(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School Board held a Special Meeting Wednesday evening, during which they received a Technology Update from Technology Coordinator Roger Warne.

The Board approved the resignation of High School Night Custodian Mikade Thompson, and Contract Recommendations for:
Lori Namanny, Melissa Balch and Tina Franken – Summer Food Service
Deborah Hensel – Special Education Bus Monitor
Kerry Jepsen – Paraeducator/Summer School Voc Rehab, and
Ashley Gacke – 5th Grade Science Teacher.

The Atlantic School Board also approved 2023-24 Non-Union Contracts (Central Office, Technology & Directors). Superintendent Steve Barber’s recommendation…

The Food Director’s increase, he said, “will be paid out of the Nutrition Fund, which will have no impact on the General Fund.” The Atlantic School Board also approved 2023-24 Principal Contracts amounting to $30,322.48.

And, the Board voted to approved a 2023-24 Tentative Agreement/Master Contract with the Atlantic Education Association (representing the teachers).

The duration of the contract is from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.

In other action, the Atlantic School Board approved a Pay Application to Trane U.S., Inc., in the amount of $19,437.50, for the High School Air Quality Project.

(Radio Iowa) – A museum exhibit featuring a replica of a rail car used to transport Jews to concentration camps during the Holocaust of World War Two opened in Sioux City. George Linblade designed the exhibit and said the cars actually used in Auschwitz are all the property of the Polish government and they will not let him out of the country. Linblade says every state in the union got a real railroad car courtesy of Poland after the war, but no one knows what happened to the one in Iowa. The rail car was moved to the Sioux City Museum two years ago and the work began on it.

(Corning, Iowa) – The Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Wednesday, released reports covering incidents that took place between March 30th and April 14th. On April 14th at around 7:47-p.m., Deputies conducted a traffic stop in Prescott. Upon further investigation, the driver, Mathew Morse, was arrested and charged with Driving While Suspended (DWS). He was taken to the Adams County Jail and posted a $300 cash-only bond before being released.

On April 9th, Deputies in Adams County arrested 24-year-old Jennifer Nicole Wilson, of Clarinda, on five active Failure to Appear warrants, for a previous charge of Driving While Suspended. Wilson was released from the Adams County Jail on a Promise to Appear in court.

On the 8th of April at around 10:30-a.m., 47-year-old Scott Allen Henneman, of Blanchard, was arrested in Adams County on charges that include DWS, Open Container, Speeding, and Operating a Non-Registered Vehicle. Henneman later posted bond and was released. And, on April 6th, a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle in Adams County resulted in the arrest of 28-year-old Brandon Joseph Dean Brown, of Lenox, for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 2nd offense. Brown was also charged with DWS, and cited for speed. His bond was set at $1,300. Brown was later released by the Magistrate. Additional charges are pending.

On March 30th, 64-year-old Victoria Renee Siegal, of Jefferson, was arrested at the intersection of Highway 34 and Loomis Avenue, in Corning, following a traffic stop. Siegal was charged with OWI/1st offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 1st offense, and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia. She was also cited for failure to show proof of insurance (SR-22 required), and failure to provide a registration card. Additional charges are pending. Siegal was later released by the Magistrate on a $2,300 bond.

*”Any potential criminal charges identified above are merely allegations and any defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”

(Radio Iowa) – An Iowan who donated millions to Iowa’s three public universities and was considered one of the country’s most successful venture capitalists has died at the age of 94. John Pappajohn was born in Greece and was nine months old when his family settled in Mason City. After graduating from Mason City’s high school, he earned a business degree from the University of Iowa.

Pappajohn founded an insurance company, became a financial consultant and then created a venture capital fund. In 1996, Pappajohn donated 35 million dollars to set up entrepreneurial centers at the three state universities and the community college in his hometown of Mason City. Pappajohn and his wife, Mary, were among the world’s leading collectors of modern art.

The Pappajohn Sculpture Garden in downtown Des Moines features two dozen of the outdoor sculptures the couple owned. John Pappajohn also served on the museum board for the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

Pappajohn died Saturday at a vacation home in Florida. His wife, Mary, died in March of last year at the age of 88.

