[Updated 8/29] (Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education held a Work Session this (Wednesday) evening to discuss a few matters that may be acted upon during their next, REGULAR meeting. They discussed options with regard to the search for a permanent Superintendent. The Board hired current Superintendent, Dr. Beth Johnsen last year, to fill the void left by the resignation of former Superintendent Steve Barber, who took a position with the Grinnell School District. He served the Atlantic district for a little more than six-years.

Dr. Johnsen took over the post as Interim Superintendent July 1, 2023. Her position was set to expire after the end of her two-year contract, which culminates with the end of the 2024-25 School Year.  Atlantic School Board President Kristy Pellett said “We need to contract with another superintendent.”

Board member Laura McLean clarified…

Pellet added…

After a considerable amount of discussion, it was decided the Board will receive proposals and/or presentations from various “Headhunter” (professional search firm) agencies, and possibly meet with their representatives during upcoming the September 11th meeting, and/or the Sept. 25th work session (if necessary), with the goal of having a firm hired to conduct a search, in October.

Kristy Pellett said a proposal has already been received from one of the firms.

One of the firms, she said included a timeline of dates, which would allow for applicants to apply for the position over the Christmas and January break. Other districts, Pellet said, have posted their superintendent vacancies on professional websites, and Atlantic is jumping on the bandwagon, hoping to get a head-start on other districts that may be in a similar position to search for their top leadership.

Work Session Minutes 08282024

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County Auditor Jill Ozuna, Wednesday evening, released the final list of names of those candidates who have filed their nomination papers to run for various COUNTY offices by the August 28th deadline. The following will appear on the ballots in Montgomery County during the November 5th General Election:

Montgomery County Auditor (Vote for 1)

Jill Ozuna-Rep (from Primary)

Montgomery County Sheriff (Vote for 1)

Jon D. Spunaugle-Rep (from Primary)

Supervisor District #3 (Vote for 1)

Bryant Amos-Rep (from Primary)

Supervisor District #5 (Vote for 1)

Alex Burton-Rep (from Primary)

Hospital Trustee (Aug 28th filing deadline – Vote for 3)

Jeff L. Vanderhoof
Ann Carder
James C. Norris

County Agricultural Extension Council (Aug 28th filing deadline – Vote for 4)

Chad Jacobs
Edward Lucas Oster
Kassandra Houdek
Ryan Hart

Soil and Water Conservation Board (Aug 28th filing deadline – Vote for 3)

Dave Carbaugh
Kent Swanson
Kerry Confer

Township Trustees (Vote for 2 per Township)

Pilot Grove Township (Vote for 2)

None Filed
None Filed

Pilot Grove Township Clerk – 2 YR Term TFV (Vote for 1)

None Filed

Lincoln Township (Vote for 2)

Kirk Baird
Bryan Jenkins

West Township (Vote for 2)

None Filed
None Filed

Red Oak Township (Vote for 2)

None Filed
None Filed

Sherman Township (Vote for 2)

None Filed
None Filed

Garfield Township (Vote for 2)

None Filed
None Filed

Grant Township (Vote for 2)

None Filed
None Filed

Frankfort Township (Vote for 2)

None Filed
None Filed

Washington Township (Vote for 2)

Mike Jackson
Lorin Petersen

East Township, Douglas Township, and Scott Township are appointed by the Board of Supervisors.

(Atlantic, Iowa) Today (Wednesday, August 28, 2024) at 5:00 p.m., marked the final day for candidates to file nomination papers to run for public office.  Cass County Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns has released the final list of names of candidates who filed the appropriate documents to get their name on the ballot for the November 5, 2024 General Election.

See the final list of candidates here: 2024 Cass County General Election Candidate Listing by Office

The Auditor’s Office reminds voters in Cass County there are three public measures on the ballot for November.

2024 General Election Public Measures

All the public measures need 60% to pass. Information with regard to Federal and State candidates or referendums will be announced after they are certified and made available to the Auditor’s Office.

