(Atlantic, Iowa) – The annual Lighted Parade will fill downtown Atlantic with holiday cheer this Saturday, December 7th, starting at 6 PM. Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bailey Smith says “The Fireworks and Lighted Parade is a holiday tradition that Atlantic families look forward to every year. It’s always fun to see how creative people get with their light displays each year.” Due to a growing crowd size the last few years, the Chamber is implementing a ‘no’ policy for throwing any items, including candy, from floats this year. If float participants want to hand anything out during the parade, they may do so by walking the sidewalks of Chestnut Street but may not distribute any type of product on the street during the parade.

Each float will have a holiday theme, lighting and music. Awards will be given for: Best Overall, Best Holiday Spirit and Twinkle Twinkle award. Fireworks will kick off the Christmas magic over the Rock Island Depot, starting at 6 PM. The Lighted Parade & Fireworks are sponsored by A.M. Cohron & Son, McDermott & Son Roofing and Rush, CPA & Associates. Before the parade, join Santa and Atlantic Hy-Vee at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA beginning at 9 AM for ‘Pancakes with Santa’ and other fun activities. Santa will be in his Cabin in City Park following pancakes from 3 PM – 5:30 PM. Pancakes with Santa is sponsored by Smith Land Service, Atlantic Dental Center, Sonntag Development and Nishna Valley Dental.

Lighted Parade & Fireworks in downtown Atlantic, IA. (Chamber file photo)

If you would like to participate in the Lighted Parade, visit www.atlanticiowa.com for a registration form. Line-up begins at 5 PM at 6th & Walnut Street with judging beginning at 5:30 PM. Registration is not required but encouraged. Pick up a Christmas brochure from area retail businesses, ‘like’ the Chamber on Facebook or follow on Instagram (AtlanticIowaFan) to find dates and details to celebrate Christmas in Atlantic. You can find a complete list of activities and a printable version of the brochure at www.atlanticiowa.com.

Capture the Christmas magic with #MyAtlanticIA or #ChristmasinAtlantic and post to the Atlantic Area Chamber’s Facebook or Instagram pages. Contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce with any questions at chamber@atlanticiowa.com or call 712-243-3017. Christmas in Atlantic is presented by Gregg Young of Atlantic.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with Project Harmony, a recognized leader in child advocacy, have announced the opening of its new satellite location within Cass Health, in Atlantic. Cass County Public Health Director Megan Roberts informed the Cass County Supervisors about the new office, during the Board’s meeting Tuesday morning.

The expansion marks a significant step in increasing access to vital services for children and families in the Atlantic community and surrounding areas.   Project Harmony serves as a critical resource for children and families in crisis, currently supporting Douglas and Sarpy Counties in Nebraska and 16 counties across Southwest Iowa. The new location in Atlantic represents a deepening partnership with Cass Health, aimed at ensuring comprehensive, community-based care for children who have experienced abuse or neglect.

Gene Klein, CEO of Project Harmony, says “Our partnership with Cass Health allows us to bring life-changing services closer to families who need them most. By working together, we’re not only expanding access but also strengthening the safety net for children and families throughout the region.”

Cass Health’s Chief Operating Officer Amanda Bireline expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, saying “We are excited to collaborate with Project Harmony to provide essential child advocacy services in our community. Together, we can ensure that children in Southwest Iowa have access to the care and support they deserve.” She says the expansion demonstrates Project Harmony’s commitment to its mission of ending the cycle of child abuse and neglect through effective collaboration and a multidisciplinary approach. The satellite location in Atlantic will provide a welcoming and accessible space where children and families can find hope and healing.

For more information about Project Harmony’s services, please visit www.ProjectHarmony.com

(Radio Iowa) – Last night (Tuesday) marked the Iowa premiere of a one-woman play about Erma Bombeck, a humorist who won wide fame for her column that described life in the Midwestern suburbs and was carried in more than 900 newspapers. The playwrights who crafted the performance are twin sisters, Allison and Peggy Engel, who both have many Iowa ties. Allison Engel emphasizes, it’s a play and not a stand-up act.