(Radio Iowa) – The four Iowa Republicans who serve in the U.S. House have voted to cut federal spending and raise the federal government’s debt ceiling — after biofuels issues were removed from the package. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s original plan would have scaled back tax incentives for carbon pipelines, ended the tax credit for biodiesel and repealed a technology tax credit that may benefit ethanol producers.

Congresswomen Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Le Claire and Ashley Hinson of Marion along with Congressmen Zach Nunn of Bondurant and Randy Feenstra of Hull successfully lobbied to have those anti-biofuels provisions removed. The group issued a joint statement, saying the biofuels industry drives the Iowa economy and they were able to protect federal biofuels incentives during negotiations with House speaker.

Governor Reynolds thanked House Speaker Kevin McCarthy for agreeing to a compromise that Reynolds says recognizes the importance of biofuels to the country.  Ag groups and trade associations that represent the biofuels industry praised Iowa’s U.S. House delegation for standing up for ethanol and biodiesel. Iowa is the country’s leading producer of corn-based ethanol and soybean-based biodiesel.

(Radio Iowa) – The Republican-led Senate has sent the governor a bill to limit the state auditor’s access to some confidential information. It also blocks the auditor from seeking a court order to get records from state agencies or other state officials. Republican Senator Mike Bousselot of Ankeny says State Auditor Rob Sand, the only Democrat in statewide office, has argued he can audit anything at anytime.

“When government goes too far, we are the watchdogs,” Bousselot says. Bousselot says shortly after taking office in 2019, Sand began raising inappropriate questions about negotiations for a billion dollar deal involving the University of Iowa’s utilities plant.  “This new, non-CPA auditor looks to see how far the law can go,” Bousselot said, “asks for impossible information about a transaction that isn’t even over yet.” That dispute was ultimately decided by the Iowa Supreme Court, in the auditor’s favor.

The bill calls for future disputes about government records to be settled by a three-person panel — with representatives of Sand’s office, the governor’s office and the state agency involved. “Settle disputes in a way that’s friendly to taxpayers,” Bousselot says. All 16 Democrats in the Senate voted no. Senator Janet Petersen is a Democrat from Des Moines.  “The is pro-embezzler, this is pro-corruption, this is pro-crony,” Petersen says. Senator Janice Weiner, a Democrat from Iowa City, says the bill knee caps the state auditor’s office.

“This is Republicans protecting each other and putting their own interests over those of the state,” Weiner says. “We don’t play games with our state’s finances.” Sand says the bill lets government agencies hide records necessary to prove abuse of tax dollars and it allows dishonest insiders to conceal their waste, fraud, and abuse.

Governor Kim Reynolds has not commented on the bill. Last May, as she campaigned for Republican Primary candidates, Reynolds said needed a state auditor that’s not trying to sue her every time they turn around.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – (UPDATED)  The Atlantic School Board, Wednesday evening, agreed to meet in the District’s Central Office at the Achievement Center this Friday, April 28th, at 2:30-p.m., for the purpose of reviewing applications that have been received from persons interested in the Superintendent and School Business Official (SBO) positions. The review process is just one of several steps necessary to find a suitable replacement for those Administrative jobs. The District says the review will take place in a CLOSED SESSION, as allowed under the Code of Iowa.

As of April 26th, there have been two applications for the SBO position currently held by Sarah Sheeder. It’s not clear how many applications have been received so far for the Superintendent’s job. Both positions became open with the resignations earlier this month of Superintendent Barber, whose last day is June 30th, and Sheeder, whose last day is May 31st.

The actual interviews with candidates for those positions will be scheduled following a review of qualified individuals’ resume and application.

(Radio Iowa) – The Senate Ethics Committee has tabled a complaint against the state senator who didn’t schedule a hearing for a House bill with new rules for carbon pipelines. Republican Senator Mike Bousselot of Ankeny used to work for Summit Agricultural Group and one of its subsidiaries to planning to build a pipeline. Bousselot said in a written statement he has no conflict of interest and the complaint was a waste of the Senate’s time.

