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Tree vouchers available in Atlantic

Ag/Outdoor, News

April 13th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Atlantic Trees Forever has announced spring tree vouchers are now available. Spokesperson Dolly Bergmann said tree vouchers are a great way to help with the cost of a tree to plant.  The vouchers are worth $30 off the cost of a tree, and can be obtained at Pymosa Farms, north of Atlantic. Bergmann adds, there are a limited number of vouchers available.  Those at Pymosa Farms can help you determine what kind of tree would work best in the location you would like to plant a tree.

Pymosa Farms is located at 50979 Buck Creek Road, Atlantic, but Bergmann suggests calling owner Tim Reavis, at 402-659-1213 before driving out to the farm to ensure someone is available to help you.

(Podcast) KJAN News, 4/13/21

News, Podcasts

April 13th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The 8:05-a.m. Newscast w/Ric Hanson.

Play

(Podcast) KJAN morning Sports report, 4/13/21

Podcasts, Sports

April 13th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

With Jim Field.

Play

Creston Police report, 4/13/21

News

April 13th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

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.

(Podcast) KJAN News, 4/13/21

News, Podcasts

April 13th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The newscast from 7:05-a.m., with News Director Ric Hanson.

Play

Gun found in carry-on bag at DSM airport

News

April 13th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

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.

Atlantic School Board to act on numerous resignations & a few contract recommendations

News

April 13th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

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.

 

 

 

DAVID R. DUVALL, 73, of Audubon (Svcs. 4/16/21)

Obituaries

April 13th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

DAVID R. DUVALL, 73, of Audubon, died Sunday, April 11th, at The Friendship Home, in Audubon. Funeral services for DAVID DUVALL will be held 11-a.m. Friday, April 16th, at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon.

Friends may call at the funeral home, where the family visitation takes place from 10-a.m. Friday until the time of service.

Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon.

DAVID R. DUVALL is survived by:

His Wife – Sue Ann Duvall, of Audubon.

His Sister – Nancy Petersen, of Audubon.

Other relatives and his sisters-in-law.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the area: 4/13/21

Weather

April 13th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Today: Partly cloudy & windy. High 56. Winds NW @ 15-25 mph.
Tonight: Fair to P/Cldy. Low 30. NW @ 5-10.
Tomorrw: P/Cldy. High 55. NW @ 10-20.
Thursday: P/Cldy. High 58.
Friday: Mostly cloudy. High 55.

Monday’s High in Atlantic was 58. Our Low this morning, 28. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 41 and the Low was 22. The Record High was 88 in 2006, and the Record Low was 11 in 1950.

GOP lawmakers undecided on tax cut prospects

News

April 13th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Republican lawmakers have yet to decide what the 2021 legislature will do on tax policy. Republican Governor Kim Reynolds says the state can easily afford to speed up a series of income tax cuts. While Republicans in the Senate have endorsed that move, Republicans in the House are more cautious. Speaker Pat Grassley says Republicans in the House want to make a sound decision that can be sustained for the long term.

“We’ve been in the majority in the House for 10 years now and I think a lot of that is because of the decisions we’ve made on the budget,” Grassley says, “and the stability that we’ve brought to state government.” Under current law, the cascade of income tax cuts only take effect if state tax revenue is projected to increase at least a four percent — and total tax collections are above eight BILLION. Grassley refers to these requirements as “triggers.”

“The reason the triggers were put in there was that was one of the piece that House wanted to put in during negotiations back in 2018…to make sure that we can stair step our way into it, provide that tax relief we want, without having to put the state budget at risk,” Grassley says. Tax revenue is projected to grow at three-point-eight percent. Majority Leader Jack Whitver says Senate Republicans believe that’s sufficient and agree with the governor on income tax cuts. The Senate G-O-P also wants to reduce county property taxes by having STATE taxes cover mental health system costs.

“Most states across the country use state funds to pay for mental health,” Whitver says, “and we have a system that has locked in mental health funding for over 20 years on property taxes.” Whitver says Senate Republicans are not going to wait to find out if federal pandemic relief money being sent to the State of Iowa prevents the legislature from cutting taxes. “We want to reduce taxes and I don’t want another year. I mean, I don’t think Iowans want us to wait another,” Whitver says. “…We’re not going to let Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer and Joe Biden tell us what we can do with taxes in the state of Iowa.”

Whitver and Grassley made their comments during separate appearances on “Iowa Press” on Iowa P-B-S.