(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education held a Special Session Wednesday evening at the Schuler Elementary School Media Center and electronically. Superintendent Steve Barber updated the Board on several matters, including filling seven open teaching positions before the school year begins, the use of online ticket orders and an increase in Hawkeye 10 Conference ticket prices. (see his notes below).

In other business, the Board approved Mr. Barber’s contract recommendations for Kelbe Flathers, Summer School Para – Vocational Rehab, and Mandy Parks – Middle School Secretary. The Board also passed the district’s K-12 Computer Science Plan, which covers Coding Curriculum applicable to each set of grades respectively (K-3, 4-5, 6-8), with the grades 9-12 curriculum covering Computer Science.

The Board also approved a Girl’s Wrestling Cooperative Sharing Agreement for 2022-2023, with the CAM Community School District.  (You can view a detailed agenda HERE)

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of 31-year-old Stormey L. Dykes of Stanton on Wednesday at approximately 11:48 a.m. Dykes turned herself in at the Sheriff’s Office on a warrant charging her with Abandonment/Neglect of a Dependent Person. The warrant stems from an incident that occurred back on March 21st of this year.

Dykes was processed at the Montgomery County Jail and released after posting 10% of the $10,000 bond.

Iowa Attorney General candidate Brenna Bird made a stop in Atlantic on the campaign trail on Wednesday. Bird is the current Guthrie County Attorney and has roots in Western Iowa.

Bird said she decided to run for Attorney General because she thinks she can do a better job and get a fresh face in a position that has been held by the same person since 1978. She said she has enjoyed helping Iowans as a prosecutor and believes supporting law enforcement should be a big priority for the Attorney General.

Bird said defending Iowans’ constitutional rights and keeping the federal government in check is another big piece of the job.

Bird has a long family history in agriculture and she said she is ready to defend the industry.

You can find out more about Brenna Bird by checking out her website at birdforiowa.com or on her facebook page.

Listen to the full interview with Brenna Bird below.

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Survey numbers from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources show hunters bagged around 375-thousand pheasants this year. Wildlife biologist, Todd Bogenschutz, says that’s around a 25 percent increase over last year.

He says the information from hunters confirmed their August roadside survey — which show bird numbers up in the northern third of the state and across the central portion — while tough winter conditions dropped bird numbers in south.

Bogenschutz says he was shocked to see an increase in the number of hunters.

While bird numbers have trended up the last couple of years — Bogenschutz says habitat and weather remain the key factors that determine the trend will continue.

The D-N-R will conduct its roadside pheasant survey again in August. Bogenschutz says the weather conditions this spring have been good for nesting and he expects the numbers will stay strong.

Nineteen Iowa school districts splitting more than 45-and-a-half million dollars in grants to boost teacher training are making plans for how the money will be used. The state’s new Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship Pilot Program is being financed with federal pandemic relief money. In Davenport, superintendent T-J Schneckloth (SHNEK-loth) says the money will be used by the districts’ para-educators to earn enough college credits to become teachers.

The state money can also be used by high school students to earn para-educator certificates and associate degrees.

Schneckloth says the application and screening process will begin immediately. The pilot program was recommended by a state task force that looked at ways to encourage more Iowans to pursue careers in education.

The 19 districts are: AHSTW, Burlington, Cedar Falls, Cherokee, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Johnston, Linn-Mar, Marion, Marshalltown, MOC-Floyd Valley, Newton, Oskaloosa, Perry, Sioux City, Storm Lake, Winterset, Waukee.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors had a short meeting on Wednesday morning at the Adair County Courthouse.

The Board started by approving wages for township clerks. They then updated the travel policy resolution for county business to meet the most recent IRS mileage rate of 62.5 cents per mile. That rate will be retroactive to June 1, 2022. The VA transport rate will be ten cents above that rate, as is normal.

The board also approved mailings for homestead and military dis-allowances. There was also approval for a Child Abuse Prevention Grant draw down of $2,508.41 and agreement on the 2023 fiscal agent contract for the same program. The board also approved a treasurer clerk salary increase for Bethany Smith who has been in the office for six months now.

The board ended their meeting with a report from Veteran Affairs Commissioner John Schildberg. The office had an employee that couldn’t go to the national conference they were scheduled to attend due to a health issue. The office was credited back flight money and registration money. The credits returned to the general fund and that was going to put their office over budget. The board discussed that they will see how tight that budget comes out and see if there needs to be an amendment to their budget next spring to better meet needs next year. The office has experienced a big influx of Veterans served this year.

Supervisor Jodie Hoadley said she has heard some high praise for the Veterans Affairs office in the county.

The board discussed making sure grant money is used in all the ways possible and tracked closely to help keep the budget on track in the future.

The Atlantic Food Pantry will have a new home by the end of the year. The Atlantic Food Pantry Board announced that they have made arrangements for a move to 704 West 7th Street, the former “After 5 Somewhere” liquor store, in September.

The board said the new location will give them more storage space and allow for the continued drive-through distribution format it has utilized since 2020.

