The City of Atlantic is looking for a female to fill a position on the Community Promotion Committee. Mayor Pro-Tem Steve Livengood said during Wednesday evening’s City Council meeting, that they’re looking for resumes’ from woman because of gender balancing mandate handed down by the State. Livengood said the applicant should be “community active.” Your resume may be submitted to City Hall.

Livengood said also, the City “Is not going to shoot cats.” The Community Protection Committee, he says met on June 12^th to discuss a complaint about cats which, according to one resident, threatens her bird sanctuary. He says the Committee reviewed the City’s Animal Protection and Control licensing Code, and no where does it mention cats per se. Regardless, the Committee feels Chapter 55 of the Code is applicable to cats, even though it specifically says “dogs” and “animals.” Chapter 56 refers specifically to dog licensing. Livengood says the committee is examining the pro’s and con’s of licensing cats, but no decision has been made. Livengood said if your neighbor’s cat is in your yard, you have rights. He suggested cat owners respect their neighbors’ wishes to keep the animals out of their yards, while the issue is being studied.

In other business, City Administrator Doug Harris said a representative from Mediacom Cable Company wanted to inform residents of the community who have cable tv service, that the company will be going to an all digital platform in September. As a result, analog television sets will be incapable of receiving cable signals without a special box. The box will also improve internet speed with the changeover. And, the City Council approved a three-year Collective Bargaining Agreement with the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 234, along with a Resolution establishing the Pay Plan for non-union employees of the City of Atlantic, for the fiscal year which begins July 1^st and ends June 30^th, 2013.

Firefighters from Marne and Atlantic were called to the scene of what was initially reported to have been a structure fire in rural northwestern Cass County this morning. According to dispatch reports, there was a blaze was in a barn on the Dale Larsen property at 57384 Boston Road. However an Iowa State Patrol Trooper who was the first to arrive on the scene shortly after the call was dispatched at 6:40-a.m, indicated it was merely a large round bale of hay that was smoldering, and there was no structure fire.

The Atlantic Fire Department said later, that three large, round hay bales were smoldering inside a hay barn on the property. The owner used a forklift to move the bales to his pasture so they could be extinguished. The cause of the incident appears to have been the result of spontaneus combustion. No injuries were reported.

An Atlantic woman was one of five people arrested on drug charges Wednesday, in Red Oak. According to Red Oak Police, 19-year old Jessica Moorehead, of Atlantic, was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, following an investigation into a separate incident. Officials say Red Oak Police officers arrived at 1660 East Summit Street, and upon arrival, smelled a strong odor of marijuana allegedly coming from an apartment. 

A search warrant led to the arrests of Moorehead and 19-year-old Timothy Jennings, of Red Oak, who faces Possession of a Controlled substance/Marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia charges. 41-year old Kevin Eugene Jennings, of Red Oak, was also charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 37-year old Anthony Deon Gregory, of Red Oak, along with 19-year old Timothy Gene Humphrey, of Omaha, were charged with Trespassing.