(Radio Iowa) – The odds of most Iowans having a white Christmas are increasing by the minute. While the holiday is still ten days away, the snow falling across much of the state today (Thursday) will be followed by very cold weather, so whatever falls now will likely stick around at least until December 25th. Meteorologist Jim Lee, at the National Weather Service, says the expected snow accumulation amounts vary across the state. “The highest amounts will be up in northern Iowa, where we’re looking at probably in the range of about three or four inches, give or take a little bit,” Lee says. “Down towards central Iowa, we are expecting, depending on where you are, probably in the one-to-three inch range, with the higher amounts, of course, being a little bit further north.”

Almost all of Iowa will see at least some snow today, though the southern few tiers of counties may only get flying flurries. “We’ll probably have some lingering snow into tomorrow and tomorrow night in northern Iowa, but any additional amounts look pretty light,” Lee says. “As far as temperatures, unfortunately, it’s not going to get warm again for quite some time. The daily high temperatures for the next several days range in the teens north to mostly 20s south, and then once we get into next week, it could get even colder.”

I-80 WB / I-29 NB (Near South Expressway) 12/15/22

When put on the spot, Lee was hesitant to make a prediction about what percentages of the state may, indeed, have a white Christmas. “Ha! Now that’s a question I can’t quite answer today, certainly in terms of percentages, but it does look like whatever snow we get out of this system is going to have a hard time melting,” Lee says. “Certainly, anywhere that gets a couple inches or more today stands a pretty decent chance of having it hold out for next week, especially up in the north.”

According to the Iowa Storm Chasing Network, Iowans who live along and north of Highway 20 have a 61-to-75% chance of having snow on the ground on December 25th, based on climatology, while areas between Highway 20 and Highway 30 have a white Christmas probability between 51-to-60%. ISCN says, based on historical data, from Highway 30 to Highway 34, there’s a 41-to-50% chance, while from Highway 34 to the Missouri border, there is only a 26-to-40% probability of a white Christmas.

(Omaha, Nebraska) – Officials with the Cass and Audubon County Community Foundations have announced that applications are now being accepted from organizations providing charitable services in Cass or Audubon County. As part of this spring grant cycle, approximately $130,000 in each county is available to support Cass and Audubon County nonprofit organizations and community projects. The deadline to apply for funds through the online application process is February 1, 2023.

Beginning today (December 15), application details, a fact sheet, and a link to the application form can be found online by selecting Audubon County or Cass County, under the County Listing at www.swiowafoundations.org. Applications will only be accepted through the online system.

This cycle of grants is made possible through the State of Iowa County Endowment Fund Program and is funded by a percentage of the state’s commercial gaming tax revenue, which is distributed annually to participating community foundations associated with counties without a state-issued gaming license. Only organizations providing services in Cass or Audubon County are eligible to apply in their respective counties only. They must be able to demonstrate broad community/county support and be an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) public charity, a local municipality, or a fiscally sponsored project.

The Community Foundations in Cass and Audubon Counties aim to improve the quality of life in those counties, by supporting community needs in the areas of civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services. The objective of the grant program is to fund projects that will have a lasting impact in the counties. Both Community Foundations will entertain requests for capital and program support. General operating support will only be considered for one-time, non-recurring circumstances that improve the capacity of the organization to fulfill its mission.

Please contact Sunni Kamp (sunni@omahafoundation.org) or Sydney Calcagno (sydney@omahafoundation.org) at 800-794-3458 with application-related questions. All completed grant applications will be considered at the March board meeting, with applicants being notified of funding decisions by the end of March.

Advisory board members of the Cass County Community Foundation are: Chair, Kristi Burg of Massena; Vice Chair, Gaylord Schelling of Atlantic; Secretary/Treasurer, Sue Hunt of Atlantic; Sandy Bierbaum of Griswold; Justin D. Hockenberry of Anita; and Mike Tibken of Anita. Advisory board members of the Audubon County Community Foundation are: Chair, Steven B. Hansen of Audubon; Vice Chair, Pat Kaiser of Audubon; Secretary/Treasurer, Megan Wagner of Audubon; Gina Benton of Exira; Dr. Bob Blomme, DVM of Audubon; Travis Nelson of Exira; and Donna Olson of Kimballton.

Polk County, Iowa — A Johnston day care provider charged in the 2019 death of a child, was sentenced Wednesday to 10-year in prison. 51-year-old Trina Mazza had earlier pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent person. Her defense attorney had asked for a deferred judgment.

According to court documents, Mazza admitted to leaving a child in a Pack ‘n Play crib in her unlicensed, in-home day care center. Later, while she was upstairs, the child attempted to climb out of his crib and got caught between another crib close by. The child was asphyxiated within minutes.

