Red Oak Police report two arrests. At around 2:35-a.m. Monday (April 5), 39-year-old Paul Earl Lemburg, II, of Red Oak, was arrested on warrants for Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Lemburg was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond. And, at around 8:40-p.m. Sunday, Red Oak Police arrested 24-year-old Cadon Michael Cornelison, of Corning, on a charge of Simple Assault. Cornelison was being held without bond, in the Montgomery County Jail.

(Radio Iowa) – As of today (Monday), all Iowans age 16 and above are eligible for Covid-19 vaccinations. Governor Kim Reynolds says getting an appointment may be challenging, but she has repeatedly urged Iowans to get the shot. “For months, we held onto hope that a vaccine would eventually be available and that it would make it possible to get life back to normal,” Reynolds says, “and I think we can all say that time is now.”

A Des Moines Register “Iowa Poll” conducted a month ago indicated 27 percent of Iowans do not intend to get vaccinated. Reynolds used part of news conference last week to make a direct appeal to reluctant Iowans. “I’m asking you to take the final step in getting life back to normal and if you get a chance, get vaccinated as soon as you are able and take whatever vaccine you’re offered,” Reynolds said. “Every vaccine is safe and effective.”

At 10 p.m. last (Sunday) night, the state website tracking vaccinations showed nearly 663-thousand Iowans have completed their vaccinations, either the single-dose Johnson and Johnson or both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. Iowa City computer programmer Brian Finley set up a Twitter account to list vaccination appointment times as soon as they become available.

Iowa Vaccine Alerts Twitter account is an outgrowth of Finley’s own search for appointments when his family became eligible for shots. “I found a way to write a couple of scripts on my computer that made it a little bit easier and sort of notified me when something came up,” Finley says, “and then helping get my family registered and ready to go, I felt like it was something that could help other people and decided to push those alerts out to Twitter.”

More than 33-thousand people are following Finley’s Iowa Vaccine Alerts Twitter account. Some of Finley’s Twitter followers are now volunteers helping schedule vaccination appointments for people who lack the time or internet access to get shots lined up. “Especially as we’re trying to work toward herd immunity, shots in arms is what we’re really working toward,” Finley said. He says two of the volunteers who’re using information from his Iowa Vaccination Alerts Tweets have helped more 500 people sign up for appointments.

A head-on collision Friday afternoon in Harrison County resulted in one person dead and two others injured. The Iowa State Patrol said 62-year old Kurt T. Von Sternberg, of Omaha, died from his injuries. His passenger, 60-year old Debra June Von Sternberg, also of Omaha, and the driver of the other vehicle, 32-year-old Michelle Marie Rosario, of Council Bluffs, were injured. Rosario suffered serious injuries and was transported by EMS to CHI Health in Missouri Valley. Debra Von Sternberg was flown by LifeNet to the UNMC in Omaha. All three crash victims were wearing a seat belt.

The Patrol says the crash happened at around 4:33-p.m., when, for reasons unknown, a 2003 Chevy Suburban driven by Rosario crossed the center line of Loess Hills Trail, north of York Road, and south of Kermit Place. Rosario was traveling northbound, while a2019 Ford Escape driven by Kurt Von Sternberg was traveling southbound, when the crash occurred.

The President of the Iowa State University student crew Club, Saturday, told WHO-TV,  that winds forecast to remain low, instead picked up suddenly, causing a boat to capsize before the crew could return to shore, drowning two members on March 28th.

According to Alexis Aurandt, that after crew members rowed onto the lake, the winds picked up out of nowhere, and the crew’s boat was surrounded by 1-foot waves. She says after the crew turned to get back to shore, a wave went under the boat and knocked it over.

Crew members were not wearing life vests but all crew members had passed swim tests. The university and a national rowing association are investigating the accident.

A report from the Shenandoah Police Department says a man from Oakland was arrested in Essex on an OWI charge, early Sunday morning. Authorities say Shenandoah Police attempted to stop a vehicle for a registration violation in Essex, a little afterr 2 a.m. The vehicle initially failed to stop.

