Officials with ISU Extension in Montgomery County report an afterschool STEM (Science/Technology/Engineering & Math) program held on Wednesday early outs at the Montgomery County Family YMCA for students in 4th through 6th grade, starting on September 28th. The afterschool program will run for six consecutive weeks. Youth do not have to be a member of the YMCA to participate. The afterschool STEM program will be coordinated by ISU Extension and Outreach Montgomery County in partnership with Montgomery County Family YMCA, Anderson Conservation Center, Southwest Iowa STEM Hub and Johnson Controls, INC.

Chelsea Cousins, Program Coordinator at ISU Extension and Outreach Montgomery County, says “Youth will engage in hands-on experiments about science, technology, engineering and math as they relate to real world topics. Activities will vary each week including strawberry DNA extracting, building rockets, and understanding the impact of pollution and recycling – just to name a few.”

Youth may register for the afterschool program by contacting the Extension office at 712-623-2592. The program is funded by a Blue Sky Grant from Johnson Controls, Inc. and the collaborative efforts of each partner. For more information, please contact ISU Extension and Outreach Montgomery County at 712-623-2592 or 400 Bridge Street, Suite 2, Red Oak, IA.

Three Cass County men were critically injured during a single-vehicle accident early this (Thursday) morning, in Pottawattamie County. Pott. County Sheriff Jeff Danker says the driver of a 2004 Dodge Ram pickup, 20-year old Jacob Johnson, and his passengers, 20-year old Adam Bolton, and 20-year old Dacoda Schwarte, all of Atlantic, were injured and transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, before being flown to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

Danker says the crash happened at around 12:20-a.m., in the area of 510^th Street and Sumac Road.  An investigation determined the pickup was traveling northbound on 510^th Street when Johnson failed to negotiate the curve at Sumac Road.  The pickup traveled into the ditch and struck an embankment. Adam Bolton was ejected from the vehicle during the crash. While the incident remains under investigation by the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, Danker say alcohol is believed to have been a factor.

(9-a.m. News)

DES MOINES – The Iowa Finance Authority, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources recently recognized the 2016 top lender and landowner of the year for their commitment to conservation practices at the Conservation Districts of Iowa Conference. First Whitney Bank & Trust in Atlantic was recognized as the top lender, and Alan Peterson of Cass County was named landowner of the year for water quality efforts.

The State Revolving Fund provides low-interest loans to Iowans to assist in projects to reduce runoff in Iowa’s waterways. The State Revolving Fund is jointly administered by the Iowa Finance Authority and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in partnership with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. The Conservation Districts of Iowa supports the 100 state soil and water conservation districts through public education, commissioner development, policy and conservation promotion.

First Whitney Bank & Trust has financed more than $636,000 through the Local Water Protection Program since its inception in 2006, assisting 26 landowners with water quality improvements. The program uses linked deposit accounts to reduce the interest rate charged to the borrower; the interest rate cannot exceed three percent. Linked deposits earn no interest and are charged no fees.

Alan Peterson of Cass County was named the 2016 outstanding landowner of the year for his commitment to conservation practices on his farms. He has utilized the Local Water Protection Program several times to enhance terraces, tiles and waterways on his family farm near Atlantic.

Pictured from left to right Tony Toigo, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship; Alan Peterson, Outstanding Landowner Awardee; Debbie Pellet, First Whitney Bank & Trust; Jane Larson, Iowa Finance Authority; Dave York, Cass County Soil and Water Conservation District. (IFA supplied photo)

“I commend First Whitney Bank & Trust for their commitment to ensuring that Iowa landowners have access to affordable financing to make vital water quality projects a reality,” said Iowa Finance Authority Executive Director Dave Jamison. “I also congratulate Alan Peterson for receiving the outstanding landowner award for his efforts in controlling runoff on his farms and doing his part to ultimately improve Iowa’s water quality.”

“The State Revolving Fund’s success is a testament to the partnerships with the hundreds of dedicated lenders and landowners throughout the state,” said Jim Gillespie, Director of the Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality. “I congratulate both for their outstanding work in their efforts to protect Iowa’s natural resources.”

“I want to thank First Whitney Bank & Trust and Alan Peterson for their efforts to preserve our waterways. Lenders and landowners like them are doing their part to improve water quality which will help keep Iowa waterways clean for generations to come,” said Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director Chuck Gipp.

