Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce officials met recently with Cass Atlantic Economic Development Corporation and the City of Atlantic, to discuss next steps for overall business development in Atlantic. Mayor Dave Jones said at the meeting, “We have had several stores close on Main Street over the past six months and the community and businesses are concerned. We need a retail recruitment committee in place, to fill the needs.”

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce says it is working to coordinate efforts to create an economic restructuring/business development committee. The group’s focus will be assessments of the current community and downtown district. It’s hoped this will help Atlantic know and better understand the community and downtown district’s needs. The group will also focus on business retention, expansion, property development within the business district and recruitment.

Dawn Marnin, Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce President, said “We are a business based organization and we want to work together to be a resource to our current businesses. Also, we need to have the right tools and implementation steps for existing and potential new businesses to be successful. “We are all sitting at the table for the same reason, to grow Atlantic.”

Officials say Atlantic continues to move forward and grow. Within the last 18 months five new businesses – just within the Chamber Membership – have been established in Atlantic. They include: The Bike Farm, Eastside Salon, Megan Roberts – State Farm, Robinson Landscaping & Patio Design LLC, and TS Bank.  Several other businesses have made Atlantic home as well, including: Atlantic Lock Smith, Simply Skin Care, 712 Lounge, A-Town Smoke Shake and mostly recently, Picker’s Parlor.

Officials say the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, Cass Atlantic Economic Development Corporation (CADCO) and City of Atlantic, will continue to work together to grow Atlantic and have agreed that their next action will be to meet with Jim Thompson, Business Consultant, Iowa Economic Development Authority, to discuss the best next steps.  The goal of a Market Analysis Study is to create implementation steps to improve the current economic and business climate through redevelopment and revitalization.

The Atlantic School District is looking to team-up with local businesses involved in the trade industry, to offer a Construction Technology class for the 2016-17 School Year. Derek Bair, Industrial Technology Instructor with the Atlantic High School, made a special presentation about the program during Wednesday evening’s meeting of the Atlantic School Board. Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein said the program is in the formulative stages right now. Amstein says they’re working with local experts to establish an advisory committee to guide the program.

Amstein said the Construction Tech program will be different than an trades program that was offered a few years ago. The previous course offered concurrent college credits students who had a hands-on work experience building homes in Atlantic. The Construction Tech class would be for High School credit, only. There will also be a math component so students can earn math credit, as well. Amstein says the Construction Tech program will involve much more than focusing on the carpentry aspect of construction. He says they will also look at having hands-on experience with electrical, plumbing, HVAC and Masonry work, to provide a wider variety of experience.

In other business, Dr. Amstein said the Board discussed the District’s Athletic facilities, after receiving a brief overview on the condition of those facilities from Matt Alexander, Assistant High School Principal and Activities Director. He said “There’s not been very much work done on any of them in a long time, and he [Alexander] wanted to bring to the board’s attention that we really need to address that. Hopefully, we’ll put together an RFP [Request for Proposal] for the board to consider, to have somebody do a study on our athletic facilities.” He said one of the areas that need attention is the Trojan Bowl.

And, Amstein told the Board, Wednesday the Districts Certified Annual Enrollment is down this year by about 52 students this year. He says the decline was not unexpected. That’s because this year’s Senior Class is small, only 90, as compared to 127 last Fall. He said also, there were 14 Fourth grade students who either left the district after the numbers were compiled last year, or who left over the summer, which was kind of unusual. Amstein said “If our numbers hold pretty steady in kindergarten for the upcoming year, or at least pretty close to what they’ve done, we’ll make up the lion’s share of those kids, coming into next year.”

A tire blowout was the apparent cause of a single-vehicle rollover accident Wednesday afternoon in Page County, that resulted in one person being injured. The Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened at around 1:15-p.m. on Highway 2, just west of the intersection with A Avenue.

An investigation revealed 66-year old Steven Max Petty, of Clarinda, was driving a 1993 Ford straight truck owned by Brad Thomas of Coin, westbound on Highway 2. Witness said that the truck appeared to blow a front driver’s side tire which caused it to lose control. The vehicle then swerved to the left, then right, then left again. The action caused the truck to reverse ends and roll at least one time before coming to rest on its wheels in the south ditch facing east.

Petty was extricated from the vehicle by Shenandoah Fire Department personnel and the Shenandoah Ambulance service. He was then transported to Shenandoah Memorial Hospital for treatment of unknown injuries. The straight truck was hauling grain, which spilled over the highway and into a ditch. The grain was later removed from the traveled portion of the road. The highway was closed for about three-hours and traffic re-routed while the accident scene was being investigated and cleaned-up.

The straight truck is considered a total loss. Damage estimates are near $20,000.00 for the truck and grain. Assisting the Page County Sheriff’s Office at the scene were the Shenandoah Police Department, Shenandoah Fire Department, and the Shenandoah Ambulance service. No charges were issued in connection with the investigation.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is issuing a reminder to the public about the variety of phone scams that continue to make the rounds. Officials says they recently received a report of callers who insisted they were selling diabetic supplies but who hung up once the citizen started asking questions.

The Sheriff’s Office says the callers contacted the same citizen several times within the period of a day, sometimes from different phone numbers. Authorities say if you receive a call from uncooperative individuals, hang up. Remember: never, ever give any of your personal information to a caller in a call which you did not initiate. Be Safe!

Having quality child care is vital to an employee’s success on the job. It also contributes to the economic success of a community. Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) staff report that parents in Atlantic are discovering it is hard to find child care. It is very difficult if they have an infant or work evening or weekend shifts.

CCR&R provides resources designed to support the operation of a successful child care business. CCR&R provides training on health, safety, and child development. Child Care Consultants offer guidance to start and maintain a quality child care business. They also give information on regulations and additional sources of income. The CCR&R Consultant provides support to all child care businesses, whether it is in a home, a center or a preschool.

In Iowa, an adult can care for up to five children at any one time without being registered. However, there are benefits to being registered with the Department of Human Services. The consultant can explain the rules and help new providers get on track to offer a quality program.

The need for child care is constant. CCR&R is here to offer support during all stages of a child care business. If you are interested in starting a child care business in your home, please contact CCR&R at 712-243-3118.  CCR&R is a program of West Central Community Action. Funding is provided by the Iowa Department of Human Services through the Child Care Development Fund.

CCR&R welcomes your questions about quality child care. Please call 1-800-945-9778 or check out the website at www.iowaccrr.org.

(Press Release)

DES MOINES, Iowa – This is a critical time of year for the more than 500,000 Iowans who rely on Medicare for their health care, as the annual open enrollment period begins today. According to Kris Gross, director of the Iowa Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP), over the next seven-plus weeks all recipients should take a fresh look at their prescription drug plan and make any needed changes – even if they’ve been happy with it.

“The reason for that is because all of these plans, the Part D and Medicare Advantage plans, have a one-year contract with Medicare,” she says. “They can change their premiums, deductibles, co-payments, co-insurance, the drugs they cover, the networks they work with, all of those things can change from year to year.”

Gross says during last year’s open enrollment, SHIIP helped Iowans save more than $15 million, and most of that was from changing Part D and Medicare Advantage plans. For those who want help reviewing plans available for 2016 to find which one is best for them, Gross says they can contact SHIIP from anywhere in the state.

“We have counselors in most counties in Iowa and they can sit down with someone face to face and get a comparison done, get help understanding the changes or what their options are,” she says. “For people who want to do it themselves, the Medicare website has an option for comparing plans on the Medicare plan finder.”

The Medicare open enrollment period runs through Dec. 7.

(Iowa News Service)