(Red Oak, Iowa) – Sheriff’s deputies in Montgomery County, early Monday morning, arrested a woman from Polk County on two Cass County (IA) Bench Warrants. 36-year-old Alysha Anne Buell, of Des Moines, was arrested at around 5:40-a.m., in the 2400 block of Broadway, in Red Oak. She was taken into custody on the warrants for Failure to Appear on charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Buell was turned-over to Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies, and was being held on a $2,000 bond.

Separately, Red Oak Police, Monday afternoon, arrested 31-year-old Felicia Sue Galaviz-Monson, of Red Oak, for Contempt of Court-Resisting a Court Order, and Interference with Official Acts. Monson was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.

(Radio Iowa) – A group of lawmakers pressing to prohibit Summit Carbon Solutions from seizing land along its proposed carbon pipeline route says they’ve got new ideas for the 2026 legislative session.The group’s also calling for an apology from top Senate Republicans who publicly criticized 12 G-O-P colleagues who refused to vote on budget bills this past spring and forced a Senate vote on a bill with pipeline restrictions.

Republican Representative Steven Holt of Denison hosted an event this weekend that four of those senators attended. “Their leadership put them through hell,” Holt said. “Their leadership said things on the floor that I have never heard and I’m embarrassed as a Republican to have ever heard, but they stood fast.” One Senate Republican called the group naive. Another called the bill a nuclear bomb.

Senator Kevin Alons of Salix says it took a lot of courage. “It was a line in the sand that I just couldn’t let go of,” Alons said. “We took our stand and here we are and we’ve got a distance to go yet.” Republican Representative Charley Thomson of Charles City has helped draft the bill the senate passed — and Governor Reynolds vetoed in June. Thomson says seeing which Senators voted against that bill is important. “We know who’s on the other side. They’ve identified themselves. We’ve forced them out of the bushes. That’s who the problem people are,” Thomson said. “That is a huge tactical advantage.”

Senator Jeff Taylor of Sioux Center says 70 percent of Republicans in the Iowa House and Senate voted for the bill. “We were in step not only with the party platform, not only in step with Iowa law — including the Iowa Constitution, but we were part of a Republican legislative super majority,” Taylor said. “We were in step with our political party. The senators who voted no were not.” And Representative Holt says if Senate Republican leadership is looking for a quick compromise on the issue, they can vote on a bill the House passed last year to forbid Summit from seizing agland from unwilling property owners.

“This issue is not going away,” Holt said, to applause from a crowd at a Sunday afternoon rally in Shelby County.

The county’s board of supervisors voted last month to seek U.S. Supreme Court review of the lawsuit Summit filed to block Shelby County’s pipeline ordinance. A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of Summit and against the county’s ordinance that established no-go zones around homes, schools and other structures.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will attend a town hall meeting at 5:30-pm on Wednesday, October 8, in the Atlantic Middle School Media Center (1100 Linn St.). The purpose of the meeting is to provide community members with tours of the facilities, and information regarding upcoming district proposals. A quorum of the Board may be present, but No official Board action will be taken. The District has previously stated that “This will be a great opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the three measures on the November 4 ballot for ACSD. (The Town Hall meeting will be live streamed at https://youtube.com/live/2YXxARfjD0M?feature=share)

Following the Town Hall, a regular meeting of the Atlantic School Board will be held, beginning at approximately 6:30-p.m. That meeting will also be streamed live (https://youtube.com/live/2YXxARfjD0M?feature=share)

Their agenda is as follows:

1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Approval of Agenda
4. Welcome Visitors and Public Comments
5. Special Presentation : SRO & SBI
6. Reports:

1. Student Activities/Athletics
2. PK-3rd Grade Report
3. 4th-5th Grade Report
4. 6th-8th Grade Report
5. 9th-12th Grade Report
6. Student Services
7. Superintendent Report
8. Board Report
9. Financial Report

Consent Items*
a. September Meeting Minutes Sept 10 Sept 18 Sept 24
b. Monthly bills and prepaid bills since last board meeting
c. Open Enrollment-In Applications
d. Resignations

i. Oran Perkins, Middle School Wrestling Asst Coach
ii. Todd Killion, Middle School Wrestling Head Coach
iii. Mallory Kirchhoff, Junior Class Sponsor and Prom Sponsor.

