FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) — The Sheaffer Pen Museum has closed its doors for good after seven years in southeastern Iowa. The museum announced the closure May 14. The institution lacked financial stability, the museum’s board of directors said in a statement.

“The museum, as a nonprofit organization, cannot afford to care for the archives and continue the exciting programs to display them as it has in the past,” the release said.
While several options to save the museum were considered, none were found to be successful, the statement said.

The Sheaffer Pen Plant in Fort Madison closed in 2008. The museum then opened in 2011 and displayed collections of pens, machines and other displays form the plant.
Discussions about closing the museum began in January, according to Andy Andrews, president of the North Lee County Historical Society, which loaned the museum a $32,000 pen collection.

Pen collector Bill Sexauer donated his collection of 160 Targa Pens to the historical society in December. “The reason it belongs to us is the guy who donated it wanted to deduct it from his income tax and to do that it had to stay with the owner for at least three years and it is owned by us,” Andrews said.

Andrews said he believes financial problems began in 2012 when Cross Pen Co. purchased the Shaeffer pen line. The museum didn’t receive funding after the ownership change, Andrews said.

The board is in negotiations with Cross Pen to determine where the pen collections will go.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A meeting seeking public opinion on work being done to revitalize the riverfront in Council Bluffs will be held later this month. The public meeting is set for May 30 at the Council Bluffs Community Hall. The project is part of a larger plan to improve the riverfront on both the Council Bluffs side of the Missouri River and in Omaha, Nebraska.

For those unable to attend the Council Bluffs meeting, all information will be available following the meeting at www.RiverfrontRevitalization.com .

A national team of experts is working to develop a master plan for areas in and around River’s Edge from north of Hanafan Park to the Union Pacific Bridge in Council Bluffs, as well as Gene Leahy Mall, Heartland of America Park and Lewis and Clark Landing in Omaha.

The Atlantic Kiwanis, Saturday afternoon, paid tribute to those in Law Enforcement during an event in the Atlantic City Park, near the Avenue of Flags. Kiwanis member Randy Maas said they were there to present members of the Atlantic Police and Iowa State Patrol to Officers and a Trooper who attended. A representative of the Cass County Sheriff’s Office was unable to attend.

(Left to right) Kiwanis members Dave Hancock, Randy Maas, Steve Green, ISP Trooper Kyle Mass, A-PD Sgts. Pieken and Walton. (Ric Hanson/photo)

Steve Green, whose father was with the Iowa Highway Patrol (later called the Iowa State Patrol), said “We, the Kiwanis of Atlantic, want to thank you for your service, and your sacrifice to keep us safe and allow us to leave our homes and talk a walk anytime we want. That’s so important for us here in Atlantic, Cass County and Southwest Iowa. It’s all due to what you guys do.”

He said also “We would like to thank your families for the long hours you work, and also for the interruption of family life, when things happen.” Green said he grew up with a father who was a State Trooper. He said further, “On this Armed Forces Day, we want to honor the veterans and anybody who has ever protected us.” The Kiwanis’ Dave Hancock presented Trooper Kyle Mass with a “Thin Blue Line” flag.

Kiwanis’ Dave Hancock presents the Thin Blue Line flag to Trooper Mass.

The flag, which has a blue line over a black background symbolizes the line of law enforcement [the blue line] against those who would do us harm [the bad guys of society]. Last year the Kiwanis gave a flag to the Atlantic Police Department.

Steve Green also presented Trooper Mass and Atlantic Police Officers with Certificates of Appreciation, for the Officers and Reserves. Police Sergeants Dustin Pieken Spencer Walton were on-hand to receive the certificates.

w/ Chris Parks

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The Atlantic Police Department released details on a number of recent arrests on Friday.

Arrested Thursday, May 17th was 21-year-old Justin Kesler of Allen, KS for Operating While Intoxicated. He was taken to the Cass County Jail and booked in. Also arrested Thursday was 35-year-old Daniel Munoz-Greigo of Denison for Domestic Abuse Assault. He was taken into custody and booked into the Cass County Jail.

