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Atlantic FFA Chapter competed in the annual Iowa FFA Horse Judging Career Development Event

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(by Maddy Anderson, Atlantic FFA Reporter) – The Atlantic FFA Chapter competed in the annual Iowa FFA Horse Judging Career Development Event held at Kirkwood Community College on June 11, 2024.

Atlantic FFA had a team and individual that participated in this year’s Career Development Event. Team members Kayedance Sturm, Clara Kennedy, Rylan Martin and Paislee Klever earned a silver medal. Callie Rudy also competed in the middle school division.

The Horse Judging CDE is designed to provide the student an opportunity to display their agricultural knowledge and skills in the area of Equine Science. Each team member evaluated halter and performance classes. They also answered questions over the classes and gave oral reasons to explain their placings. A written examination was included along with a team problem solving competition. In the Performance division, Kayedance scored a nearly perfect score of 149 out of 150 possible points.

A unique part of the Horse Judging CDE is allowing 8th graders to participate. This year Atlantic FFA had 4, 8th grade members compete on the team. Team members Clara Kennedy, Pailsee Klever, Rylan Martin and Callie Rudy. When asked about their experiences Kennedy said, “I was impressed with our placing because ¾ of the team are 8th graders and this was our first FFA contest”. Rudy also said, “I thought it was a lot of fun. This event pushed us outside of our comfort zone and we all tried our hardest with the work paying off.” Klever said, “For doing this for my first time and trying something new I thought it was a great experience. I was a little rusty on something’s but I thought we did good. Overall I thought it was a fun experience.” Martin finished by saying, “For this being my first time competing in a FFA contest and not really knowing what to do or what to expect I was impressed with how we did. Although some parts were a little rough, I was proud of myself and the team for trying our hardest and putting in as much effort as possible.”

The Iowa FFA Horse Career Development Event was made possible with support through the Iowa FFA Foundation Gold Standard Partners. The Horse Career Development Event was coordinated and held at the Iowa Equestrian Center in Cedar Rapids. Kirkwood Community College also provided lunch to all participants. The official judge was Mary Pohlmann from Truro.

Atlantic competes in State FFA Floriculture CDE

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(By Atlantic FFA Reports Maddy Anderson) – The Atlantic FFA Chapter competed in the annual Iowa FFA Floriculture Career Development Event held at Kirkwood Community College on June 11, 2024, placing 34th earning a Silver rating.

Addalyn Sonntag, Lily Wilrich and Maggie Cohrs participated in this year’s Career Development Event designed to provide students an opportunity to display their agricultural knowledge and skills in the area of floriculture. The event consisted of a general knowledge exam, problem solving and decision making, plant identification, floral design, pesticide use and application, floral production, and a team activity.

This is the first year Atlantic FFA has competed in a contest like this. Atlantic FFA Advisor Eric Miller said, “I was impressed with how hard the team has worked. This year we focused on the hands-on, practical part of the event. Next year, we will have a better idea what to prepare for.” The Atlantic FFA team would like to thank Ann Johnk from Farmhouse Flowers in Atlantic for helping train the team.

Picture Left to Right
Lily Willrich, Addalyn Sonntag, Maggie Cohrs

The Iowa FFA Floriculture Career Development Event was coordinated and conducted by Bob Smith, Hannah Dunlap and the faculty and staff at Kirkwood Community College. Kirkwood Community College also provided lunch to all participants. Official judges of the floral design components of the event include Karen Garrett, Debbie McCallister and Stacie Hoag from Flowers on the Avenue as well as Jill Kinsinger, former graduate of the Floral Careers program at Kirkwood.

Gov. Reynolds Issues Disaster Proclamation for Monona and Woodbury Counties in Response to Severe Weather

News

June 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds has issued a disaster proclamation for Monona and Woodbury Counties in response to severe weather that occurred June 12 through 13. The governor’s proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of this severe weather and activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program and Disaster Case Advocacy Program. 

The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and temporary housing expenses. The grant application and instructions are available on the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management website.

The Disaster Case Advocacy Program addresses serious needs related to disaster-related hardship, injury, or adverse conditions. There are no income eligibility requirements for this program.

Johnston native returns home for Xfinity Series race at Iowa Speedway

Sports

June 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Sammy Smith hopes returning to his home track will help give his season a boost. The native of Johnston is currently 12th in the Xfinity standings and will be looking for his first trip to victory lane in Saturday’s Hy-Vee Perks 250 at the Iowa Speedway.

Smith raced at the Iowa Speedway in the ARCA Menard Series in 2021 and 2022. He says the repave will make it seem like a different track.

Iowa native ready for tonight’s ARCA Menard Series race at Iowa Speedway

Sports

June 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Mason Mitchell has been waiting for his chance to return to the Iowa Speedway. The West Des Moines native won at the Iowa Speedway in 2015 and is taking part in Friday night’s (TONIGHT’S) Atlas 150. It is his first ARCA Menard Series race since his full time team shot down in 2018.

Mitchell says it is thrilling to be part of the first NASCAR Cup Series race at the Iowa Speedway.

Photos of missing Iowa girl to be featured on race car

News, Sports

June 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowaa) – The face of a missing central Iowa girl will be featured on the side of one of the stock cars competing in tonight’s (Friday) ARCA race at the Iowa Speedway in Newton. The driver of the number-31 Chevy is Rita Goulet, who’s also a full-time police officer near Charlotte, North Carolina. Goulet says the goal of placing the large sticker on both sides of her car is to give visibility to this missing girl and awareness to the plight of missing children nationwide.

