A website currently housing information for the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce is being revamped, and will soon connect the City of Atlantic with local economic development entities, parks and recreation and other services, is scheduled to be operational next week.

City Administrator John Lund says the updated site will launch Tue., Nov. 10th. It will feature an online option for park reservations, online payment for storm water bills, as well as links to various City, County, Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce and other, economic sub-sites.

The site www.atlanticiowa.com, is being developed through 5Q Communications, based in Atlantic.

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones is stepping-up to help a Police Officer involved in the Atlantic P-D’s “No Shave” November effort to raise funds for the Police and Police Reserve’s annual “Shop with a Cop” and “Family Dreams Christmas” Programs.

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones

Officers and Reserve Officers are being allowed to grow the beard of their choice in November. The idea is that those officers must raise a minimum of $100 each in donations this month, to be put towards the kids’ programs. Any officer who does not raise the required amount minimum will be making up the difference out of his own pocket.

While the contest works out fine for the department’s male officers, it puts the only female officer, Christin Vavricek at a disadvantage. That’s where the Mayor is stepping up to the plate.

Atlantic Police Officer Christin Vavricek

Jones said he would serve as a proxy for Officer Vavricek and accept donations on her behalf for the children’s and families programs during the contest.

Anyone wishing to donate can contact the officers in person, or drop off your donation in the name of a specific officer or reserve officer at the Police Department. General donations are also accepted. Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green says it has been a tough year for a number of families in the Cass County area, and the needs of the kids are expected to be numerous. Checks should be made to the “Atlantic Police Reserves,” with an indication for the Christmas or Youth programs, in the memo line.

Atlantic Public Library Director Natalie Struecker, Wednesday, updated the City Council on upcoming programs and activities at the Library. One of the events coming up later this month, designed for persons 13-to 18-years of age, is with regard to the upcoming release of the third in a series of adventure novels by American author Suzanne Collins. Struecker says they will be celebrating the Nov. 20th release of the Hunger Games films by having a party.

Natalie Struecker (from her Linked-In page)

One of the movies “Catching Fire” will be shown at the Library at 4-p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10th. And, Mockingjay, Part 1, will be shown 4-p.m., Nov. 17th. The party at 3:30-p.m. Nov. 19th includes games and fun. Pre-registration for the party is required. There’s also a Tween Christmas Party set for 3:30-p.m. Dec. 1st, where young people can make and take crafts and play games to celebrate the season. Again, pre-registration is required.

Other, family-type events at the Library include a Star Wars Party, to celebrate the new film coming out. Registration is also required for that party, which will be held 4-p.m. Dec. 17th. A book fair also is on the slate for December. It takes place Dec. 8th from 10-a.m. until 6-p.m.

Natalie says also, a Brown Bag Book Discussion will be held at Noon on Nov. 13th and Dec. 11th. And, there are recipe swaps taking place starting Nov. 16th. Drop off your favorite recipes at the library by Dec. 11th. Booklets with the recipes will be made available beginning Dec. 21st.

For more information on those, and other events at the Atlantic Public Library, go to www.atlantic.lib.ia.us, or call 243-5466.

Sheriff’s officials in Union County say a man from southeastern Iowa’s Scott County was arrested Wednesday afternoon on several warrants. 38-year old Norman Dallas Olson, of Blue Grass, was transferred from the Madison County Jail to the Union County Jail on warrants for failure to appear on a theft 3rd degree charge, violation of probation, and failure to appear on an OWI 1st offense charge. Olson was being held in the Union County Jail on $2000 bond.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests this week. On Tuesday, 30-year old Albert Alexander Johnson, of Atlantic, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear. Johnson was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released Wednesday, on his own recognizance.

And on Monday, deputies in Cass County arrested 55-year old Barry Dean Schmidt, of Massena, on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Schmidt was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $10,000 bond.