In a surprise announcement during Wednesday evening’s City Council meeting in Atlantic, City Administrator John Lund reported City Attorney Jaimie Arnold has resigned, effective immediately. Lund told reporters after the meeting that Arnold tendered his resignation Tuesday morning.

While no official explanation was given for his resignation, Lund said Arnold was planning to return to North Carolina.

Former Atlantic City Atty. Jamie Arnold

He added there would be no disruption in the City’s legal services, since Cass County Attorney David Wiederstein, who had served as the City Attorney until Arnold took over the position earlier this year, will handle the role until a replacement is found. Arnold also served as the Assistant Cass County Attorney.

The City’s Personnel and Finance Committee will begin the process of searching for a replacement. Arnold worked for the law firm of Otto, Lorence and Wiederstein. That firm will continue to be on retainer for the City in the interim.

Of Arnold, Lund said “He was a great guy, and I’m really sorry things didn’t work out.” He said there was no problem with his job performance, and there have been no complaints what-so-ever.

A truck driver from Sparta, Wisconsin was injured this (Wednesday) morning, when the 2014 Kenworth he was driving went out of control on Interstate 29 southbound north of Council Bluffs, and came to rest on the highway. The Iowa State Patrol says 56-year old Bradley Zirott was transported by Council Bluffs Fire and Rescue to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs for treatment of minor injuries. The accident occurred at around 10:40-a.m. near the 58-miler marker.

Split peas cover I-29. (IA DOT photo)

Officials say the semi left the road on the right shoulder and re-entered the interstate before rolling onto its side and spilling its 50-thousand pound load of split peas. It’s believed Zirott suffered from a medical problem prior to the accident taking place. The roadway was closed for about two-hours, while crews worked to clean-up the spilled veggies.

Cass County Auditor/Election Commissioner Dale Sunderman reports ballots for  the September 8th local school board elections and Atlantic Community School District public measure, are now available at the Cass County Auditor’s Office. If you are unable to go to your local voting center on Sept. 8th, you may vote by mail, by sending a request for an absentee ballot to the Cass County Auditor’s Office. Or, you may stop by the Auditor’s Office Monday through Friday from 8-a.m. to 4:30-p.m.

In the Atlantic School District, seven candidates are running for three At Large seats on the Board of Education. They include: Doug Bierbaum; Alison Bruckner; Bob Drogo; Mark Foegen; Dennis Schwanke; Keith Swanson; and Jenny Williams. Atlantic School District patrons will also vote on a renewal of the 10-year PPEL (Physical Plant and Equipment Levy), which will not exceed 85-cents per thousand dollars of assessed property valuation, and whether or not the District should impose a state income surtax not to exceed 20-percent. The school board would have the final say on what the surtax would be for the 2016 calendar year, but they have indicated it would be nowhere near the full rate.

In the CAM School District, incumbent Julie Williamson is running for re-election to the North District school board seat, while incumbent Todd McKee faces a challenge from Emily Rouse for the South District school board seat. In the Griswold School District, there is no candidate running for the District 1 seat. Incumbent Scott Hansen is unopposed in District 2, and Heather Pelzer is the lone candidate running for the At Large seat on the school board.

The Polls will open at Noon on Sept. 8th and close at 8-p.m. There are two voting centers in Atlantic: Those in Wards 1,4 and 5 in Atlantic will cast ballots at the Heritage House. Persons living elsewhere in the Atlantic Community School District will vote at the Atlantic Public Library. In the CAM School District, polling sites include: the Anita Community Center (for those in Grant, Benton, Franklin or Lincoln Townships in Cass County, or in Adair and Audubon Counties); the Cumberland Community bldg. (for those in Union, Bear Grove, Noble or Edna Townships or in Adams County); and at the Massena Public Library for patrons residing in Massena or Victoria Townships in Cass County, or in Adams County. In the Griswold School District patrons in: Director District 1 will cast ballots at the Lewis Library; in Director District 3, at the Elliott Community Bldg; and in Director Districts 2 and 4, at the Griswold Community Bldg.

Gasoline prices are dropping slowly and steadily as Iowa motorists are seeing the lowest pump prices for August since 2009. Gail Weinholzer, spokeswoman for Triple-A-Iowa, says the national average has dropped for 19 days in row and the statewide average is now two-68 a gallon. She says there’s a lot of buzz about whether gas prices will keep falling and dip below two-bucks a gallon.

Weinholzer says, “I would not expect that we would approach $2 a gallon anytime prior to Halloween, perhaps as late as Thanksgiving.” July and August are usually high travel months as so many people are taking road trips, so gas prices typically rise during the summer due to increased demand. This year, however, that’s not the case. Indications are, prices will continue falling for the next several weeks, perhaps the next several months.

“We have to go through the switchover from the summer to the winter driving season, and that will push prices down about a quarter per gallon,” Weinholzer says. “I wouldn’t expect anything close to $2 until late fall or the early start of the winter.” Oil prices fell sharply in July based on what’s called “oversupply,” domestic oil supplies are about 25-percent higher than a year ago, while domestic oil production is up 12-percent. Gas prices will likely continue slipping as long as two things remain constant.

“One is any sort of heavy activity in the hurricane region down on the Gulf Coast,” Weinholzer says. “We saw with Katrina in 2008 what devastation that can be. We also have to keep an eye on the Middle East and make sure none of the unrest spreads to any of the significant oil fields.” The Triple-A survey finds Iowa’s most expensive gas is being sold in Des Moines, averaging two-76 a gallon, while the state’s cheapest gas can be found in Davenport, averaging two-56. Iowa’s highest-ever gas prices were recorded in July of 2008 when the statewide average reached $4.02 a gallon.

(Radio Iowa)