For the second day in a row, firefighters from Cass County are responding to a vehicle fire on eastbound Interstate 80. Fire coming from the engine compartment of a pickup truck was reported at around 10:30-a.m.  As Atlantic and Marne Fire were responding to the scene at the 51-mile marker (near the Marne exit), the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames. Atlantic Fire Fighter Gene Schmeling told KJAN News the flames totally engulfed the cab of the Dodge crew cab-style pickup, which was a total loss. There were no injuries reported. Firefighters were on the scene for about one-half hour.

Yesterday, a Subaru station wagon caught fire as it was headed eastbound on I-80, near the Wiota exit. The driver of the vehicle, a woman from Nevada, suffered burns to her hands while trying to rescue five animals that were traveling with her. Three of the animals, two cats and a bird, died. The vehicle was a total loss.

The Atlantic Police Department reports this (Thursday) morning, that an Atlantic woman was arrested Wednesday on a harrassment-related charge. 59-year old Deborah A. Thomas was taken into custody on a warrant for Failure to Appear on a Harrassment by Communication charge. Thomas was booked into the Cass County Jail and held, pending a court appearance.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) has identified Atlantic as one of 16 Iowa communities to be highlighted on the 2012IowaCaucus.org website (http://2012iowacaucus.org/).   Atlantic Area Chamber Executive Director Megan Roberts says “Atlantic was recognized as a key location for media teams to film traditional Iowa towns during the caucus season.”  The website is aimed at providing information to media and visitors during the month before and during caucuses scheduled for January 3rd, 2012. It provides community data, caucus events and quick facts about each community.

Roberts says “Several of our local events are highlighted as well as some of our larger employers, ” and that “It is one more outlet to help put Atlantic on the map.” According to a release from the IEDA, the website is also available for mobile device users including smart phones. A printed map of Atlantic will be distributed at major candidate events in the month of December.  Council Bluffs and Harlan are also featured on the website.

Roberts says “The Iowa Caucus website could be a key way to attract some new media attention and new visitors to Atlantic from those that are watching the election race. We’re looking forward to providing them with our Atlantic hospitality while they are here.”

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Wednesday of a Lewis man on a warrant for 50 charges related to the sexual abuse of a minor.

Roger Allen Ericksen

52-year old Roger Allen Ericksen faces two Aggravated Misdemeanor charges of Assault with the intent to commit Sexual Abuse, two counts of Lascivious Conduct with a Minor (A Serious Misdemeanor), and 46 Class-C felony counts of Sexual Abuse in the 3rd degree. The arrest stems from an on-going investigation into allegations Ericksen had sexual contact with a 14-year old female over a two-month period of time, earlier this year. Ericksen was being held in the Cass County Jail on $250,000 bond.

w/ Ric Hanson

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The Atlantic Animal Shelter is reminding persons who have adopted pets from the shelter, that they must spay or neuter the animal, as your adoption form indicates. Shelter officials say it’s a State mandates when animals are adopted out. The Shelter says State officials have visited the shelter and found many adoption forms have not been not been returned, stating that the animal has been spayed or neutered. Officials say if the forms are not returned by the end of the month, they could lose their ability to adopt-out the animals, which would mean all animals not claimed by their owners would face euthanization.

Since no one wants that to happen, the Atlantic Animal Shelter is asking you to return your animal adoption paperwork to the shelter, so they are in compliance with State regulations, and so you can receive your $20 rebate. If you have any questions, call the Shelter at 712-243-2287.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Iowa Congressman Bruce Braley, a Democrat from Waterloo, says the Postal Service’s decision to delay closing all offices until May of next year isn’t just a move that will delay the inevitable. Braley says Congress has been working on changing the way the Postal Service funds its retirement system to allow them to save BILLIONs of dollars, and that’s why he favors delaying the closings. 

“I think in this case the moratorium on making decisions will allow congress more time to try to address the problems facing the Postal Service in a meaningful way,” Braley says. The congressman has backed a bill by a colleague on revamping the postal retirement system and he says the U-S Senate is also considering action as well.

“I think that the impact of congressional action between now and the date when the Postal Service has decided to postpone its decision making will at least inform the decisions of the Postal Service on what type of action it needs to take,” Braley says. Braley says his questioning of the Postmaster General makes him confident the Postal Service is looking at several options to revamp its business once the pension issue is settled. “I think they have a lot of ideas that they are prepared to implement, some of which are good and some of which are not, but they haven’t just been sitting there idly, they are preparing to deal with the realities of their funding,” according to Braley. 

There are 178 post offices in Iowa that are on the current list for possible closure. Locally, that includes those facilities in: Brayton, Cumberland, Grant, Kimballton, and Lewis. Braley and the rest of the Iowa Congressional delegation all asked the Postal Service to delay the closings, as did Governor Terry Branstad. 

(Radio Iowa)

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The founder of a Nebraska hedge fund and his wife are donating $5 million to the University of Iowa to benefit finance students and Hawkeye football players.The university announced Wednesday that Curtis and Carol Lane of Omaha made the gift, which UI President Sally Mason called a “creative, forward-looking act of generosity.” She said the Lanes have been some of the UI’s biggest fans and most effective champions.About $1 million of the money will endow an existing fund named in their honor that supports business faculty members who provide practical learning opportunities for UI finance students. Another $2 million will endow a scholarship fund for undergraduate finance majors, with preference given to military veterans.The final $2 million will endow a scholarship fund for Hawkeye football players.

Council Bluffs (AP) — Rick Perry is turning to his military service as a selling point to voters looking for a veteran in the Republican presidential campaign. The Texas governor is looking for a second wind, with mere weeks until Iowa starts the nominating process with its January 3rd caucuses. Perry is lagging in the polls, and is working hard to recapture the fervor of his August entry into the race.

Heading into today’s (Thursday’s) debate in Sioux City, Perry is expected to highlight his service. He is looking to use his record to tap into veterans, older voters who helped Sen. John McCain win the nomination in 2008. The only other military veteran in the GOP race is Texas Rep. Ron Paul.