Reserve Officers with the Atlantic Police Department are currently seeking donations for the Reserve’s 5^th annual “Family Dream Christmas.” The program, which is for Cass County residents only, allows selected low-income or underprivileged families to go on a shopping trip with officers, to pick up groceries for the family’s Christmas dinner, along with gifts for the immediate family.

The Police Reserves are accepting cash donations through December 15^th for the program. Those donations can be dropped off at the Atlantic Police Department or at Masker’s Plumbing and Heating. Applications for families hoping to participate in the program can also be picked up at the Atlantic Police Department or at Masker’s Plumbing and Heating. Applications are due no later than 4-p.m. December 5^th.

Once all the applications have been received, they will be reviewed and the families chosen to participate will be contacted. There is no set limit on the number of families chosen. It simply depends on the amount of donations received.

If you have any questions, please call the Atlantic Police Department at 243-3512.

Numerous non-profit groups and/or agencies in Audubon and Cass Counties have received a total of $53,560 in grant funds from the Cass and Audubon County Community Foundations. All of grant recipients met the criteria as non-profit agencies or organizations in both respective counties. Representatives of the organizations received their checks on November 13th and 16th.

Nonprofit representatives receiving grant awards: 1st row from left to right: Shirley Bierbaum, Cass County Museum; Bob Boots and Steve Livengood, ARISE; Chelsea Fulton, City of Griswold and Griswold Volunteer Fire Department; and Glenda Farrier and Sam Hansen, CASS Incorporated. 2nd row: Vicki L. Christensen, Director, Anita Public Library; Kim Wendt, Anita Health and Wellness Center; Konnor Wendt, CAM Youth Sports; Kristi Burg, Daycare Board President, Anita Child Care Center; Dianna Williams, Ann W. Wickman Child Development Center; Leslie Haynes, Jack and Jill Preschool. 3rd row: Mark McNees, Atlantic Fire Department; Meredith Scherb, Atlantic Public Library; Jim Conn, Chuck Ehen and Leon Hodges, Atlantic Lions; Dan Hayne, Nishna Valley Family YMCA. Back row: Cass County Community Foundation Board Members Roland Landsness, Secretary/Treasurer; Nicholas Hunt, Chair; and Royal Bierbaum.

The Community Foundation of Southwest Iowa reports $21, 380 in grants were awarded to Cass County non-profit organizations through the Cass County Community Foundation. The biggest grants, of $2,000 each, were awarded to CAM Youth Sports, for a New Concession Stand at the Dave Bolt Field, and to the City of Griswold, for playground equipment at the Cocklin Fish Farm.

The City of Anita’s Public Library received a $1,700 grant for a multi-access server with color printer for use by patrons and staff. Grants amounting to $1,500 each were awarded to: the Anita Wellness Center; Atlantic Fire Department; Atlantic Lions Clubs; and the Cass County Historical Society. A $1,200 grant was awarded to the Ann W. Wickman Child Development Center in Atlantic. And, grants amounting to $1,000 each went to: The Anita Foundation Child Care Center; Atlantic Public Library; Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise (ARISE); The Griswold Volunteer Fire Dept.; Jack and Jill Preschool in Atlantic, and the Nishna Valley YMCA in Atlantic. In addition, the City of Marne received a $480 grant for playground equipment at the City Park.

Nonprofit representatives receiving grant awards: 1st row from left to right: Brett Irlmeier of Audubon, Chair, Audubon County Community Foundation; Pat Nyland, City of Brayton; Julie Olson, Audubon County Hospital Foundation; Melissa Thygesen, Audubon Firehouse Flames; and Gary Van Aernam, Audubon County Agricultural Society.

In Audubon County, $32,180 in grants were awarded. The biggest award went to the Audubon County Hospital Foundation, which received a $10,000 grant to fund architectural designs for a Rec Center. The Audubon County Agricultural Society received an $8,180 grant to replace the livestock show and cattle barns with a multipurpose building. The Little Mermaid Trail Committee received a $5,000 grant from the Audubon County Community Foundation, for the installation of an American with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible public restrooms in the park.

In addition, the PE4Life organization received a $3,000 grant for materials to build storage cabinets for skates to be used at the Agri-Hall. And, the Audubon County Hospital Foundation, City of Brayton, the Exira Fire Department and Audubon Firehouse Flames, received grants amount to $2,000 each, for various equipment or facilities improvements. The Audubon County Players Community Theater group received $757 for the purchase of tables for the dinner theater and supplies to make and repair flats.

A herd of deer on the road caused a Shenandoah woman to lose control of her car and crash Sunday night, in Page County. Sheriff’s officials say 37-year old Helen Mather was traveling south on 280th Street at around 10:15-p.m., when she swerved to avoid several deer on the road. Mather’s 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix spun around on the road and entered the ditch sideways, before rolling over three times and coming to rest on its wheels in a farm field on the east side of the road. Mather was not injured during the crash, which caused $3,200 damage to her vehicle. No citations were issued.

Earlier that same day, a 2012 Nissan Altima driven by 69-year old Ronald Wilson, of Elcho, WI, struck a deer on Highway Two, just past the 38-mile marker in Page County. The accident happened at around 9:07-a.m.  Neither Wilson nor his passenger were injured. The car sustained $3,000 damage. No citations were issued.

