The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education is set to meet 5:30-p.m. Wednesday (Jan. 9th), in the High School Media Center. On their agenda, is action on resignations (including Andrea Reilly – TAG, STEM Coordinator & Teacher, Head Cheer sponsor; and Julie Birge – Food Service), as well as Contract Recommendations and/or Letters of Support for: Ryan Messerschmidt and Dexter Dodson – Industrial Tech Teachers; and Riley Hayes, Washington Elementary Clerical Para.

The Board will also discuss the Capital Projects Plan for FY 2020, which calls for spending $1.652-million and takes into account a beginning balance of $885,283, along with expected revenue of $1,847,350, for a total available funds amounting to over $2.73-million, and leaving a balance of $1.08-million. The Technology portion of the plan calls for purchasing enough computers to equip each student in grades 6-through 8 with a Dell Chromebook computer. The total cost of the computers, one-time management fee, warranty and other related materials, is $134,400.

The Atlantic School Board will also discuss any changes to the Athletic Facility Plan/Designs. Action items include 2019-2020 SBRC Modified Allowable Growth for At-Risk and Drop-Out Prevention ($447,540), which is used to fund the CCEOC alternative program and support other student services, and, Full Sports Season 2019 Coaching Contracts.

High School Assistant Principal/Activities Director Andrew Mitchell, is recommending the following persons be approved as Fall Sports Coaches for the 2019 season:

• Head Football: Mike McDermott
• Asst. Varsity Football: Lee Saathoff
• JV Football: Justin Williams
• Asst. JV Football: Joe Brummer
• Freshman Football: Derek Hall
• Asst. Freshman Football: Oran Perkins
• MS Football: Tucker Weber; Tim Duff; Bryce Casey & Chase Roller
• Head Cross County: Dan Vargason
• Asst. Cross Country: Brad Rasmussen
• MS Cross Country: Macie Silliman
• Head Volleyball: Michelle Blake
• MS Volleyball: Faith McCunn; Amber Moore & Hillary Zimmerline.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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FREMONT, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska man suspected of intending to make a prostitute out of a 15-year-old Iowa runaway has taken a plea deal. The Fremont Tribune reports that 37-year-old Joe Lockett, of Omaha, pleaded no contest Monday in Dodge County District Court to sexual assault of a child. Prosecutors dropped sex trafficking and other charges in return for Lockett’s plea. His sentencing is scheduled for March 11. Court records say sheriff’s deputies found the girl with Lockett in his vehicle during a traffic stop on Oct. 26 on the north side of Fremont.

The records say the girl later told deputies that she had sex with Lockett at a motel and that Lockett was seeking to prostitute her out to other parties for money.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A court document says a former supervisor intends to plead guilty to federal charges that he conspired with others to manipulate water sample test results at the Sioux City wastewater treatment plant. Patrick Schwarte’s attorney filed a notice Monday in U.S. District Court. His plea hearing is scheduled for Jan. 23.

Prosecutors say chlorine was added to wastewater on days that E. coli samples were taken. The samples then showed plant discharges into the Missouri River met federal limits for levels of fecal coliform and E. coli. The chlorine was reduced after the tests, saving the city money.

The city dismissed Schwarte and the plant superintendent in June 2015 after the Iowa Natural Resources Department began an investigation.

Red Oak Police, Monday night, arrested 42-year old Chrystal Rush Stewart, of Red Oak. Stewart was taken into custody at around 6-p.m. in the 200 block of N. 2nd Street, and charged with Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

Police in Council Bluffs are investigating the armed robbery of a convenience store. Officers were dispatched at around 2:22-a.m. today (Tuesday), to the Kwik Shop at 3632 Ave G, in reference to a robbery call. When they arrived, they made contact with an employee, who said an unknown man walked into the store and pointed a handgun at her. The robber, who was dressed from head-to-toe in black, made her open the cash register.

Surveillance camera still frame of robbery suspect (1-8-19)

After getting an unknown amount of cash, the suspect left the store in an unknown direction. The area was checked by officers but they were unable to locate the robber.  If you have any information pertaining to the crime, call the Council Bluffs Crime Stoppers at 712-328-7867.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports, that at around 12:40-p.m. Monday, his deputies and the Fremont County K9 Unit, were conducting a narcotics investigation in Tabor when deputies attempted to stop a Maroon Chevy Tahoe near the intersection of Hillcrest Drive and Highway 275, in Tabor.  The vehicle failed to yield and fled from deputies northbound into Mills County.

