(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak, Sunday, said a man was arrested at around 9:15-a.m. Sunday, on a Montgomery County warrant. 64-year-old Ronald Dean Kammerer, Jr., of Red Oak, was arrested in the 600 block of N. 5th Street, on a warrant for Probation Violation. Kammerer, Jr., was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $10,000 bond.

(Ankeny, Iowa) – Five people were injured in a head-on collision between an SUV and a pickup early this (Sunday) morning, in Polk County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2012 Chevy Equinox SUV was traveling north in the southbound lanes of Interstate 35 near mile marker 87, when it struck a 2022 Ford F-150 pickup driven by 25-year-old Charles Joseph Williams, of Ankeny. The identity of the SUV driver was not immediately released. The accident happened at around 4:50-a.m.

Williams, and four others were transported by Polk County Rescue to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. They were identified as: 25-year-old Iliana Tijeros, of Webster City; 27-year-old Irina Catherine Hamelund, of Ankeny; 22-year-old Jonathan David McKeever, of Woodward, and 21-year-old Kadence E. Miller, of Gilman, IL. All of those injured were wearing their seat belts.

The crash remains under investigation.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report three arrests:

At around 1:30 this (Sunday) morning, 22-year-old Michael Daniel Hohl, of Red Oak, was arrested on two-counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor – A Simple Misdemeanor. He was arrested in the 900 block of N. 4th Street and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where his bond was set at $300.

Saturday afternoon, Red Oak Police arrested 37-year-old Zane Mikal Lamb, of Red Oak, for Violating a valid Protection Order – a Simple Misdemeanor. Lamb was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond. And, late Saturday morning, 35-year-old Lindsey Kylin Bricquel, of Red Oak, was also arrested for Violating a valid Protection Order. Her bond was also set at $300.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest at around 1:20-a.m. today (Sunday), of 19-year-old Briana Gotto, from Stanton. Gotto was arrested in the 700 block of Halland Avenue, for Public Intoxication. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond. And, at around 9:20-p.m., Saturday, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 49-year-old Christina Castillo, of Stanton, following a brief incident in Stanton. Castillo was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault/2nd offense. She was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

(Marshalltown, Iowa) – Another case of Legionella has been confirmed in the Marshall County outbreak. State officials said as of Saturday, the total number of confirmed cases of the disease was up to 70. One death was associated with the outbreak.

On Thursday, the AGWSR school district postponed a field trip to Marshalltown due to the ongoing Legionella outbreak. District officials said around 100 students were planning on visiting some of the larger industrial and manufacturing facilities.

The source of Marshall County’s Legionella outbreak remains unknown, although state and local leaders suspect a cooling tower may be responsible. It’s the unknown that led AGWSR to postpone its field trip, a new date for which has not yet been set.

The Legionella bacteria occur naturally and can be spread through water droplets. Health professionals advise that there’s a low risk of catching Legionella, but to seek medical help if you have pneumonia-like symptoms.

ATLANTIC, IA — Residents of the Atlantic Community School District will vote on three ballot measures on November 4, following action by the Board of Education at a special meeting Thursday night. The board approved petitions from community members for two bond referendums. The first is a $22.5 million general obligation bond to fund improvement and expansion projects at four attendance centers. The second is an $18.5 million sales tax revenue bond for the proposed construction of a multipurpose activity center at the high school campus.

The third measure is a Revenue Purpose Statement (RPS), which outlines how Iowa school districts may use revenue from the statewide one-cent sales tax fund known as Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE). “These ballot measures reflect input from our community about how we can continue to strengthen our facilities and provide more resources and opportunities for our students,” said Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen. “We encourage our community members to learn more about each proposal before casting their vote in November.”

General obligation bonds require supermajority approval of at least 60 percent to pass. Sales tax revenue bonds and RPS measures require a majority approval of at least 50 percent. If approved, the general obligation bond and sales tax revenue bond would provide funding for specific facility projects, while the RPS would authorize the district’s continued use of SAVE funds for purposes such as building improvements, technology, and infrastructure.

“As a board, our goal is to make decisions that support students today while also strengthening our schools for years to come,” said Board President Laura McLean. “Together, these measures reflect the priorities we have heard from families and residents, and our voters will have choices.”

Officials with the Donovan Group, said in a statement issued late Friday, that “For more than a year, the board and administration have studied ACSD’s facility needs and explored potential solutions. During this process, architects and engineers completed an assessment of the district’s buildings and grounds and helped create a Master Facility Plan that identified approximately $40 million in critical needs. All of the high-priority projects could not be completed using SAVE revenue alone. For example, the needs in our buildings exceed $18.5 million, which is the maximum amount that ACSD is willing to commit from the SAVE revenue bonds. That’s why the board decided to seek $22.5 million through general obligation bonds for that part of the project.”

In August, the board approved a plan to use a combination of general obligation bonds and SAVE revenue bonds to finance the facility plan’s projects, thereby reducing the need for local property taxes to finance all of the projects. “This approach allows us to invest in safe, updated facilities for students and staff while lessening the burden on local taxpayers,” Johnsen said. If approved, the $22.5 million general obligation bond would cover the demolition of the oldest portions of Washington Elementary School and the construction of two classroom wings for prekindergarten, kindergarten, and 1st grade students. A new secure entrance, cafeteria, art room, music room, and special education space would also be built.

Washington would also receive a new traffic loop to improve student dropoff and pickup, and improvements would be made to the bus lanes, parking lot, and building facade. A new connecting bridge with a commons space would be built between Schuler Elementary School and Atlantic Middle School. Each of these facilities would receive secure entrance improvements, and the restrooms on three floors would be renovated at Schuler.

Projects at Atlantic High School would include secure entrance improvements and a renovation of the media center. Four new classrooms would be added and a new multipurpose gathering space would be created to accommodate small-group learning. If the $18.5 million sales tax revenue bond is approved, it would finance the construction of a new multipurpose activity center connected to the high school. Preliminary plans for the center include three standard courts, a mezzanine level with a three-lane track, a large weight room, and a turf area for batting cages and practice.

Currently, the AHS gymnasium is used for physical education, athletic practices and competitions, band and choir performances, and commencement ceremonies. Large events are hosted by school organizations and community groups throughout the year. Officials say a new activity center would allow the district to expand its physical education curriculum and strength and conditioning programs, while providing flexible scheduling to reduce the need for practices in the early mornings or evenings. It would also open the door to hosting youth tournaments, all-state music events, and other large gatherings that can provide a financial boost for the local business community.

“The activity center would provide year-round training space, ensure all athletes have safe and reliable facilities where they can practice and compete, and build a foundation for long-term success across all programs,” said Trojan Cheerleading Head Coach Katie Hedegaard-Moreno. “Beyond athletics, it would increase school pride, strengthen community involvement, and create opportunities for youth programs and community partnerships.”

An approved general obligation bond would have a tax impact of $1.10 per $1,000 of taxable property value. For a home assessed at $150,000, this would amount to an annual increase of approximately $72.93. The annual impact for agricultural property would be approximately $1.63 per acre, based on the Cass County average assessed value of $2,007 per acre. An approved sales tax revenue bond or RPS would not increase property taxes or create a new tax.

More information about the ballot measures, including answers to frequently asked questions, is available at www.atlantic-bond.com. A schedule of town hall meetings about the bond referendums and RPS will be announced soon.