The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, City of Atlantic, Cass Atlantic Development Corporation (CADCO) and Cass County are collaborating to create a new website to serve the entire community. The site will serve existing and potential new residents and businesses. Quida Wymer, Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, said “We are excited to be a part of this professionally designed website incorporating all four major entities in Atlantic. Uniting together will create a more effective and successful website to attract people to Cass County. The project will also encourage and build stronger relationships between the Chamber, City, CADCO and County.”

Wymer says bringing all four organizations together will achieve a number of benefits for the entire Cass Community: increased search engine ranking for all four entities, information for the community on one user friendly site, strategic design will attract new entrepreneurs and young business leaders, as well as, become more efficient by eliminating duplicate information.

Five Q Communications a Cass County based digital marketing firm will be leading the website project. The initial stage of discovery will provide the organizations with an understanding of the end users, solid graphic design brief and a clear plan of execution. This discovery will provide insight into the user experience that must be created to accomplish the goals of each organization.

Wymer says the new skillfully designed website will be the first impression to our community. It will represent who we are: established yet progressive, offering endless opportunities. The website will communicate and promote all Cass County and the Atlantic Area has to offer to both its current residents and new visitors.

(Press Release)

Two people were arrested on separate charges Wednesday, here in Atlantic. The A-PD reports 34-year old Christopher Anstey, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication, and, 23-year old Jacob Osbon, of Neola, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts and Theft in the 4th Degree (Shoplifting).

Both men were booked into the Cass County Jail.

City officials in Atlantic are preparing for a disruption in traffic flow on Highway 6/7th Street, from Olive Street east, to just past the Burger King restaurant. Interim City Administrator John Lund said during Wednesday night’s City Council meeting, that he spoke with the officials from the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, about being proactive in trying to help businesses affected by the impending road closure.

The City has discussed the waiving sign permits for businesses affected by the changes.
Lund said it appears right now, that once the road is blocked, a potential detour route in town, might be 10th Street, but that remains to be seen.

The Iowa DOT has said heavy traffic would be detoured during construction using Iowa 83, Iowa 173, Interstate 80, and U.S. 71. Mayor Dave Jones said he’s heard the DOT would route truck traffic to Highway 92, but that would still leave area residents, especially farmers, scrambling to find a way into and out of town.

Work on the project – which is expected to take about two-months – will begin later this spring or early summer. In other business, Councilman Chris Jimerson updated the Council on the coming e-recycling program. A electronics recycling trailer will be placed near the Atlantic Depot/Chamber offices on May 9th from 8-am until 4-p.m. The City’s Community Promotion Commission has agreed to fund half the $6,000 cost of the trailer, with Cass County agreed to pay for the other half.

Authorities in Montgomery County are reporting three recent arrests. At around 10-p.m. Wednesday, deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office arrested 27-year old Andre T. Mackins, of Omaha, following a traffic stop in the 1300 block of Highway 34. Mackins was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and released from the scene on a citation.

And, two women were arrested for Driving While Suspended. Red Oak Police arrested 27-year old Kaleena Nicole Dawn Sands, of Red Oak, at around 1:20 this (Thursday) morning. The woman was taken into custody near the intersection of Highways 34 and 48. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 cash bond. And, at around 10:40-p.m., Wednesday, 34-year old Peggy Sue Gurney, of Red Oak, was arrested in the 100 block of east Hammond Street in Red Oak. In addition to the DWS charge, Gurney was cited for having no SR-22 Insurance on file. Her bond was set at $1,000.

Red Oak Police also cited 45-year old Carol  Olivas, of Red Oak for Failure to Yield to a vehicle on the right Wednesday, following an accident that happened at 2nd and Valley Streets (an uncontrolled intersection), at around 3:40-p.m.  Officials say Olivas’ 1998 Plymouth van collided with a 2002 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 39-year old Markus Johnson, of Red Oak. The accident caused $4,300 damage altogether. No injuries were reported.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) – A jury has found a western Iowa man guilty of making a bomb threat on a government building and attempting to fight law enforcement officials while naked in his living room.
The Le Mars Daily Sentinel reports 37-year-old Jeremy Hebert of Akron was found guilty Wednesday of making a threat to use an explosive or incendiary device. He also was convicted of three counts of assaulting law enforcement officers.

Hebert was arrested in November, and authorities say he told them he would drop a bomb on the White House and kill George H.W. Bush, who hasn’t been president since 1993. He has been taken to Plymouth County jail where he awaits a sentence hearing that’s scheduled for March 27.