e. Recommendation to Hire:

i. Harley Hester, Special Education Para (replacement position)
ii. Kinnick Juhl, Special Education Para (replacement position)
iii. Jeremia Robinette, Grounds Supervisor (replacing Brett Johnson)
iv. Tyler Mitchell, HS Robotics Sponsor (replacing Andy Mitchell/Stacey Schmidt)
v. Lexi Trotter, HS Girls Wrestling Asst Coach (replacing Lillian Cox)
vi. Derek Handel, MS Boys Basketball Coach (replacing Trace Petersen)
vii. Derek Handel, MS Girls Basketball Coach (replacing Trace Petersen)
viii. Chase Roller, MS Boys Wrestling Head Coach (replacing Todd Killion)
ix. Caleb Smith, MS Boys Wrestling Asst Coach (replacing Oran Perkins)
x. Ben Anderson, HS Boys Soccer Coach (replacing Mark Anderson)

f. Gifts, Grants and Donations from prior month
g. Upcoming Fundraising Request(s): Spanish Class Oct 9-Nov 9 Fundraiser PBIS Fundraiser Oct 17-Nov 3
Note: Any item may be removed from the consent agenda by a board member and considered separately.

8. Discussion:

a. Review board policies with updates:
i. Board Policy 208 Board Committees IASB Version District Version
ii. 208 R1 Board Committee Regulations IASB Version District Version
iii. 401.01 Equal Employment Opportunity IASB Version District Version
iv. 502.07 Student Substance use IASB Version District Version
v. 507.05 Emergency Plans and Drills IASB Version District Version
vi. 708 Care, Maintenance, Disposal of School District Records IASB Version District Version
vii. 710.1 E1 School Nutrition Program, Notice of Discrimination IASB Version District Version
b. Early Retirement Option

9. Action Items:

a. Approve first reading of Board Policies: Board Policy 208 Board Committees, 208 R1 Board Committee
Regulations, 401.01 Equal Employment Opportunity, 502.07 Student Substance use, 507.05 Emergency
Plans and Drills, 708 Care, Maintenance, Disposal of School District Records, 710.1 E1 School Nutrition
Program, Notice of Discrimination
b. Modified Supplemental Amount (MSA) request to the School Budget Review Committee (SBRC): Approve
the request to seek allowable growth for the District’s negative special education balance in the amount
of $724,256.42 for the 2024–2025 school year.
c. Modified Supplemental Amount (MSA) request to the SBRC: EL Excess Costs in the amount of $71,007.36
d. 28E Agreement with Southwest Iowa Apex Consortium (SIAC)
e. Appoint a delegate and an alternate delegate for the IASB Delegate Assembly on Nov. 19

10. Upcoming Dates:

a. Town hall meeting, High School Commons, October 16; 6:00 pm
b. Town hall meeting, Washington Elementary, October 22; 5:30 pm
c. School Board Work Session; October 22, 6:30 pm
d. Town hall meeting, Washington Elementary, October 29; 4-6pm
e. Town hall meeting, Middle School Media Center, October 30; 4-6pm
f. November Election, November 4, 2025
g. Regular Board Meeting, High School Media Center, November 12, 6:30 pm
h. Special Organizational Meeting (Old Board/New Board), November 18, 6:30 pm
i. IASB School Board Convention; November 19-20

11. Board Meeting Evaluation
a. Question for the Board:

12. Adjournment

(Radio Iowa) – A member of Norway’s royal family has visited northeast Iowa to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the first organized migration from Norway to the United States. Crown Prince Haakon’s visit to Decorah yesterday (Monday) included a tour of the Vesterheim Norwegian-American museum and a ceremony at Luther College. During remarks at the college, the crown prince spoke about Leif Erikson, the Viking explorer believed to be the first European to reach North America.

“His voyage said something about us,” he said. “It said we that we were a people willing to sail into unknown territory, to risk the storms for the promise of something better.” The crown prince says eight centuries later, that spirit was clear when 52 Norwegians set sail for America in 1825, in a boat called Restauration. “Over the next century over 800,000 Norwegians would follow, one in three left their homeland. They came for land, for liberty, for a chance to live their faith and when they arrived they built communities right here in Iowa and across the Midwest,” he said.

Crown Prince Haakon visits Decorah on Oct. 6, 2025. (Luther College photo)

“They built churches and schools. They built lives and they built a bridge between our nations that still stands today.” Crown Prince Haakon came to America after serving in Norway’s Navy and got a degree political science from the University of California at Berkeley, where he says he learned from both the faculty and his fellow students. “We didn’t always agree, but we listened, we argued, we learned and that is the essence of a free society — the courage to exchange ideas without fear,” he said, to extended applause and cheers.

