COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A Council Bluffs jury has awarded a gay couple $147,000 in their discrimination lawsuit. The Des Moines Register reports that the Iowa Civil Rights Commission had sued an apartment management company, New Life Multi-Family Management LLC, on behalf of Charles Anderson and Brandon Morehead. The commission says the jury last week found in favor of the couple. 

The commission says a maintenance technician employed by New Life Multi-Family had harassed Anderson and Morehead, who shared a one-bedroom in a complex managed by the company. The commission also says the technician continued to deride the men with epithets even after they complained to the apartment complex manager. 

The lawsuit says the company didn’t correct the technician’s behavior, which was discriminatory against Anderson and Morehead, based on their sexual orientation.

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education Monday night, approved by a three-to-two vote, the addition of certain extracurricular activities for the 2013-2014, and 2014-2015 school years.  For 2013-’14, that includes dance and an archery club, with swimming and bowling being added for the 2014-15 calendar year. The only stipulation, is that those programs would be on a three-year probationary period, with regard to how many students continue to express an interest in them.

Board members Phil Hascall and Dennis Davis voted against adding the activites. Hascall said he’d rather spend the money on Lindamood Bell teacher training and related programs, which seeks to strengthen students’ reading, comprehension and math skills by evaluating students in need of extra help and tailoring instruction specifically toward those individuals.  

The Board Monday also approved the purchase of an 84- and 65 passenger bus, similar to those purchased last year. As with last year, one of the buses will be powered by propane. The total cost for both vehicles is $204,378. It’s expected the district will receive them sometime later this fall.  

And, the Board approved a lease agreement for a new mobile classroom to handle class overload at the Washington School. The building would handle those classes that meet less than 30-minutes per day, and which do not require water and sewer accessibility. They also approved the purchase of a new walk-in cooler for the Schuler School food prep area.

Officials with the Atlantic Police Department say 14 children ranging in age from seven-to 10, boarded a SWITA bus and headed to Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo last week. The June 4th trip was made possible by the Atlantic Police Department’s Children’s fund.

Back row, pictured left to right: Lt. Jon Parsons; Sgt. Paul Wood; Dispatcher Brittany Shampang; Amber Singleton, & Officer Devin Hogue

Three A-PD officers and two female volunteers accompanied the kids as they explored the many zoo exhibits and learned about the animals. Officials report the kids and officers had a great time at the zoo, and hope to do it again, next year.

The Atlantic Police Department’s Children’s fund is sustained by private donations from citizens and charity organizations, and enables the department to interact with local, area youth during several different activities, including an upcoming weekend campout.

Officials with the A-PD thank the parents of the children who attended the zoo event for allowing their kids the opportunity to do so, and all those generous persons and businesses who contributed funds to make the trip possible.

Officer Devin Hogue & a few kids take abreak at the zoo & share some laughs. (both photos courtesy the Atlantic Police Dept.)

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports a Taylor County man was arrested early Monday afternoon on an alcohol-related charge. Authorities stopped a car driven by 48-year old Mark Land, of Gravity, after they received a report of him allegedly being intoxicated at the Corning Hy-Vee Store. Upon further investigation, Land was taken into custody on a charge of OWI/1st offense.