Near the intersection Highway 275 and Krutzinger Avenue, the vehicle entered the yard of a residence and continued west into a field.  A passenger attempted to flee from the moving vehicle and was quickly arrested.  The vehicle continued west, and law enforcement used vehicle intervention to bring the vehicle to a stop.  All occupants were arrested without further incident.

Deputies recovered approximately one-quarter of a pound of methamphetamine, and determined the vehicle had been stolen out of La Vista, Nebraska. 42-year old Brandon Sutton, of Tabor, 43-year old William Estelle and 33-year old Martin Fender, both of La Vista, NE, and 19-year old Faith Stapleton, of Red Oak, were all placed under arrest at the scene. They are being held of Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Methamphetamine over 5g but under 5kg, and Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle.  More charges are pending.

Estelle

Stapleton

Sutton

Fender

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa (AP) — Former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro is introducing himself to Iowa Democrats as a champion of universal health care and affordable housing as he moves toward a presidential campaign. Castro spoke with party activists Monday at a house party in North Liberty in his first trip to Iowa since forming an exploratory committee last month. Castro indicated that he would announce his presidential campaign Saturday in San Antonio.

CLINTON, Iowa (AP) — A firefighter who died while battling a blaze at a grain storage facility over the weekend is being remembered in the eastern Iowa communities he served. Mourners lined the streets of Clinton on Sunday as the procession transporting the body of 33-year-old fire Lt. Eric Hosette rolled through town. He died Saturday while fighting a fire at the ADM grain facility in Clinton. Another firefighter, 23-year-old Adam Cain, was injured.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A $7 million indoor turf facility for soccer and other sports is being planned for Council Bluffs. The 75,000-square-foot building would be erected just northwest of the Mid-America Center. The Daily Nonpareil reports that what would be called the Iowa West Sports Plex awaits a city Planning Commission vote Tuesday and a City Council vote likely later this month.

STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) — A Minnesota supporter of President Donald Trump is facing a disorderly conduct charge stemming from a weekend altercation at an Iowa rally for Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Photos from Warren’s rally Saturday in Storm Lake show 58-year-old Randal Thom, of Lakefield, Minnesota, carrying a sign that read “Keep America Great.” Police say Thom was involved in an argument with Warren supporters that turned physical and included some punches. There were no injuries and no one else was arrested.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa lost population last year, according to a study from United Van Lines. The moving company says it handled more moves for people leaving Iowa, than those moving in, making it 8th of the 50 states for having the most “out-bound” moves. Michael Stoll, a professor of public policy at U-C-L-A, studies the data for United. Stoll says many of the people who left Iowa are young, between the ages of 25 and 44.

“They’re more moderate income individuals making somewhere between $40,000 and $75,000 a year,” Stoll says. “What that says is, there’s an economic reason for people leaving Iowa that may have to do with professional aspirations or opportunities that they could achieve elsewhere.” Iowa’s population loss is no surprise as many people leave this part of the country every year and head generally south.

Stoll says, “This is part of a longer overall migration trend that’s been occurring in the United States over the last 20 or 30 years, where you have people leaving the Midwest (and going) to the Southern and Western or Southwestern states for a variety of reasons, including changes in the economy, demographic change as well as people migrating to more warmer climates.” The number-one reason people give for moving is job-related, but other factors play a role, including family, housing costs and taxes.

“In Iowa, about 63% of people are moving there to take a job, but a quarter, 25%, are moving to be closer to family and friends,” Stoll says. “Typically, in the United States, only about 6% of people move to be closer to family and friends, so 25% moving to Iowa for that reason is a pretty big number.” The U-S Census Bureau says Iowa’s population grew by about one-half of one-percent last year and exceeded three-point-one million people, ranking Iowa 30th among the 50 states.

A dangerous driver was removed from a busy roadway in Pottawattamie County over the weekend.

Phillip Newcomb

According to the Iowa State Patrol, Phillip Newcomb, of Bellevue, NE., was clocked at 97 miles per hour on Interstate 29, near Council Bluffs. In addition, Newcomb was given a breathalyzer test and registered a point-two-three-seven (.237) blood alcohol level. That’s nearly three times the legal limit to drive.

During the traffic stop, troopers say there was a strong odor of alcohol in the car and that there was an open container on his passenger seat. Newcomb was subsequently arrested for OWI, and booked into the Pottawattamie County jail. He has since been released.