Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson says this (Wednesday) morning’s deadly shooting at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Texas adds urgency to her call to toughen penalties for attacking ICE agents. The F-B-I says two people detained by ICE were killed, but the phrase “ANTI ICE” was written on one of the shooter’s shell casings. Hinson, a Republican from Marion, is co-sponsoring a bill that would double criminal penalties for assaulting, resisting, or impeding an ICE officer or employee.

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law on Saturday to ban ICE agents from wearing masks during raids in California. The U-S Department of Homeland Security says the law is a publicity stunt and ICE agents will continue to wear face coverings during enforcement operations.

DES MOINES, Iowa [KCCI] — An Iowa man is now facing charges for his role in a motorcycle crash that resulted in a teenager’s death. Kaelin Meinders, 23, of Albia, was the operator of a motorcycle Saturday night when the motorcycle crashed into a pedestrian in the 4900 block of NE 29th Street. The pedestrian was identified as Santiago “Santi” Rhone, 15, a Des Moines East High School sophomore.

Rhone was transported to a nearby hospital but died from his injuries.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday announced Meinders has been charged with multiple offenses. Meinders has been charged with reckless driving; driving while barred (habitual offender); and no insurance — causing an accident.

Authorities are still investigating the crash. Meinders was hospitalized following the wreck.

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Neb. [KETV] — Officials with the Washington County, NE, Sheriff’s Office report a body was recovered from the Missouri River on Monday. The body, an unidentified man, was recovered near marker post 655 on the Missouri River, which is north of Blair, Nebraska, and west of Modale, Iowa.

Officials said Washington County is working with Nebraska Game and Parks, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the Monona County (Iowa) Sheriff’s Office to help identify the body.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said an autopsy is scheduled for today (Wednesday).

(Radio Iowa) – An eastern Iowa man is hospitalized in Minnesota after a close call while camping last (Tuesday) night. Radio Iowa’s Matt Kelley reports:

(as said) – The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, in northeastern Minnesota, got word of an S-O-S alert sent from deep inside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Authorities say a man injured his leg with an axe and was using a tourniquet and bandages to stop the bleeding. Christopher Banfield, from the Davenport (Iowa) area, was rescued and transported to Cook Hospital for treatment. Sheriff’s officials urge anyone headed into the wilderness area to be prepared, like Banfield was, and to know how to administer first aid, because emergency help could be hours away.

ATLANTIC, IOWA (story by Atlantic FFA reporter Maddy Anderson) —FFA members from across Southwest Iowa gathered at the Cass County Fairgrounds on Wednesday, September 17th, to build leadership and critical thinking through hands-on experiences at the first annual Southwest District Career Development Day.

Livestock Judging

Foodstand Help (650 meals in 1.5-hours)

Six hundred and fifty high school students from 36 FFA chapters throughout Southwest Iowa attended the event. Throughout the day, students had the opportunity to compete in seven different contest areas. These areas included livestock judging, horse judging, farm business management, agronomy, meats judging, and floriculture. The Atlantic FFA chapter competed in five of the seven contests.

Atlantic had two agronomy teams. The first team received 5th out of 12 teams. Individual scores for team 1 were: Grant Christensen, 220 points (5th overall), Jackstin Lucas, 145 points, Grayson Mulgaard, 130 points, and Cedric Victor, 175 points. The second team placed 4th out of 12 teams. Individual scores from team 2 were: Dayton Thomas, 130 points, Walter Freund, 230 points (4th overall), Monty Smith, 185 points, and Hade DeVore, 105 points.

The Farm Business Management team placed 5th out of 12 teams. Lily Johnson scored 24 points for 7th place overall. Claire Schroeder and Grant Petty both scored 19 points.

The Floriculture team placed 11th out of 45 teams. Rylan Martin scored 128 points, Paislee Klever scored 95 points, and Jena Jensen scored 93 points.

Natalie Smith competed in the Milk Quality Judging contest, and she earned 5th place overall.

Two teams from Atlantic participated in the livestock judging competition. Team one placed 30th overall. Individual scores from team 1 were: Chloe Sonntag, 40th place, Mirayle Stuart, 107th place, Aly Dreager, 142nd place, and Tenley Cappel, 136th place. Team 2 placed 27th overall. Individual scores from team 2 were: Jovie Richter, 75th place, Maddy Anderson, 80th place, Addison Masker, 96th place, and Dylen Dreager, 150th place.

This Career Development Event (CDE) was a great way for students to connect the information they are learning in the classroom to future career opportunities.