On Tuesday, May 17th Atlantic Police arrested 58-year-old Timothy Johnson of Atlantic on a Cass County Warrant for Violation of Probation. He was taken into the Cass County Jail and booked in.

On May, 7th Atlantic Police arrested 53-year-old James Cecetka of Atlantic for Domestic Abuse Assault. He was taken to the Cass County Jail and booked in.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest on Friday of 37-year-old Rose Amber Lopez of Red Oak on an outstanding Pottawattamie County Warrant for Failure to Appear. Lopez was arrested at 11:54am in the 2300 block of Eastern Avenue. Lopez was transported to Pottawattamie County to be taken into custody by the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department. She was being held on $5,000 cash or surety bond.

A man authorities are looking for after he fell into the water at Lake Panorama Thursday evening, has been identified as 22-year old Kenton Greaves, of Brooklyn, New York. Multiple sources say Grand View University in Des Moines sent out a letter on Friday, indicating Greaves had died after he disappeared while tubing on the lake with a group of friends.

Greaves had just completed his junior year at GVU, where he was a member of the wrestling team, and a Senior Criminal Justice major. Crisis counselors were being made available to Grand View University students and staff to help them deal with the loss.

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office and dive teams are working to recover Greaves’ body.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former Des Moines school district art teacher has been arrested and charged with having a sexual relationship with a female student. Television station KCCI reports that 50-year-old Jason Soliday was arrested Friday and booked into the Polk County Jail on a charge of sexual exploitation by a school employee.

Soliday remained jailed Friday afternoon on $5,000 cash-only bail. A spokeswoman for the district says Soliday resigned Thursday to avoid being fired.

World champion and #4-ranked, Geoffrey Esper will compete with other top competitive eaters at the second annual Tivoli Fest World Æbleskiver-Eating Championship sanctioned by Major League Eating on Saturday, May 26th at 2 P.M at Tivoli Fest, held in downtown Elk Horn, Iowa — the largest rural Danish Settlement in the United States.

Last year, Matt Stonie  ate an incredible 87 Æbleskiver in eight minutes, setting a world record. Some believe that  Gideon Oji could break this record this year, and possibly approach the 90 mark.

Æbleskiver are a type of round pancake cooked in a special stove-top pan with half-spherical molds. The center is soft and fluffy and the crust is crisp and browned. Originating in the country of Denmark, they can be served with powdered sugar, topped or filled with jam or maple syrup or rolled in sugar. Competitive eaters will seek to set a new world record in the æbleskiver discipline.

Other top eating talent will include the #6-ranked Gideon Oji Morrow, GA, the #8-ranked Darron Breeden from Orange, VA, the #40-ranked Matthew Raible from Edwards, IL.

About Tivoli Fest:
Tivoli Fest is the annual Danish American festival in the Danish Village of Elk Horn, Iowa, the largest Danish rural settlement in the USA. It is a celebration of Danish American culture, traditions and foods. Tivoli Fest is a wonderful experience which includes a parade, folk dancing, live bands, 5k run, vikings, exhibits, fireworks, beer garden, Scandinavian entertainment, the World Æbleskiver Eating Championship, plus you can enjoy Danish food such as Æbleskiver, Smørrebrød, and Medisterpølse. Be sure to tour the only working Danish Windmill in the United States along with the Museum of Danish America. This unique celebration provides a variety of fun opportunities for the whole family.

About Major League Eating:

Major League Eating (MLE), the world governing body of all stomach-centric sports, conducts more than 80 events annually, including the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest in Coney Island, N.Y. The competitive eating community is made up of more than 8,000 veteran and rookie gurgitators who travel the nation in search of top titles and the glory that they provide.For more information, visit www.IFOCE.com, www.facebook.com/eatfast or twitter @eatingcontest.

(DES MOINES) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered all state flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff effective immediately until sunset on Tuesday, May 22, 2018, to honor the murdered and injured in Friday’s tragedy at Santa Fe High School in Texas. The governor’s order is issued in conjunction with President Donald Trump’s order to lower all United States flags to half-staff for the same length of time.

Flags will be at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex. Flags will also be half-staff on all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state.

Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.