(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education during their monthly session Wednesday (May 14th) evening, received a Special Presentation from District Nutrition Director Natalie Ritter, who spoke with regard to good news about a recent Nutrition Audit.

According to the Iowa Department of Education, “Each District, school or organization that operates the National School Lunch Program is reviewed every five years (Food Service Management Companies are every three years). The review process is called an Administrative Review (AR) and covers the many aspects of the operation to provide school meals including: access to free or reduced-priced meals, claiming and counting for meal reimbursement, meal pattern and menus, food safety, local wellness policy, competitive foods, civil rights, general program participation, professional standards and continuing education of staff among other details. ”

ACSD Nutrition Director Natalie Ritter (5/14/25)

The bottom line, Ritter said, is that “The District is doing an excellent job feeding our kids,” and the District isn’t on the Department of Education’s “Naughty list.”

On a related note, Director of Finance Lisa Jones said letters will be going out to parents of students who have not made an effort to pay their children’s nutrition (Breakfast/Lunch) debt.

Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen said the District celebrated its staff this (Wednesday) afternoon.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board approved the following resignations/personnel transfers and hires:

Resignations

• Lily Renfro, Special education paraprofessional, effective May 23, 2025
• Naela Block, Asst Middle School Volleyball for Fall 2025 season
• Mary McBride, Special Education Teacher, effective end of current school year
• Andy Mitchell & Stacey Schmidt, Robotics Club Sponsors
• Wade Johnson, Middle School Evening Custodian
• Jeff Hetrick, Bus Driver
• Holly Esbeck, Summer School Teacher
• Elizabeth Herrick-Williams, Theatre Sponsor
• Logan Gerdes, High School Choir Director
• Katie Chamberlain, Teacher Leader

Transfers

• Voluntary Transfer Heath Kelley for 25-26 School year
• Voluntary Transfer Vanessa Perkins for 25-26
• Voluntary Transfer Taylor Vargason for 25-26

Recommendation to Hire

• 6th Grade, English Language Arts Teacher Cadee Burnison, 25-26 School year
• 9th Grade Baseball Coach: Andy Mitchell, Summer 2025
• HS Varsity Volleyball Coach: Alyssa Boltz, Fall 2025
• HS JV Volleyball Coach: Lisa Sonntag, Fall 2025
• 9th Grade Volleyball Coach: Anna Pauley, Fall 2025
• 9th Grade Football Coach, Brenden Casey, Fall 2025
• Middle School Football, Harrison Hoegh, Fall 2025

The Atlantic School Board approved also:

1. The 2025-26 School Year Calendar (which begins August 25th. The proposed calendar ends the school year before Memorial Day weekend, with a goal of 177 student days and 190 teacher workdays. There will be a winter break from December 23 through January 2, and spring break will be split into separate periods.)
2. 2025-26 bids for milk, bread, and Nutrition Meal Prices.
3. Sharing agreements for the Boys and Girls Swimming programs, and,
4. An out-of-state trip for the Speech and Debate team.

Wednesday (May 14th) marked the last day of classes for Atlantic High School Seniors. Graduation/Commencement is set to take place this Sunday, May 18th.The last day of school for the remaining students, is May 23rd.

(Radio Iowa) – The annual Orange City Tulip Festival, celebrating the town’s Dutch heritage, is underway today (Wednesday). Spokesperson Avery Kelch says thousands of tulips are blooming in this good weather. “Windmill Park is where a majority of our tulips are found, and then we also have quite a few tulips lining the streets as well,” she says. The Dutch Heritage Society brought in one special tulip this year, which is bred and named after Orange City.

“It’s called the Oranjestad Tulip and it’s the first time this year that it was planted, and it blossomed in Orange City. It was bred in the Netherlands and so we just brought it back and we just had a christening about a week ago for it. It’s kind of like an apricot orange-ish yellow,” she says. Most of the events get underway Thursday.

“A really fun activity that I recommend seeing is the Dutch street scrubbing. It’s a generational volunteer activity and you’ll see generations of Dutch heritage and families coming together and scrubbing the streets to ensure that they’re clean for the Queen in Court,” Kelch says. “And then the Dutch dancing is also a super fun activity to watch. It’s elementary kids and middle school kids that come together and dance. ” Kelch says there’s plenty of food this year too.

“The brats, which are a super popular choice and something I would strongly recommend enjoying at the festival, and then they have Brad Bakery, which has like Dutch puppies and all the traditional Dutch food and desserts. The Orange City Tulip Festival runs through Saturday.

You can find the full schedule at https://www.octulipfestival.com/

(Radio Iowa)  – An Iowa lawmaker is accusing state investigators of testing software on the Iowa Capitol before using it to monitor Iowa and Iowa State athletes to see if they were using smart phone apps to gamble. Republican Representative Megan Jones of Sioux Rapids says it appears the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation spied on people in the Iowa Capitol without a warrant.  “People are furious,” she said. Jones says the state agency involved has refused to answer questions, so Jones brought the situation up during debate on the House floor today (Wednesday).

