearly hit a man who was trying to retrieve his mail from his box on a rural road. The chase wound its way toward the southeast corner of Massena on various county roads before the pickup found its way onto a dirt road that had become muddy following the recent heavy rains. The deputies didn’t want to risk getting stuck, so they circumvented the mud road. The suspect wasn’t so lucky. Deputy Quist located the vehicle on the road, parked in front of 67213 760th Street. The vehicle had been abandoned.

Peterson was found hiding near an outbuilding on the property. He surrendered to Quist and his K-9 partner, “Vader,” at 9:17-p.m. McLaren said despite efforts by several law enforcement agencies to locate a passenger in the pickup, that person was not found. He said they “Have a pretty good idea who that subject was,” and that charges are pending completion of the investigation.

Peterson, meanwhile faces a litany of charges. They include eluding law enforcement, reckless driving, speeding, driving under suspension, violation of a restricted license, carrying a concealed weapon, No SR-22 insurance, possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana and drug paraphernalia, OWI/drug-related, and a pending charge of assault on a peace officer.

The man was being held in the Cass County Jail, pending an appearance before the magistrate. McLaren says the Cass County Sheriff’s Office was assisted during the incident by deputies from the Shelby, Adair, Adams and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Departments, the Iowa State Patrol, an Iowa State Patrol aircraft, Red Oak P-D and Atlantic P-D K-9 units, and Atlantic P-D Reserves.

Police in Red Oak say no one was injured following a collision between two cars at the intersection of East Nuckols and North 5th Streets. The accident happened at around 2:40-p.m.  Officials say a 2001 Saturn driven by 40-year old Shannon Seekings, of Red Oak, was traveling east on E. Nuckols Street, entered the intersection and made it nearly half-way across, when her car was hit by a northbound 2001 Chevy Monte Carlo, driven by 19-year old Laryn Edds, of Red Oak.

Damage from the collision amounted to $3,200. No citations were issued.

Authorities in Montgomery County say a Red Oak man was arrested Wednesday afternoon on a Cass County warrant. Officers with the Red Oak Police Department took 36-year old Timothy Orville Welch into custody at around 3:24-p.m., at a residence in the 700 block of North Broadway Street.

Welch was wanted on a warrant for Probation Violation. He was transported to the Cass County Jail and held on $25,000 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Joni Ernst, a mother from farm country and Iraq war veteran who was little known only months ago, surprisingly won Iowa’s Republican Senate primary going away. The 43-year-old state lawmaker now faces a tougher test against a four-term Democratic congressman Bruce Braley in November’s general election.

LA PORTE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a pilot wasn’t injured during the emergency landing he made in an eastern Iowa cornfield. Waterloo television station KWWL reports that the plane came down around 4:10 p.m. Tuesday in northern Benton County. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office says the pilot was alone in the small plane and wasn’t hurt.

WAPELLO, Iowa (AP) – Louisa County officials have discussed the possibility of selling the building that housed the former jail and law enforcement center. Supervisors on Tuesday indicated they would be interested in contacting a real estate agent to list the property located in Wapello. The Quad-City Times reports the Wapello Police Department currently rents a part of the building through July 1st.

DENMARK, Iowa (AP) – Residents in the small southeast Iowa community of Denmark are planning to open two time capsules, one of which has been closed for nearly 90 years. That capsule was buried in the corner of a local school that was destroyed after it closed several years ago. The Fort Madison Daily Democrat reports the second capsule was buried near a jungle gym by a fourth-grade class about 17 years ago.

As the 2013-2014 school year winds down, the staff at the Atlantic Medical Center (AMC) is starting to prepare for the 2014-2015 school year. If your child will be entering preschool or kindergarten in any of the area schools and is still in need of their immunizations, make the call now to avoid last minute appointments and schedule conflicts. “Not only do immunizations protect your child, but the community at large,” explained Jeri Orstad, RN, AMC Immunization Nurse. “Plan now to be sure your child is ready to attend school this fall.” All immunizations given at AMC are entered into the state immunization database, so records are current and easily accessed. If you are unsure if your child needs immunizations before starting school call AMC and ask for the Immunization Room. Jeri or one of the other immunization nurses will be happy to check your child’s immunization record.

If your child is entering the 7th grade, be sure they have an updated Tdap vaccine. Due to recent pertussis (whooping cough) outbreaks the Iowa Department of Public Health has mandated that everyone entering the 7th grade and above who was born on or after September 15th, 2000, mustl receive a one-time dose of Tdap vaccine. Pertussis (whooping cough) is very contagious, and is one of the most commonly occurring vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States. In 2012, there were approximately 417% more people with pertussis disease compared to the average of the past five years. The majority of cases occur in children ages 10-14 years.

Year                     2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Reported cases  152    255    239    705   232   1647

For older children, AMC will be offering vaccine updates again at the sport physical exams this year. Parents must be present at the time of exam in order for their child to receive any immunizations. Sport physicals will be offered every Tuesday from July 8th through August 5th from 5:15 pm – 7 pm. Appointments are necessary and can be made by calling Atlantic Medical Center at at 712-243-2850. Cost for a sport physical is $12, which is payable at the appointment, with no insurance submission provided.

Walk-in hours for receiving immunizations are 8:30am-11:00 am Monday through Saturday, and 1:30pm-4:00pm Monday through Friday. If you have any questions about immunizations for people of any age, contact the Atlantic Medical Center Immunization Room, 712-243-2850.

(Press Release)