The mother of a young man who shot and killed Aplington-Parkersburg Football Coach Ed Thomas in June 2009 will be the guest speaker during a Conversation on Mental Health in Atlantic, later this month. A jury found Joan Becker’s son Mark guilty of 1^st degree murder in March 2010, after rejecting his insanity defense. He was later sentenced to life in prison. Joan Becker, who has two other sons, is making her way around the state to hold conversations about mental health issues.

Joan Becker speaks in Orient Sept. 8th (courtesy Wallace Center)

She spoke last month at the Wallace Country Life Center in rural Orient, about her son‘s struggle with paranoid schizophrenia . Her visit to Atlantic will take place 7-p.m. October 20^th, at Iowa Western Community College. Cass County Mental Health Coordinator Teresa Kanning told the Board of Supervisors during their meeting this (Wednesday) morning, that Becker will discuss what parts of the mental health system failed her son, and which parts were helpful.

She says a local mental health panel discussion will follow her presentation about how the system works or doesn’t work, in Cass County. The event is open to the public, but seating is limited. Kanning says she’s very excited to have Mrs. Becker speak in Cass County. To reserve your seat, call 712-243-4424.

Atlantic School District Superintendent Dr. Mike Amstein said today (Wednesday), that the Atlantic High School has received word of a possible bomb threat. A statement said the threat would occur this Friday, October 7th. Amstein says once they became aware of the threat, they immediately contacted law enforcement.  Based on their advice, he says the district will abide by their suggestions, in order to be proactive in keeping the students and staff safe.

He says the threat was discovered in one of the high school restrooms. The note was written on bathroom stall. A student saw the threat and reported it to the office. Amstein said there is no significance that he’s aware of pertaining to the date the threat was assigned to. He says extra security precautions are being put into effect. Law enforcement were expected to clear the building this (Wednesday) evening. Students will also noticed a stepped-up effort to secure the premises on Thursday and Friday, as well.

He says bookbags will be search both days as students and individuals enter the school.

Atlantic High School administrators released a short notice to local media Wednesday afternoon that they were made aware of a possible bomb threat for Friday, October 7th.  School administration is working with the local law enforcement in the investigation of the threat.  No other details are available at this time, including how the alleged threat was made.  We will keep working to get you more information soon.

A western Iowa man who has fought to save many homes from fire over the years, had to face the loss of his own home, Tuesday. Mondamin Fire Chief Norm Wallis, from rural Mondamin, was on his way back from lunch Tuesday afternoon, when he saw smoke coming from Interstate 29. The 55-year old volunteer firefighter dialed 9-1-1, and when he reached his mobile home, quickly reacted to cut power to the structure and move his vehicles and equipment away from the flames, just as he would have done if he was working to save any other property in danger of being consumed by fire.

Area firefighters from Mondamin, Modale, Magnolia and Little Sioux helped extinguish the blaze. Wallis told the Omaha World-Herald, he had worried the entire summer about the Missouri River flood waters but those stopped about 100 feet from his place. Wallis’ mobile home and its contents were a total loss, but no injuries were reported.

The cause of the blaze was under investigation continues, but officials said it did not appear to be suspicious in nature.

1934 Lithograph of US Constitution

A handful of local veterans and members of the Cass County Board of Supervisors were on-hand this (Wednesday) morning, for the presentation of a framed, 1934 lithograph copy of the U-S Constitution at the Cass County Courthouse. Gary Stephenson, from Fort Dodge, had spoken with the Board in August, and asked permission to look for local sponsors for the large print, which will be mounted on the wall in the corridor, outside of the Treasurer’s Office.

The lithograph, which has also been put in place in 34 other courthouses across Iowa, was made possible through the Supervisors’ support, and more than a half-dozen local sponsors. They include: Atlantic Motor Supply; the Cass County Abstract Company, Incorporated; McAtee Tire, Incorporated; Brocker, Karns and Karns Insurance; Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home; the Atlantic Rotary Club; Ed & Debbie Liestad and Family; Tom and Wendy Cappel, ReAnn and Trey; and, W and S Appliance.

Plaques commemorating those sponsors, along with those in Memory of Cass County Supervisor Chuck Kinen, and all who sacrificed their lives in service to our country, will be included on the wall beneath the lithograph. The print was originally printed in 1934, but not discovered until 50-years later. It recognizes the Founding Fathers for their wisdom, and remembers those who fought to preserve our liberties.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – State health officials say a northwest Iowa woman is the state’s first reported case of someone becoming ill after eating a cantaloupe tainted with listeria. The Iowa Department of Public Health says in a news release Wednesday the woman was pregnant at the time she became ill and suffered a miscarriage. State health officials say the woman has recovered. The woman had eaten a cantaloupe purchased at an Iowa store. It’s the state’s first case linked to the multi-state outbreak of listeria linked to a Colorado farm. Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, the state’s medical director, says while all affected cantaloupe should be off store shelves, more illnesses may be reported because it can take two months for symptoms to develop. Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – A 43-year-old Lincoln man with at least six aliases has been sentenced to life in federal prison for dealing drugs.Nebraska’s U.S. Attorney Deborah Gilg says Javier Garcia-Hernandez was sentenced Tuesday in federal court for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. There is no parole under federal sentencing guidelines. Garcia-Hernandez was convicted of the charge in June. Federal prosecutors were able to determine that Garcia-Hernandez had three prior felony drug convictions from Iowa, South Dakota and Texas, all under different names. The amount of drugs for which Garcia-Hernandez was held responsible and his prior drug convictions meant his mandatory minimum sentence was life in prison.