Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports his deputies conducted an investigation recently into the delivery of illegal narcotics in Fremont County. As a result, 20-year old Jessica Rose Binau, of Shenandoah, was arrested at around 3:45-a.m. today (Thursday), for Delivery of a Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine. Binau was being held at the Fremont County Jail on $50,000 bond. An investigation into the drug trade in Fremont County, continues.

The Atlantic School Board Wednesday evening, approved the resignations of some staff and nine certified teachers, each of whom will receive a $500 stipend for submitting their request for Early Retirement prior to the end of January.

Among the teachers whose resignations was approved by the Board, was: Margo Magill, Junior Kindergarten teacher; Paulette Hansen, 4th Grade teacher; Rita McLaren, 1st Grade teacher; Rebecca Osborne, Early Childhood Special Education teacher; 6th Grade teacher Catherine Larsen; 5th Grade teacher Kathi Hansen; High School Science teacher Nancy Jenkins; High School Math/Science teacher Steve Baier; LmB Reading teacher Pam Tibken, and Head 7th Grade Football Coach, Mike McDermott.

School Board member Jenny Williams asked McDermott why he was resigning his position at the end of the school year. He said it was because of some concerns he had and there are other things he’d like to do. He kids aren’t involved in football anymore, and the job of coaching year-around, has “taken its toll.” Williams and Board Vice-President Kristy Pellett thanked McDermott for his service, and all those teachers who are leaving.

Superintendent Mike Amstein said the district has brought in a number of talented teachers in the past few years, and while we are losing a lot of experience, they have also brought in a lot of new talent, so “It’s kind of a trade-off.” The Board Wednesday, also held a preliminary discussion on the budget. Amstein said there are still three things preventing them from making much progress on the budget, not the least of which is, what the legislature plans to do with State Supplemental Aid.  Other issues/unknowns, include increases in insurance, and the outcome of contract negotiations with Certified Staff.

And, Activities Director Matt Alexander updated the Board, Wednesday, on the Athletic Facilities Study. He said since the process of looking at the facilities began in November, they have sent out Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) to companies across the State, for the purposes of conducting a more in-depth study and coming up with options or solutions. Alexander said they had received several responses. The companies’ fees for the study ranged from $10,000 to as much as $40,000. A committee was established and bids reviewed on January 4th. The Committee narrowed down their choices to three, and interviews were held with those company representatives.

Among the areas of athletic facilities they would look at, is the Trojan Bowl, where safety is an issue, the baseball and softball fields, and tennis courts. A recommendation on which firm the committee selects will come during the next board meeting. If the Board approves the recommendation, the study could begin at the end of February.

CLIVE, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Lottery officials say a Powerball ticket sold in the state is worth $2 million. Officials say the ticket matched the first five numbers but missed the Powerball to win a $1 million prize in Wednesday’s drawing. The person who bought the ticket also added the Power Play to the purchase, which multiplied the prize to $2 million.  The buyers of tickets sold in California, Florida and Tennessee will share the estimated $1.6 billion jackpot or the $983.5 million cash option.

Lottery officials say people bought more than $12 million in Powerball tickets in Iowa for Wednesday’s drawing. The odds of winning the jackpot are about 1 in 292.2 million.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports three people were arrested on separate charges, following incidents that took place in Villisca. On Monday, 60-year old Deborah Kay McCollum, of Villisca, was arrested by sheriff’s deputies, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, following an incident in the 600 block of E. 6th Street, in Villisca. McCollum was cited for the offense and then released.

Late Wednesday night, deputies in Montgomery County arrested 27-year old Jeremy Jon Thompson, of Red Oak, on a Montgomery County warrant for Probation Violation. The warrant was issued in connection with an incident that happened in the 300 block of North U Avenue, in Villisca. Thompson was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $25,000 bond. Also arrested Wed. night, was 25-year old Charles Albert Mace, Jr., of Clarinda, who was taken into custody in Villisca, on a Montgomery County warrant for Theft in the 5th Degree. Mace, Jr., was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

A new study ranks Iowa as the nation’s eighth strongest state. Iowa fell from seventh a year ago in the review by Politico Magazine. The survey uses federal data showing Iowa boasts the nation’s sixth lowest unemployment rate, the seventh-highest percentage of high school graduates, and the 16th lowest violent crime rate. On the negative side, Iowa is among 11 states with obesity rates above 30-percent. New Hampshire is ranked as the “strongest” state by Politico. Louisiana is as the bottom of the list.

(Radio Iowa)

Lottery officials in Tennessee say the winning ticket for the record Powerball jackpot in their state was sold in Munford, north of Memphis. The holder of that ticket will share the $1.6 billion jackpot with winners in Southern California and Florida. A news release from Tennessee lottery officials says the state also has a ticket that won $2 million. The winning numbers in Wednesday night’s drawing are 4-8-19-27-34 and Powerball 10.

The winners can opt for annual payments over decades or a lump-sum payment. None of the winners’ identities have yet been revealed.