The Shelby County Board of Supervisors approved to increase Public Health dollars to Myrtue Medical Center. In a board of Supervisors meeting this (Tuesday) morning, CEO of Myrtue Medical Barry Jacobsen approached the board to discuss the recently requested increase by Public Health Director Jennifer Muff. Jacobsen said for the past 18 years, the County has been contracted with the hospital to provide public health services. He told the board the contract amount beginning in 1994 hasn’t matched the expenses for the program.

“The fee we have received for the services started at $35,000 in 1994 and increased to $45,000. Two years ago, it went to $57,000. The contract amount hasn’t really come anywhere close to keeping up with the cost to run the program. In fact, the hospital lost $180,000 in 2011 and in 2012 $125,000. That is after we have received the subsidy from the county supervisors.”

Jacobsen went on to say the past increases were inadequate.

“We think it needs to go up significantly from where we are right now. We don’t think the increase in the past have been adequate. Basically, we are offering to continue this service until 2013-2014 year for the $100,000 that was requested at the previous meeting.”

After more discussion, supervisor Burmeister made the motion for a 3 year $100,000 annual base going to Myrtue Hospital for Public Health Services. With the new agreement, Myrtue will still have to pay a substantial amount in subsidized money to pay for the services. Jacobsen said the Myrtue Board of Trustees will review the actions at their next meeting. If the hospital and supervisors were unable to make some sort of an agreement, the County would have had to provide the services to the 10,000 people receiving public health services in the county.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday (Dec. 12th), will hear a report on area tourism. The report, during their meeting at 9-a.m., comes from Kenner Baxter, with the Western Iowa Tourism Council, Region 1. In other business, the Board will hold the first of two hearings on removing parcels from the Amaizing Energy TIF District. The second hearing will take place on Dec. 19th.

They’ll also act on approving an Amendment to Ordinance 28 (Division of Taxes Levied on Taxable Property in the Amaizing Energy Urban Renewal Area), after the first public hearing is held, and prior to the announcement regarding the second public hearing.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors meeting takes place at the Courthouse, in Atlantic.

The leader of the Iowa National Guard says fewer Iowa soldiers and airmen are being deployed overseas at this time, and that trend should continue for at least the next two years. Major General Timothy Orr updated Governor Branstad and his advisors on the status of the guard at a budget hearing at the statehouse. General Orr said some 218 guard members are currently deployed, most of them in the Middle East.

This is the lowest since the beginning of the war. We don’t see it getting much higher than that. This is a trend nationally tied to the president’s strategy to come out of Afghanistan and coming out of Iraq,” Orr said. He expects a slight bump up in the number of soldiers deployed to over 300 next year to support the U-S withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“As you look at that chart, you will see there engineers, transportation, aviation and what you’re seeing is really a movement piece,” Orr explained.”It’s typical of what we saw in Iraq in downsizing as we move people and equipment out of Afghanistan. General Orr is asking for a minimal increase in state funding next year, including money to fully fund tuition assistance for returning soldiers. He also wants to hire a deputy adjutant general, a position that’s been left unfilled during tight budget times.

(Radio Iowa)

Local talent will take to the stage at the Elk’s Lodge in Atlantic Dec. 22^nd, for an evening of free, Big Band music and dancing. The 3rd annual Holiday Ball features “Popcorn Button, a 16-piece swing band performing a large range of hits from the big band era. The group will also perform a set of traditional holiday favorites re-arranged in the big band tradition. Popcorn Button includes student and alumni musicians from Iowa State University, the University of Iowa, Atlantic High School, and the Atlantic community.

And, Jake and Pam Auerbach will be back in action on the dance floor, helping anyone wanting to learn how to dance the waltz, swing, polka, and two-step. Dancers of any level of experience are welcome and encouraged to attend. The couple will be available throughout the evening to help any dancers get started while the music continues.

Even Santa Claus has taken time out of his busy schedule to make an appearance with Popcorn Button. An optional free will donation will be taken at the door to cover the band’s expenses, with all excess proceeds going to the Atlantic Food Pantry.

