ServSafe, the national food safety certification program for food service employees, will be held at Cass County ISU Extension and Outreach Office in Atlantic on March 12th and 19th, 2012. Participants must attend both sessions to successfully complete the training.  The cost of the course is $135 which includes 10 hours class time, a manual, and the national certification exam. 

Anyone interested in preparing and serving safe food is welcome to attend. The course is currently required by some companies such as restaurants, hospitals, schools, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, but beginning in July of 2012 food safety certification will be required for all licensed food service establishments. ServSafe is one of three certification programs that will fulfill this certification requirement.  

For more information or a registration form, contact the Cass County ISU Extension and Outreach office at 712-243-1132 or your local ISU Extension and Outreach office. A registration form may also be found online at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass.  Anyone needing to take the recertification exam only may contact the office for more information. Registration is required by March 5.

Officials with the Atlantic Police Department say no injuries were reported following two separate accidents, Monday. The first occurred at around 9:20-a.m., at 2nd and Poplar Streets. The P-D says David Schwery, of Lewis, received a warning for Failure to Yield from a stop sign, after his vehicle collided with a vehicle driven by John Bengel, of Atlantic. The accident caused $2,200 damage.

The second accident happened at around 6:20-p.m., at 7th and Linn Streets. Officials say Tiffany Benavides, of Atlantic, was cited for Failure to Maintain Control, after her vehicle rear-ended one driven by Crystal Christensen, of Atlantic. Authorities say Benavides was unable to stop in-time, due to the slick road conditions. Damage from the accident amounted to $8,500.

The Atlantic Police Department reports four Cass County residents were arrested on drug charges Sunday. 29-year old Justin Taylor, 28-year old Cortney McIntire, and 26-year old Aaron Rayborn, all from Lewis, along with 35-year old Thomas Williamson, of Griswold, were each charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance. They were booked into the Cass County Jail and held pending a court appearance.

The Clarinda Police Department is investigating another reported home invasion incident. Police Chief Keith Brothers told KJAN News the latest incident occurred today (Tuesday), at around 2:15-a.m. at a residence in the 400 block of South 12^th Street.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers (photo from the P-D's Facebook page)

 Brothers says an occupant of the home was awakened by a loud noise, and discovered the intruder standing in the kitchen. The suspect…a white male, about 6-feet tall…forced his way into the home through a locked door. He took off on foot in an unknown direction of travel. Officers searched the area, but were unable to locate the suspect. The home was occupied by a female. A similar incident was reported to have occurred last Thursday morning in Clarinda. Officials say a 40-year-old woman was sexually assaulted during the incident, after a suspect entered through a window. Brothers says it’s not clear if the two crimes are related.

The Chief says there are some things residents can do to protect themselves and their homes from intruders. He says you should keep your doors, windows, vehicles and garage doors locked, check the quality of your locks, keep any exterior lighting on, and purchase motion sensors. Those actions will help to prevent someone from getting easy access to your home. Brothers says citizens should also report any unusual activity, especially during the wee hours of the morning. The Chief also recommends you call 9-1-1 immediately if you think there’s someone in your residence.

Anyone with information on either of the home invasion incidents should contact the Clarinda Police Department at 712-542-2194.

The City Council in Atlantic will hold a series of public hearings Wednesday evening on several street projects. City Administrator Doug Harris says the hearings, while not required under Iowa Code, should be held so that the public can provide input on the projects before bids are accepted. Following each of the hearings on the various Hot Melt Asphalt (HMA) and Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) projects, the Council will consider and likely act upon resolutions approving the plans, specifications, and form of contracts, along with the awarding of contracts to the successful bidders. The bids will be opened on those projects a few hours prior to 5:30-p.m. start of the Council’s meeting. The total estimated cost of the projects, according to Harris, is a little more than $3.5-million.

In other business, the Council will act on passing a resolution honoring Atlantic Street Department Superintendent George Evans, who is retiring after 39-years of service to the City. That will be followed by Evans’ final report to the Council on the status and activities at the Wastewater Department.

The Atlantic City Council will also act on a resolution establishing a credit card policy for the City. The State Auditor has recommended the Council adopt a credit card policy, which would pertain to online purchases made by the Police Department and City Clerk’s Office. The Council will also approve a simple amendment to the wording and form of a proposed ordinance changing the speed limit on West 22nd Street (from Highway 71 to Olive Street), and on East 22nd Street (from Chestnut to Highway 6). The ordinance calls for the speed limit on those two stretches on 22nd to be reduced from 45- to 35-miles per hour.  At least one citizen has voiced their opposition to the speed limit change. The objection will be noted during the meeting.

And, the Council will act on a motion to hold a Special Meeting at 5:30-p.m. Feb. 22nd, for the purpose of adopting the Fiscal Year 2013 Budget, and fixing the date for a public hearing on the budget, on March 7th, 2012. Wednesday’s meeting begins at 5:30-p.m. in the Council’s Chambers, at City Hall.

w/ Ric Hanson

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w/ Ric Hanson

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The U-S Marine Corps has named a former Avoca woman as the Corps’ “Spouse of the Year.”  Stephanie Geraghty, who grew up in Avoca, lives in North Carolina with her two sons Caden and Cole, while her husband is serving in Afghanistan.

Stephanie Geraghty and family

Geraghty formed a local running club called “Stroller Warriors,” to connect with other military mothers and to keep her mind occupied while her husband is deployed. The honor makes  her one of only 30 people who have qualified to  become the “Military Spouse of the Year.”

Learn more at http://msoy.milspouse.com/ViewProfile.aspx?id=295

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will meet tonight at the High School Media Center, beginning at 7:30. The meeting will begin with a Public Hearing to receive comments on an Early Start Waiver for 2012-13, & 2013-2014. The director of the Department of Education may grant a request made by a board of directors of a school district stating its desire to commence classes for regularly established elementary and secondary schools prior to the earliest starting date specified in the Iowa Code.  The request shall be based upon the determination that a starting date on or after the earliest starting date specified in the Code would have a significant negative educational impact. A Public Hearing is required before the request can be made to the Dept. of Education.

The Board will also hear special presentations tonight, from: the Talented and Gifted (TAG) Program’s Joanne Sandage; Atlantic Parks and Recreation Director Roger Herring – who will discuss the need for school participation in funding repairs to the Sunnyside Tennis Courts; and, Jerry Purdy, with Design Alliance – with an update on the Middle School renovation project.

Action items on their agenda include approval of: A Letter of Understanding for the CCEOC (Cass County Educational Opportunity Center); A fiber optic line contract with United Private Networks; the District Calendars; A lease agreement for classroom space at 1209 Sunnyside Lane (for the Hospital School/EEOC); and, a Late Start Waiver.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press