(Radio Iowa) – The Cedar Rapids Community School District is now running two all-electric school buses, the only ones in the state. School Transportation Manager Scott Wing says the e-buses have several advantages, including the fact they’re eco-friendly. “There are no tailpipe emissions for these vehicles,” Wing says. “We have students that are around the buses at bus stops, at schools, while they’re loading. Emissions are certainly something that crosses your mind when you’re thinking about the pollution aspect and emissions going into lungs.”

Electric school bus (Cedar Rapids CSD photo via Flickr)

The e-buses are part of the district’s partnership with the Iowa Department of Tranporation and Alliant Energy. The Nevada and Sigourney school districts acquired electric-diesel hybrid buses in 2008.

(Radio Iowa) – Two statewide officials who were just elected in 2022 have endorsed a G-O-P presidential candidate and Governor Kim Reynolds — the Republican who got the most votes in last November’s election — could be next. “I don’t have any specific timeline on that, but I haven’t ruled it out,” Reynolds says. “…This next election is just too important.”

Former President Donald Trump has been posting messages on his Truth Social platform, criticizing Reynolds for not endorsing him. Early this year Reynolds said she was neutral in the race, in order to welcome all the candidates to campaign here and she hosted a series of “Fair Side Chats” at the Iowa State Fair with most of the candidates who’re competing against Trump for the Republican Party’s 2024 presidential nomination.

Yesterday (Wednesday), the governor told reporters the lack of border security is one of the issues that could motivate her to get directly involved in a presidential campaign. “Just inflation and just the decline of this country…it’s really important,” Reynolds said, “and so I’m not going to not consider it.”

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird endorsed former President Trump last week. State Treasurer Roby Smith endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy late this summer.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Members of the Atlantic School District’s Board of Education, Wednesday, discussed the likelihood of offering an early retirement incentive plan. In the past, the matter was brought up for discussion every three-years.  Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen noted it’s been a while since they offered the Early Retirement incentives.

Johnsen said at this time, the District is looking at the possibility of adding staff in positions that currently are not offered, and in positions where extra staff are needed.

Dr. Johnsen says her past experiences in dealing with Early Retirement plans, have seen personnel considering the change having served 20-years in their district. The number of retirements is traditionally capped at five per school year. She said 55 “Is a solid age” before it is often considered, but the Board can choose the number of years of service. “Lot’s of times,” she said “it’s continuous service, too.” The main benefit to offering the plan, she said, is cost-savings to the District. Johnsen said that’s evident in spread-sheet of information compiled by ACSD Director of Finance, Lisa Jones.

Board President Laura McLean said in the past, “The Board would chose to do this working around a situation where we needed to save money…like it’s almost a way of reducing staff without having to fire people.” Kristy Pellett explained it was used as a great tool for those years when the District was faced with declining enrollment.

Dr. Johnson said the proposal would be sent to all staff members, with a deadline for those who qualify to submit their request for early retirement, and so many days after the application is turned in, for them to change their mind.

Kristy Pellett says the district has an early notification policy that offers money to those who make their intentions to retire known before early retirement is offered. Superintendent Johnsen explained…

No action was taken on implementing an early retirement incentive plan during Wednesday’s Atlantic School Board meeting. The Board is expected to make it an action item at a future meeting.
In other business, the Atlantic School Board also discussed offering the Aviation Program to students outside the district and other matters, but also took no action at this time.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Members of the Atlantic School Board met during a Special Session Wednesday evening in the Central Office Conference Room. The Board held lengthy discussion on various District policies, including Board Members’ Social Media Use, and the discipline of students who make threats of violence or cause incidents of violence, to name a few of the policies.

The Atlantic School Board also considered a request from the City of Atlantic with regard to a small park by the High School. Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen provided background information on the request.

The area is essentially a small piece of grass the City doesn’t want to mow, and there’s no use for it. The issue of who is responsible for the drainage area is still up for debate. In the past, there have been issues with drainage going across Nishna Hills Golf Course. Board members Josh McLaren and Kristy Pellett….

