Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:45 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state panel has rejected a petition from two environmental activist groups that sought stricter standards for proposed animal feeding operations. The Des Moines Register reports the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission denied the petition Monday from groups calling for it to require cattle feedlots and confined hog operations to require more distance from neighbors and take other actions. Commissioners said the proposed rules were too strict.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Police say one man has died and a woman was injured when shots were fired into a Cedar Rapids house. Officers were called to the shooting Saturday night and found a man and woman with gunshot wounds. They were taken to hospitals, where 33-year-old Kenneth Lamont Everett died. Police way 29-year-old Gabriel Chantel Thomas is expected to recover. Police Monday said the shots were fired from outside the home and struck the victims while they were in a bedroom. Police haven’t reported any arrests.

ANAMOSA, Iowa (AP) — A memorial ride scheduled for next month will honor an eastern Iowa police officer who was killed in a head-on crash. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that the ride will start in Anamosa on Oct. 15. Proceeds will benefit the family of Anamosa Officer Mitch Kelchen, who was killed in the crash Sept. 2 north of Andrew. The 40-year-old Kelchen was not on duty at the time.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — Iowa authorities have arrested a suspect for a shooting that killed a Fort Dodge man. The Fort Dodge Police announced that 27-year-old Levi Gibbs III of Fort Dodge was being held at the Polk County Jail, where he was awaiting extradition back to Webster County. Authorities have charged Gibbs with first-degree murder for the shooting death of 32-year-old Shane Wessels of Fort Dodge.

Atlantic Parks and Rec Department Director Seth Staashelm, Monday evening, provided the Parks and Rec Board with updates on various matters pertaining to the Schildberg Rec Area, Sports Complex and Sunnyside Shelter. With regard to the Schildberg Rec Area, Staashelm said the campground sites are being utilized and reservations have been made for other pads.

There are 15 campers currently in place, three more spots are reserved for monthly campers and two more spots reserved for Coca-Cola Days. He hopes to have the remaining pads filled later this week, and they are working on acquiring a dumpster.

The fishing dock at Schildberg is almost finished, but Staashelm says they are working on seeding and other finishing touches. They are also waiting for the dock shelter engineering so the roof can be installed on the shelter, which will be named in memory of Richard McCauley, thanks to a donation from Pat McCauley.

Plans are also still in the works for a playground at Schildberg, but the costs are currently outside the budget, even though the prices have come down since the seasonal playground use time is winding down. Staashelm says they budgeted $50,000 for the project, but with shipping, the final price tag is more along the lines of $60,000.

He says wants to do more number crunching before presenting the final project concept to the Board next month. In other business, the Grand Opening for the Fishing Dock at Schildbergs will be for the Atlantic Ambassadors and to thank donors this Thursday, at 10-a.m. Once the roof is on, they will have a public grand opening. Staashelm said also, a “Bikers helping bikers Fun Run” will be held beginning 9:30-a.m. Oct. 14th, with motorcyclists raising funds to benefit the Schildberg Rec Area, which is used by pedestrians…and bicyclists. Even though motorcycles are the primary participants, all vehicles are welcome for your free will donation.

The group will leave the Allen Place (1406 E. 19th Street) at 10:30-a.m. Oct. 14th and proceed west from Atlantic on Highway 83 to Avoca. From there, they will head west on G-18 to Minden, west to Highway 191, south to G-30 at Underwood, from Underwood west on G-30 to L-34 north to Beebeetown “Twisted Tail.” Afterward, they will depart Beebeetown north on L-34 to F-58, and turn east toward Persia. From Persia they will hear north on Highway 191 to Highway 44, and from Portsmouth east to Kimballton, from Kimballton south to Atlantic’s Schildberg Rec Area. The complete ride is about 119 miles.

More information will be released as the date grows closer.

The Iowa Department of Education released its new plan today (Monday) to meet the requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. Department of Education director, Ryan Wise, says they put a lot of effort into the plan and got input from all across the state. “We’ve said from the beginning this is about ensuring opportunity for all students and that is really state and locally driven, and that we would carry that through the entire process,” Wise says. The new federal legislation replaces the old No Child Left Behind, and Wise says it does something the old plan didn’t

“That is really a focus on ensuring that state and local districts are going beyond single-point in time measures on just math and English language arts — and really ensuring that schools are providing a well-rounded education for all students,” Wise says. The Department’s chief of the Bureau of School Improvement, Amy Williamson, says the plan sets out goals for districts.

We wanted to make sure that we set these goals knowing that we wanted a high bar for all students. And we wanted to address the fact that there are achievement gaps between some groups of students and all students,” Williamson says. “And we wanted to make sure that we are aggressive in closing those gaps.” She says the new plan focuses on helping districts that don’t meet their goals instead of punishing them.

“When those criteria aren’t met, we can actually step up the support that we provide for schools,” Williamson explains. “And the way that we would do that is to implement more state approved improvement strategies that are evidenced based. And to direct more of the teacher leadership and compensation resources that districts receive toward implementation of the evidence-based strategies.” Williamson says they will use assessments to set the goals for the schools and those goals will increase over time. The plan is being submitted to the federal government today (Monday) and federal officials have 120 days to look it over and respond.

(Radio Iowa)

Kathy Somers announced she will run for re-election to a third term on the Atlantic City Council representing Ward Two in the November election. Somers has served on the city council since 2010 and as mayor pro-tem since 2014. Somers also serves as the chairperson of the council’s personnel and finance committee and the Cass County Environmental Control Agency (the landfill board). She is a member of the Cass County Public Safety Commission and was formerly a board member of the Chamber of Commerce. In addition, Somers was appointed to the Governor’s Southwest Iowa STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Advisory Board in 2015.

