The Atlantic City Council Wednesday, heard a presentation by a local health official regarding efforts to have the City designated as a “Blue Zone” Community. Cass County Public Health Coordinator Denise Coder said a “Blue Zone” is where residents live a healthy, happy and long life. It’s part of Governor Terry Branstad’s plan announced in August, to make Iowa the healthiest state in the nation, by 2016, as measured by the Gallup Healthways Well-Being Index. Coder says Iowa currently ranks as the 19^th healthiest state. Hy-Vee and Wellmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield are the corporate sponsors for the initiative. The corporations have pledged between $15-and 25-million toward the project. Coder says some of the funding will be used to survey Iowan’s about their health behaviors and how much progress is being made. The rest will be designated toward the “Blue Zone Project.”

She says research by Dan Buettner into what makes a healthy community began several years ago. The results of the research helped to determine common elements for persons being healthly, happy and having a long-life. Those elements were developed into an initiative to try and get communities to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Iowa will choose 10 communities to transform into “Blue Zone Communities.” In Addition, all Iowans will have access to tools and information, to help them take action, regardless of whether their community is selected or not as part of the program. Coder says “bedroom communities” – those comprised mostly of commuters – are not likely to be chosen, because officials want to involve those towns where a majority of the people live and work in the community.

Beginning next Monday, October 10^th, a road show informational meeting will be held in Harlan, from 9-to 10-a.m. Blue Zone founder Dan Buettner will participate in the event, which is designed for community and business leaders, along with other interested Iowans, to learn first-hand about the project, and how to transform their towns into Blue Zone Communities. It’s also being held to determine the level of interest in the program. Coder asked the council for two representatives to attend the round-up meeting in Harlan, along with other local community and health officials. Efforts to show Atlantic’s interest in the Blue Zone Community program will include a formal letter of application of commitment which will be sent to program officials, and, 25-percent of the population must indicate their intention to participate in the effort. Coder says the effect of becoming an active participant in the program, was exemplified by Albert Lea, MN, where the city’s health insurance costs dropped by 40-percent. She says a similar effort in Atlantic, would be a huge economic benefit for some of the top employers in the community, not just individuals’ health.

For more information, visit www.bluezonesproject.com

Authorities in western Iowa are on the lookout for a vehicle reported stolen sometime overnight from a residence in Brayton. According to the Cass County Communications Center, the stolen, white 2003 Toyota Camry, was observed at the Stuart 66 Food Mart at around 2:30 this (Thursday) morning. The vehicle has Iowa license plate number 484 TNL.

If you see this vehicle, contact your local law enforcement agency.

The Iowa State Patrol says six members of an Omaha family, three adults and three children, were injured Wednesday evening when the SUV they were in rolled over on Interstate 29, about three-miles north of Council Bluffs City limits. Authorities said 26-year old Lucia Barrera, of Omaha, was driving a 1996 Ford Explorer when a back tire blew out.  When Barrera lost control of the SUV, it rolled multiple times before coming to rest facing southbound, in the southbound lane of travel.The accident happened just before 5-p.m.

The children, identified as one-year old Edgar Berrera, 9-year old’s Steffany Fernandez and Bryan Brito, were ejected from the vehicle during the crash. Two of the children were not wearing their seatbelts.  Lucia Barrera, along with her passengers, 34-year old Octavio Barrera and 32-year old Catalina Barrera, were also injured. All of the victims were transported to Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha.  One of the children was flown to the facility by medical helicopter.The rest were transported by Council Bluffs Medics or Crescent Rescue.

Details on the extent of their injuries was not immediately available. A section of the interstate was closed for more than an hour Wednesday, while emergency crews took care of the injured and cleaned-up the crash scene.

A public hearing will be held during the October 19th meeting of the Atlantic City Council, with regard to the disposition of property at 706 Walnut Street. The Council Wednesday evening voted 4-to-2 to pass a resolution terminating a purchase agreement the City had with resident Ed Leistad for the parcel. In August Leistad asked the Council to consider terminating a contract he signed earlier in the Summer, when he paid $5,000 for the property. Leistad claimed he misunderstood how small the property was, and that it would not serve his needs as he anticipated. The termination comes in exchange for his making $1,000 payment to the City as a of penalty.

