The Atlantic City Council will get a jump on the next mowing season during their next regular meeting, when they act on the first reading of a new “Mowing of Properties” Ordinance. The ordinance requires “Any property in the City of Atlantic, whether vacated or non-vacated….to be mowed when the vegetation reaches a height of more than 12 inches by the first and the fifteenth day of the month in May, June, July, August, September, and October.”

If the property owner fails to comply, the City, or its agents, may mow any property, by the aforementioned dates, and charge $75-per hour to do so. In addition, a surcharge of $100 will be charged to the property owner. The Ordinance says “Any property owners who fail to mow their properties, thus allowing the same to be mowed by the City or their agents, and who do not provide payment for the mowing as required, will be assessed by the City for such costs, which will be collected in the same manner as general property taxes.”

Any billings for mowing done by the City or its agents will be sent by regular mail and are payable within 30 days of the billing date. The ordinance will go into effect from and after its final passage, approval, and publication as provided by law.

AKRON, Iowa (AP) – Police have arrested a 37-year-old Akron man after they say he twice threatened to blow up the White House. The Sioux City Journal report that the man called the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office Thursday afternoon and asked to speak with sheriff. Authorities say that when the man was told he would have to leave a message for the sheriff, he told the dispatcher he was going to blow up the White House.

Federal and local authorities went to the man’s home Thursday evening to investigate the threat. Investigators say after the man again threatened to blow up the White House and to kill the investigators, he was arrested.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Crews were busy cleaning up a 100-gallon diesel spill in western Iowa’s Council Bluffs following a collision between a pickup and semitrailer. Authorities tell the Daily Nonpareil  that the crash happened Friday afternoon on the westbound Interstate 80 ramp going into Omaha, Nebraska from the South Expressway. Investigators say the pickup hit the semi’s fuel tank.

Assistant Council Bluffs Fire Chief Matt Thomas says the fire department assisted until a cleanup crew out of Omaha was hired by the company that employed the semi driver. Thomas says neither driver was injured.

An accident early this (Saturday) morning in Audubon County, has claimed the life of an Audubon man. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Department says authorities received a report at around 1:30-a.m., about an accident in the 200 block of 190th Street, about 3-miles northeast of Audubon. When deputies arrived, they found a wrecked pickup truck and the driver, 19-year old Matthew Terry Sunberg, of Audubon, deceased.

The accident remains under investigation. The sheriff’s department was assisted by Audubon Fire and Rescue, officers with the Audubon Police Department, and Audubon County Medical Examiner’s Office.