Once again, the Holiday Ball is a free public event. All ages and dancing abilities are invited and encouraged to attend from 7-10 PM Saturday, December 22nd at the Elks Lodge in Atlantic.  For more information, visit www.popcornbutton.org, or contact Curtis Ullerich at info@popcornbutton.org or 424-242-2878.

The Exira and Elk Horn Kimballton Boards of Education will hold a joint meeting this evening in Elk Horn, to discuss matters pertaining to reorganization of the districts. On the agenda for the 7-p.m. session in the Lunch Room at the High School in Elk Horn, is a presentation from Piper Jaffray’s Travis Squires, action on approval of a petition for Reorganization, and approval of joint committees, which includes: SIAC, Pre-School, District Leadership Team and Teacher Quality.

The Atlantic School Board Monday, heard a report from High School Assistant Prinicipal/Activities Director Josh Rasmussen, with regard to the condition of the district’s athletic facilities. Rasmussen showed the board pictures of conditions at the Trojan Bowl, Baseball Field, Softball Field, Middle School and Schuler Gyms, the Middle School practice field and wrestling/multi-purpose room.

Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein asked Rasmussen to take pictures of the areas district administrators and others have noticed are in need of repair or renovation. Rasmussen said at the Trojan Bowl, some of the issues brought up include: No restrooms for visitors except portable-style facilities, and the need to expand current restrooms; the need for a bigger concessions stand away from the exit and entrance; need for additional storage space, and no handicapped accessibility to the bleachers.

Rasmussen also talked about the baseball and softball fields. He said there is no ticket booth, the field is not level, there is no handicapped accessibility, which is something that must be addressed. Others concerns with both fields, include: No permanent bleachers; parking issues; drainage issues at the softball field; and safety improvements to the dugouts. As for the Middle School Gym, Rasmussen says the bleacher need to be replaced for safety reasons, new scoreboard are needed because the current boards are becoming obsolete, and the weightlifting area needs to be updated and equipment replaced.

New scoreboards are needed in the Schuler gym, along with new bleachers and an activity divider curtain. And, Rasmussen says in the Wrestling/Multi-Purpose room, there should be an enclosed breezeway connecting the room to the main building, an expansion of the multi-purpose room to include a locker room, and the addition of more storage space.

The school board agreed the next step would be to make “Requests for Proposals” (RFP’s), so experts can come in and offer an assessment of the situation, offer solutions to any problems with the athletic facilities, real or perceived, and what the costs might be.

w/ Ric Hanson

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The Atlantic Police Department issued a statement this morning pertaining to an incident which occurred Monday night at the corner of 4th and Pine Streets. Police Chief Steve Green says officers responded to a reported assault at around 7:40-p.m.  The alleged victim was identified as a 27-year old Atlantic man, who was taken to the Cass County Memorial Hospital suffering from a single stab wound to his abdomen. The man, whose name was not released, was later transferred to Creighton Medical Center in Omaha, for additional treatment.

The incident is being investigated by the Atlantic P-D and agents with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Anyone with information about the incident, is being asked to contact the Atlantic Police Department.

Chief Green says this appears to be an isolated incident, and there is likely no danger to the general public. He declined to elaborate on why that is the case, and whether any suspects were being sought.

CORRECTIONVILLE, Iowa (AP) – A preliminary accident investigation report says a small plane hit some trees before fatally crashing short of a grass airstrip near Correctionville in northwest Iowa.  The National Transportation Safety Board says in the report issued Monday that despite the foggy conditions the evening of Dec. 1, the pilot told air traffic controllers that he had the airstrip in sight.

The crash killed two passengers, 53-year-old Lee Schroeder, of Oto, and 55-year-old James Smith, of Correctionville. The pilot, 70-year-old Gaylen Knaack, also of Correctionville, was taken for treatment of his burns to a hospital in Lincoln, Neb.

The NTSB says the Beech P35 had taken off from Correctionville that morning and flew to Grand Island, Neb., to pick up one of the passengers. It crashed when it returned to Correctionville.