The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce announced on Monday that it is partnering with the Atlantic High School to start a Silver Cord Program in Atlantic. The Silver Cord Program is a graduation incentive program that promotes volunteerism in the Atlantic area.

Under the program guidelines Atlantic High School seniors who volunteer a minimum of 200 hours throughout their high school career will graduate with a silver cord and be eligible for a $500 scholarship provided by the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce.

“We are so excited to partner with so many great organization to get the program started. Our goal is to educate as many volunteer based organizations as we can so the program can be a huge success,” Ouida Wymer, Executive Director of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Atlantic Chamber will introduce the program at an educational meeting on Wednesday, August 26th at 12:00pm at the Rock Island Depot (102 Chestnut Street). The meeting is meant to introduce the program to civic organizations and answer questions about the program.

The meeting is open to any civic organization in the area and organizers are requesting groups to RSVP to the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017 or chamber@atlanticiowa.com

Two suspects were arrested on drug charges in Red Oak on Monday after completion of a narcotics investigation.  At 9:41pm Monday officers arrested 23-year-old Jessica Renee Graham of Essex and 30-year-old Montana Wayne Kroupa of Omaha, NE at the intersection of North Broad and East Washington Streets in Red Oak.  Graham was charged with two counts of Conspiracy to Deliver Controlled Substance Marijuana and Operating While Intoxicated Drugged 1st Offense.  Kroupa was charged with two counts of Delivery of Controlled Substance Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Both suspects are being held at the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on $5,000 cash bond.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest Monday of a Red Oak man for Violation of Probation.  At 5:03pm officers arrested 57-year-old Sabas Tafolla Hernandez in the 200 block of East Oak Street.  Hernandez was booked in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 cash bond.

The Iowa Department of Transportation released a weekly update on the Highway 6 construction project in Atlantic.

Officials said work was largely delayed last week due to rainfall on Tuesday but work that was completed included Bluffs Paving placing concrete from Plum to Cherry Street, south 12 foot wide lane. Bluffs Paving placed concrete at Plum Street Intersection (north side, 50% complete).

Work planned for this week of August 24th includes Bluffs Paving continuing main line subgrade prep, modified base and subdrain installation for South 12 Foot Lane, East Bound Lane from Cherry to Spruce Street. Possibly place concrete on Thursday, August 27, 2014. They will also continue with driveways and sidewalk from Spruce to Plum Street on both sides of 7th Street.