Atlantic Fire and Rescue and Medivac ambulance have been dispatched to a rollover accident with an ejection that happened about 3-miles south of town. The accident happened at around 620th and Memphis Streets. It was reported at approximately 7:25-a.m. According to the Cass County Communications Center, a female subject was lying in a field near the crash scene, but she was conscious and breathing.

No other details are currently available.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Students in Mrs. Leiferman’s Middle School Language Arts class performed in a mock trial recently. The “Trial” was held in the Cass Courthouse as part of the students’ unit on “The Outsiders,” by S.E. Clinton. The trial, which was presided over by Judge and Attorney at Law J.C. VanGinkel, was based on actions which occurred in the book by Clinton, with the “witnesses”  based on characters from the book.

Atlantic Middle School students report to the School Board Mon. night on their Mock Trial experience.

Some of the students took on the role of police and crime scene investigators, while others served as part of the defense and prosecution. Additional students were selected as part of the “jury,” based on an application letter they had submitted.

In preparing for the trial, students were required to research the Iowa Code, and in conjunction with VanGinkel, worked with the prosecution and defense teams. The students say the mock trial was a great experience, a chance to see the legal system at work, and gave them an opportunity to problem solve, as well as think on their feet and utilize their speaking skills. Students on the jury discussed the case and used their listening and reasoning skills.

The 2014 election season officially begins January 21st, as voters head to their party’s caucuses. Cass County Democratic Chair Sherry Toelle  says County Democrats will hold their caucus beginning at 7-p.m on Jan. 21^st. The caucus is an opportunity for local democrats to gather, discuss and adopt proposed resolutions to the county platform. They’ll also elect delegates and alternates to the County Convention, and elect Precinct Committee Persons to the County Central Committee.

Toelle says “This year, the Cass County Democratic Party will hold all caucuses for all Cass County precincts and wards in one location–at the Second Floor Court Room at the Cass County Court House in Atlantic.”

Participants must be in line or signed in by 7-p.m. Eligible voters who have not yet registered to vote or wish to change their voter affiliation can do so at the caucus. Teens who will be 18 years of age by November 4th, 2014, are also eligible to participate but must first register to vote. Teens from age 13 to 18 years of age can participate by signing up to be a youth delegate.

Police in Red Oak say no injuries were reported following a two-vehicle accident Monday afternoon, at the intersection of west Walnut and north Broadway Streets. Officials say vehicles driven by 17-year old Morgan Marie Wolford and 16-year old Chase Alan Rea, both of Red Oak, collided at around 2:45-p.m., when Rea failed to yield after stopping at the intersection and proceeding west on west Walnut. The 1990 Chevy pickup he was driving was hit by a 2011 Toyota RAV4 driven by Walford, as she was traveling south on north Broadway.

Damage from the crash amounted to $5,000. Rea was cited for Failure to Yield the right of way.

Authorities in Montgomery County report the arrest early this (Tuesday) morning, of a Clarinda woman. 27-year old Megan Diana Reynolds was taken into custody at around 1:30-a.m. on a valid warrant for Driving While Suspended. She was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and later released on $300 bond.

The Iowa Board of Education has authorized a task force to study how to beef up standards in the state’s teacher preparation programs. The department’s Lawrence Bice says they’re looking at tougher standards for professors in the teacher prep programs, and clearer rules for what student teaching should look like. “We’ve been charged by the state board of education to update the standards, to make sure they are rigorous, and that’s what we’re doing,” Bice says. ” Beefing up teacher prep is a high priority of the state board. ” Bice says state law already mandates what tests prospective teachers have to pass:

“We don’t have the authority to change legislation certainly, that’s what our legislators do. So what we’re doing is we’re lookint at what do we have control over — and we’re trying to, frankly we’re trying to make the requirements more rigorous,” Bice explains. That includes requiring the teacher preparation programs to report on what they’re doing to improve based on their last accreditation review.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

WOODWARD, Iowa (AP) — Residents of Woodward in central Iowa were without water after a water main break. The water was shut off yesterday morning. KCCI-TV reports water was restored Monday afternoon, but officials are advising residents to boil their drinking water until testing shows it’s safe.

