Atlantic Parks and Rec Department Director Seth Staashelm, Monday evening, provided the Parks and Rec Board with updates on various matters pertaining to the Schildberg Rec Area, Sports Complex and Sunnyside Shelter. With regard to the Schildberg Rec Area, Staashelm said the campground sites are being utilized and reservations have been made for other pads.

There are 15 campers currently in place, three more spots are reserved for monthly campers and two more spots reserved for Coca-Cola Days. He hopes to have the remaining pads filled later this week, and they are working on acquiring a dumpster.

The fishing dock at Schildberg is almost finished, but Staashelm says they are working on seeding and other finishing touches. They are also waiting for the dock shelter engineering so the roof can be installed on the shelter, which will be named in memory of Richard McCauley, thanks to a donation from Pat McCauley.

Plans are also still in the works for a playground at Schildberg, but the costs are currently outside the budget, even though the prices have come down since the seasonal playground use time is winding down. Staashelm says they budgeted $50,000 for the project, but with shipping, the final price tag is more along the lines of $60,000.

He says wants to do more number crunching before presenting the final project concept to the Board next month. In other business, the Grand Opening for the Fishing Dock at Schildbergs will be for the Atlantic Ambassadors and to thank donors this Thursday, at 10-a.m. Once the roof is on, they will have a public grand opening. Staashelm said also, a “Bikers helping bikers Fun Run” will be held beginning 9:30-a.m. Oct. 14th, with motorcyclists raising funds to benefit the Schildberg Rec Area, which is used by pedestrians…and bicyclists. Even though motorcycles are the primary participants, all vehicles are welcome for your free will donation.

The group will leave the Allen Place (1406 E. 19th Street) at 10:30-a.m. Oct. 14th and proceed west from Atlantic on Highway 83 to Avoca. From there, they will head west on G-18 to Minden, west to Highway 191, south to G-30 at Underwood, from Underwood west on G-30 to L-34 north to Beebeetown “Twisted Tail.” Afterward, they will depart Beebeetown north on L-34 to F-58, and turn east toward Persia. From Persia they will hear north on Highway 191 to Highway 44, and from Portsmouth east to Kimballton, from Kimballton south to Atlantic’s Schildberg Rec Area. The complete ride is about 119 miles.

More information will be released as the date grows closer.

The Iowa Department of Education released its new plan today (Monday) to meet the requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. Department of Education director, Ryan Wise, says they put a lot of effort into the plan and got input from all across the state. “We’ve said from the beginning this is about ensuring opportunity for all students and that is really state and locally driven, and that we would carry that through the entire process,” Wise says. The new federal legislation replaces the old No Child Left Behind, and Wise says it does something the old plan didn’t

“That is really a focus on ensuring that state and local districts are going beyond single-point in time measures on just math and English language arts — and really ensuring that schools are providing a well-rounded education for all students,” Wise says. The Department’s chief of the Bureau of School Improvement, Amy Williamson, says the plan sets out goals for districts.

We wanted to make sure that we set these goals knowing that we wanted a high bar for all students. And we wanted to address the fact that there are achievement gaps between some groups of students and all students,” Williamson says. “And we wanted to make sure that we are aggressive in closing those gaps.” She says the new plan focuses on helping districts that don’t meet their goals instead of punishing them.

“When those criteria aren’t met, we can actually step up the support that we provide for schools,” Williamson explains. “And the way that we would do that is to implement more state approved improvement strategies that are evidenced based. And to direct more of the teacher leadership and compensation resources that districts receive toward implementation of the evidence-based strategies.” Williamson says they will use assessments to set the goals for the schools and those goals will increase over time. The plan is being submitted to the federal government today (Monday) and federal officials have 120 days to look it over and respond.

(Radio Iowa)

State regulators have unanimously rejected a petition seeking tougher environmental standards for livestock confinements. Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement sought the changes. Members of the group voiced their anger after the Environmental Protection Commission’s vote. Regulators determined they lacked the authority to adjust the so-called “master matrix.” Those are the rules that govern where livestock confinements may be built.

Commission member Joe Riding of Altoona — a former legislator — says the law establishing those standards was passed 15 years ago and it’s time for the legislature to revisit the issue. “Bringing the stakeholders together,” Riding says. “I don’t care how messy it might be.” Commissioner Barbara Hovland of Mason City says it’s up to legislators to review the law.

“I am a firm believer that they created it and they need to start discussing it,” Hovland said. A lengthy period of public comment came before the commission’s eight-to-zero vote. Farm groups like the Pork Producers argued the proposed changes would create a moratorium on new construction of livestock confinements. Farm Bureau member Brianne Streck of Moville says she and her husband “work hard to raise livestock the right way.”

