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AtlanticFest To Be Held Saturday, August 10th.

News

June 4th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce report AtlanticFest, presented by First Whitney Bank & Trust, will be held Saturday, August 10th rain or shine. AtlanticFest is an annual festival that serves as a fundraiser for the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce.

Bailey Smith, Executive Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, says “AtlanticFest is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Chamber. Our sponsors help cover a lot of the costs of the event, allowing us to raise funds through registration fees and pop stand sales. We use the funds from AtlanticFest to continue to grow community events while also supporting business-based programs. We love this partnership with First Whitney Bank and the experience AtlanticFest offers the community. It also gives us the chance to support local businesses and civic organizations.”

Smith says downtown Atlantic will be filled with fun activities for the whole family to enjoy! Come early and start your day with a pancake breakfast or enjoy a 5K run/2K walk in the Annual Road Race with chip timing. There will be crafters from all over the Southwest Iowa area to browse through, as well as some of the best food vendors around that offer a wide variety of menu choices. Kids can enjoy fun bounce houses and games throughout City Park.

The 26th Annual Car Show and 10th Annual Motorcycle Show will be taking place once again this year. Also returning is the bags tournament that will be held in City Park. And with free entertainment throughout the day, the activities are endless.

AtlanticFest 2023

Preregistration for the Car Show, Motorcycle Show, Road Race, and Bags Tournament is open now, with day-of registration accepted. Registration to be a craft or food vendor is also being accepted now through August 5th. To register for any activity, visit www.atlanticiowa.com, email chamber@atlanticiowa.com or call the Chamber office at 712-243-3017.

Bailey Smith thanks these AtlanticFest sponsors for their support: First Whitney Bank & Trust, A.M. Cohron & Son, Gregg Young of Atlantic, Atlantic Municipal Utilities, Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Roland Funeral Home, Armour Insurance, Brocker Karns & Karns, Nishna Valley Family YMCA, Brown’s Shoe Fit, Salute Gymnastics, Camblin Plumbing & Heating, McAtee Tire, Rush CPA & Associates, Rolling Hills Bank & Trust, Atlantic Home Reality, The Downtowner, and Wiota Steakhouse.

Cass County Mobile Food Pantry Distribution Set for June 12th

News

June 4th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County’s next mobile food pantry distribution will be held on June 12, 2024. Atlantic’s Mobile Food Pantry distribution will be at the Cass County Fairgrounds. Massena’s Mobile Food Pantry will be on the East Side of Massena’s City Park. The mobile pantries are hosted by community partners across Cass County.
A mobile pantry is a traveling food pantry that delivers food directly to families in need for a one-day distribution. People from surrounding towns and communities are welcome. Mobile food pantries are available free of charge. Anyone in need is welcome, and no documentation is required. Each car can take food for up to two households at a time. For any additional information or questions please contact Grace McAfee, Community Wellness Coordinator, at (712) 250-8170 or by email at mcage@casshealth.org.
Additional mobile food pantries have been scheduled for Atlantic, Anita, Griswold, and Massena. (See below for details)
 
Atlantic 2024 Mobile Food Pantries
Where: Cass County Fairgrounds (1000 Fair Ave. Atlantic, IA 50022)
2024 Dates: June 12, July 10, September 11, October 9
Time: 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Anita 2024 Mobile Food Pantries
Where: Anita Food Pantry (208 Chestnut St. Anita, IA 50020)
2024 Dates: August 14, October 16
Time: 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Griswold 2024 Mobile Food Pantries
Where: Central Church of Christ (51 Harrison St. Griswold, IA 51535)
2024 Dates: November 2
Time:  10:00 am – 11:30 am
Massena 2024 Mobile Food Pantries
Where: East Side of Massena’s City Park (500 5th St, Massena, IA 50853)
Dates: June 12, July 10,  September 11, October 9
Time: 4:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Mobile pantry dates, times, and locations are subject to change. For the latest information on mobile pantries in the county, visit https://foodbankheartland.org/food-resources/find-food/. For information on local food, farmers markets, and food access, follow the Cass County Local Food Policy Council’s Facebook page @CassCountyLocalFood.

