(Atlantic, Iowa) – A Corporate Loss Specialist for EMC Insurance, Tuesday morning, released information to the Atlantic School Board, with regard to the cost estimate to renovate the Atlantic Middle School. The building sustained roof and extensive interior damage during a fire that began on the roof on July 27th. The incident forced the District to close the building for the entire school year and relocated staff, students and the District Office to other sites in Atlantic.

(File photo) AMS damage during July 2021 fire

Scott Signor said during the meeting that cleaning and reconstruction costs will amount to between $5.5 and 6 million dollars. Atlantic Middle School Principal Josh Rasmussen surveyed the teaching staff, and 76-percent would like carpet replaced in the damaged classrooms, and 23.2 percent would like hardwood flooring. Repair of the roof will begin this week.
On the plus side of the disaster, officials with the Middle School Gymnasium will be available for basketball practices this winter.

Here’s a summary of current information with regard to the Middle School:

Flooring that needs to be replaced….
● Rooms 314, 315, and 316 were carpeted with a plywood base.
● Room 301 (small area of hardwood flooring), 101, and 110 are concrete floors with
carpet.
● Room 103 (band room) and connecting office were carpeted with hardwood under the
carpet. Also, terzo was covered with carpet.
● The Media center, Central office, and Middle School office all have hardwood floors with
carpet covering.
● All other destroyed floors were hardwood.
● Four classrooms, one gym, and two office floors were not damaged.
Wood flooring
● If decided fast would be available.
● Wood of the width in our building is unavailable – placement wood would be a little wider.
Carpet
● Would replace it with carpet squares.
● Interior Touch indicated a turnaround time of three and six weeks.
Other items to consider.
● Add drop down ceilings to all classrooms.
● Change the Central office to a classroom. Central office staff would remain at their
current location.
● Possible LED …To be determined (TBD)
● Possible Security entrance (TBD)

(Glenwood, Iowa) – A man from Glenwood was arrested early this (Tuesday) morning, following a traffic stop. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 24-year-old Dylan Seth Harris was arrested at around 6:30-a.m., for Driving While Revoked, and Operating a vehicle with the Interlock device. His bond was set at $1,300.

With Ric Hanson.

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(By Megan Brown, Navy Office of Community Outreach)

COLUMBIA, S.C. – A Kimballton, Iowa, native volunteered at a local food bank to give back to the community during Columbia Navy Week Oct. 18 – Oct. 24. Lt. j.g. Taylor Petersen is a 2010 Atlantic High School graduate. Today, Petersen serves aboard USS James E. Williams.  Williams is the namesake of Chief Petty Officer James Elliott Williams, one of the Navy’s most highly decorated enlisted sailors. Through his 20 years of service, Williams earned 18 awards including the Medal of Honor and Purple Heart (with two gold stars). Williams was born in Fort Mill, South Carolina. “We have an awesome namesake for our ship,” said Petersen. “James E. Williams was a hero and it is an honor to represent this command.”

The Harvest Hope Food Bank’s mission is to eliminate hunger and food insecurity for South Carolina residents. 13 sailors volunteered during this event which resulted in 434 boxes being packed with non-perishable food items such as pasta, green beans and crackers. The boxes will feed 434 families in need. “In order to fulfill our mission, we need volunteers, volunteers like the sailors, that will help us,” said Sarah Gibson, the Agency Relations Coordinator for Harvest Hope Food Bank. “Without the volunteer labor hours, saving us money and time, we wouldn’t be able to meet as much of a need.”

Lt. j.g. Taylor Petersen (Photo courtesy NOCO)

Columbia Navy Week will have approximately 75 events designed to bring American’s closer to their Navy.  Some of the featured events throughout Columbia Navy Week include live band performances, educational demonstrations, an enlistment ceremony and much more. “Navy weeks are important to be able to interact with local communities and give them a better picture of who we are and what we do,” said Petersen.

As a member of the U.S. Navy, Petersen, as well as other sailors, know they are a part of a service tradition providing unforgettable experiences through leadership development, world affairs and humanitarian assistance. Their efforts will have a lasting effect around the globe and for generations of sailors who will follow. “Serving in the Navy means putting the country first and yourself last,” added Petersen.

