(Atlantic/Anita, Iowa) – The Cass County ISU Extension Office reports the Anita Food Pantry will be hosting a mobile food pantry next week, on Wednesday afternoon May 17. A mobile pantry is a traveling food pantry that delivers food directly to families in need for a one-day distribution. People from surrounding towns and communities are welcome. Mobile food pantries are available free of charge. Anyone in need is welcome, and no documentation is required. Each car can take food for up to two households at a time. See below for details and other upcoming mobile pantry dates in Cass County.

Anita 2023 Mobile Food Pantries (Additional details)…

Where: Anita Food Pantry (208 Chestnut Street, Anita IA 50020)

2023 Dates: May 17, August 16, October 18

Time: 4:00-6:00 PM

Upcoming Atlantic 2023 Mobile Food Pantries

Please note: Atlantic 2023 Mobile Food Pantries are being held at different locations during the school year (Cass County Community Center) and summer months (Atlantic High School).

Time: 4:00-6:00 PM

Atlantic High School (1201 E. 14th St. Atlantic, IA 50022): June 14, July 12, August 9
Cass County Community Center (805 W. 10th St., Atlantic, IA 50022): October 11

Upcoming Massena 2023 Mobile Food Pantries

Please note: Massena pantries require registration. Boxes are limited. Registration ends the Monday prior to the pantry date. To register for pantries in Massena, call (712) 779-3447.

Where: Southwest Iowa Egg Coop (74877 Clarke Ave. Massena, IA 50853)

2023 Dates: June 14 (register by June 12), July 12 (register by July 10), August 9 (register by Aug. 7), October 11 (register by Oct. 9)

Box pick-up time: 4:45-5:15 PM

Mobile pantry dates, times, and locations are subject to change. For the latest information on mobile pantries in Anita and Atlantic, visit https://foodbankheartland.org/food-resources/find-food/. For information on local food, farmers markets, and food access, follow the Cass County Local Food Policy Council’s Facebook page @CassCountyLocalFood. With questions, call the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday (today), voted 4-to-1 to set May 16th at 9-a.m., as the date and time for a Public Hearing on the sale of real estate in the County, with regard to the Willow Heights facility. Supervisor Wendy Richter was the lone Nay vote. Since other, required hearings were held in the fall of 2022, the hearing on the 16th is essentially a formality and to accept the sale price arranged through Property Connections Real Estate. The difference with the next hearing, is that a price and the name of the buyer will be listed. The property has not yet been sold.

In other business, the Board passed a Resolution establishing the 2023 Weed Control Program-CASS CO. Board Chair Steve Baier read from a portion of the Resolution approved….

The Supervisors received a regular weekly report from County Engineer Trent Wolken.

With regard to various bridge & road construction projects…

He said also, Bridge #380 closed last week.”

And, he said they will be working on equipping two replacement dump trucks that were ordered over a year ago. Their chassis are “on the ground,” as of Monday, but the dump boxes still need to be installed. Those were ordered over a year ago, as well as two motor graders are set to be delivered.

The Board approved the final pay voucher for the paving of Adair-Cass County Road G-61/Victoria Road. The Adair County Board of Supervisors approved their share of the project cost during their meeting on May 2nd. The total project cost is $2.5-million. Cass County’s share is $213,000.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday (Today), agreed to set May30, at 8:45-a.m., as the date and time for a public hearing on a County Budget Amendment. The Board also approved the following:

• The Recorders Report of Fees amounting to $16,730.59.
• An alcohol license renewal for the Red Oak Country Club.
• Claims payable in the amount of $460,550.24

The Montgomery County Supervisors tabled discussion on the County Employee Handbook until additional information and clarification is made. A renewal of annual contract with Solutions was approved in the amount of $37,800. The County is in the third-year of a five-year agreement with the company. The amount paid each year is locked-in, and therefore unchanged.

The Board approved ARPA Funding for the County Conservation Department, in a total amount of $49,925. Conservation Board Member Jon Spunaugle mentioned $3,400 was requested for a new “Smartboard” at the Outdoor Educational Center, and $15,525 was for a new side-by-side UTV (Utility Terrain Vehicle).

Montgomery County Board of Supervisors Mtg. 5-9-2023

He said $31,000 was requested for a remodeling project at the Anderson Conservation and Wildlife Area/Wolfe Nature Center.

Supervisor Donna Robinson said the Conservation Department is very deserving of the funds. Spunaugle agreed.

The Montgomery County Supervisors also approved ARPA Funding for 67 new windows at the courthouse, with 25 of those in the attic, the frames for which are so rotten, the glass is in danger of falling out. ARPA Funds will also be used for brick tuckpointing at the courthouse, in the amount of $200,000.

And, the Supervisors in Montgomery County approved the abatement of taxes (Amounting to $30), for a parcel of land (described as a “sliver”) north of 200th and west of G Avenue. The County Secondary Roads Department basically had an easement for a short road so their trucks could turn around.

