A pre-trial conference for a former Harlan teacher accused of sexual exploitation that was supposed to have been held Monday (Oct. 14^th) in Shelby County District Court, will instead be held next Monday (Oct. 21^st). Judge James Richardson granted a continuance in the case of Lee Nelson, who was to have appeared in court on charges of Sexual Exploitation by a School Employee and Assault with Intent to Commit Sexual Abuse. The 72-year-old Nelson had earlier pled not guilty to the charges.  His trial is set to begin Oct. 29th.

A 17-year-old female claiming to be a victim and her parents contacted police on May 30, 2013, and reported that Nelson had allegedly been saying rude and inappropriate things to the female, as well as touching her inappropriately.

The incidents allegedly occurred at school, on band trips and at his residence.

The Atlantic School Board, Monday, tabled a last minute addition to their agenda, with regard to the purchase of security cameras for the Middle School. Middle School Principal Josh Rasmussen said recent incidents where he spent a good deal of time investigating what occurred, could have been more easily resolved with the addition of three security cameras.

The Board received two bids for security cameras and related equipment, but the question of how to pay for them dogged the school board. Business Manager Mary Beth Fast said they could add them to the physical plant and equipment levy project list (PPEL), because it’s a safety issue, but that might mean shifting other projects out.

Board President Kristy Pellett said the cameras would be more equipment that would eventually need to be replaced, and something they need to plan for. Board member Phil Hascall agreed. He said he understands it’s a matter of safety, but there needs to be better planning, additional discussion, and how other PPEL projects might be affected. Pellett said there’s already a lot of projects on the list they’ve been putting off, that are equally important.

Pellett said keeping up with technology is important, but she said “Somewhere, we’ve got to set some priorities.” Superintendent Mike Amstein said the matter would be placed before the Board during their meeting next month, once more information has been gathered. 

A teenager accused of killing his 5-year old foster brother in rural Harrison County as the two played near a ravine last August, will remain in jail, and not be transferred to a juvenile detention center in Council Bluffs. The Omaha World-Herald reports  the ruling was issued by a judge Monday, at the Harrison County Courthouse.

17-year old Cody Metzker-Madsen is in solitary confinement at the jail, because minors are separated from other inmates. Another motion to determine whether Metzker-Madsen’s first-degree murder charge would be moved to juvenile court, will be decided on Dec. 6th.

Metzker-Madsen is accused in the death of an Atlantic boy, 5-year old Dominic Elkins, who, according to court documents, had multiple injuries to his head and torso. Metzker-Madsen is being held in the Harrison County Jail on $500,000 bail.

Both were foster children in the care of Don and Julie Coolman, who reside near Logan. Metzker-Madsen had lived in the Coolman home for about three years, while Dominic had been there a few weeks.

The Atlantic High School Forensics Department announced Monday (Oct. 15th), the dates for the fall play. “Nevermind How It Happened, How Did It End?” will be performed at the Atlantic High School Auditorium on October 31, November 1st and 2nd, at 7:30 p.m.

Director, Matthew Smith says he is very excited about this year’s theatrical offering, stating, “We have some very committed actors in this production–and that will be evident in their acting! I have been surprised at our younger cast members, as well. We have a lot of talent coming up.”

The play is a generational romantic comedy written by David Rogers. The story revolves around mothers and daughters, fathers and daughters and how each generation’s choices echo from the past. The plot  illuminate’s the family’s love stories, their struggles with teenagers and parents, their conflicts between choosing careers and raising children to make choices that are founded in their parents’ wisdom. There are many flashback scenes that weave in and out of the present.

“This is a true ensemble production with nearly 40 cast members,” said Smith. “There are two or three people playing the same character but at different stages in life. The audience will be quite familiar with the many of the locations as the play is set is small-town Iowa.”

With Atlantic’s city-wide trick-or-treating ending at 7:00 p.m.on October 31, the public will have plenty of time to make the 7:30 curtain time. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. for all productions and admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students. Activity passes will be honored at the door.

(Press Release)

Cass County Deputy Corey Larsen had some good news during Monday night’s meeting of the Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education. Larsen, who serves as  School Resource Officer (or, SRO) for the Atlantic,CAM and Griswold School Districts, says there haven’t been a lot of issues.

Cass Co. Deputy Corey Larsen

Larsen says the number of truancy cases has dropped this year over last, in-part because it’s been demonstrated that officials, including himself, are cracking down on the problem and making sure kids get to school on time. Larsen said he spoke with Cass County Attorney Dan Feistner about spreading the word, that once mediation is held with parents of kids who’ve missed 10 days or more without a valid reason, an arrest warrant can be issued. 

Larsen said most of his time has been dealing with electronic issues involving students, such as those related to harassment or bullying through social media. He says squabbles form between students on sites like Facebook, along with harassment. The issues in the virtual world tend to be brought into the real world at school, and that’s something Larsen says they’re trying to quash.

He says the prevalence of smart phones and kids’ access to social media sites has exacerbated problems of harassment. Larsen said also, he’s taught some law enforcement-related classes and how to deal with electronic forms of harassment. He says the freshman class receives a course on the Criminal Justice system and cyber bullying. Larsen says he’d like to increase the number of sweeps through the buildings by the Cass County Sheriff’s Department K9 teams, including his k9 partner, Mufasa.

The deputy says he’d like to make at least two sweeps per year to show the students and the public the effort is being made to keep the district’s facilities safe and drug free.