One of two Atlantic residents injured during a two-vehicle crash accident in Lancaster County, Nebraska, Christmas Day 2016, has died. 78-year old Joan Harlan, died Thursday, March 2nd, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, in Omaha.

The Nebraska State Patrol said an eastbound semi had gone out of control, crossed the median and struck a westbound SUV occupied by Joan and her 78-year-old husband, Robert Harlan. The accident happened on Interstate 80 near the Waverly exit,  shortly after noon on Dec 25th. Both suffered serious injuries during the crash. The driver of the semi, 45-year-old Princewill Dabrinze, of Texas was hospitalized in fair condition at the time.

It’s believed the weather and road conditions were to blame for the crash.

The City of Atlantic has received an audit report from Gronewold, Bell, Kyhnn and Company P.C.  City Clerk Barb Barrick says the report shows the City’s receipts for its governmental funds totaled $12.176-million dollars for the year ended June 30th, 2016. They included:

• more than $3.57-million in property tax,
• $42,296 in other City taxes,
• $891, 112 in Local Option Sales Tax (LOST),
• $143,310 in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) collections,
• $1.134-million from intergovernmental sources,
• $92,793 from use of money and property,
• $77,177 from licenses and permits,
• $326,607 from charges for services,
• $1,432 from sale of assets,
• $2.272-million from debt proceeds,
• a little more than $2.015-million from proceeds of refunding bonds, and
• $1.146-million in miscellaneous revenues.

The City’s receipts for its proprietary funds totaled $4.059-million, of which $4.039-million was from charges for services.

Disbursements for its governmental funds totaled $12.372-million, and included:

• $3.684-million for Public Safety,
• $2.175-million for Public Works,
• $6,483 for Health and Social Services,
• $1.439-million for Culture and Recreation,
• $626,534 in Community and Economic Development,
• $1.009-million in general government
• $2.22-million for Capital Projects
• Nearly $1.21-million for Debt Service.

Disbursements of the City’s Propriety Funds totaled a little more than $1.98-million, which was attributable to its business-type activities. The report contains recommendations to the City Council and other City officials. The City has responded that corrective action is being taken for each item.

A copy of the Audit Report is available for review in the Office of the Auditor of State, and at the City Administrator’s office, at City Hall, in Atlantic.

(12-p.m. News)

(Updated 12:57-p.m.) — The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education met for a brief session this (Friday) afternoon to vote on approving a one-year Superintendent contract.

Atlantic Board of Education announces new Superintendent (Chris Parks/photo)

The person they selected for the position Steven H. Barber, Superintendent at George-Little Rock Community Schools in George (Iowa) was offered the job earlier this week, and has accepted. Barber has worked for the George-Little Rock District since 2013.

Bruckner said appeared to the selection committee and School Board to be a “Genuinely nice guy. A good guy.” She said also there was a consensus among the constituent groups that allowed him to “Rise to the top,” and that it was “Important that the teachers and administrators have a say in who was going to be their next boss.”

Prior to becoming the Superintendent at GLR, Barber was a Middle School Administrator with the Spencer Community School District (2004-2013). He also served in a Secondary Administrative position at the East Union Middle and High School in Afton (1999-2004), and as a Science Teacher and Coach (for both Academic and Athletic teams) at the East Greene High School in Grand Junction (1991-1999). While there, he coached the varsity cross country and boys track teams, and was an assistant boys basketball coach.

Steven Barber’s education includes: a Specialist Certification from ISU in Ames in “Superintendent Licensure in Advanced Studies;” A Master’s Degree in Education from ISU in Ames; A Bachelor of Science degree from Bemidji State University in Bemidji, MN; and an Associate of Arts degree from Worthington Community College in Worthington, MN.  He and his wife Debra have two grown daughters.

There were three finalists for the position, after months of meetings and planning for the interview process. In addition to Mr. Barber, Dr. Joe Potts, Ph.D, an Iowa native who resides in Kent, WA., and serves as High School Principal for the Kent Community School District; and Dan Dierks, who has served Superintendent for the Oelwein Community School District, since 2015, were interviewed for the job.

Steven Barber will succeed Dr. Michael Amstein, who is retiring at the end of the current school year, after having worked for the District since 2010.

(Noon News)

The Glenwood Police Department reports a man was arrested today (Friday), on drug charges. 36-year old Tyler Blakely, of Glenwood, was arrested on two counts of Possession of a controlled substance, and possession of Drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $2,300.