ATLANTIC – Cass County Memorial Hospital and Atlantic Medical Center turn 50 years old in 2018, and as part of the celebration, Cass County Health System is issuing a challenge to the community – a 50 Mile Challenge, to be exact. According to Dr. Ben Howard, “Physical activity is really a central part of leading a healthy, happy life. We want to get people and families excited about getting outside and walking, and then to reap the benefits that regular physical activity brings.”

Beginning June 1st, participants will start keeping track of their miles walked on a log sheet. You can sign up to receive a log sheet via email at casshealth.org, or you can pick one up from any CCHS medical center (Atlantic, Anita, Griswold, Massena), Nishna Valley Family YMCA, Anytime Fitness, Anita Health & Wellness Center, Suns Out Yoga & Fitness, or 712 Fitness. Dr. Howard says “50 miles sounds like a lot at first, but when you break it down, it’s less than 2 miles per day. Overall, adults should get in 30 minutes of physical activity a day, and kids need about 60 minutes. Participating in the 50 mile challenge will help folks meet those goals.”

To cap off the month, community walks are planned for Atlantic, Anita, Griswold, and Massena. All of the walks will be two miles long and held at 9-a.m. Saturday, June 30th. The public is encouraged to RSVP via Facebook, or by calling 712-243-7405. Details about each can be found on Facebook or casshealth.org. Walkers who complete the log and participate in the community walks will each receive an incentive gift. All completed log sheets that are turned in at the community walks or at the Atlantic, Anita, Griswold, or Massena Medical Centers, by Monday, July 2nd will be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card to Brown’s Shoe Fit Company.

SABULA, Iowa (AP) — A car ferry from Iowa to Illinois could run in about a month as residents wait for the reopening of a bridge connecting the two states. Iowa Department of Transportation officials tell the Telegraph Herald that the department has found a contractor to provide ferry services from Sabula, Iowa, to Savanna, Illinois. The February closure of a bridge north of Sabula stopped access to the U.S. 52/Illinois 64 bridge over the Mississippi River. Drivers have since been making a 36-mile detour.

Transportation Department district engineer Jim Schnoebelen says officials are considering a car ferry as an option. He says services would operate during daylight hours and the ferry could accommodate about 500 cars daily. Schnoebelen says officials are also considering offering a passenger ferry. Officials aim to have the new bridge open by Labor Day.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — The Scott County attorney says a court bailiff’s firing of his handgun was reasonable after a man wielding a wooden pole struck him in the face outside the courthouse. County Attorney Mike Walton said in a news release Thursday that bailiff Tim Hutcheson “believed his force was necessary to avoid injury or risk to his life or safety, or the life or safety of others.” Authorities have said Hutcheson, another bailiff and a Davenport police officer tried to subdue 29-year-old Adam Lafrentz on April 25 after responding to a report about someone being assaulted. The other bailiff used a stun gun on Lafrentz that seemingly had no effect on him. He ran away but was captured later. No one was hit by the gunshot

The Quad-City Times reports that Walton says the pursuit of charges against Lafrentz “has been deferred while mental health alternatives are explored” for him.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County say a man walked into the Sheriff’s Office Thursday morning and turned himself-in on a warrant for Possession of Methamphetamine/1st offense. After the warrant for 36-year old Jeremy Guy Thomas, of Council Bluffs, was confirmed, he was transported to the Pott. County Jail.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two accidents took place in the County, Wednesday afternoon. The first happened at around 12:48-p.m., and involved two-vehicles. The collision occurred at 7th and Ash Streets, in Atlantic. Officials say a 1994 Chevy trash truck driven by 56-year old Donald Duane Cook, of Atlantic, was stopped heading southbound at the stop sign on Ash Street, and proceeded to pull onto 7^th Street. In the process, his truck hit a westbound 2018 Hyundai Elantra owned and driven by 65-year old Rosemarie Leah Jones, of Atlantic. No injuries were reported. Damage to the trash truck is estimate at $100; damage to the Hyundai is estimated at $1,500. Cook was cited for Failure to Yield Upon Entering Intersection.

And, at around 3:20-p.m. Wednesday, a two-vehicle accident happened at the intersection of Highways 71 and Highway 92. Officials say a 1999 Jeep Cherokee driven by 20-year old Lindsey Noel Pace, of Clarinda, was northbound on Highway 71 when it was struck in the front passenger side by a westbound 2012 International tractor trailer. The semi was driven by 73-year old Ronald Dean Schroeder, of Griswold. The accident happened as he pulled away from the stop sign at Highway 92. Damage to the Jeep is estimated at $6,000; damage to the tractor trailer is estimated at $2,000. Pace was transported to CCMH via Griswold Rescue. Schroeder was cited for Failure to Yield Upon Entering Intersection.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says as the result of a search warrant in Atlantic on May 16th, Deputies arrested 42-year old Samantha Sue Clark, of Atlantic, on felony and other charges. Clark faces felony charges of Burglary 3rd Degree and a Drug Tax Stamp Violation; Four counts of Possession of Controlled Substance; Six counts of Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Theft 5th Degree. She was taken to the Cass County Jail, where her bond was set at $21,000.

Also arrested was 30-year old Amber Catherine Stephens, of Atlantic, on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drug. Stephens was being held in the Cass County Jail on $2,000 bond.

The Atlantic Kiwanis will be tribute to those in Law Enforcement Saturday (tomorrow), during an event in the Atlantic City Park. Kiwanis member Randy Maas said local law officers will be the focus of the services.

He invites everyone to come to the Atlantic City Park at Noon Saturday, by the Avenue of Flags, to watch the ceremony and thank our local law enforcement personnel. Maas said the tribute to law enforcement fits in with their mission to serve the community.

The non-profit organization gives out 200 bicycle helmets to kids throughout the County. Griswold students will receive the safety helmets next year. Steve Green started the program 22-years ago. Maas said the Kiwanis Fund Drive will be coming up soon, so be watching for news on that.

Kiwanis members are also installing two playgrounds at the Schildberg Recreation this coming July. If you would like to be a member of the organization, come out to the event taking place Saturday morning in the Atlantic City Park. There’s an added incentive to becoming a member…

(He said for every person that sign’s up to join, he has to take a pie in the face. “So how many people want to throw a pie in Randy’s face?” he says. “Come on out and join up.”)

Maas said as a member, you need to come to at least one meeting, be involved with children and their well being, and show-up at events when possible.