The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a single vehicle accident on Wednesday morning after the driver fell asleep. At 11:05 a.m. at 2007 Chevy Tahoe owned and operated by 63-year-old Timothy Wayne Cooney of Corning was eastbound on 110th Street just east of S Avenue when he fell asleep and went off the roadway to the right. The Tahoe struck a sign and continued east and went into the West Nodaway River, coming to rest on the east embankment. Cooney was able to get out of the vehicle and walk to 110th Street to get medical attention. He was transported by Midwest Medical to Cass Health in Atlantic.

The airbags deployed on the vehicle during the crash and Cooney was wearing his seat belt. The Tahoe was considered a total loss.

The Red Oak Police department reports the arrest of a Red Oak man following an incident on Wednesday evening. At approximately 7:21 p.m. Officers arrested 32-year-old Logun Matthew Hughes of Red Oak in the 1400 block of N 5th Street for Domestic Abuse Assault 1st Offense. Logun was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on no bond.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education held a Special Session Wednesday evening at the Schuler Elementary School Media Center and electronically. Superintendent Steve Barber updated the Board on several matters, including filling seven open teaching positions before the school year begins, the use of online ticket orders and an increase in Hawkeye 10 Conference ticket prices. (see his notes below).

In other business, the Board approved Mr. Barber’s contract recommendations for Kelbe Flathers, Summer School Para – Vocational Rehab, and Mandy Parks – Middle School Secretary. The Board also passed the district’s K-12 Computer Science Plan, which covers Coding Curriculum applicable to each set of grades respectively (K-3, 4-5, 6-8), with the grades 9-12 curriculum covering Computer Science.

The Board also approved a Girl’s Wrestling Cooperative Sharing Agreement for 2022-2023, with the CAM Community School District.  (You can view a detailed agenda HERE)

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of 31-year-old Stormey L. Dykes of Stanton on Wednesday at approximately 11:48 a.m. Dykes turned herself in at the Sheriff’s Office on a warrant charging her with Abandonment/Neglect of a Dependent Person. The warrant stems from an incident that occurred back on March 21st of this year.

Dykes was processed at the Montgomery County Jail and released after posting 10% of the $10,000 bond.

Iowa Attorney General candidate Brenna Bird made a stop in Atlantic on the campaign trail on Wednesday. Bird is the current Guthrie County Attorney and has roots in Western Iowa.

Bird said she decided to run for Attorney General because she thinks she can do a better job and get a fresh face in a position that has been held by the same person since 1978. She said she has enjoyed helping Iowans as a prosecutor and believes supporting law enforcement should be a big priority for the Attorney General.

Bird said defending Iowans’ constitutional rights and keeping the federal government in check is another big piece of the job.

Bird has a long family history in agriculture and she said she is ready to defend the industry.

You can find out more about Brenna Bird by checking out her website at birdforiowa.com or on her facebook page.

Listen to the full interview with Brenna Bird below.

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Nineteen Iowa school districts splitting more than 45-and-a-half million dollars in grants to boost teacher training are making plans for how the money will be used. The state’s new Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship Pilot Program is being financed with federal pandemic relief money. In Davenport, superintendent T-J Schneckloth (SHNEK-loth) says the money will be used by the districts’ para-educators to earn enough college credits to become teachers.

The state money can also be used by high school students to earn para-educator certificates and associate degrees.

Schneckloth says the application and screening process will begin immediately. The pilot program was recommended by a state task force that looked at ways to encourage more Iowans to pursue careers in education.

The 19 districts are: AHSTW, Burlington, Cedar Falls, Cherokee, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Johnston, Linn-Mar, Marion, Marshalltown, MOC-Floyd Valley, Newton, Oskaloosa, Perry, Sioux City, Storm Lake, Winterset, Waukee.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors had a short meeting on Wednesday morning at the Adair County Courthouse.

The Board started by approving wages for township clerks. They then updated the travel policy resolution for county business to meet the most recent IRS mileage rate of 62.5 cents per mile. That rate will be retroactive to June 1, 2022. The VA transport rate will be ten cents above that rate, as is normal.

The board also approved mailings for homestead and military dis-allowances. There was also approval for a Child Abuse Prevention Grant draw down of $2,508.41 and agreement on the 2023 fiscal agent contract for the same program. The board also approved a treasurer clerk salary increase for Bethany Smith who has been in the office for six months now.

The board ended their meeting with a report from Veteran Affairs Commissioner John Schildberg. The office had an employee that couldn’t go to the national conference they were scheduled to attend due to a health issue. The office was credited back flight money and registration money. The credits returned to the general fund and that was going to put their office over budget. The board discussed that they will see how tight that budget comes out and see if there needs to be an amendment to their budget next spring to better meet needs next year. The office has experienced a big influx of Veterans served this year.

Supervisor Jodie Hoadley said she has heard some high praise for the Veterans Affairs office in the county.

The board discussed making sure grant money is used in all the ways possible and tracked closely to help keep the budget on track in the future.