Officials with the Red Oak Police Department report one person was arrested early this (Wednesday) morning, on drug charges. 50-year-old Kelly Jo Cave, of Red Oak, was taken into custody for allegedly being in  possession of methamphetamine and marijuana. Cave was taken into custody in the 100 block of East Hammond Street in Red Oak at around 12:45 a.m.  She was being held in the Montgomery County jail on $2,000 bond.

The Atlantic School Board Tuesday, gave its blessing for Atlantic Municipal Utilities to paint the school’s logo on a water tower located off of Bryn Mawr Drive. A local, private group of individuals is raising money for the effort.

Atlantic Community School District logo

Before AMU can arrange to have the Trojan head logo painted on the tower, they wanted to have the district’s blessing. Assistant High School Principal/Activities Director Josh Rasmussen said the group leading the effort to have the logo painted on the tower, has raised about two-thirds of the funds necessary to cover the cost. Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein said he was somewhat surprised when he first came to town to see the logo wasn’t on a water tower, as many communities he’s been to have taken the step to show pride in their local teams. He said he knows Atlantic is firmly behind the school, and is pleased the group of private citizens have stepped forward to show support for Trojan/Trojann sports.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A 33-year-old Arkansas man has admitted distributing crack cocaine in northwest Iowa. Federal prosecutors say Jamaron Bingham, of Osceola, Ark., was convicted Monday in federal court in Sioux City. He admitted conspiring to sell crack cocaine in the Sioux City area from November 2010 through August 2011.  Bingham told investigators that he usually drove to Arkansas every two weeks to pick up 2 to 4 ounces of crack and return to distribute it for sale. His sentencing date has not been set. Bingham faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison. He has a previous conviction for selling cocaine.

Sheriff’s Officials in Montgomery County are investigating incidents of burglary and vandalism in Grant. Authorities received a report Tuesday morning about an attempted burglary at The Hayloft, in Grant. When deputies arrived, it was determined someone had tried to pry open the front door of the business, using an unknown tool. Damage to the door was estimated at $100. Less than an hour later, the Montgomery County Communications Center received a report of Criminal Mischief having occurred at a residence in the 200 block of south U Avenue in Grant. Officials say someone cut a car tire belonging to a resident in the community. The damage was estimated at $85.

Anyone with information pertaining to those incidents are encouraged to call the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, or, Crimestoppers, at 1-800-432-1001.

(Used 5-p.m. Tuesday News)

A traffic stop early this (Wednesday) morning in Grant resulted in the arrest of a man wanted on a felony warrant out of Page County for domestic abuse assault, 3rd offense. Sheriff’s Officials in Montgomery County say 36-year old Adrian Ray Latham, of Clarinda, was arrested at around 12:35-a.m. in the 600 block of 2nd Street in Grant. Latham was transported to Villisca, where he was turned over to Page County deputies without incident.

A vehicle hidden behind a farm building in rural northwest Montgomery County Tuesday, turned out to have been stolen from Nebraska. Sheriff’s officials say the vehicle was towed and Nebraska authorities notified. The incident remains under investigation.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

Atlantic School District Superintendent Mike Amstein said Tuesday night, that he’s excited about the school year starting Wednesday morning, and so are the teachers.

Atlantic Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein & Transportation Director Dave Eckles look over the new propane powered bus delivered Tuesday.

There’s even two new school buses to help transport students to and from school and to special or athletic events. Amstein says “There’s an excitement in the air.” The two new school buses he says will give the district a number of years of service. He’s especially interested in seeing how the new propane powered bus performs. Amstein says they’re “Going to run it like a dog this year, and if it stands up,” he’ll probably come back to the school board at the end of the year and ask them to invest in another one.

The school board agreed back in March to purchase both a new propane and a diesel powered bus, because an 84 passenger bus in the fleet was “On it’s last legs,” and a 64-passenger bus was “nickel and diming” the district to death. The new 84-passenger diesel bus has a larger under carriage carrying capacity, while the smaller, propane powered bus is expected to save the district money, in the long run. Both buses arrived Tuesday.

The brand new 84-passenger diesel powered bus, with the propane powered bus parked behind it.

In other business, Superintendent Mike Amstein told the board he had good news and bad news, as far the District meeting requirements of the Iowa Department of Education (DOE). He said based on a letter he recently received from the DOE, Atlantic meets all the requirements for the 2012-2013 school year. He says that makes a “Good statement, that (the) teachers and administrators are on top of (the situation), and that (the district) is doing everything possible,” to align itself with DOE. Amstein says however there are some areas where the district still needs to work on, with regard to Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) report. He says the district is currently off any State list for the 2012-2013 school year.

He says the Atlantic High School has been removed from the “Watch list,” in reading and in Math, Delay 1 for the 2012-2013 school year. He says with continued work at the high school, by next year at this time, they should be in Delay 2 for mathematics and be removed from the watch list in reading. The Middle School is listed as SINA 3 (School in Need of Assistance), which means some work needs to be done to improve student test scores. Amstein says Principal Cam Smith has plans in place to address the needs of his students and “point the Middles School in the right direction.” Amstein says Schuler Elementary is on the Watch list for Reading, and in Mathematics is a  SINA 1 school.

Amstein says Principal Matt Alexander is working on correcting issues there as well. Washington Elementary is on the Watch list for Reading, but they have been removed from the Watch list for Mathematics. Amstein says there are some things within those status reports to celebrate, but there are also some things to address.

Classes begin Wednesday for students in the Atlantic Community School District, but for the 20 students who are enrolled through the Hospital Therapeutic School, classes won’t begin until Thursday. Atlantic Superintendent Dr. Mike Amstein said during Tuesday night’s meeting of the Board of Education, the delay is related to a recent Fire Marshal’s inspection and the filing of necessary paperwork to clear the way for the building to be occupied. The snafu also affects the EOC (Educational Opportunity Center), but not the students who attend it, because a contingency plan is in place.

Amstein says the multi-purpose room in the High School will be used as the EOC, but because of the specialization of the Hospital School, there is no space available. A room at the old Lincoln School, but Amstein says “It is not going to be appropriate for the needs of those kids.” Amstein says he plans to work closely with Design Alliance architect representative Jerry Purdy Wednesday morning, to see what needs to be done to get the situation resolved for the Hospital School.

Purdy says all the issues the Fire Marshal has concerns over, have been addressed, but the permit for occupancy still had not come through as of Tuesday evening. The District Fire Inspector will be on hand Thursday morning to make a final run through of the facility. Purdy says it’s not a matter of safety right now, just getting the paperwork cleared, which is probably the most frustrating aspect of the process.