Local “Trees Forever” President Dolly Bergman presented City of Atlantic Officials with materials related to the recent awarding to the City of a “Tree City USA” award. It’s the 17^th year Atlantic has been honored with the award. The local “Trees Forever” organization has been in existence for 20-years. Bergman said receiving the award is something the City tries to do each year. She said they local group was presented with its award on April 17^th, in Des Moines. 

In order to receive the award, there are four requirements which must be met. There needs to be a Tree Board or Department within a city, a city must have a “Tree Care Ordinance,” the Community Forestry Program must have an annual budget of at least $2 per capita. Bergman says for 2011, Atlantic exceeded that by spending $19, 162. The expenditures went for tree plantings, community forestry (that includes pruning and/or tree removals), and all of the volunteer time, which was calculated at $16 per hour for every active volunteer. The only other requirement is for the City to have an Arbor Day observance and proclamation, which Atlantic approved for both last year and the current year. 

Bergman said in addition to the Tree City USA award, the City may be eligible to apply for a “Growth Award,” partly due to the tree trimming efforts that have been made downtown, the number of trees planted at the Schildberg Quarry Recreation Area, and the everyday maintenance being undertaken to keep the community green and beautiful.

w/ Ric Hanson

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The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday approved the first of three readings of ordinances pertaining to Urban Deer Control and the reducing of the speed limit on a section of 22^nd Street.

City Councilman Steve Livengood, the City’s liaison to the Community Protection Committee, said the ordinance, which was tabled during last month’s Council meeting, was reviewed by the committee after the first draft was created, and revised after consulting with the City Attorney and Police Chief. One of the concerns they addressed was the removal of administrative procedures from the first draft, but after City Attorney Dave Weidersteen said the ordinance would be administered by the Police Department, the committee agreed that was acceptable.

Chief Steve Green has indicated he would like the ordinance passed no later than July 1^st. The ordinance permits bow hunting of anterless deer within the Atlantic City limits, with the Police Department determining what areas the hunt will be allowed in, after receiving authorization from a land owner. Permits will be issued for the hunt under the sole discretion of the Police Chief.

The Council also approved the first reading of an ordinance reducing the speed limit on East 22^nd Street from Olive to Highway 71, from 45- to 35-miles per hour. The Community Protection Committee recommended the move after consulting with the Police Chief, who said some residents who live along that stretch of road expressed their concerns about pulling out of their driveways given the current speed, pedestrian traffic along the road, and the potential for future residential development in the area.

A Shelby County resident can now add children’s author to her many titles. Sally Weihs, co-operator of R&S Waste Systems in Defiance, wrote a children’s book called “Big Blue Goes Green,” to help educate children on the correct way to recycle. She previous wrote a cookbook 10 years ago. Weihs says the book offers a couple of lessons. She says it’s a lesson on recycling and friendship. “Big Blue” goes to the landfill and meets “Rita Recycler,” who teaches him how to lighten his load, by recycling.  

The book shows children what plastics and glass can be made into. Weihs says being in the business, she wanted to help kids understand the correct way to recycle. She says “There’s a lot of recycling out there and kids want to do it, so she decided to write a book on how to do it and do it right. Sally, along with her husband Ron have been in the recycling business at R&S Waste for 35 years. She says her family influence helped name the trucks in the book. She says she named her “Rita” because that was her husband’s mothers’ name. The name “Big Blue”  because her oldest grandson would yell “Here comes big blue,” whenever he saw their recycling truck coming down the road.  The family influence didn’t end with naming the trucks, as her nephew Bryan McCoy, who is studying at Iowa State to become a cartoonist, did the illustrations for the book, which is available for purchase in the office at R&S Waste Systems in Defiance or online at www.authorhouse.com. 

The profits from the sale of the book will go to “Teen Challenge of the Mid-lands.” Weihs says TCM is  a faith-based drug and alcohol rehabilitation program for all ages. She chose them because they are totally non-profit and receive no government aid at all. For more information on the book, contact Weihs at 712-748-3471.

(Courtesy Joel McCall/KNOD – Harlan)

A combine which had not been used since last Fall was consumed by flames late Tuesday night, south of Atlantic. According to the Atlantic Fire Department, crews responded to the Glen McFadden Farm at around 11:30-p.m., after receiving a report of a combine on fire. 

