There’s a big fuss being made over four tiny, fuzzy critters at one of the region’s largest tourist attractions.

Lions cubs at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha.

Four lion cubs are being seen by the public for the first time at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha. Zoo director Dennis Pate says a total of five lion cubs were born there late last month. “It’s exciting for us because it’s been 18 years since we’ve had (newborn) lions, 1994,” Pate says. “It’s been a long, long time and a lot of work on the part of the animal department to get the right male in, bring two females in. The females came from Idaho. Not sure where the male came from — Mr. Big — he’s a really big African lion.”

Four of the cubs are on display in the zoo’s Cat Complex with their mother. One female cub was smaller and is receiving extra care. So far, she’s thriving in the zoo’s hospital and will be introduced back with her mother and siblings once she is strong enough. Pate says the litter of five cubs — three females and two males — were born on December 29th.  “They’ll be here for quite a while,” Pate says. “As they grow, I imagine we’ll move them over so they have the outside yard, a lot of room to run and play. They should be a lot of fun to watch as they grow up. By the time they’re 16 weeks old, they’re going to be moving around a lot. Come spring, summer, it ought to be the joy of Omaha to come down and watch these cubs play.”

The four cubs that are on public view now are very healthy, Pate says, as is the new mother. The zoo also has four African lion adults, one male and three females. African lions are listed as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. More information is available on-line at www.omahazoo.com

(Radio Iowa)

The City of Atlantic’s Planning and Zoning Commission discussed Tuesday, a proposal pertaining to a housing development, “Southern Heights II,” between 22^nd and 19^th Streets, west of Redwood.The discussion included the future of Plum Street, versus Southern Heights Drive, along with storm water runoff and drainage issues.

City Councilman Shaun Shouse is the Council’s liaison. He reported to the Council Wednesday evening there was ample information about why the developer thought the project was needed, and representatives from the Cass-Atlantic Development Corporation (CADCO) were on-hand to offer their support.

Shouse said some residents in the area also offered their input, which included their support for the project, and concerns about traffic flow from 19^th to 22^nd.   He said also, that John Lund, Assistant to City Administrator Doug Harris, reported to the P-and-Z Commission at the meeting, that he would look into other options to alleviate some of the traffic issues, and report back on those options during the next meeting. And, the developer indicated their intention to request the area be re-zoned in order to accommodate multifamily housing. If that is approved, additional details will be released concerning the site plan at a future date.

Authorities in Montgomery County are investigating numerous incidents of the theft. Officials with the Red Oak Police Department say a little more than half a dozen complaints have been received from residents of the community, with regard to vehicles being broken into, and items stolen from inside those vehicles.

One of the residents reported on Wednesday, that two  of her vehicles had been broken into. While that incident was under investigation, six other residents filed complaints about vehicle thefts. Authorities say they later received a call from a resident near Griswold who observed a black and gray plastic box on the Nishnabotna Bridge north of Red Oak on Highway 48.  Several items in the box were found to have been taken from one of the burglarized vehicles in Red Oak. Those items are being examined to see if they can reveal any evidence of who may have committed the crime.

Anyone with information into these thefts is urged to call Red Oak Police at 712-623-6500 or The Montgomery County Crimestoppers at 800-432-1001.