(The following article was written by: Kathy Hobson and Trisha Niceswanger, and submitted by Rebecca Wallace, Public Outreach Committee Facilitator for the Atlantic High School)

Custodians make our day! As educators, we couldn’t survive without our custodial staff. We constantly heard about the frontline workers being the first line of defense against the
transmission of COVID. In education, our custodial staff are the frontline workers of our disease defense and success. They are our essential workers! The job of school custodian has many hats. There is so much more to their daily contributions than sweeping our floors and cleaning up the lunchroom. In addition to those two necessary responsibilities, they are now called upon to be our safety experts, the local handyman (or woman), a problem solver, a plumbing and heating specialist, our room sanitizers, a public relations liaison, and do grounds patrol. New teachers are always told to get to know your custodian; they are your friends! So very true.

A big reason we were able to be in person during the 20-21 school year was because of the constant cleaning/sanitizer our custodians did in all classrooms and buildings. According to
high school teacher Kathy Hobson, “There wasn’t a day that school year that I didn’t feel my classroom was exceptionally clean and sanitized to start the day.” With the middle school fire last July, the custodial staff had yet another unexpected hat on their plates – getting buildings ready to handle displaced students and staff so we could have as normal of days as possible.

In a matter of two weeks, the Achievement Center went from limited classrooms and several open areas to a building housing several makeshift classrooms and limited open space. Crews
built walls, applied soundproofing insulation and moved student desks. Staff have greatly appreciated the time put in to create a functional environment. 7th Grade Science teacher Michael Applegate commented “They did a ton of the work with setting up and moving items. They helped with putting down carpet squares and adding the additional insulation wall up to the ceiling. They deserve gold medals.”

7th Grade ELA teacher Angela Oglsebee added “The custodians put in many long hours before school started and the first few weeks of school to make sure the AC was ready to go. Early
mornings and late nights were kept in order to get everything accomplished. The custodians brainstormed a lot to help make the AC liveable for teachers and students. They are trying hard
to make a bad situation bearable.” Finally, 7th Grade Math teacher Amberley Schechinger added “Not once have I heard Brian or Wade complain about the extra challenges they are facing.”

Thank you from all educators for a job well done. You are daily lifesavers. You are our unsung heroes in education!

(Elliott, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report a traffic stop early this (Saturday) morning, in Elliott, resulted in an arrest. Authorities say 37-year-old Cory Ross Smith, of Elliott, was taken into custody at around 3:15-a.m. for Driving While Barred. Smith was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Two men were arrested on separate charges, Friday, in Red Oak. According to Red Oak Police, at around 10:20-p.m., 20-year-old Chad Stanley Padilla, of Red Oak, was arrested in the 1600 block of E. Summit Street. He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and charged with Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree. His cash-only bond was set at $1,000. And, at around 2-p.m., Friday, 55-year-old James Kent Otte, of Red Oak, was arrested in the 1200 block of N. 1st Street, for Driving While Barred. His bond was set at $2,000.

(Radio Iowa) – One Iowa Christmas tree grower says supplies are already getting short as we enter the first weekend of December. Robin Miller of rural Hawarden owns of T & S Christmas tree farm in Plymouth County. She says the demand for real trees has continued to be high. Because of the high demand in the last few years, I will be closed after this weekend,” Miller says. Miller says a new generation wanting to make family memories has led to an increase in demand for real Christmas trees in recent years. Miller says most people prefer to pick a tree that stands around seven feet tall. She says it takes between eight and ten years to grow a tree at that height.

“The scotch pine is really popular and any of the firs are really popular for a couple of reasons. The Scotch pines have that really full conical look, and the firs are really well known for holding their needles,” she explains.Mill er has a gift shop and says another product has been very popular. “Boy this year we’ve had incredible wreath sales — I think we are up to 700 wreaths we’ve made — probably a 120 left, maybe not even that many,” according to Miller. “And you know, that’s also affected by the shortage of trees that we are seeing. I have a shortage of foliage. I wish I could have all the products I normally do, but I just don’t, due to the lack of access to the foliage.” Miller says the warm weather hasn’t kept people from being in the Christmas spirit, and sales of trees have not suffered.

“Doesn’t hurt me at all. A lot of times I hear people say ‘wow this weather is amazing, I remember that year with four feet of snow, a giant mudhole’, it’s kind of nostalgic in a way when people are reminded of other years when it was not so nice,” according to Miller. The T & S Christmas tree farm is located about 20 miles northwest of Le Mars, and 25 miles north of Sioux City.