The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will take action on several matters during their meeting Tuesday evening at the High School. Among the action items is: Approval of Driver’s Education fees for this Summer; An agreement with the City of Atlantic to share the resurfacing costs of the tennis courts at Sunnyside Park and the Washington Elementary School; Approve a two-year collective bargaining agreement with the Atlantic Education Association, and a substitute teacher/substitute support staff rate.

The Board will also act on approving teacher recommendations for the 2012 Summer School, and, discuss a 5-year Capital Needs Plan. The meeting begins in the Atlantic High School Media Center, at 7:30-p.m.

The City of Atlantic’s Planning and Zoning Commission will meet Tuesday evening at City Hall. New business on their agenda for the 5:30-p.m. session includes: A review of the site plans for Custom Body and Sound; A ruling on retail gun sales (as applied to Ordinance Article 19: Home Occupations); and a review of the site plans for Atlantic Municipal Utilities’ proposed communications building.

The Commission will also discuss progress being made on updating the Zoning Ordinance.

Everyone knows that 9-1-1 is a universal number that should be called in the event of an emergency…or do they? 9-1-1 Centers all over the United States have encountered hurdles when educating the public when it comes to the 9-1-1 and its uses. That’s why the Cass County 911 Center is urging all educational organizations, parents, and caregivers to assist with the “9-1-1 Education Challenge” during the month of April as part of National 9-1-1 Education Month.

The goal is to educate as many people on 9-1-1, its uses, its challenges, and the future capabilities during the month. Cass County 911 Director Rob Koppert said “With all the advances in technology, 9-1-1 has become much more complex. What started out as a simple concept has grown into an amazing infrastructure that needs crucial attention. 

Koppert says nationwide, 9-1-1 has not kept up with advances, especially in wireless technology and we are just now getting the infrastructure in place to handle 9-1-1 calls in the form of text messages and to be able to receive pictures and videos on 9-1-1.” 

He says “In 2011, the Cass County 911 Center received approximately 6,000 9-1-1 calls, of which 80-percent were from wireless phones. This is on top of the 26,000-plus administrative calls answered by the Cass County 911 Center. Koppert says children and adults should have a good understanding of 9-1-1 and how it works in their area. 

Some general guidelines for 9-1-1 are: 

• 9-1-1 is for police, fire and medical emergencies. If the nature of the call is an immediate threat to life or property, call 9-1-1. In non-emergencies, call the Cass County 911 Center at 712-243-2204.  
• Know the location of the incident. Providing an accurate address is critically important especially when making a wireless 9-1-1 call. Not all wireless calls provide accurate location information, especially if the caller is indoors.
• If you call 9-1-1, don’t hang up. 9-1-1 operators are going to assume that something has gone very wrong and will either call you back, or send a police car if the location is known.
• Don’t call 9-1-1 for jokes or prank calls. These calls waste resources and ties up the lines at the 9-1-1 center. Not to mention that making harassing or prank 9-1-1 calls is a crime in Iowa.
• When you call 9-1-1, pay attention to the questions that you are being asked.
• Stay on the line with the 9-1-1 call taker and answer all questions. The more information they have, the better they are able to help you.
• Stay calm and speak clearly. If you are crying or yelling, it can be very hard for the 9-1-1 Operator to understand you.

In addition to April being National 9-1-1 Education Month, the week of April 8th through 14th in National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in the United States.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – New financial disclosures show the candidates in western Iowa’s 4th Congressional District are succeeding in raising lots of campaign cash. Incumbent Republican Rep. Steve King reports raising $450,000 in the first quarter of this year. King says he has more than $800,000 of cash in the bank. Democratic challenger Christie Vilsack says she has raised more than $400,000 in the first three months of 2012 and has more than $900,000 of cash on hand. The new numbers mean King has raised just over $1.2 million for his campaign, while Vilsack has raised just over $1.5 million. That’s the toughest financial challenge Democrats have been able to pose for King, who is seeking his sixth term.