(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors will meet Tuesday at 9-a.m. in their Courthouse Boardroom. On their agenda is a presentation from Kate Olson, with Cass County Extension. She is expected to make a request for ARPA funds, to temporarily expand the role of the Cass County Wellness Coordinator, to address local public health priorities, and assist in long-term pandemic recovery efforts.

The Board will also consider and possible act on approving updated Cass County Public Safety Commission Articles of Agreement, and, Resolution 2023-05 Opioid Settlement Agreement, Memorandum of Understanding between the Board of Supervisors and Zion Recovery Services.

A regular, weekly report from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken will be presented, as well.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors are scheduled to meet 8:30-a.m. Tuesday, in the Courthouse Supervisor’s Meeting Room. New Business on their agenda includes approval of: the Secondary Roads IDOT budget for FY 2024, & a 5-year Construction Plan for FY ’24. They’re also expected to schedule a public hearing on the FY 2023-24 Montgomery County Budget, and hold Personnel Evaluation. That portion of the meeting is expected to be conducted in a Closed Session, per Iowa Code.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Police and Cass EMS responded to a two-vehicle collision at 7th and Olive Streets this morning. The crash occurred at around 8-a.m.  Details on any injuries were not immediately available.

Photo by KJAN’s Chris Parks

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report a man from Lorimor was arrested Friday morning at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. 32-year old Dalton Thadius Barber was charged with a Union County Warrant for Failure to Comply with Pretrial Release original charges: 2 counts Sexual Abuse 2nd Degree, Administering Harmful Substance, Incest, 3 counts Lascivious Acts with a Child, 2 counts Child Endangerment, 3 counts Indecent Contact with a Child. Barber was taken to the Union County Jail where he is being held on no bond.

Friday night, 44-year-old Cori Lynne Angell, of Creston, was arrested at the Creston Union County LEC. She was charged with an Adams County Warrant for Harassment 1st Degree. Angell was transferred to the Adams County Jail.

Saturday morning, 21-year-old Myles James Koontz, of Creston, was arrested at 900 Block N Oak. Koontz was charged with Driving while Barred. Koontz was cited and released from the scene.

Sunday afternoon, 26-year-old Megan Elizabeth Banda, of Creston, was arrested at the Creston Union County LEC. Banda was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault-Strangulation. She was taken to the Union County Jail where she was later transported to the Adams County Jail. Banda was being held without bond until seen by the Magistrate.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson says the Chinese Communist Party shouldn’t be allowed to continue its human rights abuses. Hinson is a Republican from Marion who says China has a documented plan to become the world’s dominant superpower by 2049, and the U-S has to do what it can to derail that plan. Hinson says there is clear bipartisan support on this issue and she hopes the Biden administration will take note.

She says the Chinese spy balloon and how the administration handled that is a “hugely concerning issue.” She says there is consensus in Congress and she is hopeful that the administration follows that consensus.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Public Hearings will be held 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, March 29th in the Atlantic High School Media Center, with regard to an extension of the current Instructional Support Levy (ISL) by another five-years. A second hearing will be held with regard to the 2023-24 School Calendar. Both hearings are part of a Special Atlantic School Board meeting. The Board will act on an ISL Resolution and Calendar, toward the end of their session. Discussion will follow the hearings, with regard to the 2023-24 Certified Budget.

The Board will then act on several resignations, including:

• Scot Aden, Middle School Principal (Who has accepted a job with the Carroll Community School District)
• Derek Hall, 6th Grade Science Teacher; Head Boys Basketball Coach & Asst. Girls Track Coach
• Mikayla Schuler, Kindergarten Teacher
• Marcella Peck and Jenifer Rugaard, Paraeducators.

They will also act on several contract recommendations proposed by Superintendent Steve Barber, including:

• Hannah Alff, 2nd Grade Teacher
• Kirstin Blake, Kindergarten Teacher
• Christin Simonton, Preschool Teacher
• Shawna Macha, Substitute/Activity Driver
• Derek Knisely, Asst. Boys Soccer Coach
• and several Volunteer Coaches: (corrected from previous post)
  • Girls Golf: Marty Hobson & Nathan Berg
  • Boys Golf: Darby McLaren
  • Boys/Girls Track: Bruce Henderson
  • Tennis: James Northwick
  • Boys Soccer:Cal Heuton
  • Baseball: Josh McLaren & Darby McLaren
  • Softball: Bob Gross

The final order of business for the Atlantic School Board, Wednesday evening, is setting the date for a Public Hearing/Regular Board meeting as April 12th at 5:30-p.m.

(Radio Iowa) – Today (Monday) marks the start of Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa, as residents are reminded about some of the hazards that may be coming in the weeks and months ahead. Meteorologist Chad Hahn, at the National Weather Service, says tornadoes are one of the worst risks to lives and property, and last year, we had plenty.  “In Iowa, we had 43 tornadoes observed across the state,” Hahn says. “That’s slightly lower than our normal or average historically, which is right around 50 that we typically observe. Of course, we’ve had some years that we’ve had over 100, so there’s wide variability when it comes to the number of tornadoes.”

Each day this week, there will be a different weather focus. Today, Hahn says, they’re zeroed in on severe thunderstorms.  Hahn says, “We’re talking about what requires a thunderstorm to be considered severe, which is one-inch or larger hail and/or thunderstorm wind gusts in excess of 58 miles per hour.”

Other days this week will center on things like flooding, the difference between a watch and a warning, and how best to stay informed through old-school weather radios or smartphone apps. A statewide tornado drill is scheduled for Wednesday at 10 A-M. Hahn says the weather service is opening a series of storm spotter classes today in Marion County.  “We picked about 20 spots this year, many of them that we haven’t been since before COVID, actually, physically in the location, so we’re excited to get out into the communities that we serve,” Hahn says. “I’m happy to say we’re going to be getting into a lot of the far reaches of our areas of responsibility, including Emmet County, way up in the northwest, all the way down to Taylor County in our southwest.”

Learn more at www.weather.gov/dmx.