Atlantic School District Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein says there’s mostly good news to report when it comes to the District being taken off the Iowa Department of Education Association’s (IDEA) “Watch list,” for “Schools/Districts in Need of Assistance” (SINA/DINA)…those schools failing to live up to the standards of “No Child Left Behind.” He said the District was removed from the “watch” list in the categories of reading and math, based on the Iowa Assessment test results. He added that there’s not a lot of districts in Iowa that can claim that achievement.

The Atlantic High School is on a “Delay 2” schedule in Math. The IADE reduced the number of “Non-proficient” kids by 10-percent. In reading, even though the scores went up, officials didn’t reduce the number of non-proficient students. Last year’s bench mark was 100-percent. The Middle School is listed as a SINA 5 school, even thought the reading scores went up. In Math the school is in Delay 3, after reducing the number of non-proficient students by 17-percent.

The Schuler Elementary School is listed as a SINA 2 in both Reading and Math. The Washington Elementary School remains on the Watch list, after a “Smarter Balance” test, which the State of Iowa is dropping, so it remains to be seen how that will affect future scores. Amstein said also, the State is looking at developing a different type of ranking system.

The Iowa Legislature is supposed to look at the matter and implement a new system in the fall of 2015, that may replace the SINA/DINA list. He said thus far though, the District as a whole as made progress.

Amstein said also, 24 new teachers were welcomed to the District Monday morning, in advance of the first day of school on Wednesday. In other business, the Board of Ed approved a renewal of an SRO (School Resource Officer) agreement with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Corey Larsen will continue to serve in that role.

An Adams  County man was arrested late Monday night in Montgomery County, following a traffic stop. Sheriff’s officials say 43-year old Allen William Heath Pafford, of Nodaway, was taken into custody for Driving While Barred. Pafford was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,000 bond.

And, Police in Red Oak report the arrest of a man and woman Monday evening. 44-year old Shelby Joann Olivares, and 45-year old Lynn Kenneth Houtchins, both of Red Oak, were arrested for Breach Of Peace. The pair were taken into custody at around 6:45-p.m. in the 500 block of e. Market Street, in Red Oak. They were brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 bond, each.

A man and woman were arrested early this (Tuesday) morning, following the execution of a search warrant early, in Villisca. At around 12:25-a.m., deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office conducted the search at 101 w. 5th Street, and as a result, arrested 52-year old Kimberly Dawn Hanshaw, of Villisca, for Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Also taken into custody, was 44-year old John Maurice Peterson, of Villisca. He’s been charged with Unlawful Possession of Prescription Pills and a Drug Tax Stamp Violation.

Both suspects were being held in the Montgomery County Jail on bond amounting to $2,000 for Hanshaw, and $5,000 for Peterson.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

ELDON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating the death of a man whose body was found in an Eldon bait shop. The body was found Monday morning in the Main Street Bait Shop. The Wapello County Sheriff’s Office says the body was identified as 64-year-old Darrell Teeter.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A U.S. Department of Agriculture report indicates Iowa’s corn and soybean crops are looking good. The USDA says 76 percent of the corn crop was in good to excellent condition, and 75 percent of the soybean crop was in good to excellent condition. Topsoil moisture also was in good shape in most areas, with 71 percent of Iowa farmland rated as adequate, 23 percent short and 3 percent very short. The remaining 3 percent had surplus moisture.

EDDYVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Cargill Inc. has agreed to pay more than $187,000 to settle allegations that it violated the Clean Water Act at large oil storage facilities in Iowa and Nebraska. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 7 says the privately held multinational corporation lacked a response plan at two facilities that outlined procedures for addressing serious oil discharges. The facilities are located in Blair, Nebraska, and Eddyville, Iowa.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Oelwein’s mayor has been arrested and accused of sexually assaulting two girls four years ago. Larry Manus is being held on $125,000 bond. Manus took office in January after narrowly defeating Larry Murphy last November. The Fayette County sheriff says his office started investigating Manus a month ago.