(Atlantic, Iowa) – A Public Hearing was held prior to the start of Wednesday evening’s meeting of Atlantic School Board. The hearing was with regard to the Atlantic Community School District’s (ACSD) Certified Budget.

During the Board’s Special Meeting March 29th, Superintendent Steve Barber and Director of Finance Sarah Sheeder reviewed the proposed certified budget for the 2023-24 school year, with a total property tax rate of 13.00317 per $1,000 taxable valuation. That is a decrease from the 2022-23 property tax rate of 13.25506, or about 26-cents per thousand.

There were no written or spoken comments, therefore the Board closed the hearing and entered in to their regular session, during which they heard a special presentation with regard to English Learners (EL), the Principal’s reports, and a report from Superintendent Barber, during which he recommended keeping May 25, 2023 as the last day student day, with the last staff day as May 31, 2023.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board approved previously mentioned resignations, plus an addition of Tori Wood, Paraeducator (The other resignations include: Lenzi Robinson, 5th Grade Teacher; Sarah Sheeder, School Business Official/Board Secretary, and Lori Hayes, Paraeducator.)  Board Member Nicholas Hunt spoke about Sheeder’s departure.

Board President Laura McLean also thanked Sarah Sheeder.

As previously reported, Mr. Barber is resigning at the end of the current school year.  The Board accepted his resignation as presented. Board Member Jenny Williams thanked him for his service, especially following the Middle School fire and recovery efforts.

The School Board approved Superintendent Barber’s contract recommendations for: Nathan Block – 6th Grade Science Teacher; Mikayla Stockhaus – HS Vocal Music Teacher; Brett Johnson and Caroline Pellett – MS Softball Coaches.
The Atlantic School Board moved on to action items, during which they:

• Approved the aforementioned 2023-24 Certified Budget…
• Set May 10th at 5:30-p.m. as the date/time for a Public Hearing on 2022-23 Certified Budget Amendment (amounting to an increase of $793,569). School officials say the amendment will NOT result in an increase in taxes. A detailed statement of additional receipts, cash balances and proposed disbursements will be available for public viewing at the hearing.
• Approved of a 2023-24 Operational Sharing Agreement with the Griswold School District, w/regard to Transportation Director, and…
• They approved 2023-24 Activities Sharing Agreements for: boys swimming (Audubon, Clarinda, Red Oak & Riverside, w/Atlantic as host); girls and boys soccer (CAM & Exira-EHK, w/Atlantic as host); and girls wrestling (CAM, Nodaway Valley & Griswold). There is no change from last year, with the exception of Atlantic serving as the host for girls wrestling.
• The Board then voted to approve the 2023-24 Non-Certified Staff Master Contract Agreement (Which includes the following increases: $2.75/hour for Bus Route Drivers & Bus Asst. Mechanic; $0.90/hour for all other Support Staff).

The School Board, Wednesday, heard from Snyder and Associates Engineers representative Austin Sontagg, with regard to two quotes received by Wednesday’s deadline for a steel High School Storage Shed, which was estimated to cost around $190,000. The building will primarily be used for inside and outdoor equipment. The Board voted 3-to 2 to approve the plans, specs and form of contract for the HS Storage Project, and, separately, by a vote of 3-to 2, accepted a bid of $154,700 from United Construction Services.

They also passed a Resolution approving the Contracts and Bonds for the Washington Elementary School Playground Project. Last month, the School Board awarded the project to Caliber Concrete, LLC, of Adair. The project cost (contract awarded),  amounts to $579,422.58.

DES MOINES –  April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate and Marion County Sheriff Jason Sandholdt joined forces on Wednesday, April 12 to raise awareness for this horrible crime. The duo also promoted Iowa’s address confidentiality program, Safe at Home and resources available for survivors across the state.

“We want Iowans to know that law enforcement and my office are here to help if they need assistance,” Secretary Pate said in an interview. “This isn’t a rural issue – it isn’t an urban issue – it’s an Iowa issue and together sheriffs and my office are taking a stand against sexual abuse and getting Iowans the resources they need.”