Absentee ballots can now be requested by returning an absentee ballot request form to the Auditor’s office in person or by mail.

(Radio Iowa) – A district court judge has denied a request to dismiss a state lawsuit against TikTok. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird filed the lawsuit that says TikTok is lying to parents about the frequency and severity of inappropriate videos that it shows to kids. TikTok argued the state did not have standing to bring the case.

The judge ruled the case can move forward, but did rule against a request from the A-G for an injunction against the company. The ruling says the state has not yet produced any evidence to show an Iowan has viewed and been harmed by such videos.

(Radio Iowa) – Charles City Police released more information today (Wednesday) on a death investigation that began last week. Charles City Police were dispatched to a residence just west of the Floyd County Courthouse, shortly before noon on August 22nd. Chief Hugh Anderson said upon entry to the home, two people were found dead.

Charles City Police announced today (Wednesday) that 85-year-old John Flint and 85-year-old Jo Anne Flint, both of Charles City, died in an apparent murder-suicide.

C-C-P-D says no further details will be released at this time.

(Radio Iowa) – A state panel voted 2-1 today (Wednesday) to take three Libertarian candidates for Congress off the November ballot. Republicans filed the challenge, saying the Libertarian county conventions didn’t follow state law. Secretary of State Paul Pate, a Republican, voted to remove them from the ballot.

“It’s not an ideal situation but the rules are the rules, and I as the commissioner of elections don’t get to make them up. I get to enforce them as they are. And I think this is not an easy process.” Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird also voted to remove the Libertarian candidates from the ballot, while Democrat State Auditor Rob Sand, voted to keep them. Sand says issues with internal political party business aren’t a basis for removing candidates from the ballot.

“Both parties have the ability to appeal that. Why are we here today doing the opposite? Because they want to enforce a two party system divide Iowans and limit their choices?,” Sand says. Libertarian Party of Iowa Chair Jules Carter says she’s disappointed in the decision but not surprised.  “It is about silencing us. Yes, it is about making sure that they are better position to win. If you want to win, how about you campaign, not silence other people,” Carter says.

The three candidates say they’ll run write-in campaigns if their names can’t be on the ballot. First Congressional District candidate Nicholas Gluba, 3rd District candidate Marco Battaglia and Fourth District candidate Charles Aldrich won’t be on the ballot unless they successfully appeal the decision in court by September 3rd.

(Radio Iowa) – Some Iowa schools have had police officers walking their halls for decades, while others are new this fall to S-R-Os, or school resource officers. Le Mars police officer John Vickery covers that community’s five public school buildings as well as the Gehlen Catholic Schools. Vickery says law enforcement is -not- his primary concern.

“Making sure that everybody, the students, the staff here, and all of our buildings are safe,” Vickery says. “I’m doing my best to make sure all of our buildings are secured, that there’s really one main entry point for them while they’re here, to make sure that we can keep everybody safe in their learning environment.” Another priority as an S-R-O, according to Vickery, is to establish and cement good relationships with everyone he encounters.

“I’m here to try to build up relationships between the students, the staff and the police department, not only to benefit us here, while I’m in the schools, but also outside of the schools,” he says. “If they were to deal with an officer outside of the schools, we’ve built up some sort of relationship to better help them come to us with issues they may have, and also for us to be able to help them.” Vickery was the S-R-O when Le Mars Police launched the program in 2018 and he’s now beginning his third term in the position. Still, he says it takes time for students to get comfortable with a police officer in their school.

“At first, everybody was kind of reluctant,” he says. “They felt that I was here to enforce laws and to kind of crack down on everybody and they’re starting to realize more that I’m here for that relationship, for that safety side of things, and being able to just interact with them and let them get to know me. They’ll ask me all kinds of random personal questions, and for the most part, I’ll answer them.” Vickery says the most challenging part of his job is when he has to deal with students from a law enforcement perspective. He says good kids will sometimes make bad choices and while he tries to give them the benefit of the doubt, he still has a job to do.