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Agency suspends Iowa prison guard over positive news article

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April 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Corrections has suspended a prison guard for giving an interview to his hometown newspaper for a positive feature story about his life and work.

The Bloomfield Democrat, a weekly paper in southern Iowa, featured John Cox in a front-page story about how he inspires and teaches inmates at the Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility.

The newspaper publisher, Karen Spurgeon, had taught Cox music in his youth and was impressed by his passion for prison work after bumping into him in December. Cox agreed to an interview.

Prison leaders put Cox under investigation after the article was published, saying he violated work rules that require prior authorization for media interviews. Ultimately, they gave him a three-day suspension. Cox and his union are appealing, arguing the discipline is an infringement on his free speech.

March rainfall about normal, temperatures cooler

News

April 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa/KJAN data) — Rain in March added to the snowmelt and caused flooding in the state — but state climatologist Justin Glisan says there wasn’t anything out of the ordinary in the overall weather picture.”Typically we expect about two-point-one-five inches — and we were right around two-point-zero-five inches — so almost average,” Glisan says. “Snow wise, we were below average also. We had on average two-point-two inches of snow across the state, where we typically expect almost five inches.”

In Atlantic, precipitation for the month (rain and melted snow) was 2.19 inches, which was .19 less than normal. Snowfall amounted to 2.1-inches. Snowfall for the season (Oct. 2018-March 2019) was 43.5-inches, in Atlantic. Temperatures on average across the state were not normal. “We were cooler than average by about five degrees. Normally we expect an average temperature around 36. We were about 31 degrees,” according to Glisan. “Now there are parts of the state that were near normal.”

In Atlantic, the Average High for the month was 43.8-degrees (4.5 degrees cooler than normal). The Average Low was 21.8 (4.4 degrees cooler than the norm). Glisan says it’s likely April will be warmer than last year — and overall precipitation will continue to be above normal.  “Last April was the coldest April on record, so this would be a welcome change from last April at least. Precipitation wise, we are trending a tad bit above average across the state. Typically during April we get about three-and-half inches of rainfall,” Glisan says.

Last April saw some heavy snow in the northern counties with 10 to 15 inches being reported. Looking ahead to the Month of April in Atlantic, the average High is 62.2, the average Low is 37.4, and precipitation typically amounts to 3.43 inches.

Carroll woman appointed to District Court Judge position

News

April 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Gov. Kim Reynolds today (Monday), announced her appointments of Gina Badding and Amy Moore as district court judges in Judicial Election District 2B.  Badding, of Carroll, Iowa, received her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Iowa. She currently practices law with Neu, Minnich, Comito, Halbur, Neu & Badding, P.C. in Carroll.

Moore, of Ames, Iowa, received her undergraduate degree from Iowa State University and her law degree from the Creighton University School of Law. She currently serves as a part-time judicial magistrate in Story County and practices law with Mid-Iowa Mediation and Law PLLC.

Judicial Election District 2B includes Boone, Calhoun, Carroll, Greene, Hamilton, Hardin, Humboldt, Marshall, Pocahontas, Sac, Story, Webster, and Wright counties.

Child Abuse Prevention Month awareness efforts in Cass County

News

April 1st, 2019 by admin

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and awareness will be on display throughout Cass County. The Cass County Child Abuse Prevention Council is working with Cass County School districts to place murals around the county.

Council members Melanie Stoural and Rhonda Stanley were in downtown Atlantic on Monday morning to hang a mural in the old Hawkeye Bowl window. They hope the community keeps the effort in mind.

Stanley said there will also be some decorated pinwheels that will be put up around the county that students have colored as part of a contest.

Stoural said they just want people to know that there are people available to help and April 5th will be a big awareness day nationwide.

If you are in need of help in a child abuse situation Stanley said there are ways to get started reaching out.

You can find out more about local efforts on the Cass County Child Abuse Prevention Council facebook page.

Authorities say 2 people injured in central Iowa fire

News

April 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

BOONE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two people were injured in a central Iowa house fire that one of them reported by running to an emergency center. Firefighters were sent around 4:30 a.m. Monday to the home in Boone and soon had the flames under control. A fire official told station KCCI that a man ran from the burning house to the dispatch center less than a block away to report the fire. The man and a woman who lived in the home were taken to a hospital.

Names and other details haven’t been released. The fire cause is being investigated.