Marion County Sheriff Jason Sandholdt also serves as the President of the Iowa Sheriff’s and Deputies Association in addition to his elected office. Sheriff Sandholdt wants to assure Iowans who are victims of this crime that their offices across all Iowa’s 99 counties are there to help and provide resources when requested.

“If you’re a victim of sexual abuse or assault, I encourage you to report it if you feel comfortable. This crime affects all demographics – regardless of background or where you live.” Sheriff Sandholdt said. “If you don’t feel comfortable contacting law enforcement, go to your local emergency room. They have specially trained nurses and advocates there that can help you navigate your next steps and get you the help you need.”

If you’re a victim seeking initial resources and next steps, contact the confidential Iowa Victim’s Call Center at 1-800-770-1650 or text ‘IOWAHELP’ to 20121 and a trained advocate will get in touch with you.

Iowa Safe at Home was established in 2015 as a resource for survivors of sexual abuse, domestic violence, assault, stalking and human trafficking. Today, there are approximately 1,200 participants across 77 of Iowa’s 99 counties. If you or someone you know could benefit from this program visit SafeAtHome.Iowa.Gov or call 515-725-7233.

(Creston, Iowa) – A collision that happened at around 2:25-p.m. Wednesday, in Creston, left a driver of one of the vehicles complaining of pain. According to the Creston Police, a 2015 Jeep Patriot SUV driven by 18-year-old Briley Dunning, of Creston, was leaving the Creston High School and turning left onto Townline Street. Dunning looked both ways before proceeding from the stop sign, but according to the report, failed to see any oncoming vehicles.

As she proceeded into the intersection, the Jeep’s front passenger side was struck by a 2009 Ford Taurus, driven by 32-year-old Katherine Robinson, of Creston, as Robinson was traveling east on Townline. Both vehicles became disabled by the collision.

Dunning complained of pain. She and a passenger in the SUV were both cleared by medics, at the scene. Damage from the crash amounted to $10,000 altogether. No citations were issued.

(Anita, Iowa) – Anita Firefighters responded to a house fire west of Anita a little after Noon today (Wednesday). Fire Chief Eric Steffensen said the home at 72737 Eastland Road was engulfed in fire and had collapsed onto the ground when the first crews arrived. The home was unoccupied at the time the fire broke out, which Steffensen was apparently around 11:30-a.m.  The residence was home to Chris and Ann Butler.

Photos via Nishna Valley Cycle’s Facebook page

The wind-whipped flames and embers jumped a road to north of the structure and caught about 80 acres of land to burn.

Mutual aid was provided by firefighters from Wiota, Adair and Atlantic, mainly in the form of grass units and tankers. No injuries were reported and a cause of the fire remains undetermined at this time. Nishna Valley Cycle is working with Community 1st Credit Union (200 Maple St., Atlantic, IA),on an account for donations to help the couple.

A donation jar will also be available at Nishna Valley Cycle in Atlantic, where Chris is the Sales Manager. A GoFundMe account has also been established.

(Radio Iowa) – After a long, snowy winter, this week’s warm weather has many Iowans leaping at the chance to get into their yards and start beautifying and landscaping for the seasons ahead. Adam Thoms, a turfgrass specialist at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, says it’s probably still a little early for mowing our lawns, but when that time comes, he suggests you don’t sharpen the mower blade first thing.

“There’s a lot of debris in yards from the winter, whether it be rocks, if you had a gravel driveway and you moved snow, or twigs that have fallen over the winter,” Thoms says, “so if you spend the time sharpening your mower blades, you’re just going to go out and dull them up on that first mow, so just mow with it the first time and then sharpen them up.” The home improvement stores are stockpiling pallets of weed-and-seed products, and Thoms says now is an ideal time to start spreading those tiny pellets.

“Crabgrass is going to be germinating here in the next two to three weeks, especially with the warm weather we’re having,” Thoms says, “so we’d like to see you put that out here by the end of this week or by at least early part of May, at the latest.” Creeping Charlie, or ground ivy, is one of the hardest weeds to control in Iowa. Thoms says he gets calls about it almost daily, and there -is- a chemical out there that can kill Creeping Charlie. The problem is, now is not the best time to try.

