The temperature in Atlantic this (Sunday) afternoon reached 81-degrees, which is a record for this date. The old record of 80, was set 94 years ago, in 1918. Saturday’s high was 82, which was only two-degrees shy of tying the record set back in 1894. The near week-long string of record breaking highs appears to have come to an end. The forecast for the work week calls for showers and thunderstorms Monday through Thursday, with highs starting out in the low 70’s, and ending in the mid-to upper- 60’s.

An SUV carrying six people from Smyrna, Tennessee overturned Sunday morning in Fremont County, killing two and injuring four others. The Iowa State Patrol said the accident happened near the 18-mile marker of I-29 northbound, just after 7-a.m, north of Percival. Officials say a 2004 Chevy Suburban driven by 26-year old Ricardo Osori-Torres went off the road for reasons unknown, and into the median, before re-entering the northbound lanes of travel, where it rolled several times, ejecting at least two of its six occupants. One of the persons who was ejected was then stuck by a northbound semi. The Patrol says no one in the SUV was wearing a seat belt.

24-year old Maria Ledezma and 15-year old Alex Ledezma died at the scene. 10-year old Carlos, 14-year old Victor, and 8 year old Jacklyn Ledezma were injured, along with the driver. Jacklyn and Victor Ledezma, along with Ricardo Osorio-Torres, was transported by helicopter to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, in Omaha, while Carlos Ledezma was taken to the UNMC by Sidney Rescue.

The accident, which resulted in I-29 being closed for nearly4-hours Sunday in both directions, remains under investigation.

The Adams County Sherrif’s Office reports the arrest on Thursday (3/15) of 37-year-old Susan Elaine Barnes of Griswold.  Barnes was stopped by Adams County Sherrif’s Office deputies around 8:30pm Thursday and was taken into custody for Driving While Suspended.  No further details are available.

w/ Chris Parks

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For the third time in less than a week, Atlantic has broken the record for a High temperature. We topped out at 78-degrees this (Friday) afternoon, which beat the old record of 77 set on March 16th in 1966 and 2003.

Wednesday’s high of 78 broke the record of 72 set in 1908, and on Tuesday, our high of 79 in Atlantic broke a record set in 2007. The National Weather Service says near record highs across the area are possible again on Saturday. Here in Atlantic, we look for a high near 80.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office is asking for your help in identifying the person or persons responsible for an incident of vandalism, in Stanton. Officials say deputies today (Friday) investigated an incident where the front passenger window of a silver 2001 Hyundai Elantra was broken out in the driveway of a residence in Stanton. The damage was estimated at $250.

If you have information about the crime, call the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 712-623-5107, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-432-1001.

(3-p.m. News)

A development specialist for Iowa State University Extension/Community Development will be the guest speaker at the March 29th meeting of PRIDE (the Progressive Rural Iowa Development Enterprise), in Anita. Lynn Adams, who also serves as the coordinator for the Southwest Iowa Coalition (SWICO) will describe the benefits of “Buy Iowa Online,” when the meeting is held 7-p.m. Thursday, March 29th, at the Anita Community Center.

Buy Iowa Online (www.buyiowaonline.com) is an internet commerce website owned by PRIDE, where eligible vendors can sell their Iowa products to the world, without having to create and maintain their own website. Additional business during the March 29th meeting will include the election of 2012 officers.

PRIDE is a 501(c)(3) organization devoted to development of all types, in and beyond southwest Iowa, for its member cities of Cumberland, Griswold, Lewis, Marne and many other, individual members. For more information, call Frank or Kim Spillers at 712-250-0275.

The National Weather Service Valley, NE Office and the Montgomery and Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Agencies will conduct their annual Severe Weather Awareness week to promote Severe Weather Safety to citizens of both counties during the week of March 19^th –to the 23rd, 2012. The Annual TORNADO DRILL DAY will be Wednesday, March 21st. (In the event of severe weather, the drill will be postponed to Thursday, March 22nd). The drill will begin at 10-am with the outdoor warning sirens activated at approximately 10:10-am. The test warning will be valid for 20 minutes. All citizens, businesses, schools, healthcare facilities and public facilities are encouraged to participate in this drill by practicing what you would do in a real Tornado Warning. 

The Tornado Drill will only be conducted for the Omaha/Valley Weather Service Warning Area which includes SW Iowa Counties of Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby Counties. The Des Moines Weather Service will hold their annual Severe Weather Awareness week April 2-6, 2012, with the annual Tornado drill on April 4^th.

On the day of the drill, the Montgomery County Communications Center will activate all outdoor warning sirens for the cities of Red Oak, Stanton, Villisca, Elliott and Grant, along with the indoor warning system for participating agencies. Residences in these communities are encouraged to contact your local City Hall or local Fire Departments should their sirens not properly sound during the drill.

The Pott County 911 Center will activate outdoor warning sirens for the communities of Avoca, Carson, Carter Lake, Council Bluffs, Crescent, Macedonia, McClelland, Neola, Oakland and Underwood. Citizens in other Pottawattamie County communities are encouraged to contact their City Hall or local Fire Department to see if sirens will sound during the drill. Both Emergency Management Agencies remind citizens that outdoor warning sirens have limited to no effectiveness when you are in your home or traveling in your vehicle.

Pottawattamie County residents and residents of communities in the County are strongly encouraged to sign up for the Code Red Emergency Notification System. The service is free of charge and you will receive a phone call (home and/or cell) when severe weather threatens. Residents can sign up for the service, free of charge at www.pottcounty.com.

(updated 3:39-p.m.)

A former, long-time Cumberland-Anita-Massena School District teacher was arrested Thursday on  a warrant for one felony count of Sexual Exploitation by a Counselor, Therapist, or School Employee, and 49-Aggravated Misdemeanor counts of Sexual Exploitation by a Counselor, Therapist or School Employee. Cass County Sheriff Darby McLaren says 65-year old William Glenn Foulkes, of Anita, was booked into the Cass County Jail, posted a $50,000 bond, and was released.

William Glenn Foulkes (mugshot courtesy Cass Co. Sheriff's Office)

McLaren says the arrest followed a verbal complaint his office received about two-weeks ago. The complaint says -quote – “On several occasions between August 1st 2009, and Nov. 11, 2010, Foulkes engaged in sexual conduct with a minor female while teaching the student in a math program. During these tutoring sessions, Foulkes would at times, kiss the minor female student on the cheek, mouth and breasts. These incidents occurred at the Anita Elementary School, Foulkes’ residence, and Lake Anita State Park. The Sheriff says on every occasion, Foulkes was acting in a teaching capacity and was employed by the CAM School District.”

The complaint says Foulkes “Engaged in a pattern, practice or scheme of conduct in an attempt to arouse or satisfy his desires.”

CAM School District Superintendent Steve Pelzer said Foulkes was a Talented and Gifted (TAG) Math program teacher with the Anita Community School District from 1969 until his resignation in November, 2010. He says at the time Foulkes’ resignation was accepted, “The School Board had no knowledge of any allegations of criminal misconduct.” Pelzer would not make any further comments regarding the allegations.

Sheriff McLaren says an investigation into Foulkes’ alleged activities remains ongoing.