(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by Shawn Sarsfield, owner of Cheqed It Training, on Thursday, November 2nd, 2023, to learn more about the unique local business. Sarsfield is an Atlantic native who grew up just outside of town. He moved away for a short period of time, but ultimately moved back to the area. After an on-the-job accident, his crew was thrown into extensive training and Shawn found his passion for instructing. Fast forward to 2017 when the time came for Shawn to venture out on his own, and Chequed It Training was established.

Today, Chequed It Training hosts monthly 4-to 5-day training at their facility in Atlantic, where professionals from around the country come to learn under Shawn’s custom curriculum. Cheqed It certifications include all types of cranes, along with forklifts, areal lifts, scissor lifts, OSHA certifications and more.

Shawn says he is in the process of working alongside regional high schools to create a 3–to 4-week program that will allow students to become qualified on different equipment, giving them an upper hand when they seek a career immediately after high school. “My goal,” he says, “is to get these students into the seat of a crane and allow them to see if this field is right for them and find out if this work is fun for them.” Sarsfield also mentioned that he is constantly being approached by companies in search of qualified workers. “The job can pay very well if you do it well,” he said.

Cheqed It Training is located at 1007 W. 6th Street in Atlantic. To learn more information, visit https://www.cheqedit.com/ or call Shawn at (712) 249-4598

(Radio Iowa) – An attempted traffic stop led to a chase and gunfire in central Iowa on Sunday. Des Moines police say an officer tried to pull a car over Sunday morning and the vehicle sped away, leaving the roadway a few blocks later and becoming disabled. The driver fled on foot and police say he fired several shots at the officer. The officer was not hit and was able to take the suspect into custody — three minutes after the attempted stop. Police identify the man as 27-year-old Cody Gibbs of Des Moines. He’s facing multiple charges including: assault on a police officer, felon in possession of a firearm, eluding and O-W-I. Police say Gibbs also had multiple unrelated active arrest warrants.

(Radio Iowa) – It’s an Iowa State University tradition to hold a special ceremony on the Monday before Veterans Day to honor three former I-S-U students who died while serving our country. This (Monday) afternoon’s service is being held in Gold Star Hall, within the I-S-U Memorial Union. Megan Moore, an I-S-U marketing specialist, says it’s an annual privilege to recognize and remember these veterans, while several family members of the veterans will also attend.

This year’s honorees are: Thomas Delamore, of Ames and Clare, who died during World War Two; Alfred Agan, of Chariton, who served in both World War Two and Korea; and James Miller of Maquoketa who fought in Vietnam. The ceremony is scheduled to start at 4:15 P-M.

WALNUT, Iowa — It’s been nearly two months since 15-year-old Grace Pauley, from Shelby, crashed her car near Avoca. KETV reports that on Sunday, people from surrounding communities offered much-needed support to her family during a benefit dinner and silent auction at the Walnut Community Center.

Inside of the facility, the smell of pancakes filled the air and silent auction items spanned the length of the gym. The benefit was put on by Steele McLaren, of Atlantic, who, at the age of 17, suffered a traumatic head injury three-years ago when he fell off of a moving pickup truck. McLaren spent almost three weeks in a coma, followed by months in rehab. McLaren said the community rallied around him and his family when they needed it most, and hosted a number of fundraisers to help them out.  He says he simply wanted to “pay it forward.”

The support is something her family needs right now. Pauley’s brother says she was on her way home from a school event on September 18th.That’s when she rolled her car near Avoca.

She was flown to Nebraska Medicine where she stayed for 30 days. Now she’s doing well, and undergoing physical therapy at Madonna Rehabilitation in Omaha. A Facebook page dedicated to following her recovery, and a GoFundMe account, have been set up for Grace Pauley.

(near Coin, Iowa) – A traffic stop at around 1-a.m. Saturday in Montgomery County, resulted in an OWI arrest. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a vehicle driven by 47-year-old Jessie Gregory McFarland, of Farragut, was pulled over at 260th Street and B Avenue, west of Coin. Upon further investigation, McFarland was arrested for OWI/1st offense. He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $1,000 bond.

(State/Area News) – Iowans will head to their polling sites Tuesday, November 7, 2023, to cast ballots in their respective county for City and School Elections. The polls are Tuesday from 7-a.m. until 8-p.m.  A reminder from the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office: Absentee ballots must be received by the respective county auditor by 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

Iowans looking for their polling location, Voter ID requirements or to track the status of their absentee ballot should visit VoterReady.Iowa.gov. All 99 counties will conduct post-election audits for the City-School Election. On Wednesday, November 8, the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office will conduct a random drawing to select one precinct in each county to be audited.

In the KJAN listening area, here are just a few of the contested races we will be following (The results will be posted on our News page soon after they come in from the county auditor’s offices or the Iowa Secretary of State’s website, whichever comes first):

In Cass County, Ben Daughenbaugh and Kevin Littleton are vying to become Mayor, in Anita, while three people are running for two seats on the Anita City Council. They include Mark Harms, Cheryl Sokol and Roger L. Huffman. In Atlantic, incumbent Pat McCurdy faces a challenge from Mike McDermott for the City Council Ward 3 seat, and, incumbent Linda J. Hartkopf is being challenged for the Ward 4 seat by Shawn Sarsfield.

In Lewis, Rick Sanny and Russell Hansen are running for Mayor. Seven candidates are running for three seats on the Lewis City Council: Roy O. Wheatley; Betty F. Auten; Russell L. Miller; Leland M. Baxter; Roger Lockwood; Larry W. Perdue, Jr., & Donna Roberts. And, there are five candidates for three At-Large seats on the Atlantic School Board, including: Kristen Holoday; Gini Jordan; Jordan Dailey; Jodi Stowater-Goodrich, and, incumbent Laura McLean.

In Adair County, Joanne Byars and Kim Hodne are running to become Mayor in Adair. Seven candidates are running for 3 At-Large seats on the Adair City Council. There are also three candidates for two Director At-Large seats on the Adair-Casey School Board, and a Public Measure with regard to the adoption/renewal of a Revenue Purpose Statement.  In Bridgwater, two candidates are running to fill a vacancy seat on the city council. Four people are running to fill 3 At-Large seats on the city council in Casey. There are also 3 candidates running to fill 3 At-Large vacancy seats on the Fontanelle City Council, and three running for two At-Large seats on the city council in Stuart.

Voters in Adams County will select 2 of three candidates for At-Large Lenox School Board Director, and there are Public Measures to vote on in Corning as well as Prescott.

In Audubon County, five candidates are vying for two seats on the Audubon City Council, Tuesday. There’s also a Public Measure for Audubon residents to vote on, with regard to a 1% local sales & service tax for street construction and repair. Three people are running to become Mayor in Brayton. Four candidates are running for three seats on the Brayton City Council. Exira voters will decide the fate of a Public Measure pertaining to the composition of the Library Board of Trustees. Three candidates are running for two seats on the City Council in Kimballton, and five people are running for 3 At-Large seats on the Audubon School Board, while only three people have filed to run for 4 At-Large seats on the Exira-EHK School Board.

Other City races can be found: in Guthrie County, and, for the Panorama School District; The Mayor’s contest in Grant and City Council At-Large in Villisca; Council elections in Avoca, Walnut, Elk Horn, and Harlan, and School Board elections in the Riverside, Tri-Center and IKM-Manning School Districts, along with a variety of Public Measures in those communities and/or school districts.