MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Cerro Gordo County auditor has resigned just four months after taking office. Riley Dirksen ran unopposed in an April special election to replace Ken Kline, who quit to take a state post. Dirksen says his videogame business occupies much of this time, creating a conflict. Dirksen told the Mason City Globe Gazette Thursday that “working 8 to 5 at the courthouse and then trying to do my other work got to be too much.”

His resignation took effect immediately. He’ll be replaced temporarily by the county treasurer, Pat Wright.

Police in Creston report an inattentive driver caused her vehicle to strike a parked pickup Thursday night, causing more than $20,000 damage. 24-year old Kathleen Marie Magill, of Creston, was driving a 2018 Ford F-150 pickup eastbound on Prairie Street in Creston at around 10:30-p.m., when the vehicle veered left and collided head-on with a parked and unoccupied 2018 Chevy S-10 pickup registered to Bryan Spencer, of Creston. There were no injuries reported and no citations issued.

FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a Minnesota woman who sent 696 text messages to a northern Iowa man in April violated a no-contact order. Winnebago County District Court records say 34-year-old Katie Christian, of Emmons, Minnesota, is charged with stalking and other crimes. Her arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 24 in Forest City.

A criminal complaint says she also made 10 phone calls and went to the man’s Lake Mills house three times in an attempt to make contact with him or his daughter.

While you’re out and about celebrating AtlanticFest, Saturday, bring the kids and their bikes to the Schildberg Recreation Area’s west parking lot, for the Nishna Valley Trails’ Kids Bike Ride. The ride takes place beginning at 10:30-a.m. Check-in and start of the ride are both at the west Parking lot of the Schildberg Rec. Area. The length of the ride is divided according to age, and there will be three age groups. The event is FREE, and all ages are welcome to attend. After the ride, check out Atlanticfest going on downtown!

The NVT’s Kids Bike Ride is co-sponsored by Atlantic Parks and Recreation, Cass County Conservation, Fareway, and West Side Diner in Atlantic, IA. If you have any questions, call Cass County Naturalist Lora Kanning at 712-769-2372.

Red Oak Police, early this (Friday) morning, arrested a woman from Union County. 41-year old Chrystal Rush Stewart, of Creston, was taken into custody in the 500 block of 4th Avenue, in Red Oak, on a charge of Interference with Official Acts, a simple misdemeanor. Stewart was arrested at around 5:15-a.m. and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where her cash bond was set at $300.

AtlanticFest, presented by First Whitney Bank & Trust, will be held tomorrow (Saturday, August 11th), rain or shine. AtlanticFest is an annual festival that serves as a fundraiser for the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. Downtown Atlantic will be filled with fun activities for the whole family to enjoy. Come early and enjoy a pancake breakfast or start the day off with a run through Schildberg Recreation Area in the Annual Road Race with chip timing coming back this year. The Annual Tractor Ride will also be taking place, kicking off at the Cass County Fair Grounds at 8 AM. There will be crafters from all over Southwest Iowa, as well as some of the best food vendors to help satisfy any appetite. Kids can enjoy the pony rides and bounce house and new this year, a family Carnival. The 20th Annual Car Show and Motorcycle Show will be taking place once again this year. Entertainment throughout the day is free.

Registrations for the Car Show, Motorcycle Show and Road Race are going on now or you may show up the day of. If you are interested in being a part of AtlanticFest, please visit www.atlanticiowa.com or call the Chamber at 712-243-3017.

The Chamber thanks its many AtlanticFest sponsors for their support.