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — Judith Cabanillas was just 13 when a middle-of-the-night phone call conveyed the shattering news: Her older sister had been found murdered in an Iowa farmhouse. That was in 1974. The slaying went unsolved for years. Now, almost four decades later, her quest could be near an end as authorities put a suspect on trial today in the death of Mary Jayne Jones, a carefree 17-year-old wh worked at a drive-in restaurant. Cabanillas hopes the trial in Ottumwa provides some justice for her family and eases their grief.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A northeast Iowa man has been sentenced to more than seven years in prison for possession of a homemade bomb. Federal prosecutors in Cedar Rapids say 34-year-old Bjorn Luster of Cresco pleaded guilty in September to one count of possession of a destructive device.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Naadir Tharpe scored a career-high 23 points, freshman Andrew Wiggins had 17 points and 19 rebounds and Number 15 Kansas beat 8th ranked Iowa State 77-70 last night for its third straight win to open Big 12 play. The Jayhawks handed the Cyclones their second consecutive loss after a 14-0 start.

A program designed to feed children in the Atlantic Community School District over the weekend, has received approval and is expected to begin next month.

ACSD Food Service Director DeeAnn Schriener with one of the Backpack meals for kids.

DeeAnn Schriener, Food Service and Wellness  Coordinator for the School District said during Monday night’s School Board meeting, she was approached about the “Backpack Program” a couple of years ago, but at that time it was the consensus of the district’s principals that the need wasn’t there. That’s not the case now.

She said this year some students had approached her on a Monday morning and said they hadn’t eaten anything all weekend. Their stories moved her to pursue the Backpack Program a little further. Schriener said after much research and phone calls, the program started falling into place. One of the places she contacted was the Food Bank of the Heartland, in Omaha, which has the program. After a conversation, she was moved to the top of their priority list, because Cass County is in what’s called a “Red Zone,” which means it is an “underserved community.” Officials with FBH met with the district’s principals after the Christmas break, and things have been taking off from there.

Schriener said her goal was to start with 15 Backpacks of food, but the count is currently at 144, which will be provided by Food Bank of the Heartland.  She says the food is free to the district and to the kids. Each backpack is a bag which contains 2 breakfast cereals, 2 main dish items, 2 shelf stable milks, 1 juice box and 1 fruit bowl. The main goal of the program she says, is to make sure kids have food in their stomach, which it is hoped will increase their test scores back up and improve their concentration.

Schriener says if she can raise enough money, the Wellness Team will supplement the FBH backpack with 2 main dish items, 1 or 2 juice boxes and 2 snacks. That will cost about two to four-dollars per pack. She says there is a lot of community support behind the project. That includes help from the Atlantic Food Pantry, and Hy-Vee Manager Amy Jordahl, who will work to create and organize a media campaign to explain how the program works. Hy-Vee will also post signs throughout their store that indicate which items are “Friday Friendly.”

When customers purchase those items, they can give them to the cashier who makes sure the school receives those products. The food packs from FBH are expected to arrive next week, with distribution beginning Feb. 1st. Students are referred to the program by District staff and selected by the principals of each building and Schriener. Students DO NOT need to be on the Free and Reduced meal program. Once those students most in need are identified, the food backpack will be placed in the students’ locker and a waiver form will be sent home with their parent, which will give them the option of permitting their student receive future backpacks, or decline the offer.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors are expected to approve an agreement with an Omaha architectural firm Wednesday morning, with regard to the partial renovation of the basement at 707 Poplar Street. The lower level of the building, which was purchased late last year, will be used for the Cass County Communications Center in the near future. The agreement is with Carlson-West-and Povandra Architects.

In other business, the Supervisors will hear a quarterly Conservation Department report, review and possibly take action on the County Compensation Board’s recommendations for a compensation schedule for annual compensation of the auditor, treasurer, recorder, sheriff, county attorney, and supervisors for FY2015, and approve a schedule for the same. They’ll also discuss and act on whether to allow or disallow  family farm credits, and to approve agricultural Land credits in accord with the Code of Iowa.

The Board may also act on making an appointment to fill a vacancy term on the Cass Co. Board of Health. Their meeting begins at 8:30-a.m., Wednesday.