The State Revolving Fund features a variety of programs that offer low-interest loans to assist farmers, livestock producers, watershed organizations and others and are offered through participating lenders across the state. These programs have assisted more than 4,000 water quality projects in partnership with more than 500 participating lenders throughout the state since their inception. More information about the State Revolving Fund is available at: IowaSRF.com

A long-time employer in Atlantic with a facility also located in Waukee, has announced a major expansion project. Jim Tyler, Executive Chairman of the Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, told KJAN’s “Heartbeat Today” with Jim Field, that a three-year project culminates October 1st, and will see the company grow literally overnight, from 200 to 700 employees. He says instead of just two locations – Atlantic and Waukee – they’ll have a total of nine locations: SpiritLake, Mason City, Ames, Ottumwa, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque and the Quad Cities. They’ll do business in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri.

Tyler said the Atlantic Production facilities will become larger. He said their employees are excited by the change.  He says the 107-year old family-owned business is working to stay in business another 100-years. Tyler said over 25-percent of their employees have been with the company for more than 20-years.  85-percent of what’s produced in Atlantic is distributed by their Waukee facility. Part of the expansion includes the purchase of several new tractor-trailers.

They purchased 16 new Kenworth tractors, 17 new trailers, and are increasing the number of routes from 95 to around 120. The goal he says, is to improve service to all of their current and future customers, that includes the use of a service call-in center in Waukee, instead of Tampa, Fl. The expansion effort was approved by Coca-Cola’s North American Corporate offices in Atlanta, GA. He said the company has been extremely helpful and representative this week were in Des Moines to meet with employees about the changes.

Tyler says at one-time, there were more than 1,000 independent Coca-Cola bottlers in the U-S, but that dwindled down to 60. The company decided about three-years ago to consider re-franchising. Tyler and his son made a trip to Atlanta and spoke with the President of the Company and expressed their efforts in expanding their current franchise to several points in Iowa, but Coke President Sandy Douglas suggested they should think “A little larger.”

Tyler said they showed him an expanded map of the service area they need to cover. He said the Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling is ready for the challenge. Tyler says they intend to be active in every community they serve.

(You can hear the full interview with Jim Tyler at kjan.com. Click on the “Programs” section on the home page, and then the link to “Heartbeat Today.”

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (7.2MB)

Subscribe: RSS

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.3MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Police in Red Oak report the arrest this (Thursday) morning, of 25-year old Devon Keith Hale, of Council Bluffs. Hale was taken into custody at around 12:30-a.m., following a traffic stop. He was charged with Driving While Revoked and Failure to have SR-22 Insurance. Hale was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $1,000 bond. And, at around 3:50-p.m. Wednesday, Red Oak Police arrested 57-year old Mary Helen Adams, of Red Oak, on an active warrant out of Cass County, for felony Violation of Probation. Adams was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 cash bond.

Council Bluffs Police are looking for a suspect wanted in connection with a shooting that took place early this (Thursday) morning. Authorities say uniformed officers were called to the area of 71 Glenview Drive at around 1:10-a.m. for possible shots fired. Officers located the victim in the 3600 block of Ave G. He was identified as 29-year old Terry L Eddy the third, of Omaha. The man had suffered a single gunshot wound to his left upper arm.

Eddy was transported by Council Bluffs Rescue to Creighton Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska with a serious, but non-life threatening injury. An initial investigation indicated Eddy had an altercation with another subject in the 4100 block of Ave B. After the altercation, Eddy left the area and was confronted by the unknown white male suspect in the 500 block of Benson St. The suspect produced a small caliber handgun and fired several times toward Eddy.

