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The Atlantic Police Department says no injuries were reported following an accident Saturday evening on Highway 6 (7th Street), at the entrance to the Wal-Mart store. Officials say vehicles driven by Virginia Eilts, of Wiota, and Beverly Lehman, of Adair, were traveling east on Highway 6 at around 6:45-p.m., when Eilts stopped for the traffic light which had just turned yellow. When Lehman failed to stop in-time, her vehicle rear-ended the Eilts vehicle, causing a total of $2,800 damage. No citations were issued.

The Police Department reports also, 21-year old Justin Jacobs, of Atlantic, was arrested Sunday, on a charge of OWI/1st Offense. Jacobs was brought to the Cass County Jail and held pending a court appearance.

Republicans held a final fundraiser early this morning for legislative campaigns before the 2012 session began, as fundraising is forbidden while lawmakers are meeting in Des Moines. Senator Brad Zaun, the Republican “whip” in the Iowa Senate, made a final pitch for money. “There’s a lot of you in this room that have the financial resources. We need the help,” …The Iowa Senate is the battleground, one of the top battlegrounds in the United States this year and that’s good news, but we can’t do it without your help.” Democrats currently control the Iowa Senate by a slim 26-to-24 seat majority. About 180 people attended the early morning fundraiser and about a quarter were Republican legislators. The rest were lobbyists. Iowa Republican Party chairman Matt Strawn told the crowd there were “two ways” to make sure Democrat Mike Gronstal isn’t the top leader in the Iowa Senate next year.

“The best news is there’s two ways to make sure we don’t have a Majority Leader Gronstal in the Senate. One is to make sure we have 26 smiling Republican senators — or more — when we have this breakfast next year, or we can just beat him in his own district,” Strawn said, to laughter and applause. “Either way, we’re going to take care of it.” Gronstal, who is from Council Bluffs, faces a Republican opponent in November. Governor Branstad pledged his support for the effort to win Republican senate races.

Republicans current hold a 60-to-40 seat edge over Democrats in the House. Senate Republican Leader Jerry Behn says Gronstal, the Democratic leader, is a roadblock to Republican proposals from the House.“There were a lot of things in the senate that got stopped and so we jokingly turned his name into a verb,” Behn said. “We referred to bills being ‘Gronstalled.’” Republicans and Democrats in the legislature have held more than a dozen fundraisers since January 3rd — Caucus Night. Democrats held a big fundraiser for legislative campaigns Sunday evening in Des Moines.

(Dar Danielson/Radio Iowa)

Most folks know smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, but the number-two cause is radon. While the E-P-A estimates one in every 15 homes nationwide has elevated radon levels, many parts of Iowa are at much greater risk. Micki Sandquist is spokeswoman for the American Lung Association in Iowa. “Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, radioactive gas that is produced from decay naturally occuring in the soil and it enters homes through their basements,” Sandquist says. “We are encouraging people to test their homes to see if they have radon in their home and if so, to take care of it.” Testing kits are easy to use and usually cost less than 20-dollars. Sandquist says most of the state’s American Lung Association chapters will have them in stock.

Sandquist says, “You keep the kit in the basement or the lowest level of the home and you send the test away and the results come back and let you know the level of radon that is in your home or if there’s no radon in your home.” Homes with high radon levels can usually be fixed with simple and affordable venting techniques.  “It is estimated there are 400 deaths per year in Iowa that are caused by radon-induced lung cancer,” Sandquist says. “It’s about the same number of annual deaths that are seen in Iowa for traffic fatalities.” Governor Branstad is proclaiming this as Radon Action Month for the state as radon levels are highest during the winter months. Learn more by calling 800-383-5992 or visit: www.healthhouse.org

(Pat Powers/Matt Kelley, Radio Iowa)

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Department reports today (Monday) three arrests and one accident took place last week. On Tuesday (Jan. 3rd), 26-year old Jennifer Nicole Lekey, of Shenandoah, was arrested on a Child Support Warrant. Last Wednesday, 35-year old Michelle Dawn Moore, of Hamburg, was arrested for Serious Assault, and on Thursday, 26-year old Kain Tylor Endicott, of Tabor, was arrested for Simple Domestic Assault and 5th Degree Criminal Mischief. The Sheriff’s Office said also, Mallory Jones, of Farragut, was transported to a local hospital after the car she was driving was blown off the road by a strong gust of wind southwest of Imogene. The 2010 Hyundai Elantra was traveling north on 370th Street just north of 130th Street, when a gust caused the car to enter a ditch. The vehicle rolled once and came to rest on its wheels.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports an Atlantic woman was arrested Friday on drug charges. 33-year old Bridget Lea Barnholdt, of Atlantic, was taken into custody on a Cass County warrant for Possession with the Intent to Deliver/Methamphetamine, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana. Barnholdt was being held in the Cass County Jail on $51,000 bond.

Police in Council Bluffs say an Omaha teenager was arrested Saturday night in Council Bluffs, following the  robbery of two pedestrians.  According to Bluffs Police Sgt. Pat Toscano, a 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of first-degree robbery. A second suspect is being sought by police. Toscano said the victims reported being robbed about 7:45 p.m. while walking near 1908 8th Avenue. The victims, who were not identified, said they handed over cash and a cellphone after a suspect showed a handgun.

The suspects fled in a small, red car that officers located about 10 minutes later at a convenience store on West Broadway. Toscano said several people standing near the car “fled the scene” when officers approached. The teen identified as brandishing the gun during the robbery was taken in for questioning and later arrested.

The Masena City Council will meet in a regular session Monday. The meeting, at the Masena City Hall begins at 7-p.m. During the session, the Council will discuss and possibly act on matters pertaining to: an electronic sign; the setting of a budget workshop date and time; City Hall and Centennial Park improvements, and, an agreement with Railroad Management, LLC and the City of Massena. There will also be reports from the City’s Water, Wastewater and Street Departments, MSA Professionals, and continued discussion with regard to nuisance properties and junkyards.

The Audubon City Council will meet Monday evening at the City Hall in Audubon, for a regularly scheduled session. During the meeting, which begins at 7-p.m., the Council will hear from Gail Richardson, with regard to the Library budget. There will also be discussion pertaining to parking in yards.  During their last session in December, Councilman John Wetzel voiced his concerns about cars being parked in yards throughout the city. Wetzel presented several pictures of vehicles being parked in front and back yards at several residents. He asked the council to consider passing some sort of ordinance keeping the vehicles on the streets.

The Council Monday evening, will also hold discussion with regard to Compensation practices. During their last session the Audubon City Council voted 3-2 to give all city employees a three-percent raise. Last year, each City employee received a $400 raise. The two council members who voted against the raise had wanted to wait until they found out what the city’s health insurance costs were going to be. The raise will go into effect July 1, 2012.