Councilmen Dana Halder and Kern Miller voted against the resolution to terminate the contract. Miller said Leistad should be held accountable for his decision to buy the property in a sealed bid.  Halder said the City held up it’s end of the deal, and Leistad should do the same.  He said cancelling the contract would set a precedence for future sales of City-owned property that may cost the City money.

Councilperson Kathy Somers disagreed. She was one those who voted in favor of terminating the contract. Somers said Leistad’s paying $1,000 to the City and getting nothing in return, after admitting his mistake, is an acceptable form of apology. Miller urged the citizens of Atlantic to attend the hearing on October 19th to voice their concerns over the deal, and help determine what the City should do with the property.

Atlantic Firefighters Steve Curtis and Bob Reynolds stand-by outside the high school Wednesday night.

With firefighters standing by outside the Atlantic High School, Atlantic Police conducted a thorough  search Wednesday night of the premises and found no evidence of any explosive devices or materials associated with a bomb threat which was discovered earlier in the day.

Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green said prior to the search, his office contacted experts who doubted the validity of the threat. He says they contacted the State Fire Marshall’s Office and discussed the possible scenarios. The Fire Marshall’s Office said the threat was deemed “not credible.” Even so, Green said they’re taking precautions to ensure the safety of students and the staff at the high school. He says they will be “proactive over the next couple of days so parents can rest assured that their kids can come to school safely,” and not have to worry. Green says students will not be allowed to bring backpacks, large purses or duffle bags to school Thursday or Friday.

Students who do bring those items to school Thursday will be asked to put those items in their vehicles or leave them with a parent. In extenuating circumstances, the packs and purses will be searched. He says absolutely no backpacks or large purses will be allowed at school Friday. Chief Green says security at the school will be maintained during the next couple of days. Atlantic School District Superintendent Mike Amstein told KJAN News earlier in the day, Wednesday, that a student had discovered a written bomb threat on a restroom stall, and reported it to school officials. Administrators then notified law enforcement and sent out a press release designed to inform parents about the situation. The note scribbled on the stall indicated an explosive device would go off on Friday, October 7^th.

Green said threats such as the one found at the high school Wednesday, are usually an attempt by a student to disrupt classes for one reason or another, and nothing more. School will be held as usual both Thursday and Friday. Green says if the intent of the person responsible was to disrupt classes, they won’t be happy with the results of their effort. He says they’re not going to be rewarded with a day off, or a 3-day weekend for pulling this stunt.

He says parents and students should not be taken in by fear and panic, because the situation is being handled at a much higher level than is recommended by the experts.

The mother of a young man who shot and killed Aplington-Parkersburg Football Coach Ed Thomas in June 2009 will be the guest speaker during a Conversation on Mental Health in Atlantic, later this month. A jury found Joan Becker’s son Mark guilty of 1^st degree murder in March 2010, after rejecting his insanity defense. He was later sentenced to life in prison. Joan Becker, who has two other sons, is making her way around the state to hold conversations about mental health issues.

Joan Becker speaks in Orient Sept. 8th (courtesy Wallace Center)

She spoke last month at the Wallace Country Life Center in rural Orient, about her son‘s struggle with paranoid schizophrenia . Her visit to Atlantic will take place 7-p.m. October 20^th, at Iowa Western Community College. Cass County Mental Health Coordinator Teresa Kanning told the Board of Supervisors during their meeting this (Wednesday) morning, that Becker will discuss what parts of the mental health system failed her son, and which parts were helpful.

She says a local mental health panel discussion will follow her presentation about how the system works or doesn’t work, in Cass County. The event is open to the public, but seating is limited. Kanning says she’s very excited to have Mrs. Becker speak in Cass County. To reserve your seat, call 712-243-4424.