Kathy Somers (candidate submitted photo)

A few of the city’s achievements that Somers is pleased to have supported in the past eight years are the street and alley improvements, the TIF and tax abatement incentive policies, simplification of city employee wages and hiring an ISU intern to develop a community beautification plan last year. Looking forward, and as the budget allows, Somers would like to improve the quality and quantity of homes in Atlantic, encourage cultural activities, continue implementing the beautification plan and support workforce development and job creation.

Somers works at A.M. Cohron & Son, Inc. as the HR & EEO Officer/Safety Coordinator and operates Somers Photography out of her home. She is the daughter of Dean and Verna Esbeck and is a 1988 graduate of Atlantic High School. She is married to Guy Somers. They have four children, Mikayla, who lives is Warrensburg, MO, Justin and Nadia who are both students at Iowa State University, and Lex Somers, who is in 9th grade.

The Cass County Auditor’s Office reports several candidates recently filed nomination papers for the Nov. 7th City Elections. Those who submitted their papers last Friday and the positions they seek include:

• Kathy Somers (Incumbent) – Atlantic City Council/Ward 2
• Mark Harris (Incumbent) – Anita City Council
• Julianne M. Adams – Griswold City Council
• Brad A. Rhine – Mayor, City of Griswold
• Rick Sanny – Lewis City Council

Candidate papers submitted today (Monday) include:

• Ryan Lockwood – Lewis City Council
• Vergil Anderson – Marne City Council
• Wayne Preister – Marne City Council
• Randall I. Baxter (Incumbent) – Mayor, City of Marne

A complete list of the candidates (both previously announced and current) will be posted once the deadline to file has passed. The last day to file nomination papers with the Cass County Auditor’s Office is Thursday, Sept. 21st, at 5-p.m.

The Iowa Bankers Association (IBA) has elected officers and directors to serve on its 2017-18 board of directors. The leaders assumed their roles during the IBA Annual Convention, Sept. 17-19 in Des Moines.

Officers for the IBA Executive Committee are as follows:

* Kurt Herbrechtsmeyer, president and CEO, First Security Bank & Trust in Charles City, will be chairman of the board.
* Peg Scott, CEO/CFO, Union State Bank in Greenfield, will serve as chair-elect.
* Dave Nelson, CEO and chairman, West Bank in West Des Moines, will serve as past chair of the board.
* Brad Lane, president and CEO of Security Savings Bank in Gowrie, will be treasurer.
* John Sorensen, president and CEO, IBA, will continue to serve as secretary of the board.

Officers were nominated and approved by IBA member banks from across the state. The IBA Executive Committee leads the board of directors, which is responsible for setting policy and overseeing the general operation of the IBA.

Also serving on the 2017-2018 IBA Board of Directors are:

* Aaron Kness, president and CEO, Iowa State Bank & Trust, Fairfield
* Ben Dvergsten, president, Security Trust & Savings Bank, Storm Lake
* Brett Smith, regional banking president – Eastern Iowa/Illinois retail, Wells Fargo Bank, Des Moines
* Dennis Busta, president and CEO, MBT Bank, Forest City
* Kent Jehle, executive vice president – chief credit officer, MidWestOne Bank, Iowa City
* Kevin Brooks, president and CEO, South Story Bank and Trust, Huxley
* Kim Greenland, senior vice president, City State Bank, Mount Ayr
* Kyle Cook, president and CEO, Montezuma State Bank, Montezuma
* Nancy Kasparek, senior vice president, regional president, community banking U.S. Bank, Cedar Rapids
* Tim Kintner, executive vice president – regional banking markets and community relations, Bankers Trust, Des Moines

About the Iowa Bankers Association
The Iowa Bankers Association represents Iowa banks and savings institutions. Iowa bankers are committed to the values of honesty, hard work and community service, and have been a trusted resource for Iowans for more than 100 years. Iowa banks offer FDIC insurance and lend more than $74.5 billion to help individuals, business owners and agriculture. More than 19,000 Iowans work at an Iowa bank, and Iowa banks donate more than $53.5 million and over one million volunteer hours to support local communities each year. To learn more, visit iowabankers.com.

You’re invited to join The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce and Atlantic Bottling Company to Celebrate Coca-Cola Days 25th Anniversary. Coca-Cola Days, presented by Atlantic Bottling Company, will be held Friday, September 22nd and Saturday, Sept. 23rd, in Downtown Atlantic. The event is the second biggest collector’s show in the United States and includes a tailgate barbecue open to the public, a Show, Swap & Sell, “Bottles on Parade”, “Discover Atlantic Raffle” and many more activities for all ages.

Coca-Cola Days is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year with a special raffle. Bailey Smith, Executive Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said “The committee brainstormed and decided to celebrate the 25th Anniversary with a raffle that includes 25 items donated from area businesses.”  Tickets are available at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce for $5 a ticket. The winner will be announced Saturday, September 23rd at 2 PM at the Show, Swap & Sell meet at the Herring Building.

Coca-Cola Days is also celebrating the 3rd Annual “Bottles on Parade”. Bottles will be on display outside the following businesses: Atlantic Coca-Cola Center & Museum; Atlantic Inn & Suites, Cappel’s Ace Hardware; China Buffet; Nishna Valley YMCA and The Venue. Vote on your favorite bottle now till Friday, September 22nd by stopping in to each business.

T-Shirts for the 2017 Coca-Cola Days Celebration are also available for purchase. The shirts are black and feature the theme, “Coca-Cola Days—Celebrating Our 25thAnniversary”. T-Shirts can be purchased for $16 at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information on Coca-Cola Days or a full list of activities, please visit www.cocacoladays.com, call the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017 or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com.