Superintendent Johnsen said she would look into the matter. The Board also discussed establishing a Middle School Wrestling program practice area, using one of two locker rooms in the old Middle School section. Superintendent Johnsen said Wrestling Coach Duff, Schuler Principal James Northwick and Kipp Harris looked into extra practice space. The visiting football team still uses the locker rooms to dress, when they play in Atlantic.

Dr. Johnsen said one of the locker rooms is currently being used for storage.

If it works out, Johnsen said, there is the possibility next summer the area could be renovated, opened-up and used year-round for afternoon activities for kids, such as a recess and/or meeting room.

The Board was in agreement to move forward with the concept. In other business, the Atlantic School Board approved out-of-state trips to Omaha for the Speech Team, and for students to attend the FFA National Convention. The resignation of Preschool Paraeducator Alyssa Barber was approved, and the Board approved the hiring of Corrine Risen as Paraeducator and Chuukeser translator.

Boone County, Iowa — A search is being organized to find a man who disappeared seven-years ago, in central Iowa. Twenty-three-year-old Jesse Leopold left his job in Jewell on Oct. 13, 2016. He has not been seen since.  Seven years later a new search has been scheduled, and the Boone County Sheriff’s Office is asking for volunteers to help. Three days after Leopold disappeared, his truck was found at Ledges State Park, about 30 miles from his job. The search will be in that area.

“Over the years, this case has gone in several different directions. Many residences and areas have been searched. Those searches will continue as information comes in. After careful consideration, it seems additional searches of the Ledges Park and area around it need to be considered,” the sheriff’s office said in an event post on Facebook.

The search begins on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 9 a.m. at Ledges State Park, weather permitting. “Volunteers can meet with Sheriff’s Office Staff in lower ledges at this time to be briefed. Volunteers are asked to wear supportive shoes, adequate clothing for the weather, and be hydrated,” the sheriff’s office said.

DES MOINES, Iowa — A Des Moines girl reported abducted on Wednesday afternoon, has been located safely in Indiana, with her mother. The Des Moines Police Department shared that update at 10:40 p.m. Wednesday, hours after an AMBER Alert was issued for 14-year-old Nina Williams. That alert has since been canceled.

Des Moines police say Nina Williams was last seen in the 6100 block of Creston Avenue around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday before her disappearance. Nina is autistic and nonverbal and has special care needs. Police say evidence indicates that Nina was abducted by her noncustodial parent, 36-year-old Jessica Rae Williams.

The two were found in Hammond, Indiana, which is more than five hours east of Des Moines, just outside Chicago. Des Moines police say the incident remains under investigation, and that more information will be released.

(Radio Iowa) – The Food Bank of Siouxland now has the second half of a large donation of milk from Kemp’s Dairy and Hy-Vee. Food bank executive director, Jacob Wanderscheid, says the shelf stable milk in is chocolate. “Kids just generally respond a lot better to chocolate milk, so this will go even faster than that white milk that we got in the summer,” he says. “It comes at a great time as we build supplies up for the holiday giving.”

The food bank and the two businesses have teamed up for the annual great American milk drive the past two years. Wanderscheid says the 49-thousand units of milk come as they enter their busiest time. “The biggest season for us is that November, December, January period as economic things slow down farming, construction roadwork slows down, people are taking that break for winter. Times get tough during the Thanksgiving and Christmas season,” he says.

Milk has a short shelf life and that makes it a high demand item for the agencies the food bank serves. The Dairy Farmers of America developed the shelf stable milk. Jay Johnson is Kemp’s sales director in Le Mars where the shelf stable milk was first used. “It came as a part of a need study to determine how we could be most impactful to helping nutritionally starved kids and families throughout the country,” Johnson says. “And the number one problem was a milk product that didn’t require refrigeration. Through that D-F-A has decided to develop shelf stable, individually packed milk. It’s easier to carry. You can put it in backpacks, you can send it to school.”

The Food Bank of Siouxland will split the milk between the backpack program for two-thousand school kids, and the food they send to their agencies. They serve several northwest Iowa counties.