CLEAR LAKE, Iowa (AP) — Officials in Clear Lake are considering banning smoking at the city’s parks and beaches. The Globe Gazette reports that many Clear Lake residents support the ban because of health issues related to secondhand smoke and the litter smokers leave behind. Council members unanimously voted Aug. 21 to begin drafting the ordinance with city officials.

Councilman Tony Nelson says the ban would follow similar bans in other Iowa cities. He says the ban makes sense because of the number of activities the city and residents hold in those public spaces.

Nancy Cornelius, of Garner, opposes the ban. She says she’s respectful of others when smoking in public areas. The City Council will seek public comment on the proposal at its next meeting Monday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa City woman accused of leaving her newborn for dead in a trash can has been sentenced to probation. The Press-Citizen reports that 24-year-old Ashley Hautzenrader was sentenced Friday to five years’ probation in lieu of a prison time. She pleaded guilty last month to child endangerment and to neglect or abandonment of a dependent person.

Authorities say Hautzenrader gave birth May 8, 2016, in a bathroom at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and tried to flush the baby down a toilet. She then put the baby in a pillowcase and left it in the trash. The child was found alive.

Hautzenrader told the court Friday she had been dealing with her first child’s serious heart condition for more than a year. A psychiatrist testified Hautzenrader suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder at the time of her second child’s birth.

Cass County Democratic Party Chair Sherry Toelle reports the organization will hold its Fundraiser and Silent Auction next Saturday, September 9th, 2017, at The Venue (307 Walnut), in Atlantic. Doors will open at 5 PM with a full dinner starting at 5:30 PM. Cost is $25 per person or $40 per couple. Invited guests will begin speaking at about 6 or 6:30 PM.

Toelle says “The reason we are holding a fundraiser and inviting folks to attend, we hold several drives throughout the year to give a hand up to Cass County residents who are vulnerable and need assistance. We also provide voter education and sponsor several community events during the year. Funds are needed to keep those programs active. We encourage others to join us and to participate in this event.”

The Silent Auction will be open at no cost to the public from 3-4 PM before being opened to those attending the Fundraiser. However, those attending the fundraiser event will have the last bid on items. The items being auctioned include a quilt; baskets of hair and/or beauty supplies; historical newspapers; books; gift cards to Lowe’s, Applebee’s, Bass Pro Shop, and Home Depot; baked goods; political memorabilia; calligraphy artwork; a Historic Trails doll; fixings for an organic Thanksgiving dinner; a Harley Davidson coffee mug; and other items too numerous to mention.

Keynote speaker is Jason Kander. Jason was a military intelligence officer in Afghanistan before he served two terms in the Missouri House of Representatives, and was then elected to the Missouri Secretary of State’s office in 2012. Kander is the president of Let America Vote, which he started  in February, 2017 to fight back against proposals across the country that make it harder for eligible voters to exercise their constitutional right to cast a ballot. He is also a CNN contributor.

All Democratic candidates for the 2018 Governor and US Congressional races have been invited as well as candidates for the Secretary of State, State Auditor, and Agriculture Secretary positions.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest early Saturday of a Kansas man on drug charges. At 2:16am Deputies with the Fremont County K9 Unit responded to a call of a stranded motorist attempting to flag down vehicles near the 15-mile marker of Interstate 29 northbound.

The motorist, Stephan Anderson, age 27 of Lenexa, Kansas was found be in possession of methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia.

Anderson was placed under arrest and is being held at the Fremont County Jail on $1,300 bond.