The Silver Cord Program is a graduation incentive program to promote volunteerism in the Atlantic Area. Atlantic High School seniors who volunteered a minimum of 200 hours throughout their high school career graduated this year with a silver cord and were eligible for a $500 scholarship provided by the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. The program encourages volunteer opportunities with all Civic Organizations and benefits the entire community.

Pictured: Kelsey Beschorner, Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Program Director; Cole Sampson (Photo submitted)

“The Silver Cord program was started as a way to educate students about the importance of community service. It gives students the opportunity to see firsthand how investing their time can enhance and grow their community,” Bailey Smith, Executive Director of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said.

The 2020 Silver Cord Scholarship recipient was Cole Sampson. Cole volunteered at the Red Cross community blood drives, RAGBRAI, AtlanticFest, Coca-Cola Days, Christmas in Atlantic Ice-Skating Rink and numerous other community activities.

“A big lesson I learned from these experiences was the importance of coordination and communication. I saw the many details and all the preparation that goes into events like these and how it can go smoothly if things are well planned and executed. I come from a family who believes in volunteering. My grandmother (Eleanor Hoover) was always ready to help in the community in any way she was able, whether it was with sporting competitions, YMCA events, or with anyone else who needed a hand,” Cole Sampson, Silver Cord Scholarship recipient stated.

Cole will be attending Iowa State University this fall to study Industrial Design.

If you are interested in learning more about the Silver Cord Program, please visit www.atlanticiowa.com. If you would like to volunteer, please visit www.atlanticiowa.com or call the Atlantic Area Chamber at 712.243.3017.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign has sued two Democratic-leaning Iowa counties that are making it easy to vote by mail during the coronavirus pandemic, seeking to invalidate tens of thousands of voters’ absentee ballot applications. The Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee and other GOP groups filed the lawsuits against elections officials in Linn and Johnson counties.

At issue are absentee ballot request forms that the counties are sending to registered voters with personal information already filled in. The GOP lawsuits argue that the auditors are violating a state directive by prepopulating the forms and that any ballots cast in response to the mailings may be subject to legal challenge.

Police in Shenandoah say a man who allegedly attempted to tamper with a SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) at the Shenandoah Fire Station, was arrested Wednesday night on a burglary charge.

Joshua Jorge Colwell

Authorities say Police responding to the Fire Department at around 8:45-p.m. found 42-year old Joshua Jorge Colwell, of Sioux City, in the garage area.

Colwell was arrested on a Class-D Felony charge of Burglary in Third-degree Burglary, Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree, and Public Intoxication. He was being held in the Page County Jail on $5,600 bond.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Cedar Rapids man has been charged in the fatal beating of his mother earlier this summer over what police say was an effort to steal $50 from her. Police say 49-year-old George Alan Deason is charged with first-degree murder and other counts in the death of 71-year-old Elsie Mae Deason. Police believe George Deason attacked his mother in her home on June 30. She was found the next day with critical injuries.

Police said it appeared she had been severely beaten. She was taken to a hospital, where she died of her injuries on July 23. Police say George Deason was arrested shortly after his injured mother was found, and police confiscated a battering weapon called a slapjack from him.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office today (Thursday), says a report about a suspicious vehicle on the side of the road Wednesday evening, near Crescent, resulted in the arrest of 31-year old Adam Paul Glancy, of Council Bluffs. Glancy was arrested for OWI/1st offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of marijuana/1st offense. Glancy was said to have been uncooperative throughout the incident investigation. He was transported to the Pott. County Jail and held on $2,300 bond.

Wednesday afternoon, 25-year old Derick Wayne Fuller, of Bellevue, NE., was arrested on a warrant for Aggravated Theft/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000. Tuesday evening, 19-year old Dylan Floyd Michael Harrod was arrested in Treynor, for Driving While License Suspended or Revoked. Tuesday afternoon, 21-year old Jacobi Christian Mauer was arrested at the Pott. County Courthouse, on a State of Iowa warrant for Violation of Probation.

And, 45-year old Kathleen Marie Gerhardt, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact or Protective Order/Contempt of Court, following a report from staff at the Pott. County Jail.