“It’s going to be two to three weeks where you could start to try to get after it,” Thoms says. “Typically, you get best control if you wait until the fall. You’re going to want to try to treat it with something that contains a lot of Triclopyr in it. That seems to be what controls Creeping Charlie the best.” There may be a few dead spots in your yard where you need to plant new grass, and there are a variety of turf-building products on the market, but again, Thoms says the ideal season to do that is in several months.

“Springtime is not the best time to seed your yard, and a lot of people think it is,” Thoms says. “So we typically say wait on that until the fall. That’s the best time to seed your yard.” When it comes time to start mowing your lawn, he suggests the ideal cutting height is between three and three-and-a-half inches, and he recommends you never remove more than a-third of the leaf blade. Find more spring lawn care tips, here: https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Governor Kim Reynolds says the Iowa Democratic Party is “unwilling to accept” that a mail-in system of ballots for their 2024 Caucuses is akin to a primary and that jeopardizes the first-in-the-nation status for both parties’ Caucuses.

Reynolds issued a written statement on the topic shortly after a House subcommittee approved a bill to require that participants in Iowa’s Republican and Democratic Party Caucuses attend the events in person. Representative Austin Harris of Moulton is the former political director for the Iowa Republican Party. He predicts New Hampshire will schedule its presidential primary ahead of Iowa’s Caucuses if Iowa Democrats are allowed to follow through with their plan .

“The purpose of the Caucus is to have a closed door meeting to conduct the party business,” Harris said, “and I think having a vote-by-mail process is going to destroy the entire purpose of the Caucus to begin with.” Representative Amy Nielsen, a Democrat from North Liberty, said her party is looking to expand access to the Caucuses. “It’s a little bit of an exclusive group that gets to participate in the in-person Caucuses on one night,” Nielsen said. “…People that work nights don’t have the opportunity, people that maybe have children that they can’t bring or don’t have a babysitter.”

Nielsen said Republicans are inserting themselves into Democratic Party business. “I don’t think that allowing some remote access to our Caucuses is creating a Primary,” Nielsen said. “What it’s doing is opening up access.”

Bill sponsor Representative Bobby Kaufmann, the son of Iowa GOP chairman Jeff Kaufmann, responded to Nielsen. “I will mind my own business when the Iowa Caucuses are not in jeopardy,” Kaufmann said. “when the Iowa Caucuses are in jeopardy, which they absolutely are, then it is my business.”

Representative Brooke Boden, a Republican from Indianola, said the bill would maintain the integrity of the Caucus concept. “A Caucus is a place for a robust conversation, a place where you can get together with your party and discuss the best candidates and I don’t think a mail ballot affords that type of conversation to happen,” Boden said.

The bill also would require Caucus participants to be registered to vote as a Democrat or a Republican 70 days before the night of the caucuses. Senate Republican Leader Jack Whitver said both parties have worked for years to maintain the first-in-the-nation status of the Iowa Caucuses.

“The Senate is hopeful this tradition will continue,” Whitver said in a written statement.

(Anita, Iowa) – Firefighters from Anita and Wiota were paged-out to a residential structure fire at around Noon today (Wednesday). The blaze was reported west of Anita at 72737 Eastland Road. Cass County Communications also requested Atlantic and Adair Fire for provide mutual aid to Anita Fire. Additional details are currently not available.

(Radio Iowa) – Two South Carolina Republicans with White House aspirations are campaigning in Iowa. South Carolina Tim Scott has just announced he formed a presidential campaign exploratory committee — the last step before declaring he’s a candidate for the White House. He was in Cedar Rapids this (Wednesday) morning. Scott, the only Black Republican in the U.S. Senate, released a video and it begins by noting this is the day the first shots were fired in the Civil War.

In the video, Scott says Democrats are pursing a liberal agenda and promoting a culture of grievance in America.

Senator Tim (Rep.) from South Carolina.

