Saying that it’s getting near the time for him to retire and enjoy other activities in life, especially spending time with his grandchildren, Atlantic Parks and Recreation Director Roger Herring, Monday, told the Parks and Rec. Board that it’s time to start looking for someone to succeed him. He said “As I look down the road…I’m proud of all the things we’ve accomplished, yet there’s more to do…when I took this position, I committed to five-years…I will fulfill my five-years, but…I’m not getting any younger and there’s things I want to do.”

Herring has a little less than two-year remaining on his five-year commitment. He’s spoken with Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones and City Administrator Doug Harris, about the possibility of hiring a full-time assistant to work alongside him and learn the ropes. Herring says the assistant would learn the Operations aspect of the department, which would allow Herring to work on other, important aspects of the job, such as grant-writing.

Herring said he has a person in mind for the position, but it would be premature to announce anything at this time. He said he would like to have someone in-place later this winter or early next spring. The person hired would be responsible for some of the labor intensive parts of the job, as well as learning the administrative aspects.

Mayor Jones said he backs Herring’s request for an assistant. He said he’ll meet next week with the City’s Personnel and Finance Committee to discuss funding for the position.

Two Red Oak residents were arrested late Monday night on alcohol-related charges. According to Red Oak Police, 21-year old Dalton Paul Valentin was arrested at around 11:45-p.m., while 53-year old Kathy Leona Palmquist, was arrested at around 11:30-p.m. Both were charged with Public Intoxication and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where their bonds were set at $300 each.

A cow was put down after suffering multiple injuries when it was hit by a pickup truck Monday evening, in Montgomery County. Sheriff’s officials say Jacob R. Lindgren was traveling north on M Avenue just after 9-p.m., when the 1999 Ford F-250 he was driving topped a hill about a half-mile south of 250th Street, and collided with the cow, which was in the middle of the road. Lindgren saw the animal and tried to stop, but was unable to do so in-time.

The cow’s owner, Andy Larson, confirmed the animal was his, and that there had been an issue with a fence on his property that he thought had been repaired to keep his animals confined to the pasture.

The pickup, registered to Mark V. Lindgren, sustained $4,000 damage. The cow was valued at $2,300. No citations were issued.

The driver of a speeding car that struck another vehicle Monday afternoon in Red Oak, was later cited for Operating a motor vehicle without a driver’s license. According to Red Oak Police, the accident happened at around 3:38-p.m. at the corner of 5th and Elm Streets in Red Oak.

An investigation determined a 1996 Plymouth Neon driven by Wilmer Altuzar Ramos, of Red Oak, was traveling east on Elm Street and collided with a southbound 2004 Pontiac Grand Am, driven by Sheryl Lynne Franzen, of Red Oak. Franzen told officers the other vehicle had been speeding through the intersection when it hit her car.

After the collision, the Neon spun around and was facing westbound. Witnesses told police they saw four Hispanic males in the vehicle. At least two of them switched seats and a new driver took control before the vehicle took off. The car was later located at 108 W. Walnut Street.

The persons in the vehicle admitted to police they had switched drivers after the accident. Both of the individuals received citations for Driving without a license. Damage from the crash amounted to more than $11,000.  No injuries were reported.

Iowa State University’s provost, Jonathan Wickert, is in Washington, D-C today with administrators from 10 other research universities to announce a program called the University Innovation Alliance. “The goal of the alliance is really to share innovations among the 11 schools that will help low-income and first-generation students succeed and get college degrees,” according to Wickert. Wickert says the work will continue over the next three to five years.

“We know that there is an achievement gap for low-income students — first to be able to come a university — and then actually be able to complete the program,” Wickert says. “And as we look at the nation’s workforce needs, we know that universities around the country need to redouble efforts to help those students.” Each of the schools has been trying different approaches to the problem, and Wickert says that’s what he’ll find out about.

“The entire concept behind the innovation is for each school to share the best practices that they have. So for us, we want to be able to learn from the other ten schools what has worked for them, and how we can deploy that here at Iowa State,” Wickert says. He will share Iowa State’s use of what are called learning communities.

“We’ve had learning communities at Iowa State University for about 20 years,” Wickert explains.”And we’ve found that it is a great program to improve the retention of students at the university, and also to increase their graduation rate. And we’ll be sharing with the other ten schools.” The other the universities founding this project are: Arizona State, Georgia State, Michigan State, Oregon State, Purdue, Ohio State, University of Central Florida, University of Kansas, University of Texas at Austin, University of California, Riverside.

(Radio Iowa)