(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education, Wednesday, approved the District’s proposed Certified Budget for 2024-25. Their action followed a Public Hearing, during which there were no comments in favor or opposed to the move. The levy for the budget is $12.51/$1,000 assessed valuation. For the 2024-25 fiscal year, the District expects to receive $6.9-million from property taxes.

Later on in their meeting, the Board passed a Resolution levying a tax for fiscal year 2024-25, “for the future optional redemption of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2019, and approving related documents and directing the partial optional redemption of such bonds.” The money will be used to help to make a $500,000 payment the G.O. bonds, to reduce the amount of interest paid.

Atlantic School Board mtg., 4-24-25 (Zoom image)

In other business, the Atlantic School Board, in its Consent Agenda, approved the resignation of Jesse McCann, HS Special Education teacher (at the end of the 23-24 school year), and contract recommendations for:

• Taylor Vargason, Elementary Special Education Teacher
• Lindsey Roberts, ELL Teacher
• Cayleigh McBee, HS Student Council Sponsor
• Alexandra Griffen-Uren, HS English Language Arts Teacher
• Jesse McCann, HS School Student Support Coordinator contract.

Board Vice-President Laura McLean asked before the vote to approve the contract recommendations, about the Student Support Coordinator position Jesse McCann was being considered for.  Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen responded…

The contract would likely require a five-year commitment to the District. The Board discussed District Facilities during their meeting, Wednesday evening. Part of the discussion focused on a facilities addition to the High School gym, as mentioned during a presentation by High School Staff Member/Athletics Coach Dan Vargason, early on in the meeting. Vargason said discussions have been held with regard to secondary gym space, the need for which makes it “a more urgent matter.”

Jarrod O’Donnell, High School Instrumental Music Teacher, was not able to attend Wednesday’s meeting, but he provided a letter for Vargason to read to the board.

Vargason said over 70 staff members between coaches, teachers, and sponsors said they would utilize a new space. The Board took no action on the matter during their meeting Wednesday night, but acknowledged gym space is becoming an issue that needs to be addressed, and a facilities and cost study would be the next steps. Also during Wednesday’s meeting, ACSD Communication Specialist Emma Maassen, spoke with the Board on the status of work to update the District’s Website, and other matters.

The Board also discussed staffing, and research on the types of security camera systems available.

UPDATED 7:22-p.m., w/a statement from the Iowa Department of Public Safety: SAC COUNTY, Iowa – Shortly before 2:00 p.m. on April 24, 2024, the Sac County Sheriff’s Office received a call from an individual who reported he discovered a body in his field.  The body was found near the intersection where the semi of missing person David Schultz was located in November 2023. The body is being transported to the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner for a forensic autopsy.

SAC CITY, Iowa (KTIV) – After months of searching, a family member says the body of missing David Schultz has been found. David’s wife, Sarah Schultz, told KTIV in Sioux City, that his body was found in Sac County on Wednesday, April 24. She said her husband was found in a farmer’s field and the Sac County Sheriff’s Office identified him by the boots he was wearing.

The remains were reportedly found 1.5 miles west of where Schultz’ truck was located back when he went missing in November 2023. According to Sarah Schultz, the body is being sent to Iowa State Medical Examiner for official identification.

David Schultz

Fifty-three-year-old David Schultz was a trucker from Wall Lake, Iowa, who was reported missing on Nov. 21, 2023. After his disappearance, law enforcement put together a timeline for his disappearance:

• David left his home in Wall Lake around 7 p.m. on Nov. 20.
• He was scheduled to pick up a load of pigs from a hog confinement near Eagle Grove and take them to Sac City.
• Witnesses confirmed David picked up the livestock and left around 10:50 that night.
  • He was driving his semi-tractor-trailer.
• Shortly after – investigators say he can be seen on surveillance video at a truck stop east of Fort Dodge.
• David leaves the stop in his semi and heads west.
• Cell phone data shows his phone traveled to a rural intersection north of Sac City.
• Authorities found David’s truck at that intersection the following day – with his cellphone and wallet still inside.
• David’s wife, Sarah, reported him missing on Nov. 21 after learning he never made it to the drop-off location.

Volunteers and law enforcement spent weeks looking for David, with over 100,000 acres being searched.

(Mount Ayr, Iowa) – Officials with the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office report a search warrant executed at a residence in the 700 block of N. Fillmore Street in Mount Ayr, resulted in the arrest of a man and a woman on drug and child endangerment charges.

Authorities say Lyndsey Marie Kalvig and Bryan Duane Alden, both face charges that include:

• Drug Distribution Violation to Person Under 18- Class B Felony
• Child Endangerment- Aggravated Misdemeanor (X2)
• Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor- Simple Misdemeanor, and
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia- Simple Misdemeanor

Lyndsey Kalvig was additionally charged with:

• Dissemination and Exhibition of Obscene Material to Minor- Serious Misdemeanor, and
• Possession of Controlled Substance Marijuana 1st offense – Serious Misdemeanor.

Her cash-only bond was set at $31,000.

Alden was additionally charged with Possession of Controlled Substance Marijuana/ 1st offense- Serious Misdemeanor. His cash-only bond was set at $30,000.

*Any potential criminal charges identified above are merely allegations and any defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Corrections, today (Wednesday), reports 45-year-old Anthony Herbert Smith, who was convicted of Robbery-2nd Degree, Theft-1st Degree and Unauthorized Use of Credit Cards in Polk County, failed to report back to the Fort Des Moines Men’s Reentry Center as required, Tuesday.

Smith is six-feet four-inches tall. He weighs 227-pounds. Smith was admitted to the work release facility on March 28, 2024.

Persons with information on Smith’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Anthony Smith (Iowa DOC photo)

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Weather permitting, work on the Atlantic SplashPad is expected to be completed by Labor Day. SplashPad Committee member Ali Pieken provided the update to Parks Advisory Commission today (Wednesday).

And, while the Fundraising Committee has exceeded its goal for the project, donations are still being accepted and welcomed, and will be used as necessary. She said plans are in the works for some sort of way to acknowledge the contributions of those whose families would like an aspect of the park to be named after a loved one.

She says the picnic tables will be secured and painted brightly, mimicking the theme of the entire Pad.

The area will have toddler and family bays with separate activators. Stamp Construction will start in-kind site preparation work in a couple of weeks.

In other business, the Atlantic Parks Advisory Commission received an update from Parks & Rec Coordinator Jeff Christensen, with regard to the Harl Holt Park and the Pour-and-Play playground fall surface. Christensen said a tree was removed from the site and ground was leveled.

Christensen said also, installation of a new water pump for the Sunnyside Pool is still up-in-the-air. The company tasked with installing the pump and troubleshooting any start-up issues, has not provided a time-line for project completion. The opening date for the Sunnyside Pool, therefore, has not yet been established.

The Parks Advisory Commission heard from Steph Steffens, Wednesday, with regard to “Atlantic’s Got Talent” at the Sunnyside Park Bandshell. Steffens said the event – in partnership with the Atlantic Parks & Rec Dept. and Your Forte – will take place August 3rd, the same time the Park Celebration takes place. She spoke about what talent they’re expecting to have showcased.

The tentative deadline to apply July 1st. It will be open to persons in the surrounding communities, and practically anywhere else.

Steffens says they’re hoping to make it an annual event.  The entry fee is $20. You can sign-up at Your Forte in Atlantic.