Scott has made frequent visits to Iowa, dating back to 2014, shortly after he was appointed to the U.S. Senate by Nikki Haley, who was South Carolina’s governor at the time. Haley, who served as United Nations Ambassador during the first half of the Trump Administration, kicked off her own bid for president early this year. She spoke to an audience in Des Moines early this (Wednesday) morning. (click on photos to enlarge)

Haley spoke at events in western Iowa earlier this week. Today’s (Wednesday’s) event was aimed at women voters.

Nikki Haley speaks during an event in Denison, IA. April, 2023

Haley was the first woman to be elected governor of South Carolina and, after winning that first race for governor in 2010, she was the youngest governor in the country.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Transportation Commission is considering delaying some projects in its five-year construction plan as inflation and other factors impact the costs of building and maintaining state roadways. The D-O-T’s Stuart Anderson says they’ve been analyzing a lot of data as they prepare the plan for a June vote. “Not surprisingly, the inflationary pressures have hit the road and bridge construction industry, just like they have all sectors. So we are seeing our project cost estimates increase,” Anderson says.

He says the cost increases come as state and federal revenue is relatively flat.  “Last year, with a five year program, there was additional revenue from the federal infrastructure bill, but all that money was programmed last June. So this new program, there’s no additional revenue,” Anderson says. “So with increasing costs and flat revenue. That means the commission has had to look at some different options for how to deliver a fiscally-constrained five year program.”

Higher gas prices can leads to less driving and less gas tax revenue for road repairs — but Anderson says the impact of high fuel prices on construction costs is a bigger issue. “Building a roadway or bridge requires moving dirt and a lot of heavy equipment that uses fuel. And, of course, some of our road construction materials involve involves petroleum products,” Anderson says. “That can certainly have an impact on our construction costs as well.” Anderson says they’ve look at ways to adjust while keeping the Transportation Commission’s priority for the repair and rehabilitation of existing infrastructure.

“And so the Commission asked the department to look at options to make sure those investments aren’t reduced, and those projects aren’t impacted,” he says. “But then see if there are other projects that are more related to capacity or system enhancement, to see if there’s some projects there that could perhaps be delayed, but in a way that minimizes those impacts on ultimate construction schedules.” He says the D-O-T presented the Commission with some options. “And about a dozen projects would be delayed by a year in the program. And that’s out of over 600 projects. So program can be balanced with a pretty minimal impact on project schedules,” he says.

The D-O-T will release its draft five-year improvement plan in May, and then the Transportation Commission will vote on the final plan in June.

(Shenandoah, Iowa) – Officials with the Shenandoah Fire Department said on the department’s social media page, Wednesday, that at around 7:50-p.m., Tuesday, Shenandoah Fire and EMS were paged to a car versus farm equipment sprayer with no (initially reported) injuries. Authorities said “Upon arrival, the car was fully engulfed with fire, it was determined that 3 patients were on location. All patients were out and away from the vehicle, and both north and south ditches on fire from the car fire. Patients were treated for injuries and taken to the Shenandoah Medical Center and one patient was transported via LifeNet 1-1 Omaha for a higher level of care while fire crews from Essex Fire Rescue were paged to assist Shenandoah due to the ditch fire spreading towards a cornfield.

Fire and EMS personnel were back in service a little after 1-a.m., Wednesday. The Shenandoah Fire Department extends its gratitude to all responding fire and emergency services departments. They said “We would like to give the biggest thanks to Essex Fire & Rescue and Red Oak Fire Department for all the fire and ems assistance and covering our town, and Page County Iowa Sheriff’s Office, Page County EMA, and Benefiel Towing for much needed assistance. “Also, this is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, and we are very thankful for all of our dispatchers, we wouldn’t be able to do our jobs without you! Thank you for everything you do, and thank you everyone for all the help last (Tuesday) night!

Due to crews working the original call, Red Oak Fire assisted covering Shenandoah and Page county in the event of any further calls. Clarinda Fire was also placed on standby to assist with covering Shenandoah Calls.