The child died a few days later. The cause of death was determined to be accidental traumatic asphyxia. Mazza is also facing a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic School District Superintendent Steve Barber, Wednesday, reported the District has an internal team that has worked extensively to get a registered apprenticeship in the area of welding.

The on-the-job training aspect is for 2,000 hours. There are interests internally, he said, from instructors, business partners, and students.

Students will be mentored by persons in the respective businesses. Once students complete the apprenticeship program, they will receive national credentials. Five prospective business partners are scheduled to meet with Administrators this afternoon, to discuss the program and offer additional, professional input.

(Radio Iowa) –  Today (Thursday) marks one year since an extremely rare, very powerful December derecho swept across Iowa, killing one person and causing widespread destruction. Meteorologist Mike Fowle, at the National Weather Service, says the massive, long-duration storm is cemented in state history and will, hopefully, never be matched. Forty-nine of Iowa’s 99 counties were declared disaster areas and the storm spun off 63 tornadoes, the most Iowa’s ever seen in a single day.

It was the second derecho to hit Iowa in two years, following another on August 10th of 2020, which placed the term “derecho” into the vocabulary of everyone in the state. The 2020 storm packed extremely powerful winds, peaking at 140-miles an hour near Cedar Rapids. Coincidentally, Iowa had a derecho earlier this year, in July, but it was nowhere near as destructive as the previous two.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Red Oak Police report two separate arrests took place Wednesday night (12/14/22). Authorities say at around 10:50-p.m., 31-year-old Jeffrey Dwayne Currie, Jr., of Red Oak, was arrested on a Red Oak Police Department warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense. He was being held in the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on a $1,000 bond.

And, at around 6:20-p.m., Wednesday, Red Oak Police arrested 28-year-old Sheyenne Linn Eilers, of Red Oak, was arrested, also on a Red Oak P-D warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense. She was also being held on a $1,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – The amount of taxes collected that go to fund road projects in the state has remained strong despite some decreases in travel brought on by higher gas prices. The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Shawn Majors says 95 percent of the road use tax fund comes from the fuel tax, registration fees and taxes on the sale of new and used vehicle sales. “One of the reasons we’ve seen favorable numbers as far as our revenue has been, our fee for new registration numbers that have come in this year this year so far. And I would say that based on the initial numbers we’re seeing for the November receipts, that will continue next month, Majors says.

Majors says the registration revenue is not as much as it was prior to COVID. “But definitely higher than we anticipated, given all the impacts of COVID and inflation. I guess that’s one thing I have been a little surprised about that we still continue to see really good numbers for the fees for new registration,” he says. A chip shortage has cut the number of new car sales — which has in turn driven up the cost of used cars — an new registration fees are based on the cost of the vehicle.

“That’s the biggest thing as far as how we’ve made up that balance of not having as much inventory out there for new vehicles — is those increased costs for used vehicles,” Major says. Majors made his comments in a report to the state Transportation Commission.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra says the renewable fuel recommendations from the Biden Administration are a combination of positives and negatives. Feenstra, a Republican from Hull, supports the E-P-A’s recommended ethanol production mandate. “The EPA proposed the Renewable Fuels Standard to stay at 15 billion gallons for 2023 and then going up in 2024 and 2025 to go up to 15.2 billion gallons, without waivers,” Feenstra says. “This is a really big thing.”

In the past, the federal government granted some oil refineries waivers, so they did not have to blend ethanol into gasoline. Feenstra says one downside of the E-P-A’s plan is the agency is recommending the production goal for soybean-based biodiesel remain the same for the next three years. “Right now, we are in a diesel crunch,” Feenstra says. “There’s a lot of shortage with diesel and here the EPA had the great opportunity of doing something biodiesel and didn’t.”

The E-P-A is also proposing a new program for electric vehicle manufacturers. It basically would create renewable fuel credits for the electricity used to make E-Vs.”It’s called in eRIN credit. Completely ridiculous,” Feenstra says. “Obviously, we like our (vehicles) that can use E85 and that can use E15 and B10, B11 diesel, things like that. Here we have an EPA that’s just been liberalized and pushing the electric vehicle mantra.”

Others have suggested the electric vehicle industry could be an ally to ag interests battling the oil industry’s aim to get rid of the Renewable Fuel Standard. The E-P-A will host a virtual hearing on January 10th to give the public a chance to comment on its three year plan related to ethanol, biodiesel and electric vehicle production.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – An organizational meeting of the Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education was held Wednesday evening, prior to the start of the regular (reorganized) Board meeting. During the first part of the meeting, the Board elected Laura McLean as Board President. She takes over the position held the past year by Jenny Williams. Kristy Pellett was elected Vice-President. And, Sarah Sheeder was reappointed as Board Secretary/Treasurer. The Board also chose to leave the dates, times and place of their regular monthly meetings the same as the past year: The second Wednesday of the month at 5:30-p.m. in the Atlantic High School Media Center.

