(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic High School Speech & Debate Team Head Coaches Trisha Niceswanger and Troy Roach say the team has qualified to send students to the National Speech and Debate Tournament.  The “small but mighty” Speech Team, Coach Niceswanger says, has had some great success over the years and this fundraiser will help to continue that success. She said also “We have qualified students to the National Tournament several of the past 10 years and our goal is to grow our program even more.”

The online “Bang Cookies” fundraiser will help support the registration costs, purchase of scripts, props, memberships, and travel costs. Bang Cookies are one-third POUND, giant organic cookies that get rave reviews throughout the nation.

Supporters can purchase directly from the company and they ship right to your home, anywhere in the US. They have multiple options available in variety boxes.  It runs until Monday, Jan 29 and 40% of the proceeds support the Atlantic Speech and Debate program.

(Atlantic, Iowa)- Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) and Regional Planning Affiliation 13 (RPA 13) is currently accepting applications for its Regional Transportation Alternatives Program fund, for projects in Cass, Fremont, Montgomery, and Page Counties. Applications are being accepted until February 28, 2024.

Local governments, regional transportation authorities, transit agencies, school districts and local education agencies, natural resource or public land agencies, tribal governments, and non-profit entities are among those eligible to apply. Funds are limited to meeting certain project types. Those include but are not limited to construction, planning, and design of on-road and off-road trail facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non-motorized forms of transportation; conversion and use of abandoned rail corridors for trails; construction of turnouts, overlooks, and viewing areas; vegetation management; and historic preservation and rehabilitation of transportation facilities.

Projects and sponsors must provide a non-federal match of at least 20 percent of the eligible costs, comply with federal regulations, and maintain the project for 20 years among other requirements. Projects must be completed withing two fiscal years of the award.

Completed applications must be in to SWIPCO by 4:30 p.m. on February 28, 2024. Applications will be submitted to the Iowa DOT for review. The RPA 13 Technical Committee and Policy Board will meet to score applications and to award recommendations. Award letters will be sent to applicants and the Iowa DOT by August 1, 2024. Funds will be released by the Iowa DOT after October 1, 2024.

Application and criteria can be found online at htps://www.swipco.org/rpa-13/ For more information or to obtain a hard copy of the application contact SWIPCO Grant Specialist III, Tammy DeBord at 866-279-4720 ext. 234 or 712-249-4300. You can also email Tammy.DeBord@swipco.org

SWIPCO is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A program being held this weekend in Atlantic, will detail the story of former Atlantic Airport Manager Hap Westbrook. Westbrook managed the Atlantic Airport for 25 years, but few people know the rest of his story. His son, Dick Westbrook, will provide a more complete story about Hap this Sunday, January 21st, beginning at 2-p.m.  The event will be held at the American Legion Memorial Building, in Atlantic.

Hap was a decorated military pilot, Prisoner of War, flight instructor and pilot examiner. He served in WWII and the Korean Conflict retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. He started the Iowa Air National Guard. He served his community in many ways such as delivering newspapers to small towns and even individual homes from his airplane. He created and instructed the Aviation Mechanics’ Program for Iowa Western Community College.

These are just a few of Hap’s experiences and accomplishments with more to be shared on Sunday. Dick is his father’s son beginning when he was a child playing at the airport and getting his pilot’s license before his drivers’ license. He has been flying for over 50 years.

The presentation is one of a series of programs sponsored by Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise (ARISE). There is no fee but donations are welcome. Everyone is welcome. The building is located at 201 Poplar Street, Atlantic and is handicapped accessible.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A vehicle that slid on an icy road Tuesday afternoon in Red Oak, collided with a parked car, but no one was injured. Red Oak Police report the accident happened at around 3:30-p.m, in the 100 block of E. Nuckols Street. Authorities say 16-year-old Ashton N. Williams, of Red Oak, was driving a 1998 Jeep Cherokee eastbound on E. Nuckols, when the he lost control of the vehicle. The SUV hit a parked 2018 Ford Focus registered to Brett Bourlon, causing $1,500 damage to the car, and an estimated $100 damage to the Jeep.

No citations were issued.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken, Tuesday, told the Board of Supervisors his crews worked through the weekend battling a one-two punch from snow and blowing snow, but they really were stymied until Sunday and Monday in making a progress. He said crews put in a lot of O-T getting the job done.

Wolken said, as of Tuesday morning, all roads in Cass County were open, at least one-way. The County’s V-Plow is capable of crushing through many large snow drifts, but in the future, Wolken his department may look at contracting with commercial or private snow clearing equipment to handle the roads, especially companies with giant snowblowers. The cost of buying that type of equipment is very costly.

He noted also, that the year in construction had concluded, at least for now.

Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken (Center pew) at the BOS mtg on Jan. 16, 2024

In total, Wolken said, Cass County Secondary Roads handled $5.7-million dollars in construction projects last year.

(Audubon, Iowa) – The Board of Education for the Audubon Community School District, Monday, approved the establishment of a fundraiser that will allow student free admission to all local school activities. Currently, students need to buy a Student Activities Pass or pay admission at the gate for various activities. Superintendent Eric Trager said the Board acknowledged that for some families, the cost is barrier to attending school events.

More information will be forthcoming on plans for the fundraiser. And, while the pilot program will be new to the Audubon District, it’s not an entirely new concept.

In other business, the Audubon School Board approved facilities project change orders amounting to just $127.

Mr. Trager updated the Board on plans for the Bus Garage project, during Monday night’s meeting.

And, the Board, Monday, approved the hiring of Kris Obermeier – Head Softball Coach, and the resignation of Jaime Christensen, who serves as the front office Secretary, Human Resources, and Assistant School Business Official (SBO), among many of her duties.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – While the State was dealing with trying to keep the roads clear during and after the most recent snow storm, area officials were also dealing with the snow drifts and challenges. Montgomery County Engineer Karen Albert, Tuesday, spoke to the Board of Supervisors in her County about the challenges, which included not only stranded motorists, but equipment break-downs early on in the week.

The problems continued into the weekend Friday, when the second snowstorm hit.

Montgomery Co. Engineer Karen Albert addresses the BOS Tue. Jan. 16, 2024

Crews worked long-hours fighting the wind and blowing snow. She said each motor-grader covered approximately 82 miles of road in one direction. Karen Albert thanked area residents who tried to do their part using private equipment to help open-up some of the gravel roads. Montgomery Supervisor Chairman Mike Olson acknowledged Engineer Albert for her recognition of citizen efforts to clear the gravel roads.

In other Montgomery County Secondary Roads news, Karen Albert said the 250^th Street bridge, crews were able to finish installing the pilings for the west pier last Thursday, before the second wave of snow hit.

(Radio Iowa) – Dates are now set for residents to say goodbye to Perry High School Principal Dan Marberger. Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home says the visitation for Marburger will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday in the Perry Elementary School gym. The funeral is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. Saturday at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines — and the service will be livestreamed. Marburger will be buried in Perry.

The 56-year-old died Sunday, ten days after the shootings at Perry High that left an 11-year-old student dead, and four students and two other staff members hurt. Hailed as a hero, Marburger was shot trying to distract the 17-year-old gunman, who took his own life.

Dan Marburger (Perry Community School District photo)

Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered flags to remain at half staff statewide in Marburger’s honor until after the funeral.