(Atlantic, Iowa) – On Friday, May 5th, the Atlantic FFA Chapter held a farm safety/petting zoo day at Washington Elementary. According to Atlantic FFA Reporter Lily Johnson, the event gave students at Washington Elementary the opportunity to experience being around large farm animals. They also got to learn about dangerous farm equipment and learn how to be safe when operating it and they heard about FFA and beef products, from the Cass County beef queen and princess.

Farm Safety Day was led by the Atlantic FFA Chapter officer team, the Atlantic High School Animal Sciences class, and some FFA members. Atlantic FFA Advisor Eric Miller said “I thought it was a fun day and everyone had a chance to learn something new.” The Animal Science class picked 13 areas of need that were involved in bringing animals and equipment to help teach kids about safety around equipment. Those stations gave the Atlantic Elementary students an opportunity to learn more about the animals  and equipment they might find on a farm.

The petting zoo included a cow, a draft horse, sheep, a goat, poultry, a pig, and rabbits. The equipment there included a tractor, a rotary rake to show how a PTO works, a gravity wagon, a lawn mower, and a side-by-side UTV. Maddy Anderson said “I thought the kids had a lot of fun and learned about different types of animals and types of large equipment used on farms, I also think the kids got a lot of hands on experiences.”

The Cass County Beef Queen and Princess, Claire Pellett and Callee Pellet, taught the kids about cattle and beef by-products, along with FFA knowledge, with the assistance of Callee Pellett. She said “I think that it went really well and i love seeing all these little kids get excited about all the animals and have so many questions about agriculture.”

(Article and photo submitted by Eric Miller)

(Radio Iowa) – An Illinois man faces 92 years in prison after being convicted of shooting and wounding a Linn County sheriff’s deputy in 2021 during a convenience store robbery in Coggon. Thirty-eight-year-old Stanley Donahue of Chicago was convicted of attempted murder of a peace officer and several other charges following his trial in February. Linn County Deputy William Halverson was seriously injured in the shooting, but was wearing a vest and has returned to work.

(Radio Iowa) – The U-S Drug Enforcement Agency is wrapping up a year-long investigation that identified connections between Mexican drug cartels and communities in Iowa and elsewhere. Emily Murray, spokeswoman for the D-E-A Regional Office in Omaha, says Operation Last Mile provided valuable information. Murray says they pinpointed the different places where the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels have infiltrated. She says “they’re pushing their poisons to our citizens.”

Murray says the illegal, dangerous drugs are landing everywhere and there’s really nowhere in the U-S that isn’t being touched by fentanyl, methamphetamine and other drugs. In the last year, investigators from the Omaha office linked 26 cases directly to the cartels. They made 87 arrests and seized 60 firearms tied to the cartels.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School Board, Wednesday, approved the 2022-23 Amended Certified Budget, which will not result in an increase in taxes, according to District officials. As previously mentioned, the amendment amounts to an increase of $793,569, for a total budget of $27,140,000. Increases come in the areas of Instruction, Total Support Services, and Other expenditures.

In other business, the Board approved the resignation of Paul Iekel, HS Cross Country Asst. Coach, and Contract Recommendations for Dalton Franken, Varsity Boys Basketball Coach, and Bri Loving – Paraeducator.They also passed a Resolution to transfer $21,120 from the General Fund to Activity Fund, for Protective Athletic Equipment, including: pads/girdles; helmets; helmet reconditioning, and additional pads/helmets. The Board approved a recommendation from HS Asst. Principal/Activities Director Andy Mitchell, for Winter Sport Coaches assignments, and 2023-24 Club Sponsors.

2023-24 Substitute Employee Pay Rates were also approved by the Atlantic School Board. Superintendent Steve Barber…

The Board, at the request for Superintendent Barber, approved student fees for breakfast and lunch, which are unchanged from the past six-years, as far as student fees are concerned, but food prices will increase the Adult Meal price from $4.13 to $4.85. They also approved the awarding of a milk contract to Andersen-Erickson, and the bread contract to Pan-of-Gold, both of which have served the district “well,” according to Steve Barber.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board approved a quote from Per Mar Security for the addition of a door entry key fob system for the district’s buildings, in the amount of $28,690 for installation, plus $350/month for operating costs. And, a change order for the storage shed in the amount of $31,300, that would increase the size of the shed 750 square feet, from 35×50, to 40×60 feet.

(Radio Iowa) – The Academy of Country Music has recognized an eastern Iowa native as the New Female Artist of the Year.
Thirty-three-year-old Hailey Whitters is from Shueyville, a small town about 10 miles south of Cedar Rapids. She moved to Nashville after graduating from high school. Whitters has been a songwriter, with hits like “Happy People” by Little Big Town in 2017. She’s touring with Shania Twain and is the opening act at concerts next week in Madison, St. Paul and Lincoln.

