The City of Atlantic’s Planning and Zoning Commission will meet this evening in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. On their agenda under “Old Business,” is a letter of transmittal from the City Council with regard to the vacating of an alley, and a review or setting of the timetable for a final Zoning Ordinance Review/Update.

The meeting begins at 5:30.

Sheriff’s officials in Audubon County report a Kimballton man was arrested Monday evening. 47-year old Denver Duane Hansen was taken into custody on a Simple Assault charge, following an investigation into an incident that allegedly occurred at his home, Saturday.

Hansen posted a cash bond and was released, with instructions to appear before the magistrate on July 14th.

(9-a.m. News)

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will be held this evening at the high school, due to several scheduling conflicts that prevented the meeting from being held on Monday, as would normally have been the case.  The Board will gather in the Media Room at the high school beginning at 7:30-p.m. Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein says on their agenda, is approval of: General Education/Special Ed contracts; other contracts and/or Letters of Assignment

Amstein says they’re trying to finish finish-up the hiring process for the upcoming school year. Josh Rasmussen will provide a recommendation for the FCS – Family and Consumer Science – position at the Middle School. He says last year they had position open, but just couldn’t fill it.

The Board will also act on Volunteer Coaches positions and any Resignations. They’re also expected to act on approving: The contract with Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein for the 2014-15 school year, and the 1st reading of a new policy with regard to Honorary Diplomas.

Amstein said there was a request made to the Board for that, and since there was none in-place, that topic is up for discussion and possible action. The Atlantic School Board will talk about their financial planning program assumptions for Fiscal Year 2015. Prior to adjourning for the night, the Board will enter into a closed session for a formal evaluation of Superintendent Amstein.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Police in Atlantic report the arrest on Monday, of 40-year old Wayne Duranceau, Jr.  He was taken into custody on a charge of Simple Assault. Duranceau, Jr. was booked into the Cass County Jail.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Members of the “Popcorn Button” band will once again take to the stage this weekend in Atlantic,  for a night of music and dancing. The band will host a free, public dance at the Atlantic Elks Lodge on Saturday, July 12th, beginning at 7-pm and ending at 10. Dancers and listeners of all ages and abilities are invited to attend!

Popcorn Button consists of members of various different backgrounds. Many of the members hail from the Atlantic community, including current Atlantic High School Students, AHS alumni, as well as students from Iowa State University, the University of Iowa, the University of Northern Iowa, and also musicians from the community at large.

This dance, titled “Let Freedom Swing”, is a free public event. Everyone, no matter their dancing ability, is encouraged to attend. A free will donation will be accepted at the door to help defray costs of the event. All excess money will be given back to the community in the form of donations or through the Popcorn Button Community Music Scholarship, an award given to help young musicians pay the costs involved with attending band camps, honor hands, or taking private lessons.

For more information, contact Cody Ihnen at info@popcornbutton.org.

Motorists are being reminded to be on the lookout for equipment that’ll be moving through Iowa’s roadside ditches soon. Bob Younie, with the Iowa Department of Transportation, says land owners and others who’ve obtained a permit are allowed to harvest hay from state highway roadsides. The annual program benefits both parties.  “It gives farmers a chance to get some hay and it also means the DOT doesn’t have to put labor into doing the mowing and cutting down tall grass,” Younie said. The mowing and haying of roadsides is not allowed to start until July 15.

Photo courtesy IA DOT

“The reason for that is to give ground nesting birds, pheasants and so on, a little bit of maturity so they can get out of the way of mowers and haying equipment,” Younie said. There’s no cost for farmers to obtain a permit from the DOT to harvest roadside hay. The permit simply outlines where the mowing and haying is allowed and various safety requirements, such as the use of a fluorescent green vest.

Those doing any haying are also asked to move big bales as soon as possible. “We don’t want those sitting on the right-of-way for any extended period of time,” Younie said. Only one cutting in a roadside area is allowed per year. The roadside harvesting and mowing takes place each year between July 15 and September 1.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The trend toward strong storms and too much rain is beginning to take a toll on Iowa crops. Farmers report yellowing corn plants, a sign of too much moisture, and stress to soybean plants. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in its weekly crop update that 76 percent of Iowa corn is in good to excellent shape, a decrease of 3 percentage points from the week before. Soybeans are blooming ahead of schedule and 73 percent of the crop is good to excellent, condition, down 2 percentage points.

Farmers struggled to get into fields again last week, the third consecutive week farmers had fewer than three days to work in the fields. This time of year weed control spraying, adding supplemental nitrogen fertilizer, and baling hay are common activities.

A Council Bluffs woman charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death last Friday of 52-year old Douglas Richt, remains in the Pottawattamie County Jail on one-half million dollars bond. The Daily NonPareil reports 45-year old Jodie M. Sherman faces first-degree murder and willful injury assault charges. She was also said to be in violation of a restraining order when she allegedly stabbed Richt in the neck several times, Friday afternoon. A preliminary hearing in her case is scheduled for July 17th.