(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council, this (Wednesday) evening, heard from an Atlantic resident with regard to junk – illegally parked vehicles, campers and utility trailers and tires – which says she said has “run amok in the City.” The woman acknowledged there is a process in-place to deal with issues such as those she described, and that it’s most likely a “Very tedious process to cite people for the ordinance violations,” junk related.

She asked the City to become more aggressive in dealing with personal vehicles, ATV trailers and so on, parked on the grass, in some cases for months at a time. She said she “Doesn’t want the City to run around and clean up just because 20,000 RAGBRAI ® riders are coming.” She said her concern is with the people who come to the City on a daily basis to shop, eat and visit persons in the hospital or nursing homes. She asked what type of impression the City is leaving with those people. “I want to make the best impression that we possibly can, so I would plead with you to be more aggressive because I feel our City is run amok with the amount of ordinance violations.”

Cole Loward (foreground) and Kris Erickson talk to the Atlantic City Council (3-2024) Ric Hanson photo

She said the City should get the word out that is not “going to be complacent with all these ordinance violations. It hurts our property values, it’s hurting out community.” Code Enforcement/Animal Control Officer Kris Erickson she has conducted several property inspections and Code Enforcement Office Cole Lowary, said they recently abated a property to the tune of $700, which was billed to the property owner. Erickson said she and Lowary, along with two Street Department employees, cleaned-up the property of person who refused to do so. “Most of what we’ve written-up lately, they’ve complied. So, we are seeing compliance with people,” even with the swings in the weather and temperatures.

Erickson said if they are notified of a potential ordinance violation, she and Lowary have five-days to investigate it. Each case is documented with photographs. If the complaint is deemed valid, then they must wait seven-days to see if the property owner takes care of the eyesore, under most circumstances. If the issue continues, the owner receives a notice of violation.  In that case, the problem area must be cleaned-up within two-weeks. The timeline is different for properties with a dangerous structure. Anything extreme that causes “Danger, stress [or] discomfort to the public, it is a nuisance. Those we deal with as quickly as we possibly can.”

If an abate is conducted (Property clean-up) by the City, the property owner has 30 days to pay the bill, or it will be assessed to their property taxes. Erickson said if a reported property violation is not visible from a City right-of-way, “we can’t write it up, because we cannot trespass. If we send a notice stating we are going to be there if they don’t, that is not trespassing,” because they were fully informed Code Enforcement was going to be there. “If a neighbor gives us permission to access their backyard to be able to see an issue they’re reporting, we can use the neighbors property. We cannot walk on their property to write-them-up, so if it cannot be seen by a street, alley or sidewalk, our hands are tied.”

(Hartley, Iowa) – A single-vehicle accident Wednesday morning northwest of Hartley, in O’Brien County, claimed the life of a 16-year-old male. The Iowa State Patrol reports the crash happened at around 8:30-a.m. at 300th Street and Van Buren Avenue.

Authorities say 16-year-old Joshua Cruz Salzillo, of Hartley, was driving a 2000 Honda Accord that left the road as it was eastbound on 300th Street. The car struck a creek embankment, causing fatal injuries to Salzillo, who was not wearing a seat belt and died at the scene.

The Patrol was assisted at the crash site by the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa DNR.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa lawmakers have voted to establish the crime of organized retail theft. Senator Scott Webster of Bettendorf said groups often steal merchandise with the intent to sell it later. “Not that long ago we had one happen just up the road in Ankeny where several firearms were stolen and then sold online,” Webster said. “HyVee, a grocer within our state, that’s constantly dealing with this problem (as well as) Home Depot, Lowes.”

The bill passed the House in February and it cleared the Senate today. Senator Tony Bisignano of Des Moines said the bill’s needed. “We’re seeing more and more of theft. It’s becoming a profession and it’s becoming organized,” Bisignano said.

But Bisignano unsuccessfully argued the bill should be broader than retail theft and apply to groups of people who target construction sites or farms to steal tools and equipment and to groups of “porch pirates” who steal packages. “For four or five people to come into the neighborhood and decide they’re going to go through the garages that night, that’s organized theft,” Bigisnano said. “…Let’s not restrict our mentality to what we see on TV. Let’s not worry about Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive and the Gucci stores. Let’s talk about our neighbors and the things that get stolen.”

Under the bill, the penalties for organized theft from a retail business are linked to the dollar amount of what’s stolen from a store.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Wednesday), released a report on four recent arrests. Authorities say on March 14th, 53-year-old Gary Victor, of Bridgewater, was arrested for OWI/2nd Offense.  Victor was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

On March 12th, 22-year-old Erin Mack, of Audubon, was arrested on warrants for:  Controlled Substance Violation, Gathering where Controlled Substances are Used and Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance Violation.  Mack was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on bond.

On March 11th, 2024, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 61-year-old Paul Hansen, of Atlantic, on warrants for Purchase / Possess Depiction of Minor in Sex Act – 1st Offense.  Hansen was booked in to the Cass County Jail where he was later released on bond.

And, on March 10th, 28-year-old Kris Sorcey, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI 1st Offense.  Sorcey was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

(Radio Iowa) – A new report from the Alzheimer’s Association details some of the difficulties Iowa’s 100-thousand unpaid caregivers experience while trying to navigate dementia care for a loved one or friend. Lauren Livingston, spokeswoman for the association’s Iowa chapter, says it’s an intricate juggling act that requires patience and the ability to work with multiple doctors, to secure appointments, and to find appropriate doctors in the first place.

“About 70% of caregivers report that coordinating care is stressful, and over half say that navigating the healthcare system is difficult,” Livingston says. “We know dementia caregivers have more stress, face more depression and chronic health issues, and navigating care for their loved one just adds to that.” The cost of care is another tremendous worry. The report estimates the cost of caring for people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias will reach 360-billion dollars this year, a 15-billion dollar increase from a year ago. She notes, that figure does -not- include unpaid care provided by family caregivers and friends.

“Last year in Iowa, family caregivers provided 125-million hours of unpaid care valued at over $2.2 billion,” Livingston says. “That’s really hard to wrap your head around, especially if you think about the fact there’s only 100,000 family caregivers providing all of these hours and value of care. That just really shows the burden of caregiving.” The report finds 60% of healthcare workers surveyed believe the U.S. healthcare system is not effectively helping patients and their families navigate dementia care.

“The Alzheimer’s Association is advocating state lawmakers for funding for a Dementia Service Specialist Program,” Livingston says, “and that would help families with a lot of these care navigation needs, including finding doctors, making appointments, and finding local care and support.”

The report estimates 6.9 million people age 65 and older in the U.S. are living with Alzheimer’s, and over 11 million loved ones are providing care. In Iowa, more than 62,000 people are living with the disease, and there are nearly 100,000 caregivers.