(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City of Atlantic’s Board of Adjustment will meet 5:30-p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15th, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. City Administrator John Lund said Wednesday, “The agenda is set up to facilitate a very orderly and structured meeting that is fair to the applicant, abutting & opposite property owners, and the general public. Doors to the Council’s Chambers will open at 5:10-p.m. and close promptly at 5:30-p.m. Seating will be limited to 65 people, including staff and Board members. However, there will be a sign-up sheet for anyone wanting to speak during the public hearing. If we have reached capacity, you will be asked to wait outside or in your vehicle, and we will let you know when it is your turn to speak. All citizen comments will be made during the public hearing and will be time limited.”

The agenda is as follows:

1. Call to Order.
2. Approval of Agenda.
3. Nominations for Chair.
4. Order to Appoint New Board of Adjustment Chair.
5. Nominations for Vice-Chair.
6. Order to Appoint New Board of Adjustment Vice- Chair.
7. Approval of the May 11, 2020, Minutes.
8. Overview of the Board of Adjustment’s Role as a Quasi-Judicial Body and The Legal Framework for Decision-Making.
9. Rules and Procedure Regarding the Public Hearing.
10. Public Hearing to Consider a Conditional Use Permit Application by New Life Church for the Properties located at 28 W. 5^th and 410 Poplar Streets that would allow for the operation of a Church in the C-3 “Central Business” District as allowed by Section 12.30(10) of the Zoning Ordinances of the City of Atlantic, Iowa.
    1. Opening Statement by New Life Church.
    2. Statement from Property Owners of 28 W. 5^th and 410 Poplar.
    3. Statements from Abutting and Opposite Property Owners.
    4. Statements from the General Public.
11. Question & Answer Period Between the Board and New Life Church.
12. Order Regarding the Conditional Use Permit Application by New Life Church for the Properties located at 28 W. 5th and 410 Poplar Streets that would allow for the operation of a Church in the C-3 “Central Business” District.
13. Next Regular Meeting: Not Scheduled.
14. Adjournment.

WEST DES MOINES — Iowa Third District Democrat Representative Cindy Axne today (Wednesday), announced the winners of the 2022 Congressional App Challenge for Iowa’s Third Congressional District as a team from Parkview Middle School in Ankeny, who developed the Stock Market Learning Game application. The team consisted of  seventh graders Lucius Ray and Carter Marovets. The duo created the app to teach students about the stock market and its function through a game, and players advance through levels and earn points while learning along the way.

Lucius and Carter were inspired to create this app because they wanted to help others learn more about finance and investing, and they wanted people to be able to learn about these topics from a young age. This is what inspired them to create an app that would allow users to have fun, while keeping them engaged with the material as they advance through game.

“It is my pleasure to recognize Lucius Ray and Carter Marovets of Parkview Middle School the winners of the 2022 Congressional App Challenge from my district,” said Rep. Axne. “With their app, Lucius and Carter have shown how much effort they’ve put into their school work and into learning how to code, and what an amazing job the Ankeny school system is doing at teaching STEM. Lucius’s and Carter’s app teaches students important lessons about the stock market, which is especially important today as other apps that encourage and sometimes even trick young investors into risking their money become more popular.”

The competition was judged by a panel of three judges. This year’s panel of judges consisted of:

Dr. Marjorie McGuire-Welch- President, Southwestern Community College
Brian Waller- Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council
Geoff Wood- Founder, Gravitate Coworking

The Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide competition for middle school and high school students designed to engage students with STEM education and emphasize computer science careers in every corner of the country. Each participating Congressional district selects its local winner, who are then eligible for further awards for the entire class of 2022 winners.

(Radio Iowa) – An Eagle Grove man has been sentenced to a decade in prison after pleading guilty to meth, marijuana and gun-related charges. According to a news release from the U-S Attorney’s Office, 40-year-old Russell Spencer was a mid-level meth dealer in central Iowa. Court records indicate Spencer was part of a drug ring that sold meth in 2021 and he made several trips to California to pick up meth and even had it mailed through the U.S. Postal Service.

Spencer was arrested after he made three meth sales to undercover officers. He pleaded guilty in August to possessing and distributing meth and marijuana as well as a gun possession charge.

(Radio Iowa) – A toddler has died after an apparent street racer slammed into oncoming traffic in Des Moines last (Tuesday) night.  Witnesses tell Des Moines police a sedan and an SUV were involved in an extended street race on Fleur Drive about 6 PM. At Gray’s Lake Park, police say the sedan crossed the median and hit two approaching vehicles. Four people were rushed to hospitals, including a four-year-old who has died, and the 35-year-old Urbandale man who police say was driving the sedan. The other alleged racer, a dark-colored SUV, continued on after the crash and police are asking for the public’s help in finding it, though no further description is being released.

Anyone with information about the incident, should call the Des Moines Police at 515-323-8382 or Crimestoppers of Central Iowa at 515-223-1400 or online at www.crimestoppersofcentraliowa.com.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A man who posts inspirational thoughts and comments on social media, was honored today (Wednesday) in Atlantic, with the “Angel of Christmas” award, sponsored by Cass Health. The award presented to Tom McLaren recognizes and thanks area residents who symbolize the true meaning of the season. Angels exemplify the true holiday spirit all year long–putting others first, spreading generosity and sharing the holiday spirit with everyone they meet.

CCHS CEO Brett Altman…

Steele McLaren, who suffered a traumatic head injury in Oct., 2020, and went on to make a full recovery after many surgeries and months of therapy, submitted a nomination letter that was read by Steele’s mom Jess Ehrman-Ellis. Here’s a portion of that letter…

Steele said Tom McLaren prays for people nationally and locally every morning, whether he knows them or not.

The McLaren family

CCHS CEO Brett Altman, Tom McLaren & Steele McLaren

He’s posted over 750 straight days. The prayer requests on the Praying for Steele #32strong Facebook page come from all over the country.

For his part, Tom McLaren said the award was “A big struggle” for him because he doesn’t take praise very well, and “I don’t like to share,” which drew laughs among those attending the presentation. He choked-up though, when he spoke about Steele’s accident and the family that rallied around him, and decided to set aside his opinion on sharing.

He said he’s honored the posts on Steele’s page have helped others through times of loss and who are struggling with health issues.

He says people continue to reach out to him, and that “It’s really cool.”