For the past six-years, the Atlantic Rotary has presented their Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award to one person each year. This year was different. Last year’s winner Gini Jordan announced today (Wednesday) that the winners this year were Justin Williams, CCEOC 9-12 Teacher, and CCEOC/Special Education Teacher Karen Vogl.

Atlantic Rotary 2019 Teachers of the Year/Atlantic Community School District (Justin Williams & Karen Vogl)

Vogl said she was “Extremely happy, appreciative and pleased” to receive the award. She credited her success to her team, which includes Justin Williams. Williams also recognized the team, and said he was humble to receive the award.

Rotary Teacher of the Year Chair Becky Schroeder said there were an outstanding pool of nominees this year. The winners she said will receive a check for $5,000 to be used however the teacher sees fit. Both also received a plaque.

Other awards were presented for years of service and to those who are retiring. The retirees honored include:

• Christi Garrett and Deb Nelson, from Washington Elementary.
• Melia Clark, from Schuler Elementary.
• Sheryl Dusenberry, Atlantic Middle School.
• Craig Fredin, Maryle Hopper-Henningsen, Pat Wiederin and Michele Lane, from the Atlantic High School.
• Maintenance retiree, Arnie Lamp.
• Transportation retirees Dave Eckles, Sam Hoover and Jan Imhoff.

Other staff received certificates for serving anywhere from 5-to 35-years with the district.

The Atlantic Police Department reports the arrest on May 7th,  of 24-year-old Aaron Cole, of Atlantic. Cole was arrested for Theft  in the 1^{st degree,}  Burglary in the 2^nd Degree, three counts of Burglary 3^rd Degree – Motor Vehicle, two counts of Unauthorized use of a Credit Card under $1,000, Criminal Mischief 4^th Degree, Interference with Official Acts, and Ongoing Criminal Conduct – Unlawful Activity.

27-year old Kaytie Beschorner, of Atlantic, was arrested May 9^th on Cass County warrants charging her with four counts of Forgery, two counts of Theft 3^rd Degree, fourteen counts of Unauthorized use of a Credit Card under $1,000, Theft 4^th and Ongoing Criminal Conduct – Unlawful Activity in Montgomery County.

Col and Beschorner were transported to the Cass County Jail and booked-in.

Atlantic Police also arrested 46-year-old Joseph King, of Atlantic, on May 12^th, on two Cass County warrants for Violation of Probation. 27-year old Stephanie Stuart,  of Sedalia, Missouri, was arrested May 13^th for Operating While Intoxicated.

19-year old Zachary Butler, of Atlantic, was arrested May 14^th on a Cass County warrant for Interference with Official Acts. And 57-year old Charles Burns, of Atlantic, was arrested that same day, on a Cass County warrant for Violation of a No Contact Order.

All individuals were taken to the Cass County Jail and booked in.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports numerous drug-related arrests have occurred recently. On Tuesday (May 14), 27-year old Stephen Edward Ross, of Atlantic, was arrested for: OWI 1st Offense; Possession of Meth 1st Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Ross was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on his own recognizance. And, 27-year old Jade Michael Nicholson, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Sheriff’s Office felony warrant for Possession with Intent to Deliver Meth. Upon arrest, Nicholson was additionally charged with felony Possession of Oxycodone 3rd/Subsequent Offense. He remains in the Cass County Jail on $55,000 bond.

Last Friday (May 10), Cass County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 60-year old Robert John Rasmussen, of Massena, on felony charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine, Possession Marijuana 3rd or Subsequent offense, and a Drug Tax Stamp Violation. He was also charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. On Tuesday, deputies served Rasmussen at the Jail with a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. He remains at the Cass County Jail on $120,000 bond. Also arrested May 10th, was 33-year old Cody Michael Johnson, of Adair, and 35-year old Lisa Marie King, of Cumberland. The pair were taken into custody after deputies responded to a report of an attempted burglary in progress at 64666 Tucson Road. Johnson and King, were each arrested on a felony charge of Burglary in the 3rd Degree, as well as Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. King was additionally charged with Possession of Meth 1st Offense, while Johnson was additionally charged with Possession of Marijuana 1st Offense. Both were being held in the Cass County Jail on $6,000 bond each.

May 5th, Cass County deputies arrested 47-year old Jack Lee Carson, Jr., of Elk Horn, for felony Possession with Intent to Deliver Meth, felony Possession of Meth 3rd/Subsequent Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Carson was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $55,300 bond.

On May 9th, 28-year old Karen Dawn Hernandez, of Atlantic, was arrested on a charge of Driving While Revoked. Hernandez was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on her own recognizance. On May 8th, 35-year old Ryan Mark Biensen, of Fort Dodge, was arrested in Cass County on a District Court warrant for Probation of Violation. Biensen was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $20,000 bond.

On May 4th, 48-year old Vicente Gomez, of Texas, was arrested on a charge of Interference with Official Acts. Gomez was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance.

The Iowa Board of Medicine has taken action against a northwest Iowa man accused of sexual misconduct. Officials say 47-year old Christopher J. VandeLune, D.O., who formerly practiced family medicine in Cherokee (Iowa), entered into a combined Statement of Charges and Settlement Agreement with the Board on May 9, 2019. The Board alleged that Dr. VandeLune engaged in sexual misconduct and/or sexual harassment in violation of the laws and rules governing the practice of medicine in Iowa, when he sent sexually suggestive text messages and social media messages to, and engaged in sexual relations with, two female co-workers for whom he also provided medical care in Cherokee, Iowa, in 2017.

At the direction of the Board, Dr. VandeLune completed a Board-approved comprehensive sexual misconduct evaluation on March 2, 2019. Under the terms of the May 9, 2019, combined Statement of Charges and Settlement Agreement, the Board issued Dr. VandeLune a Citation and Warning and ordered him to pay a $5,000 civil penalty. The Board also ordered Dr. VandeLune to complete a Board-approved professional boundaries program and placed him on probation for a period of five years subject to Board monitoring, including professional boundaries counseling.