In other business, Superintendent Steve Barber reported on areas of Academic Excellence, Team Culture and District Operations.

Zoom image of the meeting

Here are the bullet points of his report (Courtesy Sarah Sheeder):

Academic Excellence…

• We continue to hear that our new math curriculum was the right direction for math instruction.  It has created more dialogue and collaboration with students and engagement amongst students is high.  Big change for our math instructors and has been a challenge with the additional needs of preparation.  Will continue to support.
• Internal team has worked extensively to get a registered apprenticeship in the area of welding.  There are interests internally from instructors, business partners, and students.
• Feedback from teachers, TLC, and administrators has been positive based on the collaborative PD conversations taking place around Instructional Framework.  Principals will conduct mid-year conferences starting on Jan. 2.
• Implementing the three year program has been successful.  Those currently being served in this program we believe will pay big dividends in preparing students for kindergarten and beyond.
• High School has invited different professions to speak with students about their businesses.
• Administrators have been trained on utilizing student achievement data in making instructional decisions.  Close look at our Panorama platform and ensure that data is being recorded accurately, before making it a way we do business.
• Portrait of an Atlantic Trojan is visible throughout our buildings.  Language of the Portrait continues to grow.

Team Culture…

• Having everyone spend a day in Happiness Advantage has been helpful in knowing that being positive is a choice.  Many individuals participated, along with community businesses in our “Wear Orange Day”.
• Some of this work is becoming evident in the student body.
• Administrators/Supervisors have been engaged in a book study called The Advantage.  This dialogue has made all of our departments more connected to our Strategic Plan and the importance of their departments in the Mission of the School.  These positive conversations will continue in the upcoming year.
• Getting into the Middle School at the beginning of the year was not only positive to those who serve in the Middle School, but everyone who had to make concessions the year prior.
• Having consistent schedules for Mental Health Professionals, along with counselors have created more effective intervention pieces.  Students needing Tier III support that do not have it outside are better served in the District.
• Being able to hire an interpreter for our Chuukese population has helped in connecting families to school.
• Feedback from staff on the Washington Playground Project, along with regular leadership meetings have provided input at the district and building level.

District Operations…

• Completed a four year Capital Project plan.  Included input from all departments and buildings.
• Continue to work on improving air quality in all our buildings.
• New sound system at the HS Gymnasium (along with a new floor) has been well received.
• Continue to do walkthroughs with Argent in identifying any unsafe areas or procedures. Includes annual safety training specific to department needs.
• Purchased two buses to help with our transportation needs and help in alleviating the pressure of transportation.
• Principals have consistent procedures in the handbook.
• Completed vulnerable assessments for each of our primary attendance buildings.
• Atlantic School Board receives award from IASB for outstanding Board work.

The Atlantic School Board approved the resignations of: Denise Masker, Preschool Route Driver; Ligia Cohrs, Preschool Bus Monitor, and Danielle Lyons, Paraeducator. They also approved contract recommendations, including: Mark Andersen, Head Boys Soccer Coach; Dayne Nakashima, ELL Paraeducator; Ligia Cohrs, Preschool Bus Driver; Patricia Johnmark, Schuler Food Service, James Pobanz, MS/Schuler Food Service; Karen Vogl, Homebound Instructor; Julie Phippen, Girls Wrestling Chaperone, and Josh McLaren, Volunteer Boys Basketball Coach.

The Atlantic School Board discussed a Registered Apprenticeship Program (more information to come), and an Employee Engagement Survey. Action items they approved include those pertaining to: Depository Institutions and Limits; a Resolution Authorizing Payments; The First Reading of Board Policy Updates for Curriculum & Instructional Materials, followed by a waiving of the second reading; and the purchase of a used (2018) Lunch Truck from Penske Leasing and Rental Company, in the amount of $45,000.

Funds for the purchase will come from the District PPEL (Physical Plant & Equipment Levy). Superintendent Barber said the truck was listed as an FY24 expense on the Capital Projects plan the Board discussed last month, but is needed now, because the current lunch truck is not operational.

The Board also approved entering into an Architect/Engineering Contract with Snyder and Associates, for the construction of a new Washington School playground. They tabled action on a contract for a High School Storage Shed, until their next meeting. The Board wanted to see if the building is something that can be constructed by students in the Carpentry Class.

The price tag for the Playground engineering/design project is $56,000, with the funds coming from the District’s PPEL and/or SAVE (Secure an Advanced Vision of Education) accounts.