BLAIR, Neb. (AP) – A new filing with the Nebraska Department of Labor says about 400 Omaha Public Power District employees involved with the Fort Calhoun nuclear plant will lose their jobs by the end of 2019. District spokeswoman Jodi Baker tells the Omaha World-Herald that the number of affected employees is an estimate. The utility expected to have a more precise figure as it creates a clearer plan for closing the plant (located across the Missouri River from Missouri Valley).

The filing says the layoffs will occur in “several rounds.” The utility notified the first group of 58 employees on Sept. 1 that it would terminate their positions on Oct. 31, a week after the nuclear plant is scheduled to permanently halt operations. The Fort Calhoun nuclear plant is 20 miles north of Omaha. It employed about 700 people at its peak.

Officials with the Atlantic Police Department announced on their social media page today (Friday), Christian Holzapfel was recently sworn-in as the Department’s newest officer. Christian was hired in August to fill the open spot left by Lieutenant Jon Parsons, who retired in July after 25+ years of service.

The A-PD says they look forward to Christian growing with the department and that he looks forward to serving the community.

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones administers the Oath of Honor and Conduct to Christian Holzapfel. (Photo from the A-PD’s Facebook page)

Police in Creston say a resident in the 600 block of Wyoming Avenue reported Thursday, that sometime between Sept. 6th and 8th, someone stole two tires and rims from a trailer parked outside the residence. The loss was estimated at $201.

A reminder today for residents of Atlantic. The Homecoming Parade begins at 2:30-p.m., and will result in the temporary closure of some streets. The parade begins at 10th & Linn Streets and proceeds west on 10th to Chestnut, north on Chestnut to 2nd Street, then east on 2nd to Walnut, and finally, south on Walnut to 6th Street.

Please be cautious as the parade makes its way through town. The Atlantic Trojans football team hosts the Denison-Schleswig Monarchs at the Trojan Bowl with kickoff set for 7:30-p.m., following the Freshman contest.  Both teams come in at 1-1, with this being their first district game.

As we approach Sunday’s 15^th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the U-S, Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says “the scars of 9/11” are still with many Americans today. “America will never forget those who were lost and our prayers are with their loved ones who continue to feel the deepest pain at their absence,” Ernst said, pausing then apologizing as her voice cracked with emotion. “All of you know how deeply I feel about our war on terror and those that we’ve lost.”

Ernst spoke with reporters yesterday (Thursday) about the approaching 15th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Ernst says while 9/11 is becoming a “distant memory” for some Americans, there are thousands of U.S. soldiers on duty in the fight against terrorism. And Ernst notes that students entering high school this fall were born after the airliner attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania.

(Radio Iowa)