A complaint has been filed against the Atlantic Education Association with regard to Collective Bargaining. According to reports, a complaint by the Atlantic School District alleges the Education Association, which represents the District’s Certified Staff, violated Chapter 20.10 of the Iowa Code, with regard to the Public Employment Relations Act (Collective Bargaining).

The District’s Board of Education held a regularly-scheduled Board meeting April 11th. In attendance were various public employees of the District. The complaint alleges also in attendance, were persons who had participated in the negotiations process between the Board and Association. During the meeting, various District public employees addressed the Board regarding topics of bargaining, including topics of bargaining that were outlined in the 2017-2018 agreement and that were being negotiated as part of the 2018-2019 agreement.

Education Association President Mike McDermott denied any allegations of impropriety, and indicated he’s disappointed the legal matter will interfere with contract talks. The legal issue must be resolved before a contract settlement can be reached. Atlantic Superintendent Steve Barber said in a statement to the media, that “The District has filed a complaint with the Public Employment Relations Board requesting a decision in regarding the process of negotiations and comments made by Public Employees. The District looks forward to continuing to work with the Association in negotiation and finalization of an agreement for the 2018-2019 school year.”

The Education Association has 10-days to respond to the complaint, but can request an extension if more time is needed to formulate a response.

Today (Friday) is an unofficial holiday for marijuana users, which has prompted an enforcement campaign from the Iowa State Patrol. Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Nate Ludwig says “The term 4/20 is synonymous with drug use, so that’s why we’re conducting this project (today) through Sunday.” Ludwig says drug-impaired driving is becoming a bigger issue on the state’s roads. “I know the fatality rate attributed to those that are impaired has gone up over the last few years,” Ludwig says. “When people think of impaired driving, they just think of drunk driving from alcohol. But, it’s anything – whether you ingest it, absorb it, smoke it – anything that’s going to impair your cognitive ability to operate a vehicle is impaired driving.”

The Drug Impaired Driving enforcement campaign will involve more officers on roadways looking for erratic drivers who could be under the influence of drugs. Ludwig says many marijuana users believe it’s harmless to smoke-up and get behind the wheel. “And they’re wrong because anytime you do that, the chemical that’s in it is going to slow your reaction time, impair your cognitive performance, and it’s going to make it more difficult for you to drive down the road and be safe,” Ludwig said.

The enforcement campaign involves Iowa and five other states; Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. The Lawrence, Kanas Police Department recently posted a message to Twitter saying “Hey potheads planning to toke up on 4/20, stay off the roads. Stock up on Cheetos and Mt. Dew BEFORE you spark.”

(Radio Iowa)

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Charges have been filed against an Iowa City woman who told police she drank several cans of beer one day last October before providing day care to an infant who died later that day.
Court records say 49-year-old Wendy Young is charged with neglect or abandonment of a dependent person. Young’s next court date is April 30.

Officers called to Young’s home Oct. 18 found the child unresponsive. The infant was pronounced dead later at a hospital. The records say Young acknowledged drinking 10 to 12 cans of beer before the child arrived. Police say Young still had alcohol in her system eight hours after she started watching the child.

Authorities haven’t provided more information about the child.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 27-year old Kirsten Lynn Wilwerding, and 25-year old Dustin James Danick, both of Red Oak, were arrested at around 11-p.m. Thursday. Wilwerding and Danick were taken into custody in Stanton, for Violation of a No Contact Order. Their bonds were set at $300, each. And, Red Oak Police report 61-year old Pamela Jean Sickles, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 10:20-p.m. Thursday, for Public Intoxication. Sickles was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:50 a.m. CDT

SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa – The Iowa State Patrol reports a man walking alongside Highway 71 in northwest Iowa’s Dickinson County, was struck and killed by a semi Thursday morning. 23-year old Casey Spaeth, of Spirit Lake, died after being struck by the truck after he abruptly entered the road from the shoulder. The driver of the semi was identified as 42-year old Jason Dean Johnson, of Sioux Falls, SD. Officials say he tried to avoid hitting Spaeth, but was not successful. The accident happened in the area of 255th Avenue and Highways 9 & 71 just east of Spirit Lake,at around 11:17-a.m., Thursday. It remains under investigation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa mother who left her four children home alone to travel to Europe has been given two years’ probation. The Des Moines Register reports Erin Macke was sentenced Thursday in Polk County District Court for four counts of child endangerment. Police say 31-year-old Macke of Johnston failed to make child care arrangements before leaving Sept. 20 for a 10-day vacation in Germany.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds traveled to a private political event in Rhode Island this week. The Tuesday evening event was organized by a local Rhode Island GOP fundraiser who posted a picture of himself and the governor at the event on his Facebook page. The Republican governor had originally planned to be in New York City starting Wednesday for Iowa economic development meetings, but her staff said Tuesday afternoon she would stay in Des Moines to work with lawmakers.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa received nearly $51 million Thursday from tobacco companies _ the state’s annual share of a 1998 landmark legal settlement in which tobacco companies pay states for smoking-related health care costs. The Iowa Attorney General’s Office says that in the last 20 years, Iowa has received more than $1.2 billion in payments under the settlement. The latest payment included a regular annual sum of $39.7 million as part of a master agreement and an additional payment of $11.2 million to the state.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Officials in eastern Iowa say a Marion man has been arrested in the January killing of at 18-year-old Cedar Rapids woman. Cedar Rapids police say 19-year-old Kyler Jacob Junkins has been charged with first-degree murder and burglary in the death of AnnaElise Edgeton, whose body was found in her apartment on Jan. 13. Police say Junkins was involved in breaking into Edgeton’s apartment and shooting her.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A 31-year-old Johnston mother who left her four children home alone to travel to Europe has been given two years’ probation. The Des Moines Register reports Erin Macke was sentenced Thursday in Polk County District Court. She could have faced up to eight years in prison.

Macke entered Alford pleas in February to four counts of child endangerment. In an Alford plea, a person doesn’t admit guilt but acknowledges there is enough evidence for a likely conviction.

Police were called to her home in September by the children’s father, who said the kids — two aged 12, one 7 and the other 6 — had been left alone the day before. Police say Macke failed to make child care arrangements before leaving Sept. 20 for a 10-day vacation in Germany.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa received nearly $51 million Thursday from tobacco companies — the state’s annual share of a 1998 landmark legal settlement in which tobacco companies pay states for smoking-related health care costs.

The Iowa Attorney General’s Office says that in the last 20 years, Iowa has received more than $1.2 billion in payments under the settlement. The latest payment included a regular annual sum of $39.7 million as part of a master agreement and an additional payment of $11.2 million to the state.

The state will continue to receive annual master agreement payments in perpetuity, based on the number of cigarettes sold in the U.S. The tobacco settlement is the largest in U.S. history.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds traveled to a private political event in Rhode Island this week. The Tuesday evening event was organized by a Rhode Island GOP fundraiser who posted a picture on Facebook of himself and the governor at the event near Newport.

The Republican governor had originally planned to be in New York City starting Wednesday for Iowa economic development meetings, but her staff said Tuesday afternoon she would stay in Des Moines to work with lawmakers.

It’s unclear when and how Reynolds got to Rhode Island, or why she decided to attend the political event but cancel her work-related New York trip. Pat Garrett, Reynolds’ communications director, confirmed Reynolds’ travel and only added she returned to Iowa that same night. He didn’t have an immediate response to other questions.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors met in a regular session, Wednesday morning. During their meeting, the Board approved the appointment of Atlantic resident Dennis Vogl, as Cass County Weed Commissioner for 2018.

In other business, the Board heard from Cass County Treasurer Tracey Marshall, who received an offer to purchase a county held tax sale certificate. The Board approved an agreement with Kevin Sindt, and will abate the tax, penalties and interest on the parcels in the Griswold area. Sindt  will pay the assignment fee. The move means the properties will get the back on the County tax roll. The agreement permits the treasurer to strike the amounts due from the county system in accord with Iowa Code, subject to his taking possession of the parcels.

Treasurer Tracey Marshall received an offer from the city of Griswold to enter into agreement for a County held tax sale certificate and take possession of the property if the County will abate taxes, penalty and costs. The Board resolved to enter into agreement with the City of Griswold, to abate all taxes, penalties and interest collectible on a certain parcel, and to direct the treasurer to strike the amounts due from the county system in accord with Iowa Code, subject to Griswold taking possession of the parcel.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports two people were arrested Thursday on Page County warrants for Probation Violation. 18-year old Devinne Janice Moore, of Red Oak, and 29-year old Joseph Cody Foster, of Shambaugh, were both taken into custody.

Moore was unable to post $2000.00 bond and was being held pending further court proceedings. Foster was being held in the Page County Jail on $5,000 bond, on another charge.  His bond on the charge of Violation of Probation adds $2,000 to his total bond.  Foster is awaiting further court proceedings.