(Atlantic, Iowa) – Police in Atlantic report five recent arrests, including the arrest of three people on separate Assault charges. Officials say:
32-year-old Cody Pleis, of Atlantic, was arrested Oct. 21st, Domestic Abuse Assault and Violation of a No Contact Order.
17-year-old Xavier Anaya, of Atlantic, was arrested Oct. 23rd, for Simple Assault, Harassment 2nd Degree, Public Intoxication, and Interference with Official Acts.
and, on Oct. 25th, 30-year-old Nathan Frazier, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Asault.
Other arrests by the Atlantic P.D. include:
34-year-old Jennifer Larson, of Atlantic, who was arrested Oct. 24th, for Operating a Vehicle without the Owner’s Consent, and
49-year-old Joseph Vesta, of Atlantic, who was arrested Oct. 20th for Theft in the 5th Degree (shoplifting). Vesta was cited into court and released from the scene.
CARROLL, Iowa – Several school children suffered minor injuries during a school bus rollover accident, Wednesday morning. Carroll Community School District (CCSD) Superintendent Dr. Casey Berlau said first responders were dispatched at approximately 7:18 a.m. to the scene on Granite Avenue just north of Breda. Officials say nine students were on the bus when the crash occurred, and two reported minor injuries.
Initial reports indicate the bus entered the ditch and then rolled onto its side. Berlau says a secondary bus picked up the uninjured students to transport them to class. The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Breda Fire Department, and Carroll County Emergency Medical Services also assisted at the scene.
SPENCER, Iowa (KCAU) — An officer with the Spencer Police Department reportedly killed a dog on Tuesday after a person sent two dogs after officers responding to a welfare check. According to a release from the Spencer Police Department, they responded to a requested welfare check on a person believed to be dealing with a mental crisis at a home located on the 900 block of E. 7th Street. The release said that the resident was aggressive and had two dogs charge at the officers.
One of the dogs continued to chase officers off the property and continued to charge an officer until the dog was eventually killed, the release said. The resident went back inside the home and did not cooperate for approximately two hours until finally being taken into custody without further incident. The suspect was taken to a local hospital for medical treatment.
The Spencer Police Department was assisted by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Okoboji Police Department, Spencer Municipal Hospital, Spencer Fire, and Season Center Mobile Crisis.
On Sunday, a pair of charity exhibition games featuring No. 4 Michigan State, No. 9 Tennessee, No. 1 Kansas and No. 25 Illinois will air on the Big Ten Network. The games will benefit the Hawai’i Community Foundation Maui Strong Fund, which provides financial resources to support the immediate and long-term recovery needs for the people and places affected by the devastating Maui wildfires.
Bill Raftery and Connor Onion will handle broadcasting duties for the Spartans and Vols at 3:30 p.m. ET, while Robbie Hummel and Andy Katz be in Champaign for the Jayhawks and Illini at 6:00 p.m. ET. Both games are also available on the FOX Sports app.
The broadcasts will also feature additional access, including in-game interviews and microphones in huddles.
(Radio Iowa) – The Cedar Rapids Community School District is now running two all-electric school buses, the only ones in the state. School Transportation Manager Scott Wing says the e-buses have several advantages, including the fact they’re eco-friendly. “There are no tailpipe emissions for these vehicles,” Wing says. “We have students that are around the buses at bus stops, at schools, while they’re loading. Emissions are certainly something that crosses your mind when you’re thinking about the pollution aspect and emissions going into lungs.”
Electric school bus (Cedar Rapids CSD photo via Flickr)
The e-buses are part of the district’s partnership with the Iowa Department of Tranporation and Alliant Energy. The Nevada and Sigourney school districts acquired electric-diesel hybrid buses in 2008.
(Radio Iowa) – Two statewide officials who were just elected in 2022 have endorsed a G-O-P presidential candidate and Governor Kim Reynolds — the Republican who got the most votes in last November’s election — could be next. “I don’t have any specific timeline on that, but I haven’t ruled it out,” Reynolds says. “…This next election is just too important.”
Former President Donald Trump has been posting messages on his Truth Social platform, criticizing Reynolds for not endorsing him. Early this year Reynolds said she was neutral in the race, in order to welcome all the candidates to campaign here and she hosted a series of “Fair Side Chats” at the Iowa State Fair with most of the candidates who’re competing against Trump for the Republican Party’s 2024 presidential nomination.
Yesterday (Wednesday), the governor told reporters the lack of border security is one of the issues that could motivate her to get directly involved in a presidential campaign. “Just inflation and just the decline of this country…it’s really important,” Reynolds said, “and so I’m not going to not consider it.”
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird endorsed former President Trump last week. State Treasurer Roby Smith endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy late this summer.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – Members of the Atlantic School District’s Board of Education, Wednesday, discussed the likelihood of offering an early retirement incentive plan. In the past, the matter was brought up for discussion every three-years. Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen noted it’s been a while since they offered the Early Retirement incentives.
Johnsen said at this time, the District is looking at the possibility of adding staff in positions that currently are not offered, and in positions where extra staff are needed.
Dr. Johnsen says her past experiences in dealing with Early Retirement plans, have seen personnel considering the change having served 20-years in their district. The number of retirements is traditionally capped at five per school year. She said 55 “Is a solid age” before it is often considered, but the Board can choose the number of years of service. “Lot’s of times,” she said “it’s continuous service, too.” The main benefit to offering the plan, she said, is cost-savings to the District. Johnsen said that’s evident in spread-sheet of information compiled by ACSD Director of Finance, Lisa Jones.
Board President Laura McLean said in the past, “The Board would chose to do this working around a situation where we needed to save money…like it’s almost a way of reducing staff without having to fire people.” Kristy Pellett explained it was used as a great tool for those years when the District was faced with declining enrollment.
Dr. Johnson said the proposal would be sent to all staff members, with a deadline for those who qualify to submit their request for early retirement, and so many days after the application is turned in, for them to change their mind.
Kristy Pellett says the district has an early notification policy that offers money to those who make their intentions to retire known before early retirement is offered. Superintendent Johnsen explained…
No action was taken on implementing an early retirement incentive plan during Wednesday’s Atlantic School Board meeting. The Board is expected to make it an action item at a future meeting.
In other business, the Atlantic School Board also discussed offering the Aviation Program to students outside the district and other matters, but also took no action at this time.
Jim Field visits with Patti Amos who is helping to organize a fundraising benefit for the Segebart family. Cari and teenage son Cody were injured in a head-on collision with an uninsured drunk driver. The benefit will be held on November 4, 2023 from 5:00 pm to :00 pm with a free will donation meal and an auction at the St. Joseph Parish Hall in Earling.