Des Moines – Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz is reminding Iowa voters that early voting for the November 4, 2014 general election starts on Thursday, September 25. Schultz says “I hope all eligible Iowans take full advantage of their right to vote by registering to vote and casting a ballot either early in-person, by mail or at the polls on Election Day. Every vote counts and it’s important that Iowans participate to make sure their voices are heard.”

To vote in Iowa, eligible voters can:

· Cast a ballot early by filling out an absentee ballot in-person at their county auditor’s office or at possible satellite locations as designated by the county auditor starting Thursday, September 25 through Monday, November 3.

· Request an absentee ballot by mail.

· Vote at their designated precinct polling place on Election Day.

Registering to vote is easy. Simply download the State of Iowa Official Voter Registration Form from www.sos.iowa.gov and return it to your local county auditor’s office or visit your local county auditor’s office to fill out a paper copy.

Absentee ballots received by the county auditor before 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 4 are eligible for counting. Absentee ballots that are returned by mail and received after the polls close must have a postmark of Monday, November 3 or earlier to be considered for counting.

The Iowa Secretary of State’s office offers a comprehensive app called Iowa SOS available for both Android and Apple devices to ensure voting resources are at voter’s fingertips. From the Iowa SOS app, Iowans can do the following:

Check voter registration information
Fill out the State of Iowa Official Voter Registration Form
Find the correct polling place for the general election
Request an absentee ballot
Track an absentee ballot
Set email or calendar reminders for upcoming elections
Report voter fraud
Contact local County Auditors
Contact the Iowa Secretary of State’s office

Members of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce’ Ambassadors visited The Tinder Box this week. Owner Judy Nelson moved her business to Atlantic 15 years ago. She says she has been very pleased with the move.

Pictured are: Tara Jennerjohn, Nedra Perry, Dr. Haley Kickland, Sally Rosales, Laurel Butler, Becky Power, Judy Nelson, JoAnn Ruynan, Saran Robinson, Sue Muri, Jolene Roecker, Lana Westphalan, Pat McCurdy, Jane Kay, Dolly Bergmann, Julie May, Dr. Keith Leonard, Kerry Jepsen, Dr. Jim Kickland, Chrystal Christensen, Rick Perry, Melanie Petty, Russ Joyce, Ina Ohnmeiss, Sara Nelson, Don Johnson, Gerald Brink, Bill Saluk, Carole Schuler, Doug Harris, Arlene Drennan, Dave Schwab and Lucas Mosier.

The Chamber says if you need a baby gift, or are looking for that unique wedding gift, The Tinder Box is the place to check.

A 32-year-old woman and a 14-year-old have been arrested on arson charges in Sioux City. Daisy Castillo and Alejandro Lapointe are suspected of setting five house fires over 2 1/2 weeks in August and September, police said. Castillo faces 2nd degree arson and 3rd degree burgalry charges. Lapointe was charged with 1st degree arson. No injuries have been reported.

Castillo remained in custody on Thursday, according to Woodbury County Jail records. More arrests were expected in the case, according to Sioux City fire marshal Mark Aesoph.

Dozens of citizens angry over the firing of the Mapleton Police Chief and the hiring of his replacement voiced their opinions on the matter during a meeting of the city council, Wednesday night. Sioux City television station KTIV reports the controversy about the firing of former chief John Holton in June has continued to upset the community. The citizens say it was unfair to remove him from the position he’s held since 1996. Mayor Krohn said he wished he could comment on the issue, but can’t, because he and the council have a legal obligation to not discuss the police staffing matter outside of meetings.

Conversations during the meeting sometimes escalated to screams as community members claimed there wasn’t enough coverage of the school zone on Highway 141. Citizens also said interim police chief Kirk Kinnaman and part time officer Jared Clausen were driving too quickly, andChief Kinnaman isn’t involved enough because he lives out of town.

The council voted to put an advertisement out for the police chief position, but some folks say they’re prepared to take action, should Holton not be reinstated. The council will start to accept applications for the new police chief position immediately, and hope to have a decision made by their October meeting.

Authorities in Adams County are on the scene of a fatal accident this morning. There are no details currently available. More information will be released later this morning or during the day, today.

With Ric Hanson.

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A Creston man was arrested this week on a warrant out of Madison County. The Creston Police Dept. reports 31-year old Joseph Baze-Gaiser was taken into custody at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on a warrant for Burglary in the 3rd degree. Baze-Gaiser was subsequently transported to the Madison County Jail.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Sioux City man has been charged with attempted murder, accused of shooting his uncle as the man lay in bed. The charges of burglary and attempted murder were read to 40-year old Eric Riley on Wednesday, in a Woodbury County courtroom. Riley remained in custody today (Thursday), according to Woodbury County Jail records.

Authorities said Riley shot his uncle, 66-year old Ben Steffe, twice in the chest in Steffe’s home on Tuesday. Steffe’s wife, who lay next to Steffe, wasn’t injured. Steffe was taken to Mercy Medical Center.

Sioux City police Lt. Mark Kirkpatrick said Riley returned to Steffe’s home while officers were at the scene and was taken in for questioning. He was arrested late Tuesday afternoon.

The latest area news with KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Mills County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday, released details concerning a single-vehicle, personal injury  accident that took place on Aug. 30th. Officials say Dustin Swagel, of Red Oak, was driving a 1995 Honda motorcycle on Jamison Road at around 5:30-p.m., and had attempted to pass another motorcycle.

Swagel told authorities his cycle began to drift across the road and he was unable to correct its course. The cycle went into a ditch on the south side of the road and came to rest in a pool of water. Swagel’s wife and passenger on the cycle, Tanya Swagel, was injured and transported to the Montgomery County Hospital in Red Oak, by Red Oak Ambulance.