OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Another Iowa educator is a finalist to become superintendent of the Omaha district in Nebraska.  The district said Friday that Superintendent Stephen Murley, of the Iowa City schools, is one of three finalists. Murley took over in Iowa City in 2010 after working in Wisconsin.

The Omaha board is trying to replace John Mackiel, who retired in August after 15 years. In April the board hired former Des Moines Superintendent Nancy Sebring, but she withdrew in June after sexually explicit emails sent to and from her work account became public.

The two other finalists for the Omaha job are the chief academic officer for the District of Columbia Public Schools, Carey Wright, and Mark Evans, who is superintendent at Andover Public Schools in Kansas.

No injuries were reported after a vehicle was struck by a deer Thursday night, in Atlantic. According to Atlantic Police, a vehicle driven by Robert Hammers, of Malvern, was hit by a deer that crossed the road ran into the left front side of the vehicle. The accident happened at around 8:20-p.m., as Hammers was traveling south on Highway 6, near the intersection with 17th Street.  Damage from the mishap was estimated at $2,000.

The Atlantic Police Department Friday morning, released additional information about a two-vehicle accident that occurred Thursday evening. As we had mentioned earlier, the crash involved a Ford Escape SUV and a GMC pickup.

A GMC pickup involved in the collision with a Ford Escape in Atlantic. (12/6/12) Ric Hanson photo.

Officials say the SUV, driven by Jennifer Simons, of Atlantic, and the pickup, driven by Connie Poulsen, of Atlantic, were both traveling south on Highway 6 at 3:40-p.m. Thursday, when Simons stopped for oncoming traffic, prior to turning left (east) onto 22nd Street.

Poulsen failed to stop in-time. The pickup she was driving rear-ended the SUV, causing a total of $20,000 damage. Simons, and a passenger in her vehicle were transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Atlantic Police Officer Spencer Walton told KJAN News Thursday, that a child passenger in the SUV was properly buckled-in, and did not appear to have suffered any injuries, while the driver suffered abrasions or other minor injuries to her legs.

The A-PD says Poulsen was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

Adding an extra “warm fuzzy” to the holiday season, Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce members are joining together to treat shoppers to something more this weekend. This  Sunday afternoon ( Dec. 9th), businesses in downtown Atlantic will open their doors for shoppers and groups to partake in free samples, recipes, and the holiday experience.

Recipe walkers are advised to start at the Rock Island Depot (102 Chestnut Street) between 1- and 4-p.m., to obtain a list of participating businesses. Officials at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce say that there is not a theme to the recipe walk this year, so walkers should anticipate finding a great variety of sweets and savories.

Questions regarding the recipe walk should be directed to the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at (712) 243-3017. Details about other holiday events in the area can be found at ChristmasinAtlantic.com.

w/ Ric Hanson

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The Iowa Department of Transportation said Friday, members of the public are invited to attend a bridge dedication ceremony honoring Iowa State Highway Commission Officer Philip J. Adams, who was killed in the line of duty in 1973.

Officer Philip J. Adams (IA DOT photo)

The Interstate 29 bridges that overpass U.S. 30 in Missouri Valley are being named in Adams’ honor. Officer Adams, a native of Neola, was a traffic weight officer who was working a portable scale operation along U.S. 30 near Missouri Valley on March 30, 1973, when he was struck by a motorist. He died March 31, 1973, from his injuries.

The bridge dedication ceremony honoring Officer Adams will be held 1-p.m. Dec. 17th, at the Rand Community Center (100 S. Fourth Street),  in Missouri Valley. Officers representing the Iowa Department of Transportation’s (formerly Iowa State Highway Commission) Motor Vehicle Division, as well as members of the Adams’ family, will be in attendance.

Adams began his law enforcement career with the Missouri Valley Police Department in 1958. He was employed by the Iowa State Highway Commission in 1963.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson….

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A man hunting deer in Madison County Wednesday south of Truro was injured while using an unconventional weapon. Iowa Department of Natural Resources spokesman, Kevin Baskins, says the accident involved a 69-year-old man from Cumming. “In this particular instance we had a gentleman who was on a stand and took a shot at a deer when the muzzleloader he was using exploded,” Baskins says. The man identified as Theodore Larson lost a thumb in the explosion.

“He was unable to find his thumb after the gun exploded,” Baskins says. He says Larson was unable to find his thumb and was eventually flown to a Des Moines hospital for treatment. Baskins says the muzzleloaders are often new reproduction guns that are still loaded in the old way. Baskins is not sure what type of gun Larson was using, but said they will try to find out why it exploded. “Our officers are experts at looking at these firearms and being able to examine what’s left of the gun to determine what may’ve happened to make it perform that way,” he says.

Baskins says the muzzleloader shotgun season overlaps with the regular shotgun season. He does not believe there have been that many problems with the oldstyle weapons. “I think it’s an unusual case. It’s not unheard of and that’s obviously one of the reasons why we want to further investigate and determine why that gun did perform the way it did,” according to Baskins.

Baskins says the accident happened around five in the evening and Larson was likely airlifted to the hospital because it was the quickest way at that time of day to get him in for treatment.

(Radio Iowa)

Authorities in Adams County had their hands full early Thursday morning investigating two accidents, one of which resulted in a pursuit. The Sheriff’s Department says both accidents happened at around 12:50-a.m., Thursday. In one of the incidents, deputies responded to a reported accident at Lake Binder. When they arrived, the deputies observed a vehicle take off from the scene. After a brief pursuit, the vehicle crashed and the driver, later identified as Anthony Castoe, of Hopkins, MO., took off. Castoe turned himself-in later in the day, Thursday. He was charged with Eluding, Criminal Mischief, Failure to have insurance, and failure to have a driver’s license. His bond was set at $7,000.

The second accident happened near 2152 Corning Carl Road, Thursday. The Adams County Sheriff’s Department says 19-year old Jeremiah Thomas, of Prescott, escaped injury after the 1989 Cadillac Deville he was driving went out of control on the gravel road. Thomas over-corrected and hit a light pole, causing significant damage to both the car and the pole.