Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce report the United States Postal Service office in Atlantic has received a Community Improvement Award. The Image Builders Committee presented the Community Improvement award to Atlantic’s Post Office for its improvement to the front of its building.

Pictured: Bert Rose, employee, and Sharon Worthen, Post Master,
Also pictured: Image Building Committee: John Krogman, Ouida Wymer, Rich Perry, Gerald Brink, and Bill Saluk.

The Community Improvement Award is given to a business that has shown that it takes pride in making Atlantic a welcoming and beautiful community. Bert Rose, a USPS employee, found old materials in the post office basement and created the scene you see out front today.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report four people were arrested Friday. 44-year old Damon Patrick Doty, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail on a Mills County warrant for Probation Violation. His bond was set at $5,000. 20-year old Eric Joseph Carlson, of Nebraska City, NE, and Nadine Gail Yoesel, of Auburn, NE, were arrested Friday following a traffic stop. The pair face Possession of drug paraphernalia charges. Bonds were set at $300 each.

And, 20-year old Jacob Kyle Rash, of Herriman, UT, was arrested last Friday following a traffic stop on I-29 in Mills County, for OWI/2nd offense. His bond was set at $2,000.

Officials with the Atlantic Community School District (ACSD) have announced information with regard to registration for the 2014-2015 school year is available online at http://www.atlanticiaschools.org/

In the letter, Superintendent Mike Amstein says “For the 2014-15 school year, Atlantic Community School District will continue to utilize the “rollover” registration process with JMC, the district’s student information system. By using the “rollover” registration process it will alleviate the long lines for school registration at the high school each August. The “rollover” registration process assumes that every student enrolled in the ACSD at the end of this school year will be attending school in the fall of the next school year. This means that you will not have to register student(s) for the upcoming school year, if they attended ACSD this school year (2013-14) and were still in attendance as of the last day of school for this past school year (May 27, 2014).”

Amstein goes on to say “Students, who are NEW to the school district and are planning to enroll for the 2014-15 school year will need to register for school at our school buildings,which are open during the summer or access the school registration forms located online at the district’s website, www.atlanticiaschools.org. All of the necessary registration forms are posted on the right hand side of district’s website or are available at each school building.”

Other information in the letter pertains to student fees which need to be paid for the upcoming school year. The district is now utilizing RevTrak instead of PaySchools to collect fees and to pay for lunch. By using RevTrak, there will NO longer be a $2.00 transaction fee for online credit card payments.  The free and reduced application can be found on the Registration website.

If you want more detailed instructions on how to register online, please follow the instructions provided to you on the ACSD website If you don’t have access to a computer, please stop by your student’s school.

Iowa Western Community College’s Board of Trustees held their regular monthly meeting in Atlantic, Monday afternoon.

Iowa Western President Dr. Dan Kinney (Center, tan sport jacket) speaks at the meeting held in Atlantic.

During the 75-minute meeting, which was held at the Atlantic Center of IWCC, College President Dr. Dan Kinney introduced the newest member of the Board, Marge Welch, who officials came on board June 30th, and has been putting together some new initiatives for the college. Welch is originally from Afton, in Union County. She started her career in higher education at Southwestern Community College, where she served for 11-years, before working at the university level (Buena Vista University) for the past eight years.  She said she’s wanted to get back to get back to the community college scene, which is where she says more emotionally grounded.

In his report to the Board, Dr. Kinney said Summer Graduation is set for 7-p.m. this Friday (July 25th). Approximately 80 students are set to receive their diplomas. Fall classes at Iowa Western begin August 18th. Kinney was also pleased to report he received a letter recently indicating the college will be receiving another Iowa Great Lakes Grant for IWCC’s innovative program designed to keep more students enrolled and on track academically, socially, and financially for program completion. The program is called “Intrusive Advising.” Kinney says he thinks it’s making a difference in student proficiency.

The latest grant amounts to $197, 340. Last year, the college received a grant amounting to $214, 790 to helping 150 students navigate their first year of studies through weekly advising meetings, supplemental instruction, and tutoring.

IWCC Cass County Center Director Ann Pross speaks to the college Board of Trustees.

And, Iowa Western/Cass County Center Director Ann Pross reported to the Board of Trustees on the status of construction projects and enrollment. She said the new Student Activity Center which is currently under construction should be finished by the beginning of the Fall semester, and ready for occupancy by the start of the Spring semester.

Pross also reported there are now five full-time faculty members at the Cass County Center, and the enrollment numbers have held steady, with a small amount of growth. She said also the Design Technology Program continues to grow. 13 students graduated from the program in May. Another dozen students are involved in internships this summer. All of the students who take internships and graduate have received multiple job offers, with starting salaries of $35,000-45,000.