(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council in Atlantic, will hold a Budget Work Session 3-p.m. Thursday (Feb. 22), in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. During their session, the Council is expected to receive a presentation by Produce in the Park President, Bailey Smith, and Produce in the Park Board Member Ciara Hoegh, on Produce in the Park. They’re also expected to receive a presentation from Christina Bateman, on Economic Development for 2024 and 2025.

The Council will discuss Economic Development Goals for 2024 and 2025 before acting on an order to enter into an Exempt Session (under Iowa Code), for Collective Bargaining strategy purposes. At 10-a.m. Thursday, City officials are expected to exchange Collective Bargaining proposals with the City’s Public Works’ Union of Operating Engineers Local 234.

Afterward, in open session, the Atlantic City Council will discuss the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST), including recommendations for a Local Option Sales Tax Allocation Formula. The discussion will also cover: LOST Streets Funds – West 22nd Street Project Update; LOST Progress Funds – City Coalition Update; and other Discussion regarding LOST Funds.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The body found near Amana Lily Lake over the weekend has now been identified as that of a Marion woman. Investigators say Melody Hoffman, 20, was found Sunday morning near the picnic area of the lake. A man from Hiawatha, McKinley Louisma, 23, is in the Linn County jail on charges of first-degree kidnapping and conspiracy to commit forcible felony.

Court filings detail what investigators say happened after Louisma picked Hoffman up at 11:00 p.m. Saturday. Investigators used data from Hoffman’s iPhone and Apple watch to piece together the story. They determined Hoffman was at Morgan Creek Park in Linn County when her Apple Watch recorded her heartbeat intensify before “it either stopped or the device deactivated.”

Louisma told investigators he and another unidentified person bound Hoffman’s wrists with duct tape, put her in the trunk of the car, and drove to several locations until they reached Lily Lake in Amana. Louisma admitted Hoffman begged to be let go, was beaten, and had numerous stab wounds. The Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office says the preliminary cause of death was strangulation.

Court documents show Louisma was part of two previous investigations involving accusations of violence. One was in Manchester involving sexual assault. The other was in Cedar Rapids claiming Louisma attacked a man, causing serious injury. Louisma was out on bond when investigators say he kidnapped Hoffman.

According to the family, a Memorial Account has been established for donations at Collins Community Credit Union under “Memorial for Melody.” Family members are also accepting donations via Venmo using the account @memorial-for-Melody. Family members say the donations will be used to help pay for funeral services.

DES MOINES, Iowa [KCCI] — The Iowa Democratic Party says more than 19,000 voters requested presidential preference cards by their Feb. 19 deadline — and they’re still working through the final numbers. The cards are a response to changes on the national primary calendar in the wake of slowly reported results in Iowa in 2020. It’s the first time the Iowa Democratic Party is casting their presidential preference ballot through mail.

The party began sending out the preference cards on Jan. 12, and the last batch of cards will be mailed out on Monday. They should arrive within 24 hours, according to the IDP. Iowa Democrats have until March 5 to return their cards. Cards that are postmarked by March 5 will also be accepted. The party said it encourages cards to be returned through the mail rather than be dropped off at the Iowa Democratic Party headquarters or local county party offices.

The Iowa Democratic Party said they will begin the tabulation of preference cards around March 1. Results will be released on March 5, 2024, commonly known as “Super Tuesday.” The exact time of the release will be shared closer to the date.

Iowa Democrats held their caucus on Jan. 15, but did not vote on their pick for a presidential nominee.

(Elk Horn, Iowa) – The Exira-Elk Horn Kimballton School Board met Monday evening. According to the meeting minutes provided by Business Manager, Board Secretary/Treasurer Mallory Meyer, during their session, the Board approved action items on their agenda that included:

• A Contract Amendment with INVISION Architecture, LLC.
• 2023-24 Athletics Sharing Agreement with the Audubon Community School District
• 2024-25 School Business Official (SBO) & HR/Business Office Specialist Sharing Agreements with the Audubon CSD.
• A 2024-25 Clinical Experience Placement Agreement with Morningside University.
• The Board accepted a RFP (Request for Proposal) for Auditing Services for FY24-28.
• And, they passed an FY 2025 Budget Adjustment (Guarantee) Resolution

In other business, the Exira-EHK School Board passed the first reading of a policy adoption for policies related to Artificial Intelligence, and Responsible Technology Use & Social Networking. They held and approved after the first and final reading, a policy review with regard to Policy pertaining to Parent and Family Engagement District-Wide.

The Exira-EHK Board also approved the hiring of Associates: Nichole (Nicki) Brown, Margaret Haley, and Angela Immel.