(Radio Iowa) – The University of Northern Iowa is developing a Center for Civic Education after recently receiving approval from the Board of Regents. The head of the Cedar Falls school’s History Department, Jennifer McNabb, helped put together the proposal. “The Center will emphasize the production of educational resources. First, our pre-service teachers at U-N-I will be producing lesson plans and support material for in service teachers across the state, and we will sponsor an annual conference at U-N-I on civic education and free speech,” she says. McNabb says they will also reach out beyond the campus.

“Our public history students will work on public education in civic ed through the creation of traveling exhibits for education and for civic spaces, hoping to draw on our partnership with the Iowa community colleges,” she says. U-N-I already has civic education curriculum in place, created by a team of faculty members after they received National Endowment for the Humanities grant. The new center will build on that curriculum.

Jennifer McNabb, Scott Peters. (photo from Board of Regents meeting)

“The center’s ultimate goal is to help our community develop the civic knowledge, skills and dispositions required for understanding and application the values of free speech, civic leadership, public service and citizenship,” McNabb says. She says the Center for Civic Education is U-N-I’s response to the Board of Regents’ directive in November 2023 for the Regent schools to establish a widespread initiative that includes opportunities for education and research on free speech and civic education.

(Radio Iowa) – This is “See Track? Think Train” week. Francis Edeker, the state coordinator for the “Operation Lifesaver” program, says more than 23-hundred people are injured or killed every year at railroad crossings. “Running around the gates and lights is a big problem — 60% of the incidents with the trains happened at crossings where there are lights and gates out there,” He says. “And 25% of the incidents are people that drive into the side of trains…and 25% of them hit the 30th or 40th or 50th car of the train, which means they’re doing a distraction and not paying attention.”

Edeker says having pedestrians on and near railroad tracks has become a major concern. “Family pictures and high school senior pictures being taken on the railroad tracks — that’s a big problem here in the state of Iowa and even in the United States all over,” he says. Edeker says pedestrians and vehicles are only allowed to cross the railroad tracks at designated crossing areas.  “Any other place or walk down them or beside them on the right-of-way — your trespassing,” Edeker says. “The way the law reads is all the officer has to do is see you out there…and he can write you a ticket.”

The fine for a first trespassing violation in Iowa is 200-dollars. This past July, the state fine increased to 520-dollars for ignoring crossing gates and warning lights and illegally driving across railroad tracks in so-called “quiet zones.” Trains approaching railroad crossings in the 21 “quiet zones” in Iowa are not required to sound the horn, to reduce noise in cities.

The cities in Iowa that have quiet zones includes: Ames, Bellevue, Boone, Burlington, Creston, Denison, Fairfield, Hiawatha, Mason City, Mount Vernon, Nevada, Ogden, Ottumwa, Sergeant Bluff and Sioux City.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School Board held a Special Session this (Wednesday) evening at the Achievement Center. During their session, the Board approved a low bid from Electronic Engineering, for portable radios (Walkie-Talkies), which will be paid for through a Homeland Security Safety Grant amounting to $200,000 ($50,000 for each of the district’s 4 buildings). Interim Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen said District Technology Director Roger Warne recommended the Board approve Electronic Engineering’s bid.

Johnsen said purchase of the radios includes staff and administrator training in their use. In other business, the Atlantic School Board reviewed proposals from three professional search firms, with regard to the hiring of the District’s next, full-time Superintendent. They previously received proposals from McPherson & Jacobsen, Ray & Associates, and HYA. Finance Director Lisa Jones said money for the hiring of a search firm would come from the School Board’s budget.

Atlantic School Board Special Session, 9-25-24

HYA had the highest bid at approximately $18,000, including a consultation fee. The other two firms were pretty much in the same ballpark price-wise, and slightly lower.  The Board discussed the possibility of saving the costs associated with going through a professional search firm only to possibly come full-circle and offer Dr. Johnsen the full-time job. Johnsen has indicated she would be willing to stay in the position if the Board wishes.

In the end, though, the Atlantic School Board voted to table a decision on hiring a firm for a couple of weeks, until they can talk with the public and others, and attempt to justify expense of having an outside consulting agency, or explore other options.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Members of the Atlantic Park Advisory Commission met this (Wednesday) afternoon. Parks and Rec Coordinator Jeff Christensen remarked he’s continuing to see vandalism in some of the City’s Parks, in Mollet and Cedar Park. He said the vandalism he’s seen this year alone is more than the past three years, and measures were being taken to try and catch the perpetrators.

Splash Pad representative Ali Pieken said the concrete shade structures for the different pad features have been erected on the concrete pad, and they’re still on-track for the Pad features to arrive at the end of October or early November. They’ll turn it on for testing and then winterize the Splash Pad until it’s officially turned on until the grand opening next year.

Board Chairman Kevin Ferguson said he’s spoken with the Junior Federated representatives about new signage along the Bull Creek Pathway, and the estimated cost ($600), but to date, has not heard back on a commitment to move forward. Chelsie Rush with the YMCA reported on Sunnyside Pool Finances. The information was from the YMCA’s side of things only, and not the City. It included payroll and management expenses and loss amounts to. Revenue from RAGBRAI (approximately $10,000) helped to bring the net loss down by that same amount.

Atlantic Splash Pad shade structures installed (9-25-24) – Ric Hanson photo

Atlantic Public Works Director Kirk Knudsen reported on the condition of the asphalt on the trails around the Schildberg Recreation Area, and the costs for the materials, transported the materials, and other costs associated with laying down. He noted that with the City of Atlantic’s downtown street projects coming up next year, there will be an asphalt plant nearby, which could help to lower the costs of transportation.

Jeff Christensen remarked the Nishna Valley Trails group is hoping for another grant to resurface with asphalt or concrete some of the trails next year, as with years past. The City would be willing to provide the labor for the trail surfacing. Christensen said he would get some numbers together to present to NVT President Dave Chase.