Senator Pam Jochum, a Democrat from Dubuque, said Bousselot should not have been leading senate review of the bill. “This is not a situation any of us relish or want to be in, but we are,” Jochum said, “and I can assure you I had a sleepless night over all of this.” Jochum and the other five members of the Senate Ethics Committee voted to notify the group that filed the complaint that no further action will be taken, unless further relevant information is produced by the group that filed it.

“Considering Senator Bousselot’s long standing personal and financial relationship with the CEO of the company that plans to build one of the carbon pipelines and his relationship with a senior policy advisor to Summit (Carbon) Solutions, Senator Bousselot has at the very least exercised questionable judgment,” Jochum said, “and at worst engaged in the appearance of unethical conduct.”

Six years ago, Bousselot left his job at Bruce Rastetter’s company. Bousselot was also chief of staff for former Governor Terry Branstad, who’s a senior policy advisor on the pipeline project. Bousselot said Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement — the group that filed the complaint — is an extremist organization and he said to allege a senator violated ethics rules by not acting on a bill is “preposterous.”

Senator Cindy Winckler, a Democrat from Davenport, supported the decision to table the complaint related to senate inaction on the carbon pipeline bill. “This is such a difficult situation,” Winckler said, “and it is a high profile issue that we’ve worked on for several years.”

Hugh Espy being escorted from meeting. (RI photo)

None of the Republicans on the Senate Ethics Committee commented on the complaint before joining Democrats to table it. Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement executive director Hugh Espy  started asking senators questions after the vote. Senate Ethics Committee chairman Tom Shipley of Nodaway spoke as Espy was escorted out of the room by state troopers.

“Our rules were clear. I stated them. You will go with the trooper,” Shipley said. “We’re done.”

The Senate Ethics Committee also voted to dismiss a complaint against Senator Molly Donahue, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, for Facebook posts that have accused members of “Moms for Liberty” of being terrorists. Jochum said Senator Donahue, like any citizen, has free speech rights. “If there’s a lesson to learn in all of this, it is that we all need to choose our words very carefully to ensure respect,” Jochum said, “even toward those with whom we disagree.”

Senator Tom Costello, a Republican from Imogene, directed his comments toward Senator Donahue: “She needs to watch she posts and it’d probably be good advice for her just to get off of social media.”

On Sunday, Donahue posted a story about Moms for Liberty, a group that has pushed for removal of certain books from school libraries. Donahue, who is a teacher, again called members of the group terrorists.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on April 17th, of 27-year-old Jasiah Masterson, of Atlantic. Masterson was taken into custody on charges of OWI/1st offense, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. He was booked into the Cass County Jail and later released on his Own Recognizance.

And, on Monday, April 24th, deputies in Cass County arrested 34-year-old Todd Jenkins, of Osceola, on a warrant for Failure to Appear on the charge of OWI First Offense.  Jenkins was transported to the Cass County Jail and also later released on his Own Recognizance.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Connections Area Agency on Aging reports vouchers are available for the Senior Farmer’s Market program. Seniors meeting income requirements can obtain vouchers that they can use at participating area Farmers Markets to buy $50.00 worth of fresh, locally grown produce.

To request an application call 800-432-9209 and leave a message with you name and phone number.  All calls will be returned within five business days of the order being received.  Applications will then be mailed out every Thursday with an addressed return envelope.  Once Connections officials receive completed applications, vouchers will be mailed out to applicant.  Please note applications not completed will not receive vouchers until all information is provided.

Program Criteria:

• Must be at least 60 years of age or older.
• Annual income must be less than
  $26,973  for Individual, Single Senior applicants,  or $36,482 for Married couples.

When a staff member returns your call, please indicate whether you are applying as an individual or a married couple.

Outline of Process: This method is the only way to obtain Farmers’ Market vouchers in 2023.

• Applications available by phone only.
• Applications will be mailed with a return envelope.
• Applications must be complete before vouchers are mailed out.
• Applications are on a first come first serve basis.
• Walk-in’s will not be accepted at Connections’ senior centers or office locations.