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Comstock Hired to Lead Fillies

Sports

April 15th, 2014 by Jim Field

The Shenandoah Board of Education approved a head volleyball contract for Toni Comstock. Comstock has served the past two seasons as Shen’s 9th grade coach. Comstock is an elementary teacher for the district.

Comstock is a former Fillie athlete. As a Fillie, Toni Ratliff, was a key member of the Fillie volleyball, basketball and track teams. She also competed for the Bobcats of Peru State University. Coach Comstock fills the opening left with the untimely death of former head Coach Chad VanHouten.

This past season Jon Skillern served as an interim head coach. Skillern will continue serving the volleyball program as 9th grade coach. Also Shannon Gilbert was extended a contract to serve as the Assistant/JV volleyball coach.

In other coaching contracts, Matt Potratz was offered the Assistant Baseball Coaching assignment for this coming summer.

Monday Local Sports Results

Sports

April 15th, 2014 by Jim Field

Boys Soccer:

  • A-H-S-T-Walnut 5, Missouri Valley 0

Girls Tennis:

  • Red Oak 8, Kuemper Catholic 1

 

Christofferson Inks Deal With Phoenix Mercury

Sports

April 15th, 2014 by Jim Field

AMES, Iowa – It wasn’t long after the conclusion of the WNBA draft that a deal was struck for senior Hallie Christofferson to continue her basketball career. Christofferson will sign a free agent contract with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury.

“I am very excited for the opportunity to continue playing basketball,” Christofferson said. “I am looking forward to what Phoenix has in store for me as I head to draft camp.”

Christofferson, a Hamlin, Iowa native, was a two-time Associated Press and WBCA Honorable Mention All-American and a two-time All-Big 12 first team selection. The forward led Iowa State in scoring for the second-consecutive season with 18.4 points. She scored in double figures in 29 of Iowa State’s 31 games, including 16 games with 20 or more points. She posted eight double-doubles and shot better than 50 percent from the field in 14 games.

“This is a great opportunity for Hallie,” head coach Bill Fennelly said. “Phoenix was excited to bring her to camp, and I am sure they will find out quickly how special Hallie is on and off the court!”

Christofferson recently wrapped up a standout career with the Cyclones after finishing her senior season sixth all-time in scoring (1,709) and eighth all-time in rebounds (762). Christofferson leaves Iowa State as one of the most decorated student-athletes in school history.

Nebraskan gets 25 years in Iowa child sex case

News

April 15th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP) – A Nebraska man has been given 25 years in prison for sexually abusing girls ages 7 and 8 in western Iowa.  The Daily Nonpareil says 64-year-old John Schondelmeyer, of Bellevue, Neb., was sentenced on Monday. He’d been found guilty of two counts of sex abuse and two counts of lascivious acts with a child.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says Schondelmeyer was in the process of moving to Fayetteville, N.C., when he was arrested Oct. 17, 2013, at his Nebraska home.  Schondelmeyer will be transferred to Nebraska, where he faces more child sex charges.

Atlantic School Board approves 1:1 computer proposal

News

April 15th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

A proposal to give Atlantic High School students Apple MacBook Air laptop computers beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, was approved by the Atlantic School Board during their meeting Monday night. The 1:1 (One-to-One) program will cost more than $625,650 over the course of four-years, but the District got a jumpstart on paying for the plan thanks to the generosity of a local bank.

Board President Kristy Pellett read a letter from 1st Whitney Bank and Trust President/CEO Paul J. Gude, whereby Gude pledged their support of the proposal to “Enhance the academic success of the district’s students.” Gude said in his letter 1st Whitney Bank will pledge $50,000 towards the first phase of the project. On behalf of the School Board, Pellett thanked Gude and District Technology Coordinator Roger Warne for teaming together to form the public/private business partnership which will make the program possible.

Warne said the official Apple quote came in $25,000 less than what was expected. The Apple Lease Program runs $124,000 per year for the four-year contract, not including $90,000 worth of “add-on’s” that includes cases and software. Superintendent Mike Amstein had tentatively budgeted $160,000 per year for the program to make it a “workable situation.” Warne said the entire project would cost about $152,000 per year, with a two-percent loan rate.

Warne said with the Board’s approval, he can begin to solicit additional donations from businesses and individuals to help defer some of the costs, especially for the first year of the program.  

Cuts amounting to more than $755k recommended for Atlantic Schools

News

April 15th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Atlantic School District Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein, Monday, recommended cuts in staffing and other areas amounting to more than $755,000. On Feb. 8th, the School Board heard from Iowa Association of School Boards Finance Support Co-Director Gary Sinclair, with regard to district finances for the past five-years. In his presentation, he recommended the district try to find ways to cut $700-thousand dollars as a means of improving its financial health.

During Monday night’s Board meeting, Amstein proposed six areas where the District could save $675,965. The first recommendation was to make across-the-board cost reductions for all departments, amounting to $185,146. Amstein said 12 teachers have accepted the District’s Early Retirement package, which saves the District $382,983. Reducing the Level 3 Behavioral Program by two Para positions would save another $41,814.