The Atlantic FFA chapter would like to extend a special thanks to the following: Cass County Fairboard, Cass County Grounds Committee, Jeff Anderson and Darrin Petty with Stine Seed for grilling lunch, Atlantic Bottling for donating 30 cases of water, Hy-Vee for donating the food for lunch, Rolling Hills Bank for the tables, David Clausen from Hy-Vee Floral and Ann Johnk from Farmhouse Flowers for being Floriculture judges, John Johnson from Hiland Milk and Hy-Vee for providing milk for the milk quality judging, TJ and Jess Barber and Zak and Emily Kennedy for the use of their horses, as well as Chris and Jodi Scholl for providing the goats, Jeff and Tarah Anderson for providing sheep and Euken Pigs for providing the pigs for the livestock judging competition.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with Vision Atlantic report the Cass County Community Foundation has granted a total of $40,318 to Vision Atlantic, over the course of three different grant cycles. The funds, officials say, have been instrumental in moving the needle forward for Vision Atlantic’s multifaceted projects. The Cass County Community Foundation is an independent, county-level affiliate of the Omaha Community Foundation with a focus on improving the community’s quality of life through grants and scholarships for projects in health, education, arts, human services, and more

“The Cass County Community Foundation is proud of the impact it has been able to make within the county, and we are honored to have the opportunity to support Vision Atlantic’s initiatives in Atlantic that will ultimately benefit all of Cass County in various ways,” shared Krisit Burg, Cass County Community Foundation Chair.

Vision Atlantic, through extensive research and surveying of the community and surrounding region, identified three areas that will help increase Atlantic’s population: expanded childcare, quality housing and quality of life amenities. Infrastructure for the 142 mixed unit Camblin Hills housing development and 300 capacity child development center is almost complete, with construction of 48 homes currently underway. Construction of the child development center and YMCA expansion is slated to begin early 2026.

Photo submitted

Vision Atlantic has a fundraising goal of $39 million, which will be used to construct the YMCA expansion and child development center. To date, they have raised $26 million of that goal, thanks to an $8.6 million lead grant from the Charles E. Lakin Foundation and significant support from local donors. In addition to their grant support, the Lakin Foundation has created a separate investment fund of $23 million that will be used to construct homes in the Camblin Hills housing development. The capital will be used as a line of credit, and as the dollars are paid back, the Foundation will donate up to 5% of the interest paid back to Vision Atlantic, who will use those dollars to operate the child development center.

Vision Atlantic’s Project Committee is actively working to secure the remaining $13 million needed to meet their fundraising goal. If you are interested in helping transform Atlantic, whether it’s through monetary donations or acts of volunteerism, please contact Vision Atlantic at visionatlanticiowa@gmail.com. Visit www.visionatlantic.org and follow on Facebook for behind-the-scenes access to project updates and in-depth information of the project scope.

Vision Atlantic is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to empower growth, enhance lives, and build a thriving community together through the economic development of Atlantic, Iowa.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Community School District Board of Education Directors will be attending a Town Hall Meeting this (Wednesday) evening. The public forum takes place at the Atlantic High School Media Center, beginning at 5:30-p.m.  The purpose of this meeting is to provide community members with tours of the facilities and information regarding upcoming district projects. (YouTube link)

A quorum of the Board of Education may be present. No official Board action will be taken. Following the forum (and at about 6:30-p.m.), the school board will hold a Work Session, during which they will review the Town Hall meeting, and receive a Special Presentation from Stacey Schmidt, Director of Student Services will review data from student special
populations such as English Language Learners, Special Education, Home School and Talented & Gifted.

Future Town Hall meetings will be held on the following dates:

• Wednesday, October 8: Atlantic Middle School media center, 5:30 p.m.
• Thursday, October 16: Atlantic High School commons, 6:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 22: Washington Elementary lunchroom, 5:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 29: Washington Elementary lunchroom, 4:00-6:00 p.m.
• Thursday, October 30: Atlantic Middle School media center, 4:00-6:00 p.m.

“We value the voices of our community members, and these town hall meetings are an opportunity to come together and discuss the district’s proposal to improve our facilities for future generations,” said Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen. “Everyone is welcome to attend, ask questions, and share their perspectives as we work toward decisions that will impact our students and schools for years to come.”

ACSD residents will vote Tuesday, Nov. 4, on three ballot measures for the district that would fund improvement and expansion projects at multiple campuses to address approximately $40 million worth of critical needs identified in the district’s Master Facility Plan. The plan was created after the completion of building and grounds assessments and consultation with architects and engineers.

Sales tax revenue bonds and Revenue Purpose Statements require voter approval of at least 50% to pass. Neither of these measures would increase property taxes or create a new tax.

General obligation bonds require approval of at least 60%. If approved, this bond issue would have a tax impact of $1.10 per $1,000 of taxable property value. For a $150,000 home in the district, it would amount to an annual increase of approximately $72.93.

Answers to frequently asked questions and more information about the measures on the November ballot are available at www.atlantic-bond.com.

CLIVE, Iowa —[KCCI] – Three people, including two high school students, were injured Tuesday evening when a bus carrying students from a swimming meet collided with a car in Clive. Clive police say the crash happened shortly after 8:30 p.m. at Country Club Boulevard and University Avenue in Clive. The school bus was carrying Waukee students who were returning to Waukee High School after a swim meet in Johnston.

Two of the students on the bus were injured. One was assessed at the scene and released to parents. A second student was transported to Blank Children’s Hospital for observation. The driver of the car was trapped due to the vehicle’s damage and had to be extricated by first responders. He was then transported to MercyOne in Des Moines for observation.

Clive police say all the students on the bus have been reunited with their parents.

Both vehicles had to be towed from the scene. The crash remains under investigation.