Fees for some of the Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Programs will increase this year, while others remain unchanged. The Parks and Rec Board Monday voted to raise the price of sponsorships for men’s Slow Pitch Softball teams to $300 from $150. Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring says the fee is more in line with what other communities of similar size are charging, and it helps covers the cost of a 2-by 3-foot weather-resistant sponsor banner (which will be hung on the outfield fence), new fencing, and new surfacing on the in-fields. The cost of the banner is a one-time fee. The fee also pays for the service of an umpire for all three games each night. The season runs June 1^st to August 12th, three nights per week, with three games per night.

The fee for joining the Swim Team has been bumped up from $20- to $25 for each participant. The team will be in action from June 1^st to July 15^th.Herring says the swimming pool at Sunnyside Park will be open May 23rd through September 3rd. Admission fees are unchanged from last year, at $4 for those 3-years of age and older. Children under the age of two will be admitted for free. Season passes are also unchanged from last year, and will run $105 for a family, and $70 for a single adult season pass. A family pass covers immediate family members residing at the same street address, and includes: children of divorced parents who have joint custody; step- and foster-children. Herring says each person will receive a laminated picture ID which must be presented on the day they plan to swim. Daycare providers will be offered a punch card for $4 per day. A 15 punch card will cost $50, which is a discount of $10. In the event of inclement weather, the passes will be honored at the Nishna Valley YMCA for use at their indoor pool.

In other business, Roger Herring said Monday, that the skate park will be open for use in about six-weeks. He says skate board enthusiasts will be able to enjoy a refurbished half-pipe. The ends of the half-pipe will be closed-off and vented to prevent debris and moisture from damaging the equipment. Herring says if enough money is left over, a couple of other, smaller pieces of skate board equipment, such as a ramp, a wedge and a “kicker” might be purchased, to add to the attraction.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Schildberg Quarry Recreational Trails Mileage Chart

The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors, Monday, approved various Summer Recreation Programs, the opening of Sunnyside Park facilities and streets, and the City Park restrooms, and Sunday concerts at the Sunnyside Bandshell. Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring said visitors to the Schildberg Quarry Recreation Area will soon notice over a dozen new benches along the trails surrounding the Schildberg Lakes. The benches were first proposed by Atlantic Eagle Scout Casey Ihnen during the board’s meeting last month. At the time, Ihnen said he would try to get sponsors for the 13 benches, who would pay $120 each. Herring said it didn’t take long for the Ihnen to meet his goal. All of the benches were sold in a matter of 48-hours. In addition, two manufactured benches which were provided by the family of Joe O’Brien, have been installed and are getting lots of use.

Herring said also, color-coded mileage charts will be published in the local paper, and eventually on the City’s Parks and Recreation website, and at the Schildberg area, indicating (depending on which end you start at and which loop you use), how far you will have walked on the trail. He said an east- and west-legend has been put together. The (1:53) green trail is one-mile, the blue trail is 1.2-miles, and the red trail is 1.5-miles, from start-to-finish. He says mileage was computed by Snyder and Associates Engineers, using G.P.S (Global Positioning System), so they are very accurate.

Herring said also, registration for the Summer Recreation Program will begin in May. Some changes this year include the running of a SWITA bus to transport kids for the Playground Program.  Children will be picked up from three different locations in Atlantic to the Washington School, between 9:15- and 9:30-a.m. At 5^th and Mulberry, Cedar Park, and at the entrance to Sunnyside Park, located at 10^th and Mahogany. Parents will need to pick their children up when the program ends at 11:30-a.m. each day, at the Nishna Valley YMCA. The Parks Board voted to discontinue the Special Needs Playground Program this year, after consulting with the City Attorney, who cited liability and cost in his recommendation to end the program.

One person suffered possible neck injuries during a collision between a pickup and a car Monday afternoon, in Atlantic. According to Police, 80-year old Lester Duede, of Cumberland, was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, after the car he was driving was rear-ended by a pickup, on southwest 7^th Street.

Duede was waiting to make a turn into a business driveway near 14th Street from southbound 7^th Street just after 2-p.m., when his 2007 Chevy Cobalt was hit from behind by a 1997 Ford pickup, driven by 25-year old Dustin Applegate, of Oakland. The collision caused the car to spin around before it came to rest facing northbound.

Authorities say Applegate was cited for failure to maintain control. Damage from the crash amounted to approximately $6,000.

Authorities in Red Oak say a 15-year old was arrested early this (Tuesday) morning, on an assault charge. According to Red Oak Police, Dallas Brady Meyers, of Red Oak, was taken into custody just before 1-a.m. at a residence on Reed Street. Meyers was charged with Simple Assault, and released to the custody of his parent.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

Three people were arrested in Atlantic, Saturday. According to the Atlantic Police Department, 23-year old Cara Larsen, of Atlantic, was arrested for 4th Degree Criminal Mischief. 20-year old Jesse Luft, of Villisca, was arrested on a charge of Simple Assault. And, 27-year old Devin Pritchett, of Atlantic, was arrested for 2nd offense OWI. All three suspects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

The top ten restaurants will be visited by a secret panel of judges who will evaluate the nominee’s hamburgers by proper temperature for serving a ground beef patty, appearance and taste. The winner will be named the first week of May as a kick-off to May Beef Month, and will receive a plaque and a media prize package that will include an on-site live radio announcement. All Top Ten restaurants will receive a certificate. To continue to learn more about the contest, you can visit www.iabeef.org or “friend” the Iowa Beef Council Facebook© page. You’ll also find a map showing the locations of the Top Ten restaurants. 

Last year, 3,500 nominations for the Best Burger title were received. The winner was the Rusty Duck in Dexter, while Sac County Cattle Company of Sac City won the inaugural event in 2010.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office says two people were arrested Friday in connection with the thefts of tractor weights and batteries from numerous pieces of farm equipment in Fremont County, and northwest Missouri. 23-year old Joshua Robert Dasovich and his future mother-in-law, 42-year old Rhonda Kay Corbett, both of Council Bluffs, faces charges of Conspiracy, Trespassing and Possession of Burglary tools. Each faces 15 counts of burglary, 18-counts of theft, and eight counts of Criminal Mischief.

Sheriff’s officials say Dasovich and Corbett allegedly broke into at least 14 different, empty farmhouses and machine sheds. The pair allegedly stole copper from air conditioning units and furnaces, propane tanks and other items. Some of the stolen tractor weights were recovered at Alters Salvage, in Council Bluffs.

The couple was being held in the Fremont County Jail on $5,000 cash bond, each. The Atchinson County Missouri Sheriff’s Office also has requested a “hold” on both suspects.

The Iowa Department of Transportation reports  asphalt resurfacing and bridge construction work on northbound Interstate 29 north of Iowa Highway 2 will require shifting traffic to one lane in each direction in the southbound lanes at two locations beginning Monday, April 2n, weather permitting. The asphalt resurfacing project is between Iowa Highway 2 (exit 10) and Fremont County Road J-34 (exit 15) near Percival. The bridge construction work is between Fremont County Road J-24 (exit 20) near Thurman and Fremont County Road J-10 (exit 24) near Bartlett. A 16-foot width lane restriction will be in place. The $6.9 million dollar resurfacing and $1.2 million dollar bridge projects are expected to be completed by late summer.