After discussion with city officials, the pantry has received permission to set up cones and barricades to route vehicles by the facility for a two-hour period on Thursdays. Vehicles will approach from the north down Palm Street, then turn west on the access road in front of the new building for delivery. They will then exit to the north down the alley towards 6th street. Vehicles will be prevented from entering from or exiting to Highway 6 for safety reasons.

The Pantry Board, volunteers, and clients wish to acknowledge and thank Dr. Chet Meneely and Dr. Tim Kriefels before him, for graciously allowing the pantry to use its current space for over 30 years at an affordable rent. The board said it has truly been a generous gift to the community.

The University of Iowa unveiled a new mobile medical training truck today (Tuesday) at the Iowa State Capitol. U-I program advisor, Cormac O’Sullivan says it allows medical professionals to get trained at home.

He cites one example where they would stage a car accident with mannequins for the local fire department.

They would then take them through training in the emergency room. O’Sullivan says there’s already staff shortages — and it’s tough for small towns to take everyone to a training session.

O’Sullivan is an associate professor in the College of Nursing where this first truck will be based in Iowa City. Two more trucks will be coming.

The goal is to reach every single facility, provider, and county in the state at least once a year with some continuing education training with simulation. Sioux City E-M-T Trainer, Terry Regaller, was on hand for the announcement.

He says the training is very important to the success of first responders.

The start-up of the program is funded with an eight-million-dollar grant from the Helmsley Charitable Trust. Trustee Walter Panzirer (Pan-seer), says Iowa is the fifth state to get these types of trucks.

The funding will gradually drop down over four years, and then the University of Iowa has to find money to keep the program going.

ATLANTIC, IOWA – Affordable housing in southwest Iowa recently got a boost from the Iowa Economic Development Authority. A grant administered by Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) will provide $300,000 to renovate and add four upper-story housing units in the City of Atlantic.

The project will include a complete interior overhaul of the second level of the building at 300 Chestnut Street in Atlantic. The renovation will add four new one and two-bedroom rental units in the heart of downtown. The Whitney Development Corporation of Atlantic owns the building. The group, which has completed other projects such as the Whitney Hotel restoration, was formed in 2018 for the purpose of funding community development projects in Atlantic and Cass County.

Other communities approved for SWIPCO grants include:

• $200,000 to renovate and update two upper-story housing units in the City of Clarinda. The Downtown Housing Grant is funded with State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The project will include a complete interior overhaul of the second story space at 115 E Main Street, and will provide two of the only quality, updated rental units near the city center. Transforming this underutilized space into residential units will help to highlight the potential for improved quality of affordable living in downtown Clarinda.
• (SWIPCO) will provide $200,000 to renovate and add two upper-story housing units in the City of Glenwood.  The project will include a complete interior overhaul of the second and third stories of the historic Hinchman Building on the Glenwood city square. The renovation will include two fully furnished two-bedroom, two-bath residential units. Major components of the project will include bringing electrical and plumbing services up to code as well as installing high efficiency HVAC and updated duct work.
• (SWIPCO) will provide $100,000 to renovate and update two upper-story housing units in the City of Stanton. The project will include an interior overhaul of unfinished second story space in the property at 312 Broad Avenue, along with exterior improvements such as brick tuckpointing, the addition of concrete parking stalls, and deck construction to add outdoor living space.
• (SWIPCO) will provide $178,984 to renovate and add two upper-story housing units in the City of Logan. The project will include a complete interior overhaul of the second level of the building at 307 E 7^th Street in Logan. Boarded windows will be reopened, and a new stairwell built to provide a secure, main street entrance to the residential units. In addition to two more one-bedroom, one-bath housing units, the renovation brings new economic activity in town. While the upper story has been vacant for many years, the building’s main level will soon house an expansion of Logan Flours, an existing local bakery. The project’s total cost is estimated to be just under $240,000 with $60,000 in private dollars in addition to the Downtown Housing Grant. The grant is funded with State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

SWIPCO routinely provides grant writing and administration services to its member communities in Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby Counties and has brought over $100 million in grants to the region in the last two years alone.

(Radio Iowa) – A bipartisan advisory panel has recommended that the House Ethics Committee dismiss its review of third district Congresswoman Cindy Axne’s stock trades. Last year a watchdog group called the Campaign Legal Center accused seven House members — including Axne, a Democrat from West Des Moines — of failing to report stock trades. The purchases and sales of stock were related to retirement accounts for Axne and her husband as well as 529 investment accounts for their children’s college expenses.

Axne says she and her husband left the investment decisions to account managers and didn’t execute or direct any stock trades themselves — and Axne didn’t realize she was to file public reports about any account activity. After the watchdog group’s accusation, Axne hired a lawyer to review the accounts and submit her financial disclosure reports. The bipartisan board that reviews ethics complaints has unanimously voted to recommend that all allegations against Axne be dismissed.

The Office of Congressional Ethics is an independent board that’s primarily made up of former members of congress. The board reviews allegations of misconduct and refers complaints to the House Ethics Committee. Axne says the group has asked her how the reporting system can be updated so that good actors don’t get tripped up and bad actors can’t skate by and she’s working with other members of congress to develop new guidelines for stock trade reporting.