Upon further investigation, officers arrested 43-year-old Caleb Francis Bryant on charges of Operating While Intoxicated — 3rd or Subsequent Offense — and Driving While Barred. Bryant was being held in the Page County Jail on $6,000 bond.

The Atlantic City Council has a lot on the docket for their meeting 5:30-p.m., Wednesday, at City Hall. There are three public hearings. The first is with regard to the Council authorizing an application for financial assistance to USDA Rural Development, for the purchase of equipment, furniture and/or vehicles for the Atlantic Fire Department. The Dept. needs 25 units of 1 3/4 inch diameter fire hose, 50-feet in length, at a cost of $2,750. If approved, USDA-RD would cover 35% of the costs, or $926.50. The City’s Fire Equipment Reserve Fund would cover the $1,787.50 match required for the grant.

The second public hearing is on an Ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances, by amending a chapter entitled “Zoning Regulations,” by striking the residential district language and the first setback in C-1, to 10-feet, and replacing it with (Option1 )”Other permitted Uses – 10 feet.” The second amendment (Option 2) would change the definition of “District” to say “Zoning District.” The Planning and Zoning Commission formally recommends the Council adopt both options  to eliminate confusing language and better accommodate commercial property within its proper zone.  The proposed changes surfaced when Armstrong Real Estate requested to rezone 1007 W. 6th Street from C-1 (Highway Commercial District) to L-1 (Light Industrial District), in order to further develop the property.

The third and final hearing for Wednesday’s meeting, is with regard to the Atlantic Animal Shelter Building Addition. Iowa Code requires competitive bidding on public improvement projects valued at more than $139,000, and prior to the acceptance of bids. The project was originally estimated to cost around $151,620, but the lowest bid ended-up being $180,300. The Council rejected all bids in April 2020, due to the uncertainty concerning the pandemic, cost overruns and because the project was a “want,” not a “need.”  The project was gifted $135,000 from the Lorraine Eppelsheimer Estate to benefit animals at the shelter, with the provision the dog and cat areas be separate. The proposed addition includes new floor and office space, an increase in the number of cat cages in a separate area from the dogs, proper food storage, as well as an exam and grooming table, in addition to a more efficient water heater.  The Council is expected to pass a Resolution later in their meeting accepting a low bid from Henningsen Construction and awarding a contract for, the Animal Shelter Project.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on:

• A Resolution “Authorizing Third Quarter Budget Transfers”
• A Resolution “Agreeing to apply for financial assistance with [USDA-Rural Dev,] to purchase [Fire Dept. equipment].
• A Resolution “Authorizing [an] application to the Rural Iowa Housing Assessment Grant Program and Commitment of required matching funds,” with regard to housing assessment data collection. April 16th is the application deadline. A funding decision is expected by May 21st.
• The Council will act on a Resolution appointing a Housing Committee Chair and Committee members, as part of the Rural Housing Readiness Assessment process in establishing a City Housing Committee. Bob Camblin has already developed a working group of community stakeholders that have an interest in housing. They have already met twice over the past year, but there are no limits to those willing to serve on the Committee. Members must participate in training with Iowa State University, including attending meetings that last 2-to 3 hours.

The Council is also expected to act on approving an Order for a Letter of Intent for the SHIFT ATL application for the Rural Innovation Grant valued at anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000, and with regard to a housing rehab project at 1310 Chestnut. They will also act on a Resolution “Declaring the Bull Creek Restoration Project a Community Priority.” The current concept calls for the relining of Bull Creek, just east of Harl-Holt Park, in order to stabilize the creek walls and prevent future erosion.  Federal funding is available for such local projects, but the application deadline is April 16th.

Among other business, the Atlantic City Council will review and act on a recommendation on a Right-of-Way agreement with Massena Telephone Company, for the installation of fiber optic lines along 7th Street, from the school bus barn to Hospital Drive, and north on Ash Street, to Atlantic Carriers (Phase 1). And, one of the last action items for the Council is to set April 21st at the date for a Public Hearing on approval of the FY 2022 Budget.