Four central Iowa teens were sent to the hospital to be checked for possible injuries following a rollover accident Sunday morning, near Clarinda. The Page County Sheriff’s Office says a 2003 Chevy Suburban driven by 15-year old Justin Sziber, of Des Moines, was travelig east on 196th Street at around 10:55-a.m., when the teen lost control of the SUV as it entered a curve. The vehicle slid into the east ditch before rolling onto its passenger side.

Sziber, and his passengers: 16-year old Austin Nibbler, 15-year old Jacob Leclair, and 16-year old Allison Leclair, all of Des Moines, were transported to the Clarinda Hospital by Clarinda EMS. Each of the teens were wearing their seat belts. Sziber was cited for Failure to Maintain Control, and Failure to have a valid license. The SUV sustained $5,000 damage during the crash.

The driver of a Chrysler Sebring suffered possible, unknown injuries following an accident Sunday evening just north of Essex, in Page County. Sheriff’s officials say 55-year old Alison Chambers, of Shenandoah was transported to the Shenandoah Medical Center by Shenandoah EMS, following the crash on Highway 48.

Chambers was traveling north on the road at around 4:05p.m and attempting to pass another vehicle, when she lost control of her car. The vehicle left the road and entered the north ditch. Damage from the accident amounted to an estimated $1,000. Chambers was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports a Shenandoah man was arrested Friday evening on Mills County warrants for OWI/2nd Offense, Vehicular Homicide/OWI, and Homicide by Vehicle/reckless driving. An investigation determined 29-year old Lyle Francis Stogdill was the driver of a vehicle that crashed August 20th, northwest of Malvern. The accident claimed the life of 46-year old Robert Gene Ryan, of Shenandoah.

Ryan was ejected from a 1994 Mazda pickup truck that had been traveling west on Highway 34, when it entered the south ditch and crossed 288th Street, before rolling over.  Stogdill was injured in the crash. Neither man was wearing a seat belt. Authorities weren’t sure at the time, which man was driving the pickup.

Sheriff Lyle Palmer says Stogdill was unable to post $37,000 bond, and was being held in the Page County Jail until he could be transported to Mills County.

One of the busiest travel holidays of the year is just ahead and forecasters say Iowans should have few weather issues to contend with this Thanksgiving — and warmer-than-usual temperatures. Meteorologist Miles Schumacher, at the National Weather Service, says temps are 10 to 20 degrees higher than normal. Schumacher says, “It’s been warm for the past several days and it looks like it’ll be temperatures in the 50s and low 60s the next couple of days and we could see some 70s in the state on Wednesday which would be pretty close to record levels.”

A cool front may arrive in the state as soon as Thanksgiving Day. “We’ll see a couple of days of sharply colder air with high temperatures in the upper 30s and 40s across the state, but that’s actually pretty close to normal,” he says, with no snow in the forecast, at least through the weekend.

There’s an outside possibility for some wet snow next week, but the long-range forecast is still developing.

(Radio Iowa)

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Department today (Monday) released a report on recent arrests. Officials say last Thursday, 21-year old Andrew Lemrick, of Shenandoah, was arrested for a Probation Violation. And, three people were arrested last Tuesday (Nov. 13th), including: 33-year old James Burson, of Council Bluffs, who was arrested for Theft in the 2nd degree, an ATV violation, and for Failure to Maintain Control; 29-year old Danielle Dickinson, of Bellevue, NE,  was arrested Tuesday, for a Probation Violation, and on a warrant out of Page County; and, 24-year old Tyler Witter, of Nebraska City, NE, was arrested in Fremont County, on a charge of Simple Assault.

Arrested on November 8th, was: 47-year old Linda Mees, of Riverton, on a charge of Simple Assault; and 29-year old Christina Marie Stocksdill, also of Riverton, who was also arrested for Simple Assault. On November 7th, 38-year old Davey Lee Swanson, of Riverton, was arrested in Fremont County for Public Intoxication, and on November 2nd, 19-year old Andrew Thomas Sunday, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and improper use of registration.

The Atlantic Police Department says no injuries were reported following three accidents that occurred on Friday. Officials say Shirley Lemke, of Adair, was cited for Failure to Yield upon making a left turn, after her vehicle collided with one driven by Brian Masteller, of Wiota. The accident happened at around 3-p.m. Friday, at the intersection of Highways Six and 71. Damage from the crash amounted to $14,000.

The second accident happened at around 6:45-p.m. on Highway 6, near the intersection with Park Drive. Officials say a vehicle driven by Nathan Grieshaber, of Atlantic, struck a deer. The mishap caused $1,500 damage.

And, an accident at around 9:25-p.m. in the Wal-Mart parking lot caused $5,700 damage. Atlantic Police say a vehicle driven by Richard McManis, of Red Oak, was pulling a trailer clipped a legally parked vehicle owned by Joshua Peach, of Anita. The accident happened as McManis was traveling south through the parking lot, and attempted to cut across a row. In doing so, he turned too sharply, causing the trailer to clip the right rear of Peachs’ vehicle. No citations were issued.

(9-a.m. News)

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson….

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