When the first firefighters arrived, the machine – which had not been used since last Fall due to mechanical or electrical problems – was fully engulfed in flames. Fire Chief Mark McNees said he believes the cause of the fire was electrical in nature, possibly due to a short in the battery.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames within about 10-minutes, but the combine was a total loss. No injuries were reported.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials say Governor Terry Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds are OK after their SUV hit a deer on Interstate 35 in central Iowa. Branstad spokesman Tim Albrecht says Branstad, Reynolds and longtime aide Margaret Hough (huff) were returning to Des Moines from an event in Eldora Wednesday afternoon when the accident happened north of Story City.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Legislative leaders say an agreement has been reached on education spending and a bill could be ready for debate as early as Monday. Most state lawmakers took the day off Wednesday as conference committees continue to work in closed-door meetings on the major state budget bills. The education bill is one of the largest portions of the state budget, spending more than $850 million.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A U.S. Airways flight has safely returned to the Des Moines International Airport after a warning light indicated a wheel problem. Airport officials told The Des Moines Register that Flight 2747 left Des Moines for Phoenix Wednesday afternoon but returned after its nose steering indicator light came on. Airport spokesman Kenneth McCoy says the plane circled the airport for about 30 minutes to burn off some fuel before it was able to land. McCoy says the flight, which had 54 people on board including crew members, landed safely and taxied to the gate. Officials think the problem may have been with the warning system, not the actual landing gear.

A diner and bowling alley has landed this year’s title for “Iowa’s Best Burger.” The award is handed out annually by the Iowa Beef Industry Council and Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. This year, judges selected The Coon Bowl III in Coon Rapids. Cindy Heydon, co-owner of The Coon Bowl, says their half-pound burgers are basic.

Coon Bowl Burger wins Iowa's Best Burger Contest

“We actually don’t do anything to them,” Heydon revealed. “We don’t salt them. We don’t mix anything into the hamburger. Nothing. Just a plain old hamburger on the grill.”

Judges noted the “juiciness” of the champion burger. Heydon credits the 80/20 blend of ground Iowa beef and the use of a flat-iron grill for the juicy factor. She also credits a loyal, local customer base for nominating her business for the award. “And I have people who travel through here who will stop more than one time…they come back,” Heydon said. The Coon Bowl dining area can seat around 80 patrons. The business also features an eight lane bowling alley and a small game room. The basic burger at The Coon Bowl costs $4. The most expensive burger, the bacon cheeseburger, is just $4.80.

The other top ten finalists for this year’s top burger award were the Ankeny Diner, Ankeny; Drake Diner, Des Moines; Farmer’s Kitchen, Atlantic; Ferg’s Lounge & My Tighe’s Restaurant, Grand Junction; PerXactly’s Bar and Grill, Maquoketa; Rosco’s, Norwalk; Rube’s Steakhouse, Montour; Sac City Bowling Center, Sac City; and The Ritz, Arnold’s Park. This marked the third year for the best burger contest.

Last year’s winner was The Rusty Duck in Dexter, while Sac County Cattle Company of Sac City won the inaugural event in 2010.

(Pat Curtis/Radio Iowa)

The black Chevy Tahoe that ferries the governor and lieutenant governor around Iowa was damaged Wednesday in a deer-versus-vehicle crash. At the time of the wreck both Governor Terry Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds were riding in the S-U-V, which was being driven by a state trooper. Tim Albrecht, the governor’s press secretary, says the accident happened at about 1:40-p.m., on southbound Interstate 35.  “Governor Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Reynolds were traveling back from an event at Pine Lakes State Park in Eldora,” Albrecht says. ”

At mile marker 126.5 — just north of Story City — two deer crossed the path of the S.U.V. in which they were traveling. A third deer was struck by the S.U.V. and the vehicle sustained damage, but everybody’s o.k.” The deer was killed on impact according to Albrecht, and the trooper was able to drive away from the scene. “The SUV was still driveable. It did sustain quite a bit of damage on the driver’s side and the driver’s door is actually unable to be opened at this point,” Albrecht says. “The vehicle is fixable and it’ll be in the shop a few days we imagine.”

Iowa law requires the state’s governor to be driven by a state trooper. The law was passed over half a century ago after an Iowa governor who was driving himself was killed in a car wreck. Governor Bill Beardsley was killed on November 21, 1954, during his third term as governor. U.S. Senator Richard Louis Murphy of Dubuque, Iowa, was killed an a car wreck in Wisconsin in 1936.

(Radio Iowa/O. Kay Henderson)

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK 1250 AM CDT THU MAY 3 2012

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 228 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 AM CDT FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

IOWA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE…. ADAMS CASS FREMONT MILLS MONTGOMERY PAGE POTTAWATTAMIE & TAYLOR.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press