Whitters is scheduled to perform in tonight’s (Thursday’s) Academy of Country Music Awards show that’ll be hosted by Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks. Last year’s New Female Artist of the Year was Lainey Wilson, who has a role as a musician in the T-V hit “Yellowstone” and is nominated for six Academy of County Music Awards this year. Wilson and Whitters have co-written some songs and performed together before.

(Drakesville, Iowa) – A head-on crash in southeast Iowa’s Davis County, Wednesday evening resulted in a death, and two people injured. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2017 Honda Accord was traveling north on Ice Avenue south of Main Street in Drakesville at around 5:45-p.m., when it crossed the onto the shoulder. The driver over-corrected, sending the car across the center line of the road and into the path of an oncoming 1999 Chevy Suburban, driven by 54-year-old James J. McKelvey, of Bloomfield.

The driver of the car died at the scene. Their name was being withheld pending notification of family. James McKelvey, and a passenger, 21-year-old Emma F. Beechy, of Bloomfield, were both injured, and transported by helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Davis County Sheriff’s Office, Bloomfield and Drakesville Fire Departments, Davis County Ambulance, and Mercy1 helicopter. The crash remains under investigation.

Battle Creek, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Public Safety said Wednesday, that first responders were dispatched on May 4, 2023, to 500 Maple St. in Battle Creek, for a report of an unresponsive child. The child was transported to Horn Memorial Hospital in Ida Grove, and then transported to Children’s Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska.

The child died on May 5, 2023, at Children’s Hospital. An autopsy was performed by the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner on May 6, 2023. An investigation into the child’s death is on-going. The Ida County Sheriff’s Office is being assisted by the Ida County Attorney’s Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Ida County Sheriff’s Office at 712-364-3146.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Police in Council Bluffs say a warrant has been issued for a man wanted in connection with a stabbing that occurred late Wednesday night. 55-year-old Jeff Edward Smith, of Council Bluffs, is wanted for Willful Injury, 1st Degree Kidnapping, Harassment in the 1st Degree, and Domestic Abuse Assault – Strangulation w/bodily Injury.

The warrant stems from an incident that took place at around 11:11-p.m., Wednesday, in the 600 block of 5th Avenue, in Council Bluffs. The suspect’s girlfriend told Police that Smith assaulted her, held her against her will in their bedroom, stabbed her in the hand with a knife, choked her and threatened to kill her. Smith left the scene before officers arrived.

Jeff Edward Smith

Anyone with information about this case or the whereabouts of Jeff Edward Smith, is asked to contact Pottawattamie County Dispatch at 712-328-5737.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – [UPDATED] – The Atlantic School Board, by a vote of 4-to-1, Wednesday evening approved a 2023-24 Interim Superintendent Contract with Dr. Beth Johnsen. School Board President Laura McClean said there were 19 applicants for the position. Four were interviewed. Johnsen, she said, “Rose to the top.

School Board elections will be held this Fall. Board members McLean, Jenny Williams and Nicholas Hunt will all be up for re-election.

McLean said Dr. Johnsen’s contract will be for two-years, beginning on July 1st, 2023. Board member Josh McLaren voted against the two-year contract.

Dr. Johnson is currently serving as an interim Superintendent at Thayer Central Schools in Nebraska. Prior to her working in her current district, Dr. Johnsen was a Superintendent for 10 years at Conestoga Public Schools, in Southeast Nebraska. She has spent time as an educator at Buena Vista teaching educational leadership courses and also has spent time consulting and coaching individuals in school leadership.  ACSD Interim Superintendent, Dr. Johnsen sees herself as a leader of leaders, with her primary focus being on empowering and supporting all staff.

Johnson shares that she is eager and excited to become a Trojan.  Right off the bat, she plans to focus on the current culture of the district and where the district wants it to be. She is ready to empower leaders within every department, which she hopes has a significant impact overall. Dr. Johnsen currently resides in the Underwood area with her husband, Ben, of 42 years.  Dr. Johnsen and Ben have 5 grown and married children, and 15 grandchildren. Additional information and a bio about Dr. Johnsen and her family will be coming in the near days ahead.

Dr. Johnson plans to introduce herself to the district soon and looks forward to working together for the common goals and priorities for Atlantic. Dr. Johnsen’s position is effective July 1, 2023. She will succeed current Superintendent Steve Barber, whose resignation is in effect as of June 30, 2023.