Report: lower rate reduces Iowa income taxes by $1.85 billion over decade

News

June 4th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – An analysis from a think tank called the Common Sense Institute concludes the latest round of state income tax cuts may create up to 6800 new jobs in Iowa next year.

Ben Murrey, the group’s director of research, said when you pull one policy lever, there are impacts in other areas of the economy. “Number one is when you reduce the individual income tax rate, it’s a boost in consumer spending,” Murrey said.

Business owners who’re paying less in personal income taxes may choose to hire more employees, Murrey said. “That’s how a policy like this ultimately can benefit people who don’t even get the direct benefit of the tax cut,” he said. “They end up getting some of those indirect economic benefits.”

Murrey’s report concludes Iowans will pay $1.85 billion less in state income taxes over the next decade an in 2025 an Iowa household with an annual income of $75,000 will get a $410 state income tax cut.

Greenfield hospital will remain closed for at least 90 days

News

June 4th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – It’s going to be at least three months before the tornado-damaged hospital in Greenfield is back open. The administrators of the Adair County Health System released an update that says the building itself did not take a direct hit and is structurally sound, but the entire roof was blown off in the May 21st tornado, and an assessment showed lots of internal damage. The update says their construction group tells them they will not be able to use the building for at least 90 days.

Hospital administrators say they are working on finding locations for all the services that they can provide, while also trying to narrow down a possible reopening date. The hospital has a rural health clinic available at the Nodaway Valley Elementary School for primary care services, and a walk-in clinic at the elementary school, and this is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. The Stuart Clinic is also available and currently operating with normal hours.

Services Closed Temporarily: Cardiopulmonary Rehab;  Rock Valley – Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy & Speech Therapy; Outpatient Clinics; Specialty Clinics;Senior Life Solutions; Radiology Services; Med-Surg Inpatient Services; Emergency Department; Surgery Department.

Services Open: Walk-In Rural Health Clinic Located at the Nodaway Valley Elementary School Open Monday-Sunday from 8:00AM-8:00PM.; Stuart Clinic Tuesday-Friday 8:00AM-4:30PM ; Lab Available Monday-Sunday through the clinics; Public Health Working remotely by phone 641-743-6173;  EMS Operating 24/7 – You will be transferred to another Emergency Department as we cannot treat emergencies 911; Wound Care Temporarily at Madison County Hospital.

Grassley delays signing GOP letter to oppose Biden funding, nominees

News

June 4th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst joined a group of conservative colleagues in vowing to retaliate against the Biden administration for last week’s guilty verdict in former President Trump’s trial.

At least 11 Republican senators have signed a letter so far, promising to do things like oppose President Biden’s political and judicial appointees, and to oppose administration requests for funding increases for anything not directly related to security and public safety.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley was asked Tuesday if he’d be signing the letter, too.

Grassley says, “I have to say that not at this point, but what you said the letter said, I don’t find too much disagreement with.”

The letter was written by Senator Mike Lee of Utah and says: “The White House has made a mockery of the rule of law and fundamentally altered our politics in un-American ways.”

Grassley says he needs to carefully review the letter before climbing on board.

“I’m a strong one, as you know, not to use the appropriations process — not getting done on time — as an excuse for shutting down the government, or letting the government shut down,” Grassley says, “and I want to know what the authors of the letter think of that point of view.”

The letter was also signed by senators including: Tim Scott, Marco Rubio, Roger Marshall and Josh Hawley, saying “…we are unwilling to aid and abet this White House in its project to tear this country apart.”

HAWKEYES SHINE IN NCAA ACADEMIC PROGRESS RATE REPORT

Sports

June 4th, 2024 by admin

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate (APR) report for 2022-2023 revealed that – for the 13th consecutive year – all of the University of Iowa’s 22 sports programs were well above the 930 threshold that signals a red flag with respect to academic progress. The highlights of results for UI’s student-athletes include:

  • Women’s basketball, women’s cross country, men’s golf, women’s golf, gymnastics, swimming & diving, tennis, and volleyball all scored a perfect single year score of 1,000.