“The supporters of this petition would like to make you think that I am the face of evil,” Streck said. “…Changing the master matrix to give others the ability to pick and choose where and how we can raise livestock would be detrimental to young farmers like me and, more importantly, the rural communities that live and thrive on us.” Backers of the petition argued Iowa is making little progress in cleaning up polluted waterways and it’s time for tougher rules on livestock manure. John Lichty of West Des Moines is a member of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement.

“Why is there even a question? Why is it farmers first, the rest of us go to hell — excuse my language,” he said. “I’m not against farmers, but…it’s all about profit. Money first, the heck with the rest of us. That’s all I’ve got. This is disgusting.” In 2002, the Iowa legislature passed statewide standards for livestock confinements, including the required distance between a confinement and a neighbor’s house.

A state construction permit is required for confinements of a certain size. The Des Moines Register recently reported the Department of Natural Resources reviewed images from satellites and found five-thousand previously unknown confinements in Iowa. About 13-hundred of them were large enough to require some form of state oversight.

(Radio Iowa)

Kathy Somers announced she will run for re-election to a third term on the Atlantic City Council representing Ward Two in the November election. Somers has served on the city council since 2010 and as mayor pro-tem since 2014. Somers also serves as the chairperson of the council’s personnel and finance committee and the Cass County Environmental Control Agency (the landfill board). She is a member of the Cass County Public Safety Commission and was formerly a board member of the Chamber of Commerce. In addition, Somers was appointed to the Governor’s Southwest Iowa STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Advisory Board in 2015.

Kathy Somers (candidate submitted photo)

A few of the city’s achievements that Somers is pleased to have supported in the past eight years are the street and alley improvements, the TIF and tax abatement incentive policies, simplification of city employee wages and hiring an ISU intern to develop a community beautification plan last year. Looking forward, and as the budget allows, Somers would like to improve the quality and quantity of homes in Atlantic, encourage cultural activities, continue implementing the beautification plan and support workforce development and job creation.

Somers works at A.M. Cohron & Son, Inc. as the HR & EEO Officer/Safety Coordinator and operates Somers Photography out of her home. She is the daughter of Dean and Verna Esbeck and is a 1988 graduate of Atlantic High School. She is married to Guy Somers. They have four children, Mikayla, who lives is Warrensburg, MO, Justin and Nadia who are both students at Iowa State University, and Lex Somers, who is in 9th grade.

The Cass County Auditor’s Office reports several candidates recently filed nomination papers for the Nov. 7th City Elections. Those who submitted their papers last Friday and the positions they seek include:

• Kathy Somers (Incumbent) – Atlantic City Council/Ward 2
• Mark Harris (Incumbent) – Anita City Council
• Julianne M. Adams – Griswold City Council
• Brad A. Rhine – Mayor, City of Griswold
• Rick Sanny – Lewis City Council

Candidate papers submitted today (Monday) include:

• Ryan Lockwood – Lewis City Council
• Vergil Anderson – Marne City Council
• Wayne Preister – Marne City Council
• Randall I. Baxter (Incumbent) – Mayor, City of Marne

A complete list of the candidates (both previously announced and current) will be posted once the deadline to file has passed. The last day to file nomination papers with the Cass County Auditor’s Office is Thursday, Sept. 21st, at 5-p.m.

The Iowa Bankers Association (IBA) has elected officers and directors to serve on its 2017-18 board of directors. The leaders assumed their roles during the IBA Annual Convention, Sept. 17-19 in Des Moines.

Officers for the IBA Executive Committee are as follows:

* Kurt Herbrechtsmeyer, president and CEO, First Security Bank & Trust in Charles City, will be chairman of the board.
* Peg Scott, CEO/CFO, Union State Bank in Greenfield, will serve as chair-elect.
* Dave Nelson, CEO and chairman, West Bank in West Des Moines, will serve as past chair of the board.
* Brad Lane, president and CEO of Security Savings Bank in Gowrie, will be treasurer.
* John Sorensen, president and CEO, IBA, will continue to serve as secretary of the board.

Officers were nominated and approved by IBA member banks from across the state. The IBA Executive Committee leads the board of directors, which is responsible for setting policy and overseeing the general operation of the IBA.

Also serving on the 2017-2018 IBA Board of Directors are:

* Aaron Kness, president and CEO, Iowa State Bank & Trust, Fairfield
* Ben Dvergsten, president, Security Trust & Savings Bank, Storm Lake
* Brett Smith, regional banking president – Eastern Iowa/Illinois retail, Wells Fargo Bank, Des Moines
* Dennis Busta, president and CEO, MBT Bank, Forest City
* Kent Jehle, executive vice president – chief credit officer, MidWestOne Bank, Iowa City
* Kevin Brooks, president and CEO, South Story Bank and Trust, Huxley
* Kim Greenland, senior vice president, City State Bank, Mount Ayr
* Kyle Cook, president and CEO, Montezuma State Bank, Montezuma
* Nancy Kasparek, senior vice president, regional president, community banking U.S. Bank, Cedar Rapids
* Tim Kintner, executive vice president – regional banking markets and community relations, Bankers Trust, Des Moines

About the Iowa Bankers Association
The Iowa Bankers Association represents Iowa banks and savings institutions. Iowa bankers are committed to the values of honesty, hard work and community service, and have been a trusted resource for Iowans for more than 100 years. Iowa banks offer FDIC insurance and lend more than $74.5 billion to help individuals, business owners and agriculture. More than 19,000 Iowans work at an Iowa bank, and Iowa banks donate more than $53.5 million and over one million volunteer hours to support local communities each year. To learn more, visit iowabankers.com.