“It’s actually going to be on every race sponsored by the National Police Association going forward. So after this race, it’ll be three more races,” Goulet says. “We’re going to pick a missing child from every state that we’re going to be racing in, preferably one closest to the track. Hopefully that’ll have the most impact.” The missing girl is 17-year-old Alejandra Tejeda  of Des Moines, who’s been missing since February 4th. She is five-foot-one, weighing 140 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Goulet hopes someone will spot her.

Alejandra Tejeda Picture

“There is a phone number on the side of our car, 1-800-THE LOST, that they can call for more information or they can call their local police department,” Goulet says. “That actually probably would be the best option is to call their local police department and let them know where they saw her.” Goulet says her dual role as a law enforcement officer and as a race car driver puts her in the unique position of being able to leverage the reach of motorsports to promote public safety.

“We have the opportunity to use our cars as billboards for so many things, advertising companies, advertising nonprofits, helping to raise money, and it’s like, why don’t we put a missing kid on the side of the car?” Goulet says. “Being cops, our first mission is to protect and to serve, and this is a great way to do that.” Tonight’s race starts at 7 o’clock and will be broadcast live on the cable channel F-S-1.

Iowa county officials seek changes in property tax cap

News

June 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The president of the Iowa State Association of Counties says county officials are hoping the state legislature makes changes in the 2023 law that capped property tax assessments. Barry Anderson, a Republican from Greenville, is a member of the Clay County Board of Supervisors.

Under the law, county officials must abide by limits on the general property tax levy as well as the levy for rural services.

Officials in about a dozen counties say their county’s share of money from the state’s Road Use Tax Fund is being reduced because of the new property tax calculations. Anderson says he hopes discussions with state lawmakers can be less adversarial, so changes can be made in 2025.

Anderson made his comments during a recent episode of “Iowa Press” on Iowa P-B-S. The 2023 state law says if the total assessed value of property in a county grows by more than three percent, some of the excess revenue must be used to reduce that county’s main property tax levy. In 2024, lawmakers reduced the required property tax cut in counties where growth in property tax assessments was under six percent.

ROBERT “Bob” HARVEY COOPER, 90, of West Des Moines -formerly of Atlantic (Graveside Memorial Svcs. 7/23/24)

Obituaries

June 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

ROBERT “Bob” HARVEY COOPER, 90, of West Des Moines (& formerly of Atlantic), died June 6th, 2024, at the Arbor Springs care facility, in West Des Moines. Graveside Memorial Services for BOB COOPER, along with interment, will be held at 11-a.m. on July 23rd, 2024, at the Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery, in Atlantic. Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic is assisting the family.

A Luncheon and Celebration of Bob’s Life will follow the service at Schafer Barn on the Hill (1459 White Pole Road) in rural Adair.

You are encouraged to celebrate Bob’s life with an ice cream cone, and through a memorial contribution to the Iowa Aviation Museum, in Greenfield. Memorial contributions may be mailed in care of Schmidt Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.

ROBERT “Bob” COOPER is survived by:

His daughter – Denise Kay Cooper Kluever (& husband Ned), of Norwalk.

His sons -Douglas (Laurie) Cooper, of Holden, MO., and Michael (Kristi) Cooper, of Swisher.

His grand- and great-grandchildren; his sister-in-law Marilyn Wagers, of Redfield; other relatives and lifelong friends.

Veterans trek across Iowa to raise awareness about mental health

News

June 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Dozens of military veterans on motorcycles are riding from west to east on Highway 20 in northern Iowa today in an effort to voice concerns about their brothers and sisters in uniform who are struggling with mental health. Veteran and rider Matt DeSario says 22 veterans die by suicide daily in this country and they’re staging these rides to raise awareness. “This specific trip is riding from Casper, Wyoming,” DeSario says, “with a group of veterans from Kansas who rode up from Kansas, spent a day in Casper, Wyoming, and then now is traveling to Milwaukee where the Harley Davidson Museum will be sort of the finish line for this caravan.”

DeSario says the goal is to encourage others to get involved nationwide by showing veteran appreciation by Americans for Americans. He notes the near-900 mile route was chosen very specifically and the motorcyclists are adding to their numbers as they go. “Any bikers who want to join, any members of the general public who want to ride with us, whether they’re on a motorcycle or not, everyone is welcome,” “or if they just want to set up shop along Highway 20, it’s the Medal of Honor Highway, of course.”

Today’s portion of the trek across Iowa is 333 miles. They should reach Milwaukee tomorrow. Learn more about the journey and the motivations HERE.

JOHN PORTER, 75, of Greenfield (Svcs. 6/23/24)

Obituaries

June 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

JOHN PORTER, 75, of Greenfield, died Thursday, June 13, 2024, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.  Funeral services for JOHN PORTER will be held June 23rd at 2-p.m., at Sixteen Oaks in Fontanelle. Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield has the arrangements.

Friends may call at funeral home on June 22nd, from 2-until 7-p.m.. with the family greeting friends from 5-until 7-p.m..

Burial is in the Greenfield Cemetery, with full military graveside rites conducted by the Greenfield American Legion Head-Endres Post No. 265 and V.F.W. Post No. 5357.

Social hour will follow the burial at Sixteen Oaks.

Memorials  may be directed to the family to be established at a later date.

Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.