A candidate’s forum for persons who have filed to run for the Board of Education in the Atlantic School District will be held 7-p.m. Aug. 25th. Board President Kristy Pellet announced during Monday evening’s final, regular meeting of the current school board, that seven candidates looking to fill three open, At Large seats on the Board, will take place in the auditorium at the Atlantic High School. Three local media representatives will ask questions of the candidates, who will also take questions from the public.

Atlantic School Board 8-10-2015

Pellet said also, each of the candidates have been invited to attend an informational seminar that takes place this Wednesday from 1-until 3-p.m., at the High School Media Center. Pellet said Gary Sinclair, with PMA Financial Network, will be on-hand to present a financial workshop on school finances, which is a “primer” of sorts for those who may be elected to the School Board, on how to deal with funding matters.

In his report to the Board, District Operations Director Russell Peck gave an update on the various Summer Capital Improvement and/or Repair Projects. Peck said the cost to repair some of the heat pumps at the high school was slightly higher than expected due to some faulty pressure valves, which were replaced, while others were simply switched out. The system is wireless compatible.

Peck said also, the roof on the Middle School has been repaired, and is now draining properly. New furniture was also placed in the Middle School Art room, and Peck said the Teacher’s Lounge received a few kitchen cabinets. The Tuckpoint work is also finished. Peck says it came in under budget. It was estimated at $20,000, but the bid was $17,600.

The high school parking lot was also fixed. And, Peck said new bleachers at the Schuler Elementary School came with a much cheaper price tag than expected. He said he had budgeted $25,000 for them, but the ended up being $7,000 cheaper than any other bid. The motorized bleachers will have to be put in after school starts, though, since they have not yet arrived.

In other board activity, the hiring of an interim English, Speech and Theater Teacher was approved. Alex Bales has been hired on a one year contract. Bales, from Indianola, is a recent graduate of Iowa State University.

One person was injured during a single-vehicle accident late Monday morning, in Creston. Authorities say 55-year old Mauxie Jane King, of Creston, was driving a 2008 Toyota 4Runner SUV southbound on Cottonwood Street at around 11-a.m., and was making a left turn onto Prairie Street into a parking lot drive, when she suffered from a medical condition.

Her SUV went over a curb and crossed Prairie Street to the north before hitting a light pole. King was transported by ambulance to the Greater Regional Medical Center, in Creston. The woman told authorities she didn’t remember anything after making the turn onto southbound cottonwood. Damage from the accident amounted to $3,200.

Another accident in Creston, took place just after 10-a.m., Monday, at the intersection of W. Howard and N. Stone Streets. Police say 16-year old Alexa Miller, of Creston, was driving a 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix westbound on Howard Street when she failed to yield to a 1999 Ford F-250 pickup traveling south on Stone Street, and driven by 49-year old Rickie Foster, of Creston. Miller said she couldn’t see the approaching pickup because of trees and brush near the intersection.

The vehicles collided, causing $6,000 damage altogether. Both drivers complained of pain and possible injuries, but they were not transported to the hospital. No citations were issued.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office is asking for your help in solving the theft of numerous items from a City of Villisca storage garage. Authorities say the theft happened sometime between last Friday (Aug.7th) and Monday (Aug. 10th). Taken from the garage was a black, 6-foot by 14-foot (6×14) Finish Line  utility trailer. The trailer has damage to the left side fender and a missing clearance light.

It was loaded with two yellow Walker mowers (one 25-hp w/a52″ deck, the other 20-hp w/a 62″ deck), a Stihl line trimmer, and a Dewalt grinder. The loss was estimated $28,000.

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call Montgomery County Crimestoppers at 1-888-434-2712, or the Sheriff’s Office at 712-623-5107.

Deputies in Montgomery County arrested a rural Red Oak man on an assault charge, Monday evening. Authorities say 47-year old Donald Owen Schollian was arrested at around 8:40-p.m. in the 1900 block of G Avenue, and charged with Domestic Abuse/Simple Assault. He was brought to the Montgomery County Jail, and held without bond.

The Iowa Department of Transportation has created statewide plan to help develop and expand the Park and Ride System. D-O-T spokesperson, Jennifer Roberts, says the system has been around for awhile. “Back in the 80’s when individuals were trying to save money on gas, the public would request areas to park and the D-O-T would have some excess right-of-way — or maybe places where they would store gravel — and they’d let individuals park on those areas,” Roberts says.

The areas are commonly gravel parking lost where people park their cars and then either car pool or van pool to work. Robert says they are looking at the best areas to add Park and Ride lots. She says they looked at commuter data and passenger/traffic data to identify the ideal locations for new areas. “And most of those locations are along urban corridors, just some examples around the state, Ames to Des Moines or Cedar Rapids to Iowa City,” Robert says.

Many of the early Park and Ride locations were in rural areas, as people looked to commute together into bigger cities. Robert says the locations being considered now in urban areas help ease traffic congestion by having people commute to the edge of cities and cutting the number of vehicles in the heavily traveled areas. No matter where they are located, Roberts says the Park and Ride lots help people in a variety of ways.

“Some of the benefits are to save money on gas, also to save wear and tear on your vehicle — maybe you don’t have to get oil changes as much is you are sharing the driving,” Roberts says.

Park and Ride – Iowa

She says overall it saves wear-and-tear on the roads if there are fewer vehicles using them. New sites are still in the review stage. Roberts says they’ll first look at existing right-of-way areas to see if there is land available to use for the proposed sites. If you are interested in taking part in a Park and Ride program, Roberts suggest you check first with your area transit agency.

“As one example, the local transit agency for the central Iowa/Des Moines area is DART. They have a ride-sharing software and ride sharing services that they provide. They also provide a van pooling program,” according to Roberts. She says many employers also help set up programs for workers. You can find out more about the Park and Ride sites on the D-O-T’s website at:website at: www.iowadot.gov/ParkRide.

(Radio Iowa)