Other cuts include reducing the Atlantic Middle School At-Risk Reading position, the elimination of a Testing Para position and Summer School Transportation, for an additional savings of $66,022. Eight additional reductions and costing savings the Board could consider amount to $208, 961, for a total of $884,926. Of the eight additional cost saving measures, Amstein recommended the Board consider reducing the budget for Substitute Teachers and reducing the textbook budget, Utilize current staff to teach FCS at the Middle School, and reducing the Para contract hours to 35 hours, which would save $113,748 altogether.

Board member Dennis Davis and Phil Hascall both said they would have a problem reducing the Middle School At-Risk position. Amstein said that wasn’t on his original list of recommendations, but it was added by personal request from the instructor. Haskell said he feels uncomfortable reducing the position after having seen the dramatic improvements of the students in the program.  Davis said he doesn’t want to “Nickel and Dime” the budget now and have to come back later in the year to add more hours or hire additional personnel to fill the district’s needs.

Board President Kristy Pellett said “Certainly there will be cuts that affect students,” but the effects will be minimal because of early retirements. She was however concerned about the generalization of the “Across all departments” cuts…which she says is vague. Amstein says any amount other than salaries can be reduced depending on need, but there may be monies left over from areas such as snow removal, of which only 1/2 of what was budgeted for has been used.

Those areas which appear to be safe from the budget axe, include the elimination of a SAM position at Washington Elementary, elimination of an ELL position at the High School and the At-Risk Advocate position at the Middle School, along with the postponement of swimming and bowling activities.

The total cuts, if approved by the Board during their meeting on May 12th, amount to $755,965. Amstein said the proposed cuts still give the districts “Some wiggle room,” while hitting the target cost saving goal proposed by Gary Sinclair.

HUSH program sees a drop in deer donations

Ag/Outdoor, News

April 15th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The number of deer donated to a Department of Natural Resources program that uses the meat to feed the hungry in the state dropped by 15-percent this year. Hunters still donated 39-hundred deer to the “Help Us Stop Hunger” or HUSH program. The D-N-R’s Jim Coffey oversees HUSH and says hunters have been very generous over the last decade. “The Hush program has been very popular with our hunters, they see direct benefit back to local communities and helping needy families,” Coffey says.

He says the drop in deer donations compared to last year amounts to around 30-tons of ground venison. “Most likely the donations are down because the deer population is down,” Coffey says, “also beef prices are up, so it’s more like that people keeping more for themselves.” Coffey says the D-N-R’s efforts to reduce the deer population have worked.  “We’ve been more liberal with the harvest of the doe deer. And obviously, the does are the ones that produce the next year’s offspring. So, when we’re harvesting additional does, that means were producing less deer into the population next year.”

The Food Bank of Iowa coordinates distribution of the deer meat and is replacing the loss of venison with other protein, like canned chicken, or even peanut butter. Hunters in the program have donated some 60-thousand deer in 10 years — which is the equivalent of nearly 11 million meals (10.8 million).

(Radio Iowa)

Ex-major leaguer Hal Smith dies in Arkansas

Sports

April 15th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

FORT SMITH, Ark. (AP) – Former major league baseball player Hal Smith of Fort Smith has died. Smith died Saturday at age 82. A cause of death was not released.  Smith was a native of Barling and signed with the St. Louis Cardinals as a catcher in 1949. He played for the Cardinals from 1956-61 and was named to three National League All-Star teams. He later played briefly for Pittsburgh in 1965 before becoming a scout and coach for several teams.  Survivors include his wife and three children.

Legislature honors ISU men’s basketball team

Sports

April 15th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa lawmakers honored the Iowa State University men’s basketball team for what they deemed a “brilliant” season.  The state Senate and House adopted resolutions Monday to honor the team for its accomplishments and congratulate coach Fred Hoiberg for leading the Cyclones to 28 wins, a Big 12 tournament title and the program’s first Sweet 16 appearance in 14 years.

Democratic Sen. Herman Quirmbach, of Ames, says the team has provided the Legislature with “tremendous pride” because of the courage and endurance they displayed throughout the season.    Hoiberg told lawmakers the bipartisan support the team has received from across the state is appreciated, and that the success they achieved wouldn’t have been possible without it.

Lynn, Cardinals snap Brewers’ 9-game win streak

Sports

April 15th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Lance Lynn struck out 11 in seven innings, Jon Jay hit a three-run homer and the St. Louis Cardinals snapped the Milwaukee Brewers’ nine-game winning streak with a 4-0 victory Monday night.

Lynn allowed three hits over seven innings before Carlos Martinez finished off the surprising Brewers, who still have the majors’ best record at 10-3. Lynn (3-0) frustrated hitters by mixing a fastball that topped 95 mph with a slider.

Jhonny Peralta hit a solo shot in the second off Brewers starter Matt Garza (0-2) before Jay tagged a ball over the wall near the right field corner in the sixth.