The Atlantic RAGBRAI Committee is currently seeking sponsorships from local businesses to support RAGBRAI 2019. Nick Harris, Atlantic RAGBRAI Co-Chair, says “The funds donated will help cover the cost of hosting RAGBRAI. A lot goes into being a host community and the funds will help pay for law enforcement, showers, bathrooms, signage, advertising, beer garden supplies, entertainment, etc. It will also be a great opportunity for local businesses to gain national exposure, the chance for 15,000 cyclists to see their name and an opportunity to support their community.”

Sponsorships are broken down into four main categories:

Platinum Sponsor = $5,000
Gold Sponsor = $2,500
Silver Sponsor = $1,000
Bronze Sponsor = $500

Bailey Smith, Atlantic RAGBRAI Committee Member , says “Each sponsorship level has a different amount of benefits based off the cost. The more you donate, the more benefits you will receive. Each sponsor will receive logo placement on signage, advertising, social media posts and the Atlantic RAGBRAI website. They will also receive VIP admission to Hairball, the headlining entertainment act. The amount of exposure given will depend on the sponsorship level.”Sponsorship Flyer

There are also sponsorship opportunities to help welcome and send-off cyclists as they arrive and leave Atlantic. For $1,500, businesses can sponsor the Grand Entrance or Grand Farewell. Each sponsorship comes with logo placement on signage, social media posts and the Atlantic RAGBRAI website. Sponsors will also receive VIP admission to Hairball. A Sunblock/Aloe sponsorship for $750 will also be available. The sponsor has the opportunity to provide sunblock and aloe to cyclists while gaining exposure through signage, social media posts and the Atlantic RAGBRAI website. The final opportunity is a simple donation sponsorship. For $50, a business or individual can donate to Atlantic RAGBRAI and have their name listed on the Atlantic RAGBRAI website.

Atlantic will host RAGBRAI Sunday, July 21st. To be involved as a volunteer or for a complete list of sponsorships and benefits, visit www.atlanticragbrai.com or contact Nick Harris at nickh@brockerkarns.com or Kipp Harris at kipph@brockerkarns.com.

HYATTSVILLE, Md. (AP) — A white principal at a private school near Washington says she regrets using a racial slur referring to black people during a Black History Month assembly. Citing a release from New Hope Academy Principal Joy Morrow, news outlets report a keynote speaker had canceled just before the school’s annual assembly, so Morrow decided to give a talk she gave 25 years ago about what Martin Luther King Jr.’s teachings meant to her.

A native of Dubuque, Iowa, she says she warned the children in grades 6 to 12 that she would use the slur to explain what she “experienced growing up in an all-white, racist community.” She said the word inadvertently distracted some students, so she regrets using it. The school has since held discussions with students and faculty.

(Update 11-a.m.) OSKALOOSA, Iowa (AP) — A south-central Iowa sheriff says a garbage truck driver was killed when he got caught by his truck’s compactor mechanism. The Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that deputies and medics were sent late Tuesday morning to a rural location a few miles east of Oskaloosa to check a report about the man. They discovered that he’d already died. He was identified as 39-year-old Robert Evans, of Oskaloosa.

Sheriff Russ Van Renterghem said today (Wednesday), that Evans had stopped the truck on the rural road, climbed up the frame to a spot between the cab top and the compactor and then was caught and crushed by the mechanism. An autopsy was ordered.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests took place, Tuesday. 27-year old Shialea Kay Cozard, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $2,300. 42-year old Travis Matthew Handley, of Glenwood, was arrested Tuesday for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and cited for Speeding. His bond was set at $300. And, 37-year old David Jonathan Barnes, of Papillion, NE., was arrested on a Fugitive from Justice warrant, along with Possession of Contraband in a Jail Facility. His bond was set at $5,000.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports four prisoners from the Douglas County, Nebraska, Jail, were transported to Pott. County Corrections today (Wednesday), or Tuesday, to address their respective warrants, and one was transported to Pott. County from Crawford County. Among those transported from Nebraska, was:

• 49-year old Hector Alonso Aguilar, on warrants for Willful Injury Resulting in Serious Injury, and two counts of Child Endangerment.
• 23-year old Chance Parker Featherstone, on a warrant for Escape from Custody.
• 29-year old Eric L. Wilson, for Theft in the 1st Degree
• and, 37-year old Brandon Edward Drummer, for Violation of Probation.

In addition, 32-year old Carl Allen Jannsen was transported from Crawford County, to address a warrant for Violation of Parole.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Firefighters helped a crane operator reach safety after a fire broke out below at a building under construction in downtown Iowa City. Flames were being blown up and sideways Tuesday afternoon at the Hieronymous Square project. It’s unclear what started the blaze. No injuries have been reported.

Fire Chief John Grier says mist on the tower might have made it slick, so they took a precaution: Firefighter Andy Wulfekuhle climbed up the inside of the crane to fit the operator with a safety belt before his climb down. It’s unclear how much the fire will affect the project, which will include two 7-story towers with hotel, office, retail and apartment space.