(Atlantic, Iowa)  – The 2024 “Scrooge” Contest, sponsored by the Atlantic Chamber, benefits the Atlantic Food Pantry and those they serve. Food Pantry leader Brad Osborne says food insecurity in our community is on the rise and the need continues to be great-as the statistics illustrate.  In 2019, Osborne says, the Pantry averaged 24 households per week and 53 individuals per week being served. Today they are averaging 72 households and 216 individuals.” Over a 400% increase in our community and support like the Scrooge campaign has never been more important, according to Osborne, who says “That is the plain and simple truth.”

The contest was started in 2001 and was organized yearly by Eleanor Hoover (“Big E”). Eleanor’s daughter, Jackie Sampson, says “It is a vital part of the yearly work our Food Pantry and their committee members do and helps them fill in some of the gaps they encounter in trying to help meet the rising needs.”Sampson says financial records for the last eight-years, show during that time, over $154,150 and 29,230 food items have been raised for the food pantry. “The need continues to be very great in our community to help combat food insecurity.”

2024-09-30 GRAPH – Households per Week

2024-09-30 GRAPH – Individuals per Week

In honor of their mother, her daughters (Billie, Lori, Jackie and honorary daughter Karen), have pledged $1,000 to kick-off the contest—with each Scrooge candidate getting a jump-start toward their total. 

2024 candidates for the title of “Scrooge” include:

– Randy & Michelle Roy (Randy’s Computer)

– Graydon Schmidt (Schmidt Family Funeral Homes)

– Jeremiah Thompson (Landus/Atlantic Fire Dept)

– Ben Winford (New Life Church)

The campaign begins November 1st. The food barrel drop-off locations will be announced soon. The candidates will turn-in funds collected and non-perishable goods they have obtained, on November 26th at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce office on N. Chestnut Street. The results will be tabulated and the winner announced.  The winner will serve as the Grand Marshall for the Lighted Christmas Parade in Atlantic, in December.

Atlantic Food Pantry Donated Food Suggestions for 2024:
*canned soup (chicken noodle, tomato, cream of chicken, cream of mushroom,
vegetable beef,….)
*canned fruit (peaches, pears, applesauce, cocktail)
*beef ravioli (cans) or SpaghettiOs
*cereal (boxes) or Quick Oats (no milk needed)
*crackers (saltine)
*tuna or chicken (cans)
*macaroni and cheese
*canned corn, green beans, peas (12-15 oz. cans)
*“complete” pancake & waffle mix (no milk)
*Pancake/waffle syrup
*spaghetti and pasta sauce
*Manwich or Sloppy Joe cans

Food Items to be collected will be limited to only what is on the Food Pantry list this year as storage space is limited and food distribution to families is different due to Post-Covid.

• Food Items: 1 item = 1 point
• Monetary Donations are preferred – $1 = 5 points—checks made out to Atlantic Food Pantry

(Elk Horn, Iowa) –  The Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton School Board’s regular monthly meeting takes place in the High School Conference Room, beginning at 5:30-p.m., Tuesday (Oct. 16). Action items on their agenda include:

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors will meet in a regular session beginning at 9-a.m. Tuesday (Oct. 15), in their Atlantic Courthouse Board Room. The Board expects to receive a Monthly report from Cass/Guthrie County Environmental Health Executive Director Jotham Arber, and a Quarterly report from Cass Co. Conservation Exec. Director Micah Lee, in addition to a regular report from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken.

Action items on the Board’s agenda include:

• Approve the Rural Transit System (RTS) Joint Participation agreement with Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.
• Discuss/approve waiving the deadline and continuing to operate under the terms of the Agreement for Private Development by and Between Cass County and KLC Comes, LLC (D/B/A Bluebird Hill Event Venue.
• Discuss/approve re-establishing the compensation board.
• Discus/approve the commercial lease with Fourth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services for the premises located at 601 Walnut Street, Suite 1, Atlantic, IA.

The Board’s next regular meeting will be held Nov. 12th.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors regular weekly meeting begins at 8:30-a.m. Tuesday (Oct. 15th) in their Red Oak Courthouse Boardroom. The Board is expected to approve a Hungry Canyons Alliance project agreement in the amount of $58,830, for a portion of grade control pertaining to a project on G Avenue, north of 190th Street.

In other business, the Board will hear from Jenna Ramsey, with regard to an IEDA (Iowa Economic Development Authority) grant, and they will discuss a RenewGov support services agreement, with action on both topics as necessary.

Discussion items on their agenda include: Rescheduling the Supervisor’s regular meeting in light of the upcoming election on November 5th, as well as scheduling the General Election Canvass of votes. The Montgomery County Supervisors remind interested persons about a Summit Carbon Solutions open house on Nov. 6th, to learn more about safety, as it pertains to CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) transportation. The event takes place at McCalpin Place in Red Oak, from Noon until 2-p.m.

And Auditor Jill Ozuna will remind Montgomery County residents the First Day of early voting in the Auditor’s Office is this Wednesday, Oct. 16th, beginning at 8-a.m.

(Washington County, Iowa) – A collision between a car and a train early this (Monday) morning in southeastern Iowa, resulted in a death. The Iowa State Patrol reports the crash happened at around 1:50-a.m., in Ainsworth. Authorities say a 2011 Ford Fusion was traveling south on Spruce Avenue, when it ran a stop sign over a railroad crossing, and struck a westbound train. The vehicle came to rest in the west ditch. The driver died at the scene. Their name was being withheld, pending notification of family. The crash remains under investigation.

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department report seven people were arrested on separate charges over the past three days. Two people were arrested Friday, three people were arrested Saturday, and there were two arrests Sunday, in Creston.

Friday morning, 32-year-old William Alwynn Darius Bell, of Creston, was arrested on two Union County Warrants. The first was for Violation of a Court Ordered No-Contact Order. The second warrant was for Domestic Abuse Assault by impeding the flow of Air/Blood. Bell was also charged with another count of Violating of No-Contact Order. He was taken to the Union County Jail and held without bond until later being released on his own cognizance. Friday night, Creston Police arrested 37-year-old Samuel Bernadack Munoz, of Creston, for OWI/2nd Offense. Munoz was taken to the Union County Jail and later posted a $2,000 bond.

Saturday afternoon, 36-year-old Edgar Orlando Mendez Lopez, of Creston, was arrested for OWI/ 2nd Offense and four counts of Child Endangerment. Lopez was taken to the Union County Jail where he later bonded out on a bond of $10,000.

Saturday night, 60-year-old Robbie Allen Dohrn, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Barred, and Eluding/Attempting to Elude a Law Enforcement Vehicle. Dohrn was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on a $7,000 bond. And, 39-year-old Travis James Klos, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Barred. Klos was later released on $2,000 bond.

A little before 3-a.m., Sunday, Creston Police arrested 39-year-old Derik Wayne Bud Pickrell, of Fontanelle, for Driving While Barred. Pickrell posted a $2,000 bond and was released from the Union County Jail. And, Sunday night, 50-year-old John Everett Major, of Creston, was arrested for Domestic Abuse/Simple Assault – 1st offense. Major was being held without bond in the Union County Jail.