“There are a lot of funny things in it, that’s for sure, because she was a well-known humorist, and she just was also a very funny person in person,” Allison Engel says, “but the play tells about her remarkable life and how she really started writing at age 37 and became the most syndicated columnist in America.” Bombeck wrote three columns a week and 16 best-selling books, becoming extremely popular throughout the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s. The play, “Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End,” had decades of copy from which to draw and the sisters agree, they had to leave out a lot of great lines, but those they kept in are gems.

“This play is punchy, it’s funny, it’s poignant, it’s sad, it’s happy,” Peggy Engel says, “and we’re really pleased with — we have a wonderful actress named Pam Sherman who takes us through her life in all its hilarity.” In addition to the newspaper columns and best-selling books, Bombeck was said to be one of Johnny Carson’s favorite “Tonight Show” guests, and she was also a regular correspondent on “Good Morning, America,” so multiple generations adored her humor and charm. “She told the truth about what it was really like to live in a household,” Allison Engel says. “People romanticized what a suburban life was like after World War Two, the housewife in pearls and heels and vacuuming — and Erma Bombeck told it how it really was, and she was very funny, but people recognized the humanity.”

Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End, is a quick-witted, uplifting story recounting the life of American columnist and humorist, Erma Bombeck. (DMPA photo)

While Bombeck died in 1996, five days after submitting what became her final column, the Engels say her wisdom and her wit is still very much alive for the modern audience. “We’re really so cheered by the fact that so many families are going together, daughters taking moms, fathers taking their sisters, because we’ve seen them exchanging knowing glances in the performances,” Peggy Engel says, “because what they’re seeing on stage really played out in their own lives.”

Among their many credits, Peggy Engel is a former reporter for the Des Moines Register and the Washington Post, who now directs the Alicia Patterson Journalism Foundation and was managing editor of the Newseum. Allison Engel was a reporter for the Des Moines Tribune, among other papers, and was a speechwriter for former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack and Lieutenant Governor Sally Pederson. “Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End” is playing at the Des Moines Civic Center through December 21st.

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa State Fair has announced its first Grandstand act of the 2025 fair. “Hairball,” a rock tribute band, will perform Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025 at the Grandstand. The show is part of Hairball’s Silver Anniversary Tour marking their 25th anniversary. Hairball performed during the RAGBRAI® stop in Atlantic in 2019.

Additional entertainment announcements at the 2025 Iowa State Fair are expected to follow in the coming months. The fair will not host a February Hairball concert in 2025, according to the announcement.

Tickets go on sale at the Iowa State Fair website at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 6th.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Former Hawkeye superstar Caitlin Clark has been named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list. The 22-year-old Indiana Fever guard is fresh off a historic rookie season in the WNBA, where she was named the Rookie of the Year. Clark also set records for scoring and assists and became the first rookie in the WNBA to record a triple-double.

KCRG reports the Forbes article said “The first overall pick in 2024’s WNBA draft, Caitlin Clark led the resurgent Indiana Fever to their first playoff appearance in eight years while breaking the league’s single-season assists record and earning Rookie of the Year honors. She also led WNBA All-Star Game voting with more than 700,000 ballots and has been credited with pushing up league viewership and attendance.”

Photo credit: Hawkeye Nation

At Iowa, Clark set the NCAA’s all-time scoring record and was twice named the National Player of the Year. She also led the Hawkeyes to back-to-back national title appearances. Clark was the only WNBA player selected to the list and the fourth youngest.

AMES, Iowa [KCCI] — Iowa State University will have to pay the Des Moines Police Department for the 2023 death of a police K-9. According to the Iowa State Appeals Board, DMPD K-9 Hobbs was taken to the ISU College of Veterinary Medicine for surgery after a sudden illness last December. Hobbs did not survive the procedure. A veterinarian from Iowa State said a medical error caused the dog to become septic and die.

Photo from the Des Moines Police Department’s Facebook page

Iowa State must now pay $43,000 to the Des Moines Police Department for the cost of the department to buy and train Hobbs.

(Clarinda, Iowa) – Page County Attorney Carl M. Sonksen, Tuesday (12/3) issued a report on activities that took place in the Iowa District Court for Page County, during the week of November 25th. The following cases were presided over by the Honorable Amy Zacharias, 4th Judicial District Judge (All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law):