The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will meet in a regular session 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, in the High School Media Center. On their agenda is the approval of General Education and Special Education Contracts, approval of resignation for Jennifer Renz, Secretary to the Finance Director & HR Specialist, approval of contract recommendations or Letters of Assignment for 17 individuals, and a Facilities Project Liaison position for Bob Sweeney.

Superintendent Steve Barber is recommending Sweeney to begin serving in the position starting with the Athletic Facilities construction bid opening set for September 26th. The position will pay $22.50 per hour, for a total estimated salary of $20,000. The Board and Facilities Committee have been talking over the past few months about the need to have someone provide oversight and communication between the key players in the project. Barber says Sweeney “brings a wealth of knowledge of our facilities, high school athletics, and current plans of our project.” He added that “His detailed organization and communication skills along with his passion for Atlantic and Atlantic Community Schools provide the skills and characteristics we are looking for in this position.”

In other business, the Atlantic School Board will discuss the Facilities Project, following an update, and discuss a plan for the disposal of obsolete equipment, including a 2003 International School Bus that needs significant repairs in order to operate efficiently, and a 2006 Ford Taurus that is unsafe to operate. The Board is expected to act on selling both for scrap metal.

A reminder also, Sept. 19th is the last day to file nomination papers with the school district secretary, in advance of the Nov. 5th School/City elections.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have arrested a 25-year-old suspected of shooting to death a Burlington man. Des Moines County Jail records say Diavontae Davis remained in custody Tuesday. Burlington police say he’s charged with first-degree murder and other crimes in the slaying of 28-year-old Reynaldo “Rey” Villarreal.

Officers were sent early Sunday morning to check a report about several gunshots. They found the man later identified as Villarreal suffering from a gunshot wound. Police say he died later at a hospital.

Sheriff’s Officials in Pottawattamie County report a woman from Shenandoah who is in the Pott. County Jail, was served with a warrant Monday, for being a Fugitive from Justice. 44-year old April Marie Montello-Roberts was presented with the warrant out of Douglas County, NE., and then returned to Corrections Staff. And, 32-year old Joshua Robert Rau, who was also being held in the Pott. County Jail, was served with a warrant charging him with Felony Ongoing Criminal Conduct ($25,000 bond) and Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree ($5,000 bond).

Rau was being held in the jail on numerous other Burglary, Criminal Mischief, and Theft charges.

ARNOLDS PARK, Iowa – Sept. 10, 2019 – Today (Tuesday), the Iowa Transportation Commission approved $1,500,000 for four State Recreational Trails Program projects. The State Recreational Trails Program was created in 1988 with the purpose of developing and maintaining recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both motorized and non-motorized trail users. This funding is available to cities, counties, state agencies, local governments, and nonprofit organizations through an annual application-based program.

Among the projects approved for funding is the Raccoon River Valley Trail to High Trestle Trail Connector – Phase II Construction Project (Dallas County Conservation Board), in the amount of  $ 392,610.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Radio Iowa) — The lawyers representing a group of players who sued the Multi-State Lottery Association say a settlement payment plan has been reached. The players had filed a class action lawsuit involving the scam by Eddie Tipton — the former I-T director for the Multi-State Lottery Association — who rigged lottery drawings in at least five states so Tipton and his associates could collect the winnings.

The settlement has a fund of four-point-three million dollars to reimburse the cost of losing tickets for a set of drawings between November of 2005 and November 2013. Those who have a claim can go to: LotteryGameSettlement.com. Tipton is serving a 25-year prison sentence for setting up the lottery scam.

(Radio Iowa) — A member of the city council in Keokuk was injured Sunday afternoon when his motorcycle crashed through the front of a Keokuk business. Keokuk Police said it happened at Mark’s Barber Shop on Main Street. Police Chief Dave Hinton said city council member Devon Dade lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into the front window of the building. The barber shop was closed at the time of the crash. Dade was taken to the hospital Keokuk for treatment for what the police chief called non-life threatening injuries.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:05-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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CLEAR LAKE, Iowa (AP) — Organizers have announced the end of a memorial snowmobile race on Clear Lake in northern Iowa. The organizers of the Jack Helgren Memorial Race say the event has been discontinued after its 10-year run because members of the original organizational group have decided to retire.

The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that the race is named after Jack Helgren, an area businessman, former snowmobile dealer and avid racer who died in 2009. The two-event featured snowmobile races, a vintage snowmobile show and live music.

The event, historically scheduled in January, was postponed to February this year because of unseasonable temperatures and poor ice conditions. The race was held on the lake ice, and snowmobilers and spectators parked on the ice as well.

AMBER, Iowa (AP) — Liability concerns have been raised about the Hula Hoop Tree that sits alongside a county road in eastern Iowa. The Jones County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to discuss the concerns at the board meeting Tuesday in Anamosa. The discussion could include proposals to move it, tear it down or find another tree or place for the hoops.

FILE – This Oct. 9, 2018 file photo shows hula hoops dangling off the limbs of a tree in Monticello, Iowa. Liability concerns have been raised about the Hula Hoop Tree that sits alongside a county road in eastern Iowa.
The Jones County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to discuss the concerns at the board meeting Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019 in Anamosa. The discussion could include proposals to move it, tear it down or find another tree or place for the hoops. (Kevin E. Schmidt/Quad City Times via AP)

Some local folks say the first hula hoop on the tree was blown there during a storm, but there are other, competing versions about what happened. Hundreds of colorful hoops now adorn the dead tree, which has become a quirky landmark that’s drawn visitors from around the Midwest and beyond.

Supervisor Lloyd Eaken worries that the tree is in such bad shape it won’t be able to hold up the weight of the hoops for much longer. County Sheriff Greg Graver says the tree’s location near Amber makes it an unsafe place for motorists to stop.