(Harlan, Iowa) – A chase that began in Shelby County Friday afternoon resulted in injuries to a Deputy and three subjects eventually being taken into custody. According to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, at around 11:23-a.m., the Shelby County Communications Center was contacted by the Harrison County Communications Center, with regard to persons trying to pass a fraudulent check at a bank in Missouri Valley. The same people tried to pass  a fraudulent check in Washington County, Nebraska.

The suspect’s vehicle was being followed by a bank employee, into Shelby County. When Shelby County Deputies located the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop north of Portsmouth on Highway 191, the vehicle briefly stopped, and one person got out. A pursuit by law enforcement began, when the vehicle sped-off. Deputies from Shelby and Harrison Counties, and the Iowa State Patrol engaged in the chase.

During the pursuit, two Shelby County Deputies lost control of their patrol cars at the intersection of Cedar Road and F-32. Both patrol cars left the road and entered the south ditch before coming to rest. One vehicle sustained minor damage, but the Deputy was not hurt. The other patrol vehicle sustained major damage. The Deputy in that vehicle was transported to Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan by Shelby County Ambulance. The Deputy was treated and released, and is recovering at home.

The suspects were again located by the Iowa State Patrol near Highways 30 and 44. A second pursuit was initiated, which ended near Beebeetown. Two suspects were taken into custody, and transported to the Harrison County Jail. The third person who got out of the vehicle near Portsmouth, was arrested by Shelby County Deputies and transported to the Shelby County Jail. No names were immediately released.

Agencies assisting during the incident (in addition to those previously mentioned), include: the Panama, Earling Fire & Harlan Fire & Rescue Departments, along with the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency, and 712 Towing.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Members of the Atlantic ®RAGBRAI committee were presented with a $50,000 check at the RAGBRAI Overnight Community Meeting Thursday, March 7th.

“RAGBRAI is generously investing $50,000 in each overnight community this year to help alleviate event expenses and to help show their gratitude to each host community. We’re grateful for their partnership and look forward to using the funds to create the hospitable experience RAGBRAI goers have come to love when visiting Atlantic,” Bailey Smith, Atlantic RAGBRAI Exec Chair stated.

Atlantic last hosted in 2019, welcoming just under 20,000 people to town. The committee raised a record $50,000 that was divided between the Atlantic Police Department, Atlantic Volunteer Fire Department, Atlantic School Booster Club and Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. Smith is looking forward to having another record year.

“RAGBRAI gives Atlantic a lot of positive exposure while supporting local organizations and non-profits. A lot of work goes into planning the event, and we’re eager to get the ball rolling with our 20 committee chairs and their committee members,” Smith stated.

The official Atlantic RAGBRAI website, www.atlanticragbrai.com, was launched by NISHNANET and is live now for individuals looking for information regarding housing, vending and volunteer opportunities. Information regarding sponsorship opportunities will be available in the coming weeks as well as a schedule of entertainment.

Atlantic will host RAGBRAI Monday, July 22nd. Follow Atlantic RAGBRAI on Facebook to receive live updates when information is made available. Visit www.atlanticragbrai.com or call 712-250-5343.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Rising will be hosting the 7th Annual Trivia Night Fundraiser on Saturday, March 16th at The Venue. The organization continues to hold this event to fundraiser for the annual Christmas Box program. Kelsey Beschorner, Atlantic Rising Social Chair says “This event has been very successful in the past. In 2023, we had 10 teams register and were able to raise over $2,500 for the program. We are excited to have Ann & John McCurdy returning to emcee ‘A Night at McCurdy’s Pub.’ We can’t wait to see what questions they have in store for our teams.”

The event will include eight rounds of ten questions each. Categories range from math to music to Queens of the Decades and everything in between. There is a prize awarded to the winning team. Teams are also encouraged to dress for the St. Patrick’s Day theme to add to the fun of the evening. A prize is awarded to the best dressed team and will be chosen by the staff at The Venue.

Beschorner says “Our goal is to have everyone come out to enjoy a fun night while raising money for a project that does so much good for our community.”

For more information on Trivia Night or to register a team, contact Kelsey Beschorner at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017 or visit www.atlanticiowa.com.

(Radio Iowa) – Musicians from across the region will be playing a concert in central Iowa next month that pays tribute to the Man in Black. Growing up in the southwestern Iowa town Atlantic, Randy Burk says he had -heard- Johnny Cash, but when he hit his mid-20s, he realized that’s the kind of music he wanted to write — and play.

“I would go into a country venue, and there’s Johnny Cash. I would go into a rock and roll venue, and you heard Johnny Cash,” Burk says. “You could go into punk-metal, you could go into the theater, he transcends everything and I always thought that was amazing.”

Randy Burk

This marks the 20th year Burk has organized and performed in a Cash tribute concert in Iowa, and he says the beginnings of the long-standing tradition were relatively humble back in 2003.