  • No Hawkeye team scored below 972, and eight teams (women’s basketball, women’s cross country, field hockey, women’s golf, gymnastics, swimming and diving, women’s track and field, and volleyball) scored at or above the NCAA Division I average APR score of 984.

  • The Division I single-year APR score for the UI Athletics Department was 987, which scored above the 985 needed to meet the NCAA academic unit benchmark.

Every Division I sports team across the nation calculates its APR each academic year, similar to a report card. Scholarship student-athletes each semester earn one point for remaining eligible and one point for staying in school or graduating. As tracked through the APR, more than 14,000 former college athletes have returned to school to get their degrees since the NCAA created the measurement tool. Each of those students earns back a lost APR point for their team.

Cop and DeTaeye Named CSC Academic All-District

Sports

June 4th, 2024 by admin

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa baseball student-athletes Davis Cop and Benjamin DeTaeye have earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors, the association announced on Tuesday.
Cop made 49 starts for the Hawkeyes. He finished the season with a .327 batting average and was third on the team with 59 RBIs. He hit eight doubles and seven home runs.
DeTaeye made 18 appearances out of the bullpen. He had a 3-0 record and three saves in 23 2/3 innings of work. DeTaeye tallied a 4.94 ERA and struck out 27 batters.
To be eligible for the award, nominees must have a 3.50 GPA and completed one full calendar year at their current institution and is at least a sophomore academically and athletically. Nominees must also be a starter or important reserve to the team and participated in at least 50 percent of the team’s contests.

Montgomery County bridge over the East Nish is now open!

News

June 4th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency today (Tuesday), reported the 250th Street Bridge over the East Nishnabotna River, southwest of Red Oak (between Evergreen Ave. & Highway 48), is now officially open! The bridge was severely damaged during the March 2019 flooding event that impacted a large portion of western Iowa including Montgomery County.

Images via the Montgomery County EMA Facebook page

Officials say, “While it’s been a long journey to get to this point, the bridge and new boat ramp look great!”

Cass County (IA) man arrested on a warrant in Red Oak

News

June 4th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Cass County was arrested on a warrant at around 5:47-a.m. today (Tuesday). Authorities say 42-year-old Justin Michael Strong, of Griswold, was arrested in the 1800 block of Highway 48, on a warrant for Failure to Appear on original charges of Assault/displaying a weapon, Reckless Use of A Firearm, Interference with Official Acts, and for being a Felon in control of a firearm.

Justin Strong was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $10,000 cash-only bond.

Cass County Master Gardeners Host Tour of Local Gardens on June 23

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 4th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Cass County Master Gardener group say they are excited to host walking tours of 4 private gardens in Atlantic, Sunday afternoon, June 23rd. The garden walk will feature four unique garden spaces for participants to explore at their leisure and gain inspiration for their own gardens, while enjoying a variety of garden styles and designs. Gardens will be open for touring between 2-6 PM and may be visited in any order. Highlights from featured gardens included sun and shade gardens, custom garden décor, antique themed garden areas, unique seating areas and paths, pollinator gardens, perennial beds and more! Follow the Cass County Master Gardeners on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CassCoMG for sneak peeks of featured garden spaces leading up to the day of the tour.

The walk is coordinated by the Cass County Master Gardeners, but is open to everyone interested in gaining some gardening inspiration. Tickets for the walk are $10 each, with all proceeds going to support local Master Gardener projects and activities. Tickets are available now for purchase at the Cass County Extension office, and a registration form can also be found on the Cass County Extension website at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass. Tickets should be presented at each location for admission. A map of the tour locations and description of each garden is on each ticket purchased. Additional tickets may be purchased at any of the four locations on the day of the event.

A tour stop on the 2023 Garden Walk

For more information about upcoming Master Gardener activities in Cass County, or to learn about becoming a Master Gardener, visit https://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/master-gardener-program, call the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132, or email Cass County Extension Director and Master Gardener Coordinator Kate Olson at keolson@iastate.edu. In addition, you are invited to follow the Cass County Master Gardeners at their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CassCoMG to keep up with local events and tips for gardening!