The Adair County Board of Supervisors will continue Wednesday, with discussions they’ve held in previous meetings the past couple of months, with regard to a Solar Panel Ordinance. In past meetings, some rural residents voiced their concerns and objections over proposed plans by MidAmerican Energy to take more land out of production, in favor of large solar farms. The Board’s meeting begins at 9-a.m.

At around 9:30-a.m., Wednesday (April 14), the Adair County Supervisors will hear from County Attorney Melissa Larson. Members of the public will be allowed to attend in person in the courtroom at the Adair County Courthouse, but officials note in-person attendance will be limited to 21 people, in order to allow for social distancing. If you plan on attending, please wear a mask. The conference phone will still be available for those to cannot attend in person. It can be accessed by call (605)-313-6157, and when prompted, enter code 526272#.

The supervisors discussed at length during their last meeting on March 31st, what would be appropriate for allowing such industrial-sized solar development in the county. After considering ordinances other counties have and discussing what their options are, and considering that rural parts of Adair County are not zoned, the supervisors decided to draw up an ordinance restricting solar panels to be 500 feet or more from any dwelling, regardless of project participation; 500 feet from a property lie of a parcel less than 10 acres of a non-participant; 250 feet from the property line of a larger non-participating parcel; 50 feet from a road right-of-way; and a radius of 150 feet from a road right-of-way at intersections from the center of the road. The supervisors would also like panels to have native grasses or other manageable vegetation under them and for there to be a decommissioning plan developed.

The Board will also receive a report from Weed Commissioner Nathan Jensen, with regard to Noxious Weed Notices, and County Engineer Nick Kauffman, who will talk about a new hire, a concrete box culvert project for W20 Jackson Road, as well as a “No Spray” agreement for the City of Fontanelle’s Well site, and other matters.

(Des Moines, IA) (Des Moines, IA) Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Health, Tuesday (Today) said “With the announcement from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) this morning, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has advised that all Iowa vaccine providers pause administration of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine until more details are confirmed.

Dr. Angela Weppler receives her first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. (photo submitted)

The CDC and FDA are reviewing data involving six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the J&J vaccine. Right now, these adverse events appear to be extremely rare.”

Read the statement issued by the CDC here. CDC and FDA will provide additional information and answer questions later today at a media briefing. A recording of that media call will be available on the FDA’s YouTube channel. IDPH says “We will provide an update when we have further details.  “

Creston Police report  a man and woman from Creston were arrested Monday night on separate charges. Authorities say 37-year-old Alexander King was arrested at around 7:21-p.m., for Driving While Barred and OWI/2nd offense. He was being held on $3,000 bond in the Union County Jail. And, at around 11:20-p.m., 47-year old Jennifer White was arrested for Public Intoxication. She was being held in the Adams County Jail on a $300 bond.

A man from Polk County tried to board an airplane with a carry-on bag containing a loaded handgun, Sunday. KCCI says Transportation Security Administration officers prevented the man from bringing his .45 caliber handgun loaded with five bullets. TSA officers alerted Des Moines police, who confiscated the firearm before citing the man.

(File Photo image from tsa.gov (Not the actual gun seized at Dsm Int’l. Airport)

TSA Federal Security Director for Iowa John Bright reminds Iowans and others NOT to bring your gun to an airport security checkpoint. Regardless of whether or not you have a concealed carry permit, it is NOT allowed. If you want to travel, you must pack your weapon properly so it can be processed as checked baggage. Failure to comply with regulations will result in a stiff federal civil penalty that may cost you thousands of dollars.

Sunday’s incident was the third time this year a firearm was confiscated at the Des Moines International Airport. In 2020, there were a total of seven firearms confiscated. There were 12 guns confiscated in both 2018 and 2019.

The TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website.

The Atlantic School Board will meet in a regular session 6-p.m. Wednesday, April 14th. The meeting takes place in the High School Media Center, and will be streamed live on YouTube. During their session, the Board will act on numerous resignations, including:

• 7th Grade Middle School Special Education Teacher Ashley Coffman
• ESL Coordination/Teacher & TLC Facilitator Brielle Cerven
• Special Ed. Teacher Hannah Ridder
• Junior Varsity FB Coach/ MS Track Coach, Joe Brummer
• Special Ed. Paraeducators: Tesla Cleaver; Vanessa Proehl; Becky Kirchhoff, and Jordan Franken.
• and School Bus Route Driver Clair Acker.

The Board will also act on the Contract Recommendations for: Holly Esbeck, HS Social Studies Teacher; & Matthew Best, HS Physical Education & Weight Training Teacher/ JV Football Coach. And, HS Assistant Principal Andrew Mitchell will present to the Board his recommendations for the hiring of Winter Sports coaches, to include:

• Tim Duff: Head HS Wrestling
• Asst. HS Wrestling: (To be determined)
• Oran Perkins & Adam Smith: MS Wrestling
• Head HS Girls Basketball Coach: Dan Vargason
• JV Girls BB Coach: Shelby McCreedy
• Freshman Girls BB Coach: Katy Christensen
• MS Girls/Boys BB: Terry Hinzman & Trace Peterson
• Head HS Boys BB Coach: Jeff Ebling
• JV Boys BB: Jeremy Blake
• Freshman Boys BB: Derek Hall
• Boys/Girls Swimming: Dean Junker
• F/BB/WR Cheerleading: Michella Bartholomew.

Mitchell is also expected to recommend the Board re-approve sharing agreements for the 2021-22 school year, to include: Girls Swimming – Audubon & Clarinda (Atlantic will act as the host school); Boys Swimming – Audubon, Clarinda & Red Oak (Atlantic will host); Wrestling – CAM (Atlantic hosts); Girls Soccer – CAM, Exira-EHK (Atlantic hosts).

In other business the Atlantic School Board is expected to act on approving a sharing agreement with the Griswold CSD for the services of Transportation Director, with Griswold paying 20% of the costs. They will also discuss and act on Superintendent Steve Barber’s recommendation for the disposal of laptop computers by allowing the Senior class the opportunity to purchase their Apple computers they have used the past four-years, for $125. They will also act on setting May 12th at 6-p.m. as the date/time for a Public Hearing on the 2020-21 Certified Budget.

The Atlantic School Board is expected to receive an update, and discuss, the Facilities Project, and 2019-20 Audit report. The latter shows a discrepancy in the certified enrollment data, which was overstated by 1.00 student (which the District will correct by contacting the Iowa DOE), and instances the auditors detected where the District Board Policies did not appear to have been reviewed and/or updated within the past five-years. The District responded by saying it has created a schedule to review each Board Policy series in a timely manner, beginning in 2021 and continuing until all series are up-to-date.  Additional audit information: 

And, the ACSD Board will move to accept a donation of $120,000 from an anonymous contributor, the Washington Technology Upgrade. Superintendent Steve Barber says he received a call from an investment firm that had a person who desired to make the donation. The Board must approve any major donation, per District Policy.