Officials with the Cass County Democratic Party have announced Senator Tom Harkin and Congressman Leonard Boswell will be campaigning in Atlantic next Tuesday, October 30th. Harkin and Boswell will meet with voters at the Cass County Democratic Party Election Headquarters at 511 Chestnut in Atlantic, starting at 10 AM.The public is invited to attend the program. Refreshments will be provided.

Congressman Boswell is running for re-election in Iowa’s new Third Congressional District which includes Cass County. Currently the Congressman who represents the Third District, Boswell is running against Tom Latham, who now represents Iowa’s Fourth District. Iowa lost a Congressional seat in the 2010 redistricting, setting up the campaign between the two incumbents. Latham is a nine-term Congressman while Boswell has been elected to eight terms. The race is one of the most closely watched Congressional races in the country.

Officials with PRIDE (the Progressive Rural Iowa Development Enterprise) based in Atlantic, have announced that two legislative coffees have been scheduled to take place in Cass County, in preparation for the 2013 session of the Iowa Legislature. PRIDE President Kenner Baxter says “These coffees are opportunities to have face-to-face dialogue with our Iowa legislators.” It’s the first time the coffees have been held in the fall.

Baxter says reasons for the early coffees include redistricting, which has added a new legislator to our area in Senator Hubert Houser from Carson, and because they “Want to meet before the session begins to express what’s important to our citizens ahead of convening in January to be proactive.” She says  “Our legislators always appreciate coming to Cass County because we have such terrific attendance. People here really want to have input into our state government, so they participate when the legislators make time to come to our towns.”

Legislative coffees will also be held while the legislature is in session. The schedule for those events will be released in December or January. The first Fall coffee is set for Saturday, October 27th, at the Cass County Museum in Griswold, beginning at 10 a.m. Baxter says Representative Jack Drake and Senator Hubert Houser have committed to attending. Representative Clel Baudler has been invited. The second coffee will be on Saturday, November 17th, at the Marne Community Center, beginning at 10 a.m. Senator Houser has tentatively agreed to be present. Representatives Drake and Baudler are invited, but as both have contested races, their presence depends on the outcome of the November 6th election.

P.R.I.D.E. is the economic development organization that works on behalf of the cities of Cumberland, Griswold, Lewis, and Marne for Cass County development, plus numerous individual members and businesses in Southwest Iowa. For additional information, or to join P.R.I.D.E., please contact Kenner Baxter, President, at kennermc@metc.net, or Clarke Gerlock, vice-president, at 712-774-5476.

Authorities in Fremont County say an arrest has been made in connection with two recent burglaries, and additional arrests are expected. The Sheriff’s Department said Tuesday, 21-year old Michael Lee Glenn, of Shenandoah was arrested Monday following the execution of search warrants at 306 West Washington Street in Randolph, and 1114 West Sheridan, in Shenandoah.

Officials say the search warrants and arrest stems from an investigation into burglaries to a residence and shop belonging to Raymond Welchans, and another burglary at a machinery building located at the Brad MacDonald residence, both in the Locust Grove Township.

(12:40-p.m. News)

No injuries were reported following a two-vehicle accident on Interstate 80 in Cass County this (Tuesday) morning. According to dispatch reports, a car and a semi collided at around 11:23-a.m. on I-80 eastbound, about three-miles west of the exit to Highway 148 (the 67-mile marker). Additional details are currently not available.

An Atlantic man was arrested Monday on a warrant charging him with 2nd degree theft. The Atlantic P-D says 33-year old Ryan Richards was booked in to the Cass County Jail. Officials say the charge stems from the discovery of several shopping carts and other items, allegedly stolen from the Atlantic Wal-Mart, which were found in a storage locker that had belonged to Richards.

It’s that time of year when the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce puts out a call for their “Angels of Christmas” nominations.

For the past several years the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce and Stifel Nicolaus have sponsored the Angels of Christmas award, a surprise honor bestowed upon two community members who symbolize the true meaning of the holidays. The “angels” are nominated via written letters of recommendation to the Chamber. The presentation happens in front of a large audience at the end of the annual free holiday concert at the First United Methodist Church on the second Saturday in December.

Nominations are due November 2nd. They should detail the individual or couples’ contributions and qualities and be received at the Chamber during the first week of November. The mailing address is 102 Chestnut Street, Atlantic, IA 50022 or chamber@atlanticiowa.com.

A free holiday concert, sponsored by Aunt B’s, Bonnesen’s, J&R Tax Service, and Unique Salon & Spa and coordinated by Guy Somers, is scheduled to take place December 8th, beginning at 7 p.m.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office says a Sidney woman was arrested Saturday on drug charges. 21-year old Hope Marie Kalkas was officially charged on Monday, with Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Pills, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and for being a passenger in possession of an open container.

The Sheriff’s Office said also, 37-year old Amy Pearl Hunter, of Glenwood, was arrested Saturday on a charge of Theft in the 5th degree, and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. The offenses allegedly occurred on September 26th.

Also on Saturday, 62-year old Danny Richard Miller, of Sidney, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, open container, and driving on the wrong side of a highway, and, 38-year old Kevin Dewitte Booher, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for a violation of his probation.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday, will receive the County Library Association’s Annual report and annual funding request. Last December, the association requested that the current county funding ($60,600) be maintained for FY2013. The Board approved the request during their meeting in March. No action is expected on the request at this time.

The Board will also hear a report from the County Veterans Affairs Commission, and, may possibly act on appointing a member to the Airport Zoning Board of Adjustment for a 5-year term. Their meeting begins in the Supervisors Board Room at the Courthouse in Atlantic, beginning at 9-a.m.

w/ Ric Hanson

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