(Radio Iowa) – Starting this fall, students at Drake University will be able to study under a new zoo and conservation science degree. There’s been a similar curriculum concentration for Drake students to tack onto their majors since 2015 and the university recently approved expanding it to a full degree. Drake professor Michael Renner says the program will prepare students to take on entry-level jobs in zoos, especially when zoo directors claim most applicants for these roles are unqualified. “You need to know something about biological mechanisms, the transmission of disease, microbiology, physiology,” Renner says. “You need to know something about how animals fit into the world, so that would be ecology and organisms, scale biology, not looking at the parts, but looking at the whole critter, and you need to know something about behavior.”

The program is partnering with Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines. Renner says students will spend time at the zoo through many of the degree’s classes. Renner says with the full degree, students will not only learn about animals, but also take a management course so they can grow their careers beyond entry level.  “Students do two internships before they graduate and that’s kind of a differentiating factor from other places where a student might be able to pick up an internship,” Renner says. “They’re very competitive in the zoo world. It’s kind of a mark of the quality of the program that our students are so successful in competing for internships, and by the time they graduate having had two, then they’re very competitive for the jobs.”

Renner says well-trained zoo workers make zoos better places for animals to receive conservation and care. Students can sign up for the major starting this fall.

(by Catherine Wheeler, Iowa Public Radio)

(Anita, Iowa) – Members of the CAM School District’s Board of Education, Monday evening, discussed and approved a recommendation by the Facilities Committee to close an Attendance Center. Superintendent Paul Croghan on the closing of the North Elementary building…

Mr. Croghan explained “As we spent time starting in January with the Facilities Committee studying and looking at options and figures and the cost of buildings and what was best for students,: it was not an easy decision to make. He set forth the timeline of what to expect in the coming months.

He wishes to thank everyone involved in the process, for all their hard work in making a tough decision for the district and the viability of the school district moving forward.

In other business, the CAM School Board, Monday, held a public hearing on a proposed 2022-23 Budget Amendment.

And, they approved Master Social Work and E-Rate Agreements with the Green Hills AEA, and they accepted a replacement bid for a walk-in cooler and freezer, along with a bid for storm drain repair.

(Creston, Iowa) – A woman from Nebraska was arrested a little before 4-a.m. today (Tuesday), in Creston. 19-year-old Kennedi Jo Leitschuck was arrested at intersection of Howard and Sumner. Leitschuck was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Marijuana 1st Offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She was taken to the Union County Jail, and later released on a $1,300 bond.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A public hearing is set to kick-off the Atlantic School Board‘s regular monthly meeting, Wednesday, in the High School Media Center. The hearing takes place at 5:30-p.m., and is with regard to the Amended 2022-23 Certified Budget. According to School Business Official/Board Secretary Sarah Sheeder, the amendment amounts to an increase of $793,569, for a total budget of $27,140,000. Increases come in the areas of Instruction (+$342,885), Total Support Services (+$230,345), and Other expenditures (+$220,339). The District says “There will be no increase in taxes.”

Following the hearing, the regular Board meeting will get underway. On the agenda, is discussion with regard to: Contract & Bonds for the High School Storage Shed; Construction Trades House Project; Therapeutic Classroom; The Home School Assistance Program, and a Revenue Purpose Statement Election.

Action items under the Board’s Consent Agenda include:

• The resignation of Paul Iekel, HS Cross Country Asst. Coach; & a Contract Recommendation for Dalton Franken, Varsity Boys Basketball Coach.
• Approving the 2022-23 Certified Amended Budget.
• A revised Resolution with regard to a transfer of funds for Protective (Athletic) Equipment.
• A 2023-24 Interim Superintendent’s Contract.
• 2023 Winter Coaching Contracts.
• 2023-24 Club/Activity Sponsors.
• 2023-24 Substitute Employee Pay Rates.
• 2023-24 Student Fees.
• 2023-24 Milk/Bread Bids
• A proposal from Per Mar Security w/regard to Card Access.
• Approval of Contracts & Bonds for the High School Storage Shed
• a Change Order pertaining to the HS Storage Shed.

Additional meeting information can be found HERE.

(Radio Iowa) – A Florida-based comedian, illusionist and motivational speaker will visit three Iowa schools this week to talk about bullying prevention. Tom Coverly has appearances scheduled in Colfax, Iowa Falls and Webster City. He’ll host assemblies during the day and then will invite everyone back at night for a full comedy-magic show. Coverly says social media makes things much more difficult for kids today as they can’t get away from bullies.

Tom Coverly. (photo provided)

Cyber-bullying, Coverly says, is pushing some kids to, in his words, “give up on the gift of life.” He says some will see suicide as the only way they can escape persistent bullies. Coverly says he’s been contacted to perform in schools where children as young as six have taken their own lives. He’ll appear in Colfax on Wednesday, Iowa Falls on Thursday and Webster City on Friday.