Members of the Atlantic School District’s Board of Education, Wednesday evening, approved three resignations and numerous Contracts and/or Letters of Assignment. The Board approved the resignations of Joe Brummer, Head Freshman Football Coach, and two late additions: Kathy Wiebenga, Washington Paraeducator, and DeeAnn Schreiner, Food Service Director.

Atlantic School Board mtg., 7/11/18 (Ric Hanson photo)

Superintendent Steve Barber said of Schreiner, “I have a lot of respect [for her], she’s decided to take on a different job at this particular time. We’ve been in close communication here the last few days to see if we could come up with some situation…but when it all came down to it, she decided she needs to move on to this new position.”

The Board also approved the Superintendent’s recommended hiring of staff for certain positions, but not before Board Member Kristy Pellett expressed concerns about the late season hiring process. Pellett said she understands they “Can’t control the hiring of a couple of teachers and a head coach so late in the year (normally they would have all the positions filled by May or June for the upcoming school year), but in the past, some of these positions we’ve looked at as ‘interim-type’ positions…as [a tool] to not get ourselves locked-in this late in the year, and we still have an industrial tech person (to hire).” She said she’s heard comments like (with regard to the Science position), “They sure would have liked to have applied [for] it, but they were already under contract in their district. And, I think when we get as late as we are, we lose out on good candidates.”

The Board, by a vote of 3-to 1 (with Pellet the “No” vote and Josh McLaren absent), to approve hiring or transfers of the following: Richard Smith, High School Night Custodian; Nathan Renz’ transfer to HS Day Custodian; Tracy Daughtery, Allison Berryhill, Rhonda Hawkins and Jenny Madsen, all as TLC mentors. And, the previously mentioned additions of Cole Renken, High School P.E. Teacher; Caroline Madsen, 5th Grade Teacher; Dan Vargason, Head Girls Basketball Coach; Brad Rasmussen, High School Assistant Cross Country Coach, and Jeremy Blake, JV Volleyball Coach.

WASHINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in southeastern Iowa say they are  investigating a person’s death described as suspicious. The Iowa Department of Public Safety says in a news release that police in Washington, Iowa, were called to an apartment complex just before 8 a.m. Wednesday for a report of a person found dead.

Soon afterward, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation was called to help with the investigation. Police have not released the name of the person found dead, and no additional details about the death have been released.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Police in eastern Iowa are looking for members of a mob of up to 40 people that swarmed into a Cedar Rapids convenience store, stealing items and destroying property in just seconds.

The Des Moines Register reports that the incident happened around 10:30 July 3 following a nearby fireworks show. Police say surveillance video of the Casey’s General Store shows a large group of young people entering the store, grabbing items from shelves and refrigerated coolers and rushing back out of the store’s doors — knocking over displays on the way out. From start to finish, the incident took less than 90 seconds.

The store’s two clerks appeared powerless to stop the crowd. Police say one juvenile has been arrested, but they’re seeking the public’s help in identifying others involved.

Red Oak Police say two people were arrested this (Wednesday) morning, on assault charges. 34-year old Natasha Suzanne Loftesness, of Red Oak, was arrested just before 7-a.m., after allegedly entering a residence in the 1200 block of N. Highland Avenue, and allegedly assaulting a person who had allegedly assault her juvenile child. Lofteness was charged with Simple Assault, and was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond. And, 24-year old Theron Roderick Pace, II, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 7-a.m. in the 1200 block of N. Highland Avenue, in connection with the alleged assault of a juvenile in the 600 block of N. Miller Avenue. Pace was arrested for Simple Assault and held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.

The women of Xi Beta Phi were proud to support the Atlantic Children’s Theatre group’s 2018 summer production of Tom Sawyer with a $1300 donation.   The funds were raised from the group’s annual sale of holiday wreaths and greens.  Sara Nelson made the presentation to a few of the over 70 children who are participating in the theatre’s production this week.  Tom Sawyer will be performed Friday, July 13 at 7:00 pm and Saturday, July 14 at 2:00 pm. Admission is free, but free-will donations are encouraged.  To order holiday greens this fall, contact Nelson at 712-243-4409. All proceeds go to local organizations.

DEWITT, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa factory plans to lay off workers, reduce production and delay expansion plans in response to tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration on steel imported from Canada. The Quad-City Times reports that the Black Cat Wear Parts factory in DeWitt has confirmed temporary layoffs of 10 of its 17 production employees this week. Plant Manager Josh Daniel says he hopes to rehire the employees, depending on future negotiations within the trade dispute.

Daniel says the factory has also scaled back about 80 percent of its production capacity. The facility will send around 90 tons (82 metric tons) of monthly steel manufacturing to Canada, where the company is headquartered. He says the tariffs have halted the company’s expansion plan. The DeWitt branch had purchased another location this year.

The Glenwood Police Department reports 41-year old Michael Carver, of Glenwood was arrested Tuesday, for driving While barred, unlawful possession of prescription drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. Carver’s bond was set at $3,300.