The 52-year-old son of Norway’s King Harald is the ninth member of Norway’s royal family to visit Decorah since 1939. Luther College awarded him an honorary doctorate. “Now I should confess that my father received this honorary doctorate at the early age of 28, so yes it took me a little longer, but as I stand before you today I like to think that I eventually caught up,” he said, to laughter.

Luther College is the first higher education institution founded in the U.S. by Norwegian immigrants. Crown Prince Haakon is leading a Norwegian delegation that will also make stops in Minneapolis today (Tuesday) and in New York City later this week.

(Radio Iowa) – State Senator Claire Celsi of West Des Moines has died at the age of 59 after entering hospice care in mid-September. Celsi announced earlier this year she was dealing with a medical issue and missed about two months of the 2025 legislative session as she was awaiting surgery. Celsi, a founding member of West Des Moines Democrats, was first elected to the state senate in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Elected officials from both parties are offering condolences to Celsi’s family.

Governor Kim Reynolds says even while privately battling illness, Celsi made it a point to return to her post during this year’s legislative session and stand for her beliefs. Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner (WY-ner) says Celsi was a fearless advocate and truthteller.

Senator Claire Celsi (D-Des Moines) (Official Photo)

Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart issued the following statement on the death of Iowa State Senator Claire Celsi:

“My thoughts are with Claire Celsi’s family, friends, and everyone who had the privilege to know her. She was a fierce advocate for public education, protecting Iowa workers, cleaning up our water, and improving Iowa’s mental health system. Claire always went the extra mile to make sure Iowans’ voices were heard by the legislature. Her hard work, dedication to public service, and compassion for others will be dearly missed.”

(Radio Iowa) -The Iowa State University presidential search committee met today (Monday) and narrowed the list of candidates. The search committee met in closed session for several hours and cut to list of candidates to eight semifinalists.

They will conduct closed-session interviews with those candidates October 20th to the 22nd and then identify the finalists. Those finalists will visit the campus the first week in November and their names will be released they day before they visit.

The Board of Regents is expected to name the new president on November 11th. The new president will replace Wendy Wintersteen who is retiring.

(Lewis, Iowa) – The Cass County Conservation Department invites you to join them for a family friendly afternoon of fun at their Fireside Fair inside Cold Springs Park campground shelter. The event takes place Saturday October 25th.

Come and go from 1-until 5-p.m.. There will be fall crafts and treats, and you can try out the CCCD’s “Crack the Code” trail inside the campground.

They hope you will bring the family and enjoy the activities.

(Lewis, Iowa) –  Trumpeter Swans have visited the Schildberg Quarry in Atlantic for at least 27 out of the last twenty-eight winters. Now, it’s time once again for the Cass County Conservation Board’s contest, which asks you: When do you think the first Trumpeter Swan will arrive at the Schildberg Quarry?

Please call in your prediction (by November 10^th) to the Conservation Board at 712-769-2372, leave a message and return phone number if we are not in. Duplicate dates will not be allowed. For example, if a caller predicts November 25th, no one else will be allowed to predict that arrival date. So, call anytime until November 11th to make your prediction! One prediction per family, please.

The sponsors of this contest will determine the official arrival of more than 6 trumpeter swans to Lake 4, and if they arrive before the Nov. 11^th no more dates will be taken. The winner will receive a Trumpeter Swan Prize from the Cass County Conservation Board. Sorry, this contest is only for residents of Cass County.

Previous Arrival and departure dates of the swans have been as follows:

1997/1998 December 18 – January 2

1998/1999 Nothing on record

1999/2000 December 25 – February 15

2000/2001 November 23 – March 6

2001/2002 December 25 – February 24

2002/2003 November 23 – March 15

2003/2004 November 26 – March 21

2004/2005 November 25 – March 18

2005/2006 November 17 – March 5

2006/2007 October 30 – March 9

2007/2008 November 22- February 14

2008/2009 November 18- March 12

2009-2010 November 19 – January 5

2010-2011 November 5 – February 10

2011/2012 November 17 – February 21

2012/2013 November 24– March 4

2013/2014 November 12- April 7

2014/2015 November 11- April 6

2015/2016 November 22- March 24

2016/2017 November 19- March 9

2017/2018 November 9- March 20

2018/2019 November 11- January 23

2019/2020 November 8- March 3

2020/2021 November 30- February 13

2021/2022 November 22- February 28

2022/2023 November 22- February 22

2023/2024 December 2- January 30

2024/2025 December 1- February 24