The Atlantic City Council will meet 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19th, in their Chambers at City Hall. For current Councilmen Chris Jimerson and Dana Halder, it will be their last meeting. Jimerson opted not to run for re-election, and Halder was defeated in his bid for re-election, in November.

The Council will recognize Fire Chief Mark McNees for his nearly 13 years as Chief of the Volunteer Fire Department, for a total of 29 1/2-years as a member of department. During his years as Chief, McNees has worked to maintain a lean and effective organization that features three full-time and 34 volunteer firefighters. The Fire Department earlier this month elected Tom Cappel II as Fire Chief to succeed McNees. The Council will act on his appointment to the top post during their meeting Wednesday, as well.

The Atlantic City Council will also recognize Julie Tjepkes for her 32-years of service to the Atlantic Public Library as the Children’s Librarian. They will also pay tribute to Chris Jimerson, who has been on the Council serving the 1st Ward for the past seven-years, and Dana Halder, who joined the Council as an At Large Councilman this year following a special election.

Afterward, Grace Garrett will be sworn-in to the At Large seat, and Jim Behrens will be sworn-in as Councilman for the 1st Ward. Both won election to the Council in Nov., 2019. In other business, the Council will act on a Resolution pertaining to policies, rules and regulation with regard to the performance of the CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) Program, as required by the State and Federal regulations.

They will also hold the third and final reading of amended ordinances pertaining to the powers of the Parks and Rec Board, with regard to their authority to approve expenditures for salaries and supplies, contracts and capital outlays, and personnel matters, such as hiring, firing, disciplinary actions, appointments and/or direction. Those areas would be turned over to the City Administrator.

The Council will then act on orders to appoint Jon martens to the Planning & Zoning Commission (to fill a vacancy), and Melissa Ihnen to the Board of Adjustment (to replace a member who has resigned). Their final order of business is a closed session with regard to an annual performance review for City Administrator John Lund.

The Audubon School District’s Board of Education will meet 7-p.m. Monday (Dec. 16), in their Boardroom at the High School. Among the action items on their agenda, is Possible Action on Building Project and General Obligation Bond Petition.

On Dec. 10th, the Audubon School Board held a Work Session to discuss Building Feasibility Study Results, Costs and Financing, Bond Referendum Specifics and Recommendations from the Building Committee. The District hopes to renovate the Middle School/High School, and at Monday night’s Board meeting, will talk about their financing options and related matters.

The questions they’ll have to answer in their discussion include: Does the District move forward with the project as presented; Should they request a bond referendum from the public to finance the project; and the method of construction, assuming the project is approved.

In other business, the Board will act on approving Early Retirement Applications and Personnel matters. Superintendent Eric Trager will update the Board on current building projects, and, they’ll receive a Transportation Report.

Members of the Griswold School District’s Board of Education will meet 5:30-p.m. Monday, in the Conference Room at the High School. Under Old Business, and prior to adjourning, the retiring Board will receive updates (as available) from KPE Architects and Estes Construction, and they will hold the second reading of Board Policies, Series 200.

The New Board will then be called to order by Superintendent Dave Henrichs. The Board will certify the official results of the Nov. 5th canvas of elections, and handle administrative matters, including the administering of the Oath of Office to new members, along with the election of Officers.

Other action items for the New Board, include setting their regular meeting dates and times, and acting on an SBRC application for increasing enrollment, open enrollment out, and LEP Instruction beyond 5-years.

The Board will then discuss a Joint Board Meeting with the Lenox School Board, and consider approving an HVAC Maintenance Program.

KNOXVILLE, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa man who was found responsible for his mother’s death at a civil trial but acquitted at a murder trial is now suing criminal investigators and his father. Forty-seven-year-old Jason Carter filed a federal lawsuit Thursday accusing investigators of conducting a biased and incomplete investigation into his mother’s death.

Carter’s father, Bill Carter, won a wrongful-death lawsuit against his son in 2017. The suit alleged that Jason fatally shot 68-year-old Shirley Carter in June 2015 to gain access to his parents’ assets. Jason Carter was ordered to pay $10 million to his mother’s estate. In March, a jury acquitted him of murder.

Police in Red Oak report a woman was arrested following a traffic stop at around 12:03-a.m., Sunday. 25-year old Lisa Ann Blake, of New Market, was taken into custody in the 900 block of N. 1st Street, for Driving While Suspended, a simple misdemeanor. She was transported to the Montgomery County Jail, and held on slightly more than $566 bond.