The suspect has facial hair, is about 20 to 25 years of age. He stand 5’7” tall and has a thin build. The investigation is ongoing by the Criminal Investigation Division. Anyone with any information that may have been in the area at the time of this incident is encouraged to contact this Division at 712-328-4728, or they may call Crime Stoppers at 712-328-7867.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Attorneys representing a union leader and several state lawmakers argued to the Iowa Supreme Court that Gov. Terry Branstad violated state law by closing two state mental health institutes last year. The lawyers told justices Wednesday that state law requires the continued operation of now-closed institutes in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant as well as Cherokee and Independence facilities. They want the closed centers to reopen. Iowa’s solicitor general reiterated the governor’s veto authority.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — A former Iowa State University student is suing the school for allegedly mishandling the response to her sexual assault by another student in 2014. The 21-year-old woman alleges in the lawsuit that university officials discouraged her from reporting the assault, then took months to investigate and take action against her assailant. In the meantime, the university placed the two in the same housing complex during the next semester.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court must now decide whether to weigh in on a lawsuit that pits Des Moines Water Works against upstream farmers accused of contaminating rivers with nitrates from fertilizer. The justices heard arguments Wednesday in the case, which asks the court to decide whether agriculture drainage districts have immunity from lawsuits and whether the water utility can seek monetary damages.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Police have arrested a 34-year-old Dubuque man charged in Wisconsin with attempted murder and battery in the assault of another Dubuque man there three years ago. The Crawford County Sheriff’s Department says Anthony Runde has been arrested in Iowa after being indicted in Wisconsin on suspicion of causing 30-year-old Joshua Milligan’s severe brain trauma. The sheriff’s office says the assault happened at a concert in Bridgeport, Wisconsin, in July 2013.

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Directors held their annual organizational meeting Wednesday evening, and conducted regular business afterward. During their session, the Board elected Ali Bruckner as President for the 2016-17 School Year, and Jenny Williams as Vice President.

Board Secretary Mary Beth Fast administers the School Board Oath of Office to Ali Bruckner (Left) and Jenny Williams (Center)

Mary Beth Fast was re-appointed as the District’s Business Manager, and Olivia Newberg was re-appointed as Treasurer. The Board also voted to continue to hold its regular meetings at 5:30-p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month, and their work sessions on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 5:30-p.m., unless otherwise noted. During their work session on Sept. 28th, the Board will hear from three firms who will offer their services in the search for the next Atlantic School District Superintendent, who will succeed Amstein when he retires next year. The board will discuss their proposals afterward, and vote on whether to hire one of the three firms during their regular meeting in October, or proceed with the search on their own, with guidance from the IASB and other, knowledgeable Education Officials.

In other business, Atlantic Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein thanked the community for passing the V-PPEL (Voter-approved Physical Plant and Equipment Levy) Tuesday, which allows for a combination of property and income surtax charges to help meet the District’s needs.

Newly elected School Board President Ali Bruckner administers the Oath of Office to Mary Beth Fast and Olivia Newburg

He also issued a special thank you to community members Kip Harris, Hal Gronewold, Glen  Smith, and Jennifer Saathoff, for their efforts to educate the public about the V-PPEL and getting out the vote.

Amstein said also, enrollment is up this year by some 50-to 60 students, which he hopes holds until October first, when the District can certify its enrollment numbers to the State, which in turn helps to determine how much money the District receives in the form of aid.

The Atlantic School Board heard also from the District’s Justin Williams, who asked them to consider employing students in certain school-related multi-occupational positions. Williams asked for the Board to create a set number of hours for student employment within the District for work experience. He said the School District is one of the largest employers in Atlantic, and he thinks they could make the program work again. It was last utilized about six-years ago.

Williams said “It’s hard to expect the public to employ our kids if we’re not willing to.” He said also, the district could save money by paying the students less than adults for tasks such as mowing, or serving as a para-educator in a training capacity. Or, they could receive credit toward their graduation requirements. Williams said there are students willing to do the work, and “Do it effectively for us.” He said in the past, they’re paid kids to mow in the summer, and paid them to work in the lunchroom. Currently a student is being paid to work in the Tech Department. The board will discuss the request at their next regular meeting and possibly act on the matter.

And, the Atlantic School Board approved a request from Dan Vargason, Spanish Teacher and Spanish Club Sponsor, for students to begin a 21-month fundraising effort for their next trip to Costa Rica. The trip is planned for the 2018 School Year. This past year, 19 students, all from Atlantic, took a trip to Costa Rica along with a handful of chaperones and parents. The students raised the money themselves, and are responsible for their individual costs. As a group, they raised money through a canned food drive ($4,691), and a Taco Night ($3,674). Other funds were made possible through the Atlantic Community School Foundation, and a grant from the Rotary Club.