In addition to the heart-felt lyrics and catchy, toe-tapping tunes, Cash had incredible memorization skills and performed songs like “I’ve Been Everywhere” that are almost-impossible for any other singer to cover.

Burk will be playing with his band, The Prisoners, along with a host of other artists on Sunday, April 7th at X-B-K Live in Des Moines.

https://xbklive.com/

(Council Bluffs, Iowa)  – With the precipitation western Iowa received this (Friday) morning, officials with Pottawattamie County Emergency Management has requested the State Fire Marshall lift the current ban in Pottawattamie County effective today.

Open burning is now allowable throughout the county EXCEPT in any municipal city limits where there is a standing ordinance prohibiting open burning on a regular basis. Before burning within any city limits, check with your local fire department or city clerk to determine whether your community has such an ordinance.

Residents are to continue using extreme caution whenever burning. The county is still experiencing abnormally dry conditions and seasonal outlooks indicate that will remain the case or even deteriorate in the upcoming months.

Emergency Management urges all residents to sign up for Alert Iowa emergency notifications at https://pcema-ia.org. During emergencies or critical events communication is key, and the Alert Iowa system is the primary method of distributing alerts and information in Pott. County.

(Radio Iowa) – Human smuggling of undocumented immigrants — to conceal them from law enforcement — would become a crime in Iowa if a bill that’s passed the Iowa House becomes law. Republican Representative Steven Holt of Denison says the human smuggling that’s happening is horrific and inexcusable.

“Why is this legislation necessary? Never in my lifetime and likely never in the history of this country have we seen the chaos on our southern border that we are seeing today,” Holt said. “…A very real and profoundly serious crisis on our southern border demands that we stand up as a state and protect our citizens and our sovereignty and perhaps discourage human trafficking, labor trafficking, sex trafficking and all of the garbage that is happening at our southern border and transferring into our state.”

The crime of human smuggling would apply to someone who knowingly and for their own benefit transport and try to conceal illegal aliens from Iowa law enforcement agencies. “Or encourages or induces a person to enter or remain in the United States by concealing, harboring or shielding that person from detection,” Holt says.

The bill passed with the support of House Republicans. Representative Mark Thompson, a Republican from Clarion, says human smuggling is a disgusting business and the bill is needed because some of the demand comes from Iowa businesses. “They employ these people if you want to use the word ’employ’ because they’re not given any decent wage and then when they complain about it or something goes wrong, they’re thrown to the street, so their immigration status is used against them. It’s blackmail. We’re not going anyone coming across our border any fair shake, any favors by letting them come across and just come up to Iowa,” Thompson said. “…The federal government is not enforcing its own laws. We have to have our law protect these people.”

Democrats opposed the bill. Representative Lindsay James, a Democrat from Dubuque, says immigration is a federal issue. “I think we can all agree that the immigration system needs some work,” James said. “There has been bipartisan legislation on the federal level that imploded because of the politics of Donald Trump and the Republican do nothing congress.”

The bill now goes to the Iowa Senate, which already has passed a requirement that Iowa businesses check a federal database to see if their employees are U-S citizens or legal residents of the country. Employers caught hiring undocumented immigrants twice in two years would lose their license to do business in Iowa if that bill becomes law.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by the Masonic Pymosa Lodge Thursday, March 7th, 2024. The Ambassadors learned about the Annual Masonic Scholarship Fundraiser, which includes a St. Patrick’s Day Stew Feed on Sunday, March 17th.

John Bricker & Mike Blevins shared about the rich history of philanthropy of the Masonic organization and their annual fundraiser for the scholarship fund. Annual scholarships are awarded to area seniors to help offset the cost of tuition and vary in amount depending on donations the organization has received throughout the year. The Mason’s have been handing out scholarships to graduating Atlantic High School Seniors for over 30 years. The organization thanks the community for their continued generosity.

The Irish Stew Feed is the main fundraiser for the organization, but the Mason’s also collect aluminum cans to be recycled. The money made through the can redemption goes directly into the scholarship fund. The Mason’s now have three drop-off locations: The Masonic Lodge, Boes Repair Inc, and the Cass County Landfill. Community members can also contact a Mason to have cans picked up from their home or business.

Ambassadors and Masons (Left to Right): Jeff Christensen, BJ Hart, Mel Newton, Alisha Wagner, Mike Blevins, Graydon Schmidt, Krysta Hanson, John Bricker, Dr. Keith Leonard, Kathie Hockenberry, Jim Kickland, Lana Westphalen

The 8th Annual Masonic Scholarship St. Patrick’s Day Stew Feed Fundraiser will be held Sunday, March 17th from 5-7:30 PM. They will be serving Beef Stew, Vegetable Stew and Irish Soda Bread for a free will donation at the Masonic Lodge. The meal can be enjoyed inside the Lodge or via drive through lane alongside the building.

For further information about the Annual Irish Stew Feed, Scholarship Program, or to donate, please contact 402-740-1717.

The Masonic Lodge/ Pymosa Lodge #271 is located at 1010 SW 7th Street in Atlantic.