DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — While there has been little fanfare, the 2014 Iowa political calendar effectively begins Tuesday night at the precinct caucuses for both parties. These organizing meetings — which kick off a series of party events, culminating with the state conventions in June — tend to mostly attract loyalists in non-presidential election years. But party leaders are urging Iowa residents to participate, insisting that coming out on a chilly January night really does matter.

Democratic Party Executive Director Troy Price says the people who participate this year “help us carry out the presidential caucus in 2016.” The caucuses begin a process of building a volunteer base that sets the tone for the elections in 2014 and starts organizing in advance of the 2016 presidential election in the early-voting state of Iowa.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Dinner and Awards program Saturday night, at the Cass County Community Center. During the awards presentation part of the Program, The Athena Leadership Award –  made possible through a partnership with Deter Motor Company — and which is given to the person who has “Honored professional excellence, community service, an actively assisted women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills,” was presented by last year’s winner, Dolly Bergman, to former Cass County Memorial Hospital CEO Pat Markham. Markham recently retired from the Cass County Health System after more than 29-years of service.

The Business of the Year Award went to 1st Whitney Bank and Trust, for its innovation and leadership. The bank took a major role in helping the Chamber achieve its four priorities, one of which was to increase the Local Option Sales Tax receipts. 1st Whitney came up with a “Cash Mob” concept, where all of its more than 20 employees would enter an Atlantic business to spend $20 each, or more. They encouraged other businesses to follow suite, and as a result, more than business did the same thing. Six additional “Cash Mob” stops generated more than $15,000 in sales for those businesses that were “mobbed.”

The Distinguished Service Award was presented to Jim Tyler, Chairman of the Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company. The award was accepted by Controller/Human Resources Director Mike Pappas. The Community Betterment Award, which is presented to a business or organization which has invested in the community to increase the value of property, insuring the future of infrastructure in the area, went to the Friends of the Schildberg Quarry, for their numerous volunteer efforts. The Community Service Award was presented to Melanie Petty, with the Frederickson Foundation, for her loyal support of the community and fundraising efforts benefiting the community, following the loss of her son in 2009. The Foundation has raised more than $75,000 in donations for local organizations and causes since its inception.

Other awards were presented to Junior Hansen, with Atlantic Municipal Utilities: Volunteer of the Year; Tina Lord: Outstanding Committee Member; Donnie and Arlene Drennan: Ambassadors of the Year; and The Star Ambassadors Award went to Dr. Keith Leonard, Dolly Bergman, Tammy Waters, Carole Schuler and Sue Muri.

The event featured a dinner of prime rib served by management and staff with the Atlantic Hy-Vee. The stores’ Amy Jordahl succeeds 1st Whitney’s Chip Hansen as President of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, for 2014.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowans are dealing with another blast of winter weather that has caused snarled traffic and threatened to dump nearly a half-foot of snow on some areas. At Iowa City, a multi-vehicle pileup blamed on bad weather shut down the eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 on Saturday morning. At least one lane had reopened by late morning.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials want people to know where snowplows are working during winter weather. The state Department of Transportation is offering an interactive online map that shows where the vehicles are currently located. It’s under the agency’s winter driving section. The map is available via desktop or mobile device.

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says a Minnesota man was injured while racing a snowmobile on Clear Lake in northern Iowa. The DNR says 29-year-old Tyler Hall of Twin Lakes, Minnesota had finished a run as part of the Jack Helgren Memorial Race near Clear Lake State Park on Saturday morning when he lost control of his snowmobile and hit a snow drift at high speed. Hall, who was wearing a helmet was taken to a Mason City hospital.

LINEVILLE, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has lifted a boil advisory in the southern Iowa city of Lineville. The DNR announced yesterday it had determined the water in the Wayne County city of about 200 people was safe. Lineville is 28 miles west of Centerville.