Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson reports today (Wednesday), 21-year old Hunter Bechtold, of Atlantic, was arrested Tuesday on a warrant out of Nodaway County Missouri, for Rape in the 2nd Degree. Bechtold was being held in the Cass County Jail.

And, two Atlantic residents have been arrested on drug charges. 26-year old Nicholas Anderson was arrested today for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. On Tuesday, 49-year old Michael Redler was arrested by Atlantic Police on Cass County warrants for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd or subsequent offense, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana. Both men were booked into the Cass County Jail.

Police in Creston report 38-year old Seth Preston, of Creston, was arrested Tuesday afternoon on Laurel Street, the charges of Possession of Paraphernalia, Possession of a Controlled Substance – Mushrooms, Possession with Intent to Sell or Manufacture Methamphetamine over 5 grams, Possession of a Controlled Substance – Marijuana. Preston was being held in the Union County Jail a $100,000 bond.

And three incidents of theft were reported to Creston Police, Tuesday. A fireproof safe containing a silver Bar, two diamond necklaces, three wedding rings, some personal documents and other items were taken from an apartment on S. Sumner Street. The estimated loss is unknown at this time.

The Creston Pizza Hut reported Tuesday, that on April 8th and 24th, two bank deposits went missing. They estimated the loss at nearly $1,100. A Creston resident reported Tuesday night that sometime between May 5th and 9th, someone had broken into his garage in the 200 block of N. Division Street, and stolen a three gallon gas can full of gas. The loss was estimated at $20.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A former Winnebago Tribal Council member has pleaded guilty to his role in stealing from the tribe’s casino in Iowa. The Lincoln (Nebraska) Journal Star reports  that Lawrence Payer is one of nine former council members accused of a conspiracy to siphon more than $327,000 from the WinneVegas Casino in Sloan, Iowa.

As part of his plea agreement with prosecutors in U.S. District Court in Omaha, Payer admits only to misapplying funds belonging to an Indian gaming establishment. Conspiracy and other charges against him will be dropped if the court accepts the plea agreement. Prosecutors have recommended that Payer be sentenced to five years of probation and be ordered to repay any money he illegally obtained from the casino.

The City of Atlantic’s Community Protection Committee will recommend to the full City Council fireworks will be allowed within City limits from 6-pm until Midnight on the 4^th of July, and on New Year’s Eve from dusk until 12:15-a.m. New Year’s Day. Governor Branstad, Tuesday, signed a bill into law allowing the sale of fireworks in Iowa, beyond the traditional sparklers, snakes and caps. The bill prohibits cities and counties from banning the sale, but it does not set forth rules as to if or when they can be used on those two holidays.

The CPC agreed to allow only tent sales of fireworks in the City by licensed and insured vendors, but also agreed to charge a $200 fee on top of the $1,000 fee vendors pay to the state for certification and licensing. The sites must also be inspected as required by the bill, but because the State Fire Marshals Office is so busy, the question of who will inspect the vendor operations, is not clear.

City Administrator John Lund talk with Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNees about the requirements and ask him to conduct the inspections.