The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education held a public hearing Wednesday evening with regard the District’s proposed 2016-17 School Calendar and the 2016-17 Certified Budget. During the calendar portion of the hearing, K-5 Teacher/Librarian Janice Dickerson commented that she was fine with the way it is, but that she would like to have had the Board and Administration communicate more with the Teachers before springing the calendar onto the agenda for action.

She said in the past, options were placed in the teacher’s lounge to review, but in the last two years “It’s become a secret, where we don’t know what is going to happen.” She said it used to openly posted for any staff member to look at. “These things,” she said, “are what makes the moral of our buildings go down. When you don’t value the opinion of your staff and the experience that they bring, too looking at what’s best for students…”

Dickerson said last year, when they taught up to Dec. 23rd, “It did not make for the best education of our students.” The proposed calendar for the upcoming year has the first day of classes starting August 23rd, 2016, with the last day of classes for all students (except seniors) being May 25th, 2017. Seniors’ last day will be May 17, 2017.

With regard to the proposed Certified budget, which amounts to just over $26-million, no one spoke in opposition to the budget or its nearly 60-cent increase in property tax valuation, but Board member Ali Bruckner questioned Business Manager Mary Beth Fast about what was included in the Student Support Services line-item, which went from $472,032 in 2015 to $1.1-million in the proposed FY 2016-17 budget, and Student Transportation, which increased from $560,000 in the re-estimated FY 2016 budget to $1.35 million in the 2017 budget year. She wanted to see a detailed, less confusing explanation of those services.

Board member Jenny Williams agreed. Mary Beth Fast said not approving the budget, would mean re-publishing it and holding another public hearing, and financially impact the district in that it wouldn’t receive the funding it anticipates. With the new budget, the proposed tax rate is $15.83 per $1,000 taxable valuation.

The Board Wednesday night also approved 2016 Summer Capital Projects recommendations by Superintendent Dr. Amstein, the bulk of which includes $385,000 for Bus purchases, $180,000 for Phase 2 of the High School Heat Pump replacement project, $125,00 each for the annual payment with regard to High School laptop computers, and playground equipment at Washington Elementary. Those, and other, smaller projects amount to an expenditure of nearly $1.1-million.

Atlantic Parks and Recreation announced on Wednesday that the Sunnyside Park gates will be open Thursday, March 10th by 7:00am.  The department is asking visitors to use great caution as you drive through the park due to gravel and debris on the streets.  Drivers also need to be on the lookout for walkers, joggers, disc golfers, and children playing in the park.

The restrooms in the parks will not be open until a later date due to the risk of freezing temperatures at night and frozen pipes.  The Kiddie Korral shelter at Sunnyside Park is not available for use due to some additional construction yet to be completed.  The tennis courts are open and ready to be used by the public for tennis only.

The department asks you to enjoy and respect the parks and their property as they are for everyone to enjoy.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports an arrest on Tuesday evening after a traffic stop.  At approximately 11:00pm deputies arrested 36-year-old Spencer Reigh Lile of Manilla on charges of Possession of Methamphetamine 2nd Offense, Failure to Prove Liability Insurance, and Failure to Carry Registration Card.  The traffic stop leading to the arrest occurred near Littlefield Drive and Zinnia Road.

Lile was taken to the Audubon County Jail and was later released after an appearance before the magistrate.  A preliminary hearing is set for March 28th.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports three people were arrested Wednesday morning (today), all within a span of about 30-minutes. 22-year old Justin Caleb Sunderman, of Red Oak, was arrested for Failure to Appear on a Red Oak City Parking violation. Bond was set at $300.

85-year old Lois M. Nelson, of Red Oak, was arrested for Assault, in connection with an incident which allegedly occurred at the Red Oak Post Office. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputy Todd Dollen said employees at the U.S. Post Office in Red Oak accused Nelson of shoplifting. As an employee tried to recover the undisclosed item, Nelson allegedly hit the victim in the shoulder and spit on his face. She was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and later posted a $300 bond.

And, 47-year old Mark Douglas Berggren, of Red Oak, was arrested for Failure to Appear on an original violation of a No Contact Order. His bond was set at $4,000.

(12-p.m. News)

A Cass County resident is suing the City of Atlantic for sexual discrimination, in violation of the Iowa Civil Rights Act. According to documents filed Monday in Cass County District Court, Laurine Price, of Atlantic filed suit Feb. 25th, alleging the City’s Parks and Recreation Department Board of Directors refused to hire her for the Parks and Rec Director’s position, or Assistant Director’s position. She has requested a jury trial.

Price claims she was denied an interview three separate times, when the Parks and Rec Director’s job became open in May 2008 and in 2010. She says she was also denied an interview in the fall of 2014, when the Department made it known they would soon be looking for an Assistant Director. In each instance, a man was hired for the job.

In her lawsuit, Price says a Parks Board member told her “The Board questioned whether a woman would be capable of handling the physical requirements of the Director Position.” Price says in two instances, the Board hired a man with less experience than she has. According to a fact sheet included in the lawsuit, Price has a Bachelor’s Degree in Recreational Therapy and at the time of her first application, nine-years of experience in the field of recreations, which made her “Well-qualified for the Director position.”

