(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Community School District (ACSD), today (Monday), issued a statement introducing Dr. Beth Johnsen, ACSD’s new Interim Superintendent.  Dr. Johnsen is currently serving as an Interim Superintendent at Thayer Central Schools in Nebraska. Prior to serving the Thayer Central School District, Dr. Johnsen was a Superintendent for 10 years at Conestoga Public Schools, in Southeast Nebraska.

Dr. Johnsen and her husband, Ben, live in Underwood, IA where her husband is “a farmer through and through!” Dr. Johnson and Ben have 5 children and 15 grandchildren, with one more grandchild on the way. Their children Casey, Sam, Max, Julie, and Charlee all live within about an hours distance from Beth and Ben – which makes their wish of spending intentional time with their children and grandchildren an obtainable task!

Dr. Johnsen’s character is best described as a leader of leaders – something she calls herself, as well as many in the industry have come to know about her after having the privilege to work with her. “Working with Dr. Johnsen is an empowering and energizing experience! She is hard working, extremely talented, and incredible at what she does. She is not afraid of hard work, tough conversations, or to make decisions the bring forth necessary change! She brings joy and encouragement with her everywhere she goes – we will miss her greatly!” – said a current staff member of Thayer Schools who wished to remain anonymous but was eager to express their feelings about Dr. Johnsen.

Under the notion as a ‘leader of leaders’, Dr. Johnsen is eager to jump right in to all that is already happening and all that
needs accomplished within the Atlantic Community School District. “I really believe districts are transformed by  empowering the leaders of every department. Beyond that I will encourage those leaders to create leaders through their individual departments, all the way out and in to the classroom! When we are empowered to own our roles, to build up new leaders, and to better ourselves as individuals, our district will thrive!” Expressed Dr. Johnsen.

Dr. Johnsen understands the climate and culture of a district is a critical component to the success of each Administrator, staff member, student, and parent involved with ACSD. “We will celebrate successes and learn from our failures. Because even when we fail, it means we tried; and trying is better than feeling frozen. It takes grit to succeed in education and we are going to dig deep as a district, learn what it means to have grit and then channel that together as a team. When we do that, when we work together for a common goal, we will be able to walk together toward all that is in store for the Atlantic Community School District. But we do it all as one – together!”

Dr. Johnsen was offered a two year contract and her position officially begins July 1, 2023

(Atlantic, Iowa) —The Atlantic Public Library has been selected as one of 240 libraries to participate in Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities, an American Library Association (ALA) initiative that provides community engagement and accessibility resources to small and rural libraries to help them better serve people with disabilities. The competitive award comes with a $20,000 grant that will help the library address accessibility concerns in the building.

“I am thrilled to be chosen for this opportunity,” said Michelle Andersen, director of the library. “This grant will allow our library to connect with people of all abilities while addressing issues with elevator reliability.”

As part of the grant, Andersen will take an online course in how to lead conversations, a skill vital to library work today. She will then host a conversation with residents about physical accessibility inside the library. “I wrote the grant to help pay for elevator modernization to lessen the burden for the city but we’ll host community conversations first to hear from our public if the elevator should be our highest priority right now.”

Atlantic Public Library

Andersen continued, “The training and resources that come with the grant are really opening my eyes to ways we can further serve people with disabilities. Our library will definitely benefit from this grant beyond the initial project.”

The first conversation is scheduled for Tuesday, June 6 at 10:30 am. People with mobility accommodation needs are especially encouraged to attend. If you are interested in getting involved or for more information, please contact Michelle Andersen at atlanticpubliclibrary@gmail.com or 243-5466 ext.3.

Since 2014, ALA’s Libraries Transforming Communities initiative has re-imagined the role libraries play in supporting communities. Libraries of all types have utilized free dialogue and deliberation training and resources to lead community and campus forums; take part in anti-violence activities; provide a space for residents to come together and discuss challenging topics; and have productive conversations with civic leaders, library trustees and staff.

(Radio Iowa) – An Eastern Iowa native finally got to walk down the aisle in the graduation ceremony at Cornell College in Mt. Vernon this weekend — eight decades after getting his degree in music. Fred Taylor he wasn’t able to attend his ceremony the first time because he left school to serve during World War Two in the United States Army Air Corps. Taylor is 101 and told K-C-R-G T-V the ceremony brought everything full circle.

