The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce and the Atlantic Volunteer Fire Department have partnered together to create the 2nd Annual Firemen’s Picnic before the Firemen’s Parade this Saturday, October 15th. Ouida Hargens, Chamber Executive Director, said “The goal is to bring the community downtown early to shop their favorite businesses, enjoy a BBQ meal and stay for the Annual Parade.”

The picnic begins at 4 p.m. The meal is $7 and includes a BBQ sandwich, baked beans, chips and a drink. The Atlantic BPO Does will be offering desserts for a free will donation. Entertainment for all ages will be available throughout the picnic Face Painters, Bounce Houses, Bags, Scavenger Hunt, Photo Booth and a helicopter landing will be at the picnic along with performances by Sheltered Reality and the Pleasant Green Baptist Church Marching Saints.

Sheltered Reality is a non-profit organization that dedicates itself to being a youth-oriented project, where youth members use music and education as a way to reach out to audiences, motivating them to advocate for those in need, especially children and families. The Pleasant Green Marching Saints is a youth ministry that is designed to bring youth together and teach them about Christ. Their award winning ministry allows the youth to express themselves through dance and drum corp. Their ages range from 3 years old to 20.

Following the picnic at 6 p.m. you can watch the Firemen’s Parade from Chestnut Street. To be a part of the parade, please begin line up at 4 p.m. at 3rd & Olive Street. There will be volunteers there to direct you where to go. The Firemen’s Picnic is presented by: Atlantic Volunteer Fire Department, Atlantic Locker Service, First Whitney Bank, W&S Appliance, Berg Electric, Nishna Valley Credit Union and the Atlantic Community Promotions Commission.

For more information on the Firemen’s Picnic & Parade or a full list of activities, please visit www.atlanticiowa.com.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Villisca resident on Friday.  At 11:55am Deputies arrested Kelsi M. Kling of Villisca on a charge of Burglary 3rd Degree. The charge stems from an incident that occurred at a residence on 5th Street in Villisca.  Kling was arrested in the 600 block of 6th Street in Villisca and taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $5,000 bond.

Former Iowa Democrat Senator Tom Harkin will be in Atlantic and Carroll, Saturday, stumping on behalf of Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton. Harkin will join “Hillary for Iowa” volunteers to kickoff “Weekend of Action” events across the state. During the planned events, community leaders, grassroots organizers and volunteers will canvass their neighborhoods to discuss the election and try and secure early votes. The event in Atlantic begins at Noon, Saturday, and takes place at the Cass County Iowa Together Officer (511 Chestnut St.).  The event in Carroll is at 3-p.m, and will be held at the Carroll Iowa Together Office (210 E. 5th St.).

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Authorities say 45 pounds of marijuana has been seized and a minivan driver has been arrested along Interstate 80 in Omaha. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office says a deputy saw the eastbound minivan drive onto the roadway shoulder without signaling around 2:15 a.m. today (Friday). The deputy later called for a department drug dog, which the Sheriff’s Office says eventually alerted deputies to the odor of drugs.

The Sheriff’s Office says the pot was found in 40 sealed bags placed inside two duffel bags. More than $3,600 in cash also was seized. The driver told deputies he was driving from Utah to Iowa.  He was arrested on suspicion of possession for sale and failure to affix a drug tax stamp.