A Kiwanis project that started 25-years ago in Atlantic, continues with their mission of keeping kids safe while on a bicycle. Kiwanis member Steve Green said it all started with a Bell Helmets advertisement in a magazine.

After he got the go ahead to incorporate a bike safety program, Green called then Atlantic Police Chief Roger Muri, he wanted to get involved and sent his – at that time – Officer Steve Green to work with the program. It wasn’t long afterward that Barb and Dave Chase with Nishna Valley Trails got involved, to share their experiences and expertise in riding bikes.

Bell Helmets used local newspaper articles about the program to start other programs across the nation. To date, there are 5,000 similar programs established across the country for kids’ bicycle safety.

During the third year of the program, if a child’s helmet was damaged while being used, it would be replaced. In one such instance, a girl’s helmet broke into three pieces, but she didn’t suffer any injuries to her head. Atlantic’s program was also a part of Bell’s test program of a new helmet design.

The Kiwanis are giving helmets to third-graders in Atlantic and the CAM School District. The Griswold Optimists buy helmets for third-graders in Griswold, as well. Home school kids are also invited to attend the bicycle safety program. This year school has a “No Visitor” policy, so the program is not available. Last year the Bicycle Safety Program was put on hold due to COVID, but kids were still given helmets. They were placed inside their lockers for them to take home free of charge.

The discounted helmets still cost the organization $32,000 over the course of the 25-years the program has been in existence. Green says he knows of at least a half-dozen kids who were saved from more serious injuries, through the use of a bike helmet. In addition to bicycle helmets, the Kiwanis donate teddy bears to emergency rooms to help settle down a child who may be upset due to their injuries. He says about 150 bears are given away each year at the hospital.

If you would like to become involved with the Kiwanis and helping youth in the area, call Steve Green at 243-1247.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans who are members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community spoke out against increased violence against Asians across the country during a weekend rally in Des Moines. Speakers told stories of hate and discrimination to help raise awareness of Asian experiences in Iowa. Bonnie Manyvong said she’s proud of her younger brother for helping to organize the event.  “Someone had to speak out,” Manyvong says. “I mean, our culture is pretty much brought up where we were raised to be silent and quiet. Not to talk, not to speak, walk away from a situation even if it bothers you.”

A report found there were more than 37-hundred Asian hate incidents nationwide in the past year. Matthew Manyvong says he decided to put the rally together on impulse after six women of Asian descent were killed in Atlanta two months ago.  “It can happen anywhere,” Manyvong says. “Why wait for something to happen here when we can prevent it from happening?”

From 2019 to 2020, anti-Asian hate crimes increased more than 140-percent. Manyvong says that’s why there are more events like these to come. He says this was the first event of many to unify the Asian community in Iowa.

(By Kassidy Arena, Iowa Public Radio)

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly meeting beginning 9-a.m. Tuesday (April 13). On their agenda is discuss and possible action (D/A) on:

• Approving a Resolution for the Secondary Roads Dept. Construction Program.
• Approval of new hires by the County Engineer.
• Approval of a Resolution with regard to the 2021 Weed Control Program.
• Establishing a Cass County temporary county redistricting commission (districts based on 2020 Census data).
• Appointing members to the Cass Co. Zoning Board of Adjustment and/or Zoning Commission, for the remainder of open terms.
• And, appointing a member (A licensed physician) to the Cass County Board of Health (for the remainder of a term ending 12/31/2023).

The meeting takes place in the Supervisor’s Board Room at the Courthouse in Atlantic. Persons interested may view/and or participate via Zoom, at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/138870131?pwd=dnRLK2ZjcWQ2SWpMQm0wK1c0b2pwUT09

The Creston Police Department reports six people were arrested over the past few days. At around 1:45-a.m. today (Monday), 32-year-old Gilberto Pantoja, of Lenox, was arrested for Public Intoxication. He was later released on a $300 bond.  At around 7:20-p.m. Saturday, 33-year-old Cody Wilson, of Thorton, CO., was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on an Adams County warrant for Harassment in the 3rd Degree. He was also later released on a $300 bond.

Saturday afternoon, 42-year-old Brady Richert, of Creston, was arrested in Creston for OWI/2nd offense. He was later released on $2,000 bond. 29-year-old Lucas Perrigo, of Thayer, was arrested Saturday, for Assault with Injury. He was later released on $1,000 bond. Friday afternoon, 35-year-old Skylar Rufenacht, and 33-year-old Samantha Meek, both of Creston, were arrested for Violation of a Protection Order. They were later released on $300 bond, each.

And, a Creston man reported to Police on April 5th, that mailboxes were vandalized in the 900 block of Cottonwood Street. Officers at the scene discovered three mailboxes and a post that had been damaged. The loss was estimated at $150.