Taylor is a Springville, Iowa native who now lives in California. He joined the Army Air Corps Reserve shortly after Pearl Harbor and was unable to attend graduation after being sent to training in 1943. Taylor went on to teach music in Iowa and California after the war.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Nishna Valley YMCA Executive Director Dan Haynes, today (Monday), announced “Effective immediately the Nishna Valley Family YMCA has made the decision to stop accepting NEW families for services at the Ann W. Wickman Child Development Center, until further notice.”

Haynes said in a letter to the community that “As a community rooted in strong collaborations, we are confident that if we sit down together with community agencies, the Wickman center, and the Atlantic Community School District, we can identify a Win/Win/Win situation for the families we all serve. With the pending loss of space at the School’s Early Learning Center building, either in December of 2023 or later, the Wickman operation will have to work to downsize our overall capacity to fit into the constraints of the Wickman building. We will continue to provide service to our current families and the unborn babies who we have already committed to.”

“In the short term,” Haynes said, “we will work to move our oldest kids from the Wickman building and serve them in an alternate space in the community. This is contingent on finding a space that can meet the stringent requirement from the fire marshal and Department of Human Services. If this can be done, it will only be on a 1-2 year temporary basis as the YMCA Board cannot afford to operate childcare at three locations or have families drive around to multiple locations to pick up and drop off their children. By not taking new families over those two years, we will be able to shrink our capacity back to a number that we can fit into the Wickman building.

“We realize that this will place a burden on families living here that need care, families trying to move to town, as well as employers trying to hire new workers into our communities. We hope that as a community, we can come together to find a long-term childcare solution that will support current families in our area and be inviting to potential families that are looking to call Cass County their home.

“For the long term,: Haynes said, “the YMCA Board is open to discussions with any individuals or organizations who want to tackle this opportunity together. We appreciate everyone’s past support and hope to work with all of you to help strengthen and grow Atlantic and Cass County.”

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports eight people were arrested over the past week:

19-year-old Xachariah Mickale Hinson, of Greenfield, was arrested by Adair County Deputies May 7th, in Greenfield. Hinson was charged with Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order, following evidence he placed phone calls and sent text messages to two female protected parties, while Hinson was an inmate at the Adair County Jail. He remains held at the facility on a $600 cash-only bond.

53-year-old Kimberly Ann Buckallew, of Fontanelle, was arrested in Greenfield by Deputies in Adair County on May 8th, for Driving While Barred. She was released the following day on a $2,000 cash or surety bond.

On May 10th, 26-year-old Jesse Andrew Queener, of Stuart, was arrested at the Adair County Jail, on an Adair County warrant for Violation of Probation. Queener remains held in the jail without bond, until making an appearance in District Court.

On the 11th of May, 24-year-old Colten Ty Cooper, of Casey, was arrested in Casey for OWI/1st offense and cited for Stop/Standing/Parking in a prohibited manner, after he was found unresponsive in a running vehicle stopped near the intersection of 130th & Kent Street. Cooper was released from the Adair County Jail later in the day, on a $2,000 cash/surety bond.

On May 12, Adair County Deputies arrested 37-year-old Marcus Matthew Corcoran, of Fontantelle, for allegedly attempting to choke a woman. He was charged with Domestic Assault – Impeding the flow of air/blood. Corcoran was released the following day on a $1,000 c/s bond.  Also arrested on the 12th, was 41-year-old Michael Dean Merical, of Menlo, on a 2022 Adair County warrant for Exhibiting obscene material to a minor. Merical was released later that night on a $1,000 c/s bond.

Updated 1/10/2024…

The Iowa State Patrol, on May 13 (2023), arrested 26-year-old Jelani Malik Bunn, of Boise, ID, for: Possession of a Controlled Substance/Cannabidoil – 1st offense; Contempt of Court – Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order, for being a passenger in a vehicle with the protected female party; and for being a Felon in Control of Possession of a Firearm as a prohibited person, after a Glock .9-millimeter handgun was found in a backpack in the rear seat of the vehicle. Bunn negotiate a voluntary plea of guilty in August of 2023, to the Possession charge. The charges of Dominion/Control of a firearm by a felon, and Contempt of Court, were dismissed. The driver of the vehicle, 26-year-old Leila Grahovic, of Boise, ID, was arrested for Contempt of Court – Violation of a No Contact Order. That charge was later dismissed by the court. Grahovic was found guilty of speeding, however.