(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council is set to meet 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19th, at City Hall. One of their agenda items is to hold the Second Reading of an Ordinance “Amending the City Code…by dividing the City into five Wards and five Precincts, and outlining and describing each Ward and Precinct,” and repealing Ordinance 934.

City Administrator John Lund says an error occurred two weeks ago with the rules for waiving the second and third readings of the Ordinance to adopt the redistricting maps for the City. That means the Ordinance was not passed by the presumed deadline. In his agenda preview notes, Lund said “[City Clerk Barb Barrick] contacted the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office with the issue. As suspected, they wanted to get their hands on our maps, which were submitted, on time.” Lund said “[The SOS Office] was very accommodating of our error and merely want the ordinance sent to them when it is passed.” He says “Since the second and third readings were not legitimate, the second reading can occur now (at the Jan. 19 meeting).”

The Council is then expected to waive/suspend the rules for the third reading that requires three separate meetings before the ordinance is approved. It must do so by a three-fourths vote of the full Council (6 out of 7 members). If that occurs, they can move on to the third and final reading, which requires a simple majority vote, in order to pass. If approved, the Ordinance may then be sent on to the Secretary of State’s Office.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on an Order to approve an agreement with the City of Massena, for Wastewater Operator Services. The City of Massena was informed by the Iowa DNR that the City must delegate the Operator-In-Charge authority necessary to operate and maintain their wastewater facilities, and an operator with a Grade II license. Massena’s employee only has a Grade I license, but is working on their Grade II license. Massena has already established relationships with surrounding communities for the services they need help with, including the City of Marne and the City Clerk’s Office. Atlantic’s Wastewater Superintendent Tim Snyder (who has a Grade IV license) is willing to assist Massena at a contracted rate.

The Atlantic City Council will also act on a Resolution adopting the Cass County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP), and Resolution repealing a Resolution and “Establishing the use of the ARPA Special Fund,” as determined last week by the U-S Treasury Department that allows for greater flexibility in how the COVID relief funds are used. It also means the Bull Creek restoration project is still on the table.

(Area) Various monthly meetings are set to take place around the area, Monday. First-up, at 5:15-p.m., the City of Atlantic’s Parks and Rec Board will gather in the City Council’s Chambers. Action items include those pertaining to: The Quality of Life Committee; Sand Volleyball Courts; Little League Expansion, and a FEMA Safe Room. And, Director Bryant Rasmussen and the Board will discuss exploring synthetic ice options and enhancing online reservations.

The Griswold School Board meeting takes place at 5:30-p.m., Monday, in the Conference Room. At 6-p.m., the Board will move into a Public Hearing on the 2022-2023 School Calendar, followed by discussion. When they resume current business, the Board will act on setting the meeting date and time for a Special Board/Work Session. They’ll also take action on approving the 2022-23 School Calendar, and the Modified Supplemental Amount (MSA) & a plan for the Dropout Prevention and At-Risk Program. Additional discussion will cover topics such as the Baseball Field and Middle School Gym Maintenance.

At 6-p.m., Monday, members of the Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton School Board will meet in the Conference Room at the Elk Horn Building. There, they will receive and recognize a Letter of Intent to Bargain, from the Teacher’s Union. Discussion and/or action items include: Setting the date and time for a 2022-23 Calendar Hearing; A request to the SBRC for funding relating to FY 22 SWVPP increased enrollment (including a resolution to submit a request to the SBRC for funding in the amount of $32,521.50; Action on adopting a Resolution accepting completion of the MS staff restroom renovations in the Exira building; They will also act on: Approving an April 1st-3rd Music Booster trip to Kansas City; A retention stipend for staff, and approve hiring Cody Parmley as Drama/Play Sponsor.

The Audubon School Board meets 7-p.m. Monday in the High School Board Room. Action items include approving: sharing agreements with Coon Rapids-Bayard; the transfer of funds from Profession Development and Home School Assistance to the Flex Funds. Superintendent Eric Trager will report on the Federal Vaccine Mandate for businesses with 100 or more employees (Which was blocked by the Supreme Court last week), and he’ll provide updates on District building projects.