Audubon Police report (4/1/19)

News

April 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer has issued a report detailing four arrests. On March 30th, 66-year old Gary Paul Kennedy, and 39-year old Kilie Ray Kennedy, both of Omaha, Nebraska,  were arrested on an active Audubon Police Department warrant for Theft – 3rd degree.  The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the arrest. On March 29th, 20-year old Jacob Hoyt Way, of Guthrie Center, was arrested on multiple active warrants, and released to Cass County authorities. And on March 12th, 35-year old Eddie Ray Mack Jr., of Audubon, was arrested on an active warrant for Failure to Pay Child Support.

School Bond vote tomorrow in Atlantic – Absentee turnout is strong

News

April 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Voters in the Atlantic Community School District will head to the polls tomorrow (Tuesday), to decide the fate of a $9.5-million bond referendum for school improvements and safety upgrades. Absentee voting at the Cass County Auditor’s Office will be held up until 11-a.m. Tuesday, April 2nd. The polls will be open from Noon until 8:00 p.m., Tuesday. As of 10-a.m. today (Monday), 453 Absentee ballots had been cast at the Auditor’s Office, and many more were expected to be cast between now and 11-a.m. on Tuesday. The Polling places for Wards two and three and all remaining school district residents will vote at the Atlantic Public Library. Wards one, four and five will vote at the Heritage House.

If approved, the bond issue would provide for improvements to the Trojan Bowl, plus the district’s baseball and softball complex and tennis courts. Also proposed is a renovation of a roadway for smoother access to the elementary building, and connection to the high school. The bond issue requires 60% supermajority in order to pass.

The Resolution on the ballot asks: “Shall the Board of Directors of the Atlantic Community School District, in the Counties of Cass, Audubon and Pottawattamie, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness ans issue general obligation bonds in an amount not exceeding $9,500,000 for the purpose of furnishing, equipping, constructing, improving, repairing, and renovating school buildings and improving the sites thereof at the school district’s existing school buildings located in Atlantic, Iowa, including without limitation: (a) renovating, equipping and improving the football field/track/stadium, team building, concession and related buildings/site improvements, (b) renovating, equipping and improving  the softball/baseball fields and related buildings/site improvements, (c) constructing, relocating, equipping and improving tennis courts and related buildings/site improvements, and (d) improving and realigning a roadway for smoother access to the elementary school and connection to the middle school?”

If approved during the Special Election, the indebtedness of the district will be in excess of 1.25-percent of the assessed valuation of taxable property in the School District.

Riverside PPEL & vacancy vote set for Tuesday

News

April 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Patrons of the Riverside Community School District will head to the polls Tuesday, April 2nd to cast their ballots on a renewed 10-year PPEL (Physical Plant and Equipment Levy), and a Board Vacancy in District 5. School officials have said if approved, the PPEL tax rate will be $1.34/$1,000 taxable property valuation, and will be used for critical updates such as replacing the HVAC units at the Elementary and Intermediate Schools. The units are currently 50-years old and well past their 30-year lifespan. The project will cost about $3.9-millions altogether.  The district also wants to update its bus fleet and technology.

The polls will be open from 10-a.m. to 8-p.m., April 2nd.

Bicycle Rodeo and Family Game Night to be Hosted by Impact Hill

News

April 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Impact Hill in Oakland, Iowa will host their monthly game night on Friday April 12th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. In addition to the regular board and card games, the Pottawattamie County Sherriff’s Office will be running a Bicycle Rodeo. Deputies will lead children through bicycle safety activities including providing children with properly fitting bicycle helmets.

The Pottawattamie County Cattlemen will also be on hand during the event, grilling hot dogs and hamburgers from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Proceeds from this free will offering supper will help pay for this and other family based events for the community. Everyone is welcome. Visit www.impacthill.org to learn more.

Grant Writing 101 Scheduled April 16 in Guthrie Center

News

April 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

GUTHRIE CENTER, Iowa – Representatives of nonprofits, local government, schools and other organizations are encouraged to register for Grant Writing 101, which will be presented from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16 at the Guthrie County Extension office, 212 State Street, Guthrie Center. Grant Writing 101 will provide hands-on training in seeking and writing successful grant applications. To register, call ISU Extension and Outreach – Guthrie County at 641-747-2276. There is a $10 registration fee which covers the training, materials, and a light meal that will be served at the start of the program. The program is being sponsored by Guthrie County Extension and Guthrie Center Development Group.

Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop, iPad or tablet device to the workshop, if they have one available. Grant Writing 101 will be presented by Abbie Gaffey, Community and Economic Development Specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. Gaffey has more than 25 years of experience writing and reviewing grant applications and working with various federal, state, local and private foundation grant programs. She will assist workshop participants in exploring various public and private funding sources, and provide instruction and tips on planning projects and writing successful grant applications.

For more information about the workshops, contact Gaffey at agaffey@iastate.edu or 712-539-1169.