Court documents say when the Board began taking applications for the Assistant Parks and Rec Department Director, she reviewed the job posting and job description and determined she was qualified for the position. After sending the required materials (Cover letter, three letters of recommendation and resume) to Director Roger Herring, Price said Herring responded on Dec. 5th, 2014, with a job description that included additional requirements not originally posted on the Iowa Parks and Recreation website on Nov. 28th.

Specifically, the new job description required applicants to dead lift 70 pounds, have a valid Iowa Driver’s license and be able to operate power tools, requirements which Price acknowledged in an e-mail back to Herring, that she could meet. The lawsuit says Herring worked with the Parks Board to screen candidates, and again passed her over for an interview. Ultimately, the Board hired Seth Stasshelm, who, according to the suit, says has “less relevant work experience,” than Price.

The lawsuit seeks a judgment that will “Fully and fairly compensate her for her injuries [mental and emotional distress, anguish, humiliation, embarrassment, lost enjoyment of life, medical expenses, lost wages, benefits, future earnings” and other aspects of employment]. It also seeks reimbursement for relevant legal fees and court costs.

Atlantic Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring was not immediately available for comment on the matter.

Sheriff’s deputies in Page County arrested a Clarinda man Tuesday night, for Interference with Official Acts. 55-year old Shane Richard Roder was taken into custody as the result of being served a Protection Order at a residence in Clarinda. Roder was being held in the Page County Jail.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday), reviewed the County Compensation Board’s recommendations for salary increases for elected officials (Attorney, Auditor, Recorder, Treasurer, Sheriff and Board of Supervisors), but voted unanimously to adopt a Resolution cutting the amount of proposed increases in half. The increases will amount instead to: $1,500 for the Attorney, Auditor, Recorder and Treasurer; $2,500 for the Sheriff, and $600 for the Supervisors.

The Board also approved the Fiscal Year 2016-17 County Budget, which amounts to $18.35-million, or an increase of $2.15-million. The tax asking for the upcoming Fiscal Year is $5.32 per $1,000 valuation Countywide (a decrease of about 2-cents per thousand dollars from the last fiscal year) and $9.76 for the unincorporated areas that receive gas and electric utility service (a decrease of nearly 3.5-cents per thousand from last year). The Supervisors also approved the Cass County Secondary Roads Department Budget amounting to $5.63-million, and the purchase of two rolling  dump truck chassis with Allison transmissions. The low bid from Freightliner (with trade-ins) amounted to $149,754.

In other business, the Supervisors approved the appointment of two County Medical Examiner Investigators to assist Dr. Elaine Berry. The investigators, Allison Bruckner and Darci Young, both Registered Nurses at the Cass County Hospital, are in the process of being fully trained for the job, and will be paid $200 per call, effective immediately, an increase of $100 from last year. Their terms expire in two-years. Auditor Dale Sunderman pointed out M.E. Investigator fees in other counties can amount to as much as $500 per hour.

And, the Board acted on approving a Cass County Child Abuse Prevention Council request to proclaim April as “Child Abuse Prevention Month” in Cass County, which entails the placing of a sign and blue/silver pinwheels, in the flower garden areas on the south side of the Cass County Courthouse.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad has signed a bill into law that will keep most juvenile delinquency records confidential in Iowa. Branstad signed the legislation Wednesday at the Iowa Capitol, following overwhelming support in the Republican-majority House and the Democratic-controlled Senate. It also has the support of several advocacy groups. The measure is part of Branstad’s efforts to address criminal justice reform in Iowa.

The law will keep juvenile court records confidential unless otherwise ordered by a judge. The local NAACP says it will help youth who may struggle in the future to find work or educational opportunities because an old court record is disclosed. The law will apply to juvenile court proceedings that are pending or arise after July 1, when the measure goes into effect.

A stand-off that began Tuesday evening in Glenwood ended nearly an hour later, with the suspect being taken into custody after a brief struggle. According to Glenwood Police, officers responded to a domestic situation involving an armed subject, at 914 Green Street, at around 6:25-p.m. The alleged victim was able to leave the residence, and advised law enforcement the suspect, 61-year old Thomas Sawyer, had numerous firearms inside, and was in possession of a loaded weapon.

Deputies with the Mills, Montgomery, and Fremont County Sheriff’s Offices, along with Tabor Police, and members of the Iowa State Patrol, all assisted with the incident. Officers were able to get Sawyer to leave his residence, and after a brief struggle, he was taken into custody at around 7:20-p.m.

Sawyer was brought to the Mills County Jail and charged with Domestic Assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, (felony) Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon, and Interference with Official Acts.

An investigation into a car “All over the road” in Adams County, resulted in the arrest of a Nebraska man on drug charges. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office says 21-year old Garrett Bazzell, of LaVista, NE, was arrested just before 7-a.m. today (Wednesday), for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, after his vehicle was pulled over on Highway 34 at the 66 mile marker. Bazzell’s bond was set at $1,000.