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department report the arrest at around 5:30-p.m., Monday, of 41-year old Chad Michael Mastin.  The Creston man was arrested at the Moonlight Motel on two outside agency warrants. Mastin was being held in the Union County Jail on a $25,000 cash or surety bond.

Area News from Ric Hanson.

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(Newton, Iowa) – An anticipated round of layoffs in Newton is now official. KCCI reports a posting from Iowa Workforce Development’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act website shows TPI Composites will lay off 710 employees.

Iowa law requires companies to disclose mass layoffs or plant closures to the state within 60 days. In September, the city of Newton announced the facility could be suspending production at the facility later this year. The city of Newton announced Thursday that TPI Composites will possibly be suspending production at the facility later this year.

The company was founded in 1963 and has been producing wind blades since 2001. The city said the Newton plant employs about 800 people.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Public Health released new COVID-19 data Monday showing a continued decline in positive tests and hospitalizations. IDPH data shows 6,812 positive tests in the last seven days, down from 7,389 at last report on Friday. Iowa’s 14-day positivity rate is also down from 8.8% to 8.6%. The number of Iowans hospitalized with COVID-19 dropped from 575 to 562. Of those hospitalized with the virus, 77.1% are unvaccinated and of those listed in intensive care with COVID-19, 83.2% are unvaccinated.

The health department reports 26 long-term care facilities with virus outbreaks, unchanged from Friday. There have been 3,577,968 vaccine doses administered in Iowa, with 67% of those 18 and older fully vaccinated and 69.4% of those 12 and older with at least one vaccine dose.

(Radio Iowa) – The top Republican in the Iowa Senate says every Iowa taxpayer should get an income tax cut, but Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver of Ankeny says the ultimate goal should be eliminating the state income tax altogether.) “Right now, there are about eight states that do not have an income tax. There’s another eight states that have said: ‘We want to get on a path to no income tax.’ And I would like Iowa to be included in those states that say: ‘Ultimately the goal is to get to nothing,” Whitver says. “How you do that is difficult. It takes time, but that should be the goal, to get rid of our income tax.”

A century ago — in 1921 — Iowa was the first state in the country to impose a cigarette tax, then in 1934, the Iowa legislature enacted a statewide sales tax and a state tax on income. Democrats say tax cuts should be targeted toward working Iowans rather than an across-the-board reduction that would benefit wealthy Iowans and corporations. Whitver says Republicans will pursue broadbased tax reform. “We wealthy Iowans work, too,” Whitver says. “We want it to apply to every Iowan and that’s what we’ve done over the last five years is cut taxes for everybody.”

In 2018, Republican lawmakers passed a tax reduction package that Democrats warned was fiscally irresponsible and would lead to underfunded schools and reduced state services. “This is a bobsled to bankruptcy is what they kept saying,” Whitver says. “In fact, the exact opposite is true.”

The state had a more than one billion dollar surplus when the last fiscal year ended on June 30th. Republicans say that should be returned to taxpayers. Whitver says getting rid of the state income tax can’t happen in one or two years, but a flat tax on income — without any deductions or credit — might be the first step. “It’s a good idea. It’s fair. People understand it,” Whitver says. “…We have a tax code that’s a mess with credits and exemptions all over the place. We’ve had to straighten that out before we can really take the next step.”

Whitver made his comments during a recent appearance on Iowa Press on Iowa P-B-S. Iowa State University economist Peter Orazem says if the state income tax is eliminated, the state sales tax would have to be raised substantially. He says Iowa’s property tax rates are a bigger deterrent to economic growth than Iowa’s income taxes.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports Deputies arrested Adam Dennis Letts at around 5:10-p.m., Monday. Letts was arrested on a valid Bremer County warrant for driving while barred. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $750 cash bond. Deputies arrested 40-year-old Kyle Danny Mitchell, Jr., of Omaha, at around 9:40-p.m. Monday, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Mitchell, Jr., was being held on a $300 bond. And, 53-year-old Gregory A. Riley, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 11:50-a.m. Monday, for Obstruction of Emergency Communications. Riley’s arrest followed an investigation into an incident reported in Coburg that was reported to law enforcement. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

And, the Red Oak Police Department Monday, reported the arrest of 44-year-old Chrystal Rush Stewart, of Red Oak. She was taken into custody Monday morning on two Red Oak Police warrants for Theft 5^th Degree. Stewart was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $600 bond.