(Scranton, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Greene County, Saturday, said one of the teenagers badly burned in a Greene County cabin fire on New Year’s Day, has died. Two teens, 15-year-old Harley McDonald and 14-year-old Lucas Oakes suffered from burns when a cabin they were staying at near Scranton, caught fire. Oakes suffered burns to mainly his hands and face after he put out the fire on McDonald, who suffered critical injuries. Both teens had been flow to the burn unit in Iowa City, where McDonald later died.

Oakes was released from the burn unit on January 8th and was treated to a “Welcome Back” ceremony with friends and family at the Greene County High School parking lot on January 9th.

Investigators are still looking into the cause of the fire.

Des Moines, Iowa (Via KCCI) – A man involved in a deadly drive-by shooting in the 1990s is now behind bars once again for a different crime. Arrest records show 44-year-old David Flores is being held in the Polk County Jail on suspicion of domestic abuse, several counts of probation violation and one count of operating a vehicle without consent. Court documents indicate an assault on Dec. 31 led to Flores’ most recent arrest.

Flores was convicted in the 1996 death of Phyllis Davis. She was shot when she found herself in the middle of a rolling gun battle north of downtown. Flores’ conviction was later overturned. He later entered into a plea agreement in the case and was sentenced to time served.

In 2014, a warrant was issued for his arrest after he was accused of assaulting his girlfriend, but he went into hiding for several months before being captured in Arizona.

Woodbury County, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation, Saturday evening, identified the suspect who was shot Wednesday evening by a Woodbury County Sheriff’s Deputy. He was said to be 35 year old Michael Scott Meredith, of Sergeant Bluff. The DCI continues their investigation and no further names or information is being released at this time.

(Previous report follows):

Woodbury County, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Pubic Safety, Wednesday night, said an investigation is underway into a fatal, officer-involved shooting that occurred in northwest Iowa. Authorities say shortly before 6-p.m. Wednesday, two Woodbury County Deputies responded to the Woodford Mobile Home Park in Sergeant Bluff for report of a burglary in progress.  A witness directed the deputies to a white male subject who was attempting to force his way into a trailer home.

Upon making contact with the male subject, the subject advanced on the deputies with a tire iron in his hand.  One of the deputies fired their Taser, but the Taser was ineffective.  After being struck with the tire iron by the subject, the second deputy fired their firearm striking the subject.  The subject was transported to Mercy Hospital in Sioux City where the subject died as a result of the gunshot. The name of the suspect was being withheld, pending notification of family.

An Autopsy will be scheduled at the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny, Iowa in the coming days. The deputy who was assaulted was transported to Unity Point hospital in Sioux City for injuries they sustained.  The deputy has been released from the hospital.  The deputy has been placed on administrative leave which is standard procedure.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has been requested to investigate the shooting.  The Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office, Sergeant Bluff Police Department, the Iowa State Patrol and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are conducting the investigation.

This is an active, on-going investigation.  No further details are being released at this time.

(Afton, Iowa) – One person suffered possible/unknown injuries during a rollover accident Friday night southeast of Afton, in Union County. According to the Sheriff’s report, 20-year-old Alex Carter Dowda, of Creston, was driving a 2007 Accura SUV at around 8:15-p.m.  Dowda was traveling on High School Drive and attempting to turn onto Redwood Avenue, when his SUV went out of control on the curve, due to ice and snow on the road.

The vehicle went into the east ditch and rolled onto its top. Authorities said speed was a contributing factor in the crash. No citations were issued. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $5,000. Dowda complained of pain and possible injury, but was not transported to the hospital.

Junior Bowling leagues scheduled for this morning at Super Bowl in Atlantic have been cancelled.

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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The Iowa State Patrol reported yet another driver clocked at more than 100 mph on social media Friday. According to a patrol Facebook post, a young driver going to see family in Cedar Rapids and was “Wanting to the beat the snowstorm.” The trooper clocked the driver on Highway 218 in Washington County at 101 mph.

Photo from the ISP Facebook page.