The Atlantic Volunteer Fire Department is one of three departments from around the State of Iowa to have been awarded an Assistance to Firefighters Grant. Senator Tom Harkin announced today (Wednesday) a total of $391,512 in grants is being awarded from the program, through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Atlantic’s share of the grant money amounts to $228,475.

Cass County Assistant Emergency Management and E-911 Coordinator Rob Koppert told KJAN News, the funds will be shared among all the fire departments in the County, because the Cass County Fireman’s Association worked with him to compile all the information necessary to apply for the grant. The Atlantic Fire Department will serve as the flow-through agency, which is why it was named the grant recipient. The total project cost is a little over $240,000. The county’s share of those funds is 5-percent,  or about $12,000, with the feds picking up the rest.

Koppert says the funds will be used for radio infrastructure, such as new radios for 35 fire trucks among the various departments within the County, new radios for six fire department ambulances, a little more than 100 pagers, plus installation of remote receivers for the County Fire frequency or moving that frequency to the repeater to enable improved communications. Most of the radios and receives are necessary due to the Federal narrow-banding requirement, which means the bandwidth of transmissions is changed from 25-kilohertz to 12.5-kilohertz. The result, says Koppert, is an impact on the audio quality and coverage.

Koppert says the next step in the process is to determine the specifications for the radios they need, and put it out to the various vendors who handle that type of equipment, for bid. The equipment will be paid for with the grant money. Koppert says many, extensive hours were spent not only by himself, but the various County departments, in putting together all the information needed on the grant application, that would make Cass County stand-out among the competition for funds.

He says he received information about three-weeks ago a grant may be in the works for the County, but there were no official announcements, until word came down today from Senator Harkin’s Office. He says he is “Extremely ecstatic. This is the most fantastic news that (he’s) received in many, many years.” He says “This is the best thing that can happen for Cass County and the fire departments (within the County). Each fire department is going to benefit from this.”

Harkin, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which funds the Department of Homeland Security, says the funds shared by the three departments will go toward operations and safety. The other grants were awarded to the communities of Garwin, and Independence.

Authorities in Atlantic report a 19-year old was arrested Tuesday on warrants out of Cass County and Colorado. Michael Vyzourek, of Atlantic, was taken into custody on a Cass County warrant for OWI/1st offense, and a Colorado felony warrant for Identity Theft. Vyzourek was being held in the Cass County Jail.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Department reports a Corning man was arrested early this (Wednesday) morning. 25-year old Corey McBreen was taken into custody at around midnight, on a charge of Operating a motor vehicle While Intoxicated (OWI). McBreen was being held in the Adams County Jail without bond, until he appears before the magistrate.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said today authorities are investigating an overnight shooting in Clarinda, which involved a Clarinda Police Officer. In a statement released just before 10-a.m. today, the DCI says the investigation involves officials with the Clarinda Police Department, the Page County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Iowa State Patrol. 

Officials say at around 3:20-a.m., a Clarinda Police Department officer went to 110 North 16th Street in Clarinda in response to a 911 call received from a female in the residence.  The caller indicated there was a man with a hammer outside her window.

Upon arriving at the residence the officer observed a man using a hammer to break the window of a first floor apartment, and a woman inside the apartment.  As the officer approached, the man turned toward the officer and began yelling at him.  The man then advanced toward the officer with the hammer in his hand and the officer fired his duty weapon, striking the subject.  The suspect was immediately transported to the Clarinda Regional Health Center for treatment.  A report on his condition is not available. 

The Clarinda Police officer was not injured during the incident.  He’s been placed on administrative leave per department policy.  The names of the suspect and officer will be released by the DCI on Thursday. No other information is being released at this time.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Department reports a Denison man was arrested Tuesday night on an outstanding Audubon County warrant stemming from an original charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine, 2nd offense. The warrant was issued for 31-year old Nikolas Jack Schwenn, for Revocation of his probation. Schwenn was picked-up by authorities in Crawford County and brought to the Audubon County Jail, where he was being held on $7,500 bond.

Two teens from Audubon County were injured Monday evening during a rollover accident three-miles southeast of Audubon. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Department says the driver of the vehicle, 16-year old Morgan Kathleen Parris, of Audubon, and her passenger, 15-year old Drew James Christensen, of Exira, were injured. Parris was transported to the Audubon County Hospital, while Christensen refused medical treatment.

Officials say the 2006 Toyota Parris was driving was traveling east on 215th Street at around 7:20-p.m., when it went out of control as it crested a hill. When Parris over-corrected, the vehicle entered the north ditch and rolled over. The damage was estimated at $20,000. The accident remains under investigation.

A Harlan man was being held in the Pottawattamie County Jail this (Wednesday) morning on numerous charges, following the theft of vehicle from Harlan late Tuesday night. Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker told KJAN News 32-year old Patrick Schmitz was arrested after he gave himself up to authorities at an Interstate 80 rest stop southwest of Neola.

Danker says Schmitz allegedly stole a 1992 Mercury Sable from Harlan and was being followed by another motorist into the Avoca area, where the vehicle disappeared. Authorities were soon informed the vehicle was possibly northbound on 360^th Street and Tamarac Road. The informant lost sight of the vehicle again, but it was later observed by a Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputy near Minden.

When the deputy attempted to stop the car near the edge of town, Schmitz refused to stop and ran several stop signs. He continued northbound toward westbound I-80, where he was pursued by troopers with the Iowa State Patrol. The patrol deployed stop sticks at about the 23-mile marker, and two semi’s attempted to assist their efforts by boxing the car in. Danker says the car rammed both semi’s as he attempted to drive between them about three-miles north of the Underwood exit. The car finally pulled over at the rest area between Underwood and Neola, where Schmitz surrendered to the Patrol.

Schmitz was being held in the Pott. County Jail on $5,000 bond on charges that include 3^rd offense OWI, 2^nd degree theft, driving while barred, 2^nd degree criminal mischief, eluding and speeding.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Members of the Atlantic Middle School’s Building Leadership Team (BLT) appeared before the Atlantic Board of Education Tuesday night, to report on their progress and concerns. Cam Smith, Middle School Principal said the team has discussed the Iowa Assessment tests, goals and “True Trojan Traits,” which is part of the PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports) System. He says it’s a “paradigm” shift on how discipline is looked at, student expectations, behavior in the classroom, hallways, etc. The team helped to establish those guidelines. 

Cam says part of the PBIS process involves figuring out how it will be implemented, how to get the community involved, possible reward systems and what professional development the teachers will need to make the system successful. He says the school looks to implement PBIS beginning with the 2012-2013 school year. He says the team hopes to limit instructional distractions in the classrooms, increasing the amount of time taught teaching, and decreasing the amount of time they use to “manage” students’ disciplinary issues. He says kids who are doing well will be rewarded with positive affirmations, and a culture that’s in unison with expectations of them. 

Smith says also the Atlantic Middle School remodeling and classroom moving process went fairly smoothly, as classrooms and teachers were shuffled around to accommodate construction crews and their work. He said the BLT discussed teacher and class scheduling issues also, over the past year. Teachers he said are concerned about being understaffed, technology-related issues, and other matters pertaining to the remodeling and changeover to the upgraded facilities. Smith says the staffing concerns teachers mentioned to members of the Building Leadership Team included how to address a feeling the Middle School is understaffed with core teachers and how the needs of students will be met with the current staff. 

Another concern is the lack of technology in the building. Smith says he’s checking with the AEA to see if grants are available to upgrade their computers and related technology.

w/ Ric Hanson

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