You’re invited to join The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce and Atlantic Bottling Company to Celebrate Coca-Cola Days 25th Anniversary. Coca-Cola Days, presented by Atlantic Bottling Company, will be held Friday, September 22nd and Saturday, Sept. 23rd, in Downtown Atlantic. The event is the second biggest collector’s show in the United States and includes a tailgate barbecue open to the public, a Show, Swap & Sell, “Bottles on Parade”, “Discover Atlantic Raffle” and many more activities for all ages.

Coca-Cola Days is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year with a special raffle. Bailey Smith, Executive Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said “The committee brainstormed and decided to celebrate the 25th Anniversary with a raffle that includes 25 items donated from area businesses.”  Tickets are available at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce for $5 a ticket. The winner will be announced Saturday, September 23rd at 2 PM at the Show, Swap & Sell meet at the Herring Building.

Coca-Cola Days is also celebrating the 3rd Annual “Bottles on Parade”. Bottles will be on display outside the following businesses: Atlantic Coca-Cola Center & Museum; Atlantic Inn & Suites, Cappel’s Ace Hardware; China Buffet; Nishna Valley YMCA and The Venue. Vote on your favorite bottle now till Friday, September 22nd by stopping in to each business.

T-Shirts for the 2017 Coca-Cola Days Celebration are also available for purchase. The shirts are black and feature the theme, “Coca-Cola Days—Celebrating Our 25thAnniversary”. T-Shirts can be purchased for $16 at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information on Coca-Cola Days or a full list of activities, please visit www.cocacoladays.com, call the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017 or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa governor and the organization that sets workers’ compensation rates are disputing whether a new law influenced a recent rate reduction in premiums for employers. The Des Moines Register reports the National Council on Compensation Insurance announced an 8.7 average premium reduction for Iowa employers that’ll begin January 2018. In a statement last month, Gov. Kim Reynolds said the decrease is a “direct result” of reforms that took effect in July.

The Legislative Services Agency says the legislation cuts benefits for injured workers, makes it more difficult for injured workers to claim lump sum payments and limits attorney legal fees. Council officials say the legislation played no part in the lower rates. They say the reduction was based on data from premium years 2014-15 and a decrease in claims.

Officials with the City of Atlantic say the next “Atlantic 150” Committee meeting, which was scheduled to take place Tuesday, September 19th at 5:30 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, has been rescheduled to Oct. 11th at the same time and place. All interested persons are invited to attend.

During their meeting last month, the Atlantic 150 Committee, which is planning activities for the City’s Sesquicentennial Celebration that will take place in 2018, it was determined the events will kick off on December 2, 2017 at the city’s Lighted Christmas Parade with the Mayor proclaiming 2018 as the City’s Sesquicentennial Year.

Organizers say rather than one large celebration, the city will be celebrating each month in 2018. Each month has been assigned a theme in order to assist individuals/groups/organizations/businesses in creating ideas for activities they may want to sponsor throughout the year. The Calendar of Events will also be made available on the atlanticiowa.com website, as well as found on the Sesquicentennial Facebook Page – Atlantic Sesquicentennial.

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation Monday allowing the transportation of overweight loads of corn, soybeans, haw, straw, silage and stover. The proclamation will expire Nov. 17, 2017. Gov. Reynolds said she is “Pleased to sign this proclamation allowing Iowa farmers to move their crops in an effective and efficient manner.Farmers are a critical component of our state’s economy, and this proclamation ensures they’re able to transport their crops ahead of deteriorating weather conditions.”

The proclamation allows vehicles transporting corn, soybeans, hay, straw, silage and stover to be overweight (not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight) without a permit, but only for the duration of this proclamation. The action is intended to allow loads transported on all highways within Iowa (excluding the interstate system) and those which do not exceed a maximum of 90,000 pounds gross weight, do not exceed the maximum axle weight limit determined under the non-primary highway maximum gross weight table in Iowa Code § 321.463 (5) (b), by more than 12.5 percent, do not exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds and comply with posted limits on roads and bridges.

The Iowa Department of Transportation is directed to monitor the operation of this proclamation to ensure the public’s safety and facilitate the movement of the trucks involved in our state’s harvest.