The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Department Board of Directors will meet Monday evening at 5:15 in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. During their session the Board is expected to formally approve the hiring of Seth Staashelm as Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation. He’s expected to begin the position on Feb. 2nd with a salary of $38,000 plus benefits. He’ll handle the Operations side of the Parks & Rec Department, while current Director Roger Herring handles more of the Administrative matters, such as writing grant applications.

The Parks Board will also act on approving office space and related matters for Staashelm, and on the purchase of a cell phone signal booster. In other business, the Board will: review the site plan prepared by Snyder and Associates, for replacement of the Kiddie Korral at Sunnyside Park; receive an update on the Bull Creek reconstruction and Buck Creek Dog Park projects; and an update on the Urban Forestry grant.

In his report to the Board, Director Roger Herring is expected to report that while the gates to Sunnyside park are closed for the season, the park is still open to anyone wanting to use it for family gatherings and recreational activities. He’ll also talk about new street signs that have been ordered for Sunnyside Park, as well as department safety and maintenance equipment matters

Authorities in central Iowa are searching for man wanted for Murder in the 1st degree and Going Armed with Intent. Marshalltown Police say 19-year old Jose Enrique Morales, of Marshalltown, is alleged have shot 20-year old Dedrikk Fisher at a residence in the 1200 block of West Church Street, in Marshalltown. The incident happened at around 11:10-p.m., Saturday.

Jose Morales

Fisher was rushed to a local hospital where he died shortly after midnight Sunday. Marshalltown Police Chief Mike Tupper says an arrest warrant has been issued for Morales, who should be considered armed and dangerous.

Tupper says investigators believe the two men knew each other, but they’re not sure if the victim lived at the house where the shooting took place. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is helping with the case.

Police in Council Bluffs are investigating a robbery that took place at around 7:43-a.m., Sunday. Officials say a white male entered Cal’s Food & Gas Mart at 429 Veterans Memorial Highway, and pointed a handgun at the clerk demanding money from the cash register. After receiving an undetermined amount of money from the register the suspect exited the business and fled the area in an unknown direction.

MANNING, Iowa (AP) — Veterinarians are working hard to monitor a virus that killed millions of baby pigs in the United States last year. The Sioux City Journal reports Iowa veterinarian Michelle Sprague is president of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians.

Sprague says keeping track of the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus means more paperwork for veterinarians and more testing. The number of cases of the virus is down this winter, but it is still early.

Sprague says the industry is better prepared to respond to the virus than it was when the disease first showed up.

Police in Red Oak report the arrest early this (Sunday) morning of a Red Oak man on an assault charge. 47-year old Raymond Lee Briggs was taken into custody at around 12:30-a.m. in the 1600 block of east Summit Street, and charged with Simple Assault. His bond was set at $300.

Saturday night, 32-year old Ronald Glenn Ballinger the 3rd, of Glenwood, was taken into custody in Red Oak, on a charge of Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree. He was arrested at around 9:20-p.m. in the 700 block of east Maple Street. Bond was set at $2,000.

And 35-year old Joseph Earl Smith, of rural Red Oak, was arrested Saturday afternoon on a charge of Driving While Barred, an aggravated misdemeanor. A Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputy saw Smith traveling south on Highway 71 just after 3-p.m., and knew the man was prohibited from driving. Smith was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $2,000 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The afterglow of Gov. Terry Branstad’s sixth inauguration is still hanging in the air, but Iowa Republicans are already speculating about the political future for Branstad’s faithful Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds. Reynolds, serving her second term as Branstad’s second-in-command, is widely viewed as a likely candidate for governor in 2018, if Branstad steps aside. She’s keeping quiet about her ambitions, but her political mentor is showing no such reticence.

Branstad would not say if he would run again, but he said it is more likely he would support Reynolds. He says she’s “better prepared to be governor than anyone has ever been.” The 55-year-old Reynolds is one of the most high-profile lieutenant governors since Branstad himself held the role from 1979 to 1983.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Dubuque leaders are considering opening more city parks to sledding, just days after limiting the winter recreation to two of the city’s 50 parks, sparking public criticism. The Telegraph Herald reports that the Dubuque City Council will consider at a Tuesday meeting allowing sledding in Gay, Usha and Valentine parks. The council voted January 5th to restrict sledding in city parks to just Bunker Hill Golf Course and Allison-Henderson Park, leading to a public protest last week.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Pasta-maker Barilla Group has announced plans for a $26.5 million expansion at its Ames production plant to add two new production lines dedicated to making gluten-free pasta. In a news release Friday, Barilla said construction is slated to begin in late March, and production is expected to start by October. The expansion will create 23 new jobs.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democratic lawmakers say they’re ready to introduce bills this session that would increase Iowa’s minimum wage, but the effort faces hurdles because of a divided Legislature and Republican Governor Terry Branstad’s other priorities. Democrats in the Iowa House and Senate want to raise the state’s minimum wage from $7.25 an hour — the federal minimum — to $10.10 an hour.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Democratic Party has elected Andrea McGuire, of Des Moines, as the state party’s new chairwoman. The 58-year-old McGuire is president and CEO of a Des Moines health care company.

A minister in Atlantic has received the Athena Award for serving the community and assisting women in their attainment of professional goals and leadership skills. The 14th Annual Athena Award sponsored locally by Deter Motor Company, in Atlantic, went to the Reverend Lanette Plamback,  during the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce’ annual banquet and awards program held Saturday night at the Cass County Community Center. She received the award from last year’s winner, Pat Markham, former CEO of the Cass County Memorial Hospital.

Rev. Lanette Plambeck, 2014 Athena Award winner.

The Reverend Plambeck started at the 1st United Methodist Church in Atlantic about  5 and one-half years ago, and has since served the community through many programs such as “Celebrate Recovery,” “Soldier Ministry,” ministry at the Heritage House, the Ministerial Alliance and Micronesian community development. She was also described as being a great mentor to women and children in the community. The Athena Award was first presented in 1982 in Lansing, Michigan and has grown to include presentations to more than 6,000 individuals in hundreds of cities across the globe.

Other awards presented during the evening include:

• Outstanding Volunteer – The Atlantic Business and Professional Women’s organization (BPW).
• Ambassadors – Pat McCurdy, Rich Perry, and Dolly Bergmann.
• Ambassador of the Year – Sue Muri.
• Community Betterment – The City of Atlantic Street Department.
• Business of the Year – Brown Shoe Fit.
• Distinguished Service Award – Doctor Keith and Bernice Swanson.

The evening’s dinner was catered by The Downtowner Cafe,’ while the banquet and program was sponsored by the Allen House and The Office Stop.

Police in Red Oak say a resident on east Nuckols Street reported Saturday that sometime on Jan. 14th, a person or persons unknown stole a packaged automotive component from his mailbox. The Turbo 350 Powerglide transmission yoke is valued at slightly more than $46.

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact Red Oak Police at 712-623-6500 or Montgomery County Crimestoppers at 1-800-432-1001.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democratic lawmakers say they’re ready to introduce bills this session that would increase Iowa’s minimum wage, but the effort faces hurdles because of a divided Legislature and Republican Gov. Terry Branstad’s other priorities. Democrats in the House and Senate want to raise the state’s minimum wage from $7.25 an hour — the federal minimum — to $10.10 an hour. Some feel there’s national momentum on their side this year.

Twenty-nine states plus the District of Columbia have a minimum wage higher than the federal standard. Several increases took effect on Jan. 1. But Branstad has been vocal about other priorities, including anti-bully legislation and expanded broadband Internet in Iowa. Leadership in the Republican-controlled House has indicated more interest in funding job creation and worker training programs.