(Lamoni, Iowa) – A woman from Missouri died during a single-vehicle accident Wednesday evening, in southern Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by 72-year-old Brenda K. Jones, from Jameson,MO., was traveling on I-35 southbound at around 5:38-p.m., when the vehicle veered off of the road about a mile north of the Lamoni/Decatur City exit, and struck a tree.

Jones was found unresponsive when EMS personnel arrived on the scene. Crews attempted CPR but were unsuccessful. The Decatur County Sheriff’s Office assisted at the scene.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds has appointed her former legal counsel to the Iowa Court of Appeals. Samuel Langholz has been Chief Deputy Attorney General for the State of Iowa since Republican Brenna Bird took over as Iowa Attorney General in January. Langholz is a 2008 graduate of the University of Iowa Law School who clerked for a federal judge, then worked in private practice before serving in several roles in state government over the past 12 and a half years. He was a top lawyer in the Department of Inspections and Appeals and the State Public Defender before he joined the governor’s staff. In late 2020, Democratic Attorney General Tom Miller named Langholz Assistant Solicitor General.

Clear Lake native Sam Langholz, a 2008 UI Law School graduate. (UI photo)

Langholz, who lives in Ankeny, is a Clear Lake native. In written statements, Governor Reynolds called Langholz a committed public servant and Attorney General Brenna Bird said Langholz has a keen legal mind. Langholz is a member of the Federalist Society, a conservative group that has advised Reynolds on judicial appointments. Langholz unsuccessfully applied a district court judgeship in 2018 and for an opening on the Iowa Supreme Court in 2019.

(Radio Iowa) – A late entrepreneur from north-central Iowa who’s credited with launching two businesses that became global powerhouses will be honored next week in the town of Garner. Garner Mayor Tim Schmidt is proclaiming next Monday as Francis Zrostlik Day. The mayor says Zrostlik was a pioneer who was instrumental in the growth and development of that city and most of the surrounding towns in Hancock County.

Zrostlik family receiving the proclamation from the city of Garner. Pictured from left to right: Garner City Administrator Jim Collins, Members of the Zrostlik family (Dave Zrostlik, Barbara Zrostlik-Beyer, Susan Zrostlik Firsching), Garner Mayor Tim Schmidt. (Photo courtesy Macy Fuller w/Performance Mktg.)

In 1961, Zrostlik founded the Iowa Mold Tooling Company which initially retreaded tires and expanded into making tire service truck bodies. He also founded Stellar Industries in 1990, which makes a fleet of mechanic and service trucks, and was the first company in the U-S to make hydraulic hooklift loaders.

Dave Zrostlik, son of Francis and current president of Stellar.

Schmidt says Stellar now has more than 800 employees and it’s made Garner the tire truck capital of the world. Zrostlik’s birthday was August 14th. He died in 2000 at age 65.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Community School District (ACSD) Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnson, Wednesday, announced Kindergarten through 12th-grade students in the District will be admitted to all regular-season sporting events, free of charge, beginning this Fall. The plan – part of the theme of “Trojan Community,” was approved by the School Board during their meeting Wednesday evening, in the Schuler Elementary School Library.

Dr. Beth Johnson (image from Zoom meeting 8-9-23)

Schools Superintendent Beth Dr. Johnson said the idea was formed during informal discussion on improving attendance and school spirit in the Trojan Community.

The theme includes all Pre-k through 12the grade students wearing all Trojan gear on Friday’s.

She encouraged community members to wear Trojan apparel on Friday’s during the school year, also. Atlantic School District Board Secretary/School Business Official (SBO) Lisa Jones, says students who might be unable to attend a football or basketball games – due to financial harsdship – will now have the opportunity to do so.

Atlantic A.D. Andy Mitchell (Image from Zoom)

Atlantic Assistant High School Principal/Athletic Director Andy Mitchell said the only stipulation to local sporting events is that elementary students must be with an adult. That is unchanged from the previous policy. Also, free admission does not apply to school musicals and plays. And, the costs for the District to pay game officials will come from the General Fund, whereas they previously were paid for out of ticket sales. During the 2022-2023 school year, paying those officials cost the District $42,000.

The first home football game is on September 1, at Trojan Bowl. Andy Mitchell said Fall sports training began this week.

Elsewhere in meeting news, the Atlantic School Board, Wednesday, included approved the following resignations:
Hilary Thompson, Transportation para
Laura Juhl, Preschool Aide
Erica Vandevort, Preschool Aide
Heather Prall, Food Service Employee
Amy Lambson, Food Service Employee
Michaelin Juhl, High School Para

And, they approved the following contracts:
James Probanz, Part-time custodian
Paul Iekel, Middle School Cross Country Coach
Sierra Parker, Preschool Aide
Callie Carter, Preschool Aide
Caleb Winters, Elementary Special Education
Aubrey Schuler, High School Special Education
Stacy Van Aernam, Classroom Para
Monica Carlson, High School Special Education Para
Kaitlyn Geib, Schuler Therapeutic Classroom Para

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The August session of “Healthy U” — Cass Health’s monthly lunch-and-learn series — will feature a presentation on “Older Adult Nutrition” by Beth Olsen, MS, RD, LD. The presentation will be held Thursday, August 17th at noon, in Conference Room 2 at CCHS (Cass County Health System/Cass County Hospital), in Atlantic.

Olsen graduated from Iowa State University with her Bachelor of Science in Dietetics in 2012 and Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences in 2013. She went on to complete her Dietetic Internship in 2014 and has been working as a Registered Dietitian ever since. Beth joined Cass Health in 2016 as the Director of Public Health, where she manages several community health initiatives and programs. In a unique dual role, she also serves as the Clinical Dietitian for Cass Health.

Beth Olsen, MS, RD, LD, Director of Public Health

Healthy U is a free educational series held every month at Cass Health that the public is encouraged to attend. During Healthy U, Cass Health providers and staff share health information on a different topic each month. Upcoming presenters include Dr. Matt Weresh and Lace Sindt, ARNP.

A free boxed lunch is provided for all attendees, so reservations are required. Call 712-243-7479 to reserve your seat. For more information about Healthy U, visit casshealth.org/healthyu.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak said a Cass County man was arrested Wednesday on a Montgomery County warrant. 37-year-old Brandon Ray Larson, of Atlantic, was arrested at the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on a warrant for Violation of Probation. Larson was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $25,000 cash bond.