“Now, they might be a little bit more willing to answer some questions. I think there has been this desire to just kind of sweep this under the rug and forget about it,” Jones said. “…One lawyer pulled me aside and said this is potentially going to be the biggest class action lawsuit that the state has ever seen.”A state investigation using software to monitor sports betting on smart phones resulted in at least 35 athletes and team staff from Iowa and Iowa State being charged with gambling illegally and student athletes lost all or part of their N-C-double-A eligibility.

As for the alleged round of testing at the Iowa Capitol, Jones says everyone who enters the Capitol should have an expectation of data privacy and that would be violated if their phones were being monitored. “There are a lot of people in this building on any given day, depending on what groups were here, what people were here.” Jones says lawmakers have concerns about the culture in the Division of Criminal Investigation. “We need an in-depth analysis of what they’re doing,” Jones said.

According to Representative Jones, information about the D-C-I’s testing at the Capitol was revealed in documents related to a lawsuit that’s challenging the state’s investigation of an athlete charged with illegal gambling. “I am not alone in my rage,” Jones said on the House floor. “…This very building folks, to test software, to test phones for illegal gambling. And what was the probable cause? I see none. This was a fishing expedition.”

Emergency Management Agency officials in Audubon and Shelby Counties have been granted permission by the State Fire Marshal’s Office, to institute a ban on open burning, effective 3-p.m. May 14th, and until further notice. The ban in Shelby County includes the City of Harlan. A burn ban is also in effect for Pottawattamie County, until further notice.

The City of Audubon’s burn pile is CLOSED until further notice. If you have something that needs to go to the burn pile, you may call 712-563-3269 to make arrangements.

The ban is in-place due to the combination of low humidity, anticipated high winds, and dry vegetation. More information on what restrictions are in effect can be found at https://dps.iowa.gov/divisions-iowa-department-public-safety/iowa-state-fire-marshal-division/state-fire-marshal-division-general-information

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s largest non-profit animal shelter is seeing an upturn in cases of canine parvovirus, a highly-contagious infection that can be fatal to dogs. Dr. M.C. Cates, director of Veterinary Medical Services at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, says the fast-spreading disease can quickly become deadly, even with treatment, so immediate veterinary care is critical for dogs or puppies showing any in a series of symptoms.

“This vomiting is very persistent. We’re talking about multiple times a day, and it’s usually coupled with something else,” Cates says, “so we’re also seeing very persistent diarrhea, behavior changes such as weakness, depression, lethargy, loss of appetite.”

The Des Moines-based shelter is urging dog and puppy owners to make sure their pets are up to date on vaccinations and to take other precautions to keep their dogs safe. “Not going to public areas shared by dogs, so we’re talking about dog parks, boarding facilities, dog-friendly patios, those types of things,” Cates says, “just because it’s a very hardy virus. It can be very challenging to disinfect an area and get rid of the virus once it’s been introduced into an environment.”

ARL of Iowa photo

The virus spreads through contact with infected dogs or through contaminated surfaces like food and water bowls, shoes, clothing, and even the ground. Cates says the “parvo” virus is extremely resilient. “A dog that’s shedding the virus uses the bathroom at a park, and it could stay out in the environment for months,” Cates says. “It’s hard to say how many dogs could be infected just by coming in contact with contaminated surfaces.”

Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the disease, Cates says, and the parvovirus vaccine is included in a combination vaccine recommended for all dogs. “Puppies need more vaccines than adults, so it’s really important to adhere to the vaccine schedule,” she says, “just because of their immune system and how it kind of grows with them as they age.”

Cates says the ARL offers low-cost community wellness clinics to help make preventative care more accessible.

(Clarinda, Iowa) – Page County Attorney James L. Varley’s office has issued reports on court cases processed in the Iowa District Court for Page County. The information covers the week of April 28, 2025:

• 37-year-old Frederick G. Billings, Council Bluffs, admitted in court to violating the terms of his probation. He was found in contempt and sentenced to 13 days in the Page County Jail. Billings was also ordered to return to the Residential Correction Facility and remain there until maximum benefits are achieved.
• 41-year-old Joshua Wayne Baer, of College Springs, pled guilty to Count I: Domestic Abuse Assault, Causing Bodily Injury; Count II: Child Endangerment; and Count III: Operating While Intoxicated, First Offense. Baer was sentenced as follows: Count I – 1 year in the Page County Jail, and Count II – a term of imprisonment not to exceed 5 years. Both sentences were suspended and were ordered to be served consecutively. He was sentenced to 1 year in the Page County Jail on Count III. That sentence was suspended, and it was ordered to run consecutive to the sentences for Count I and Count II, for a total of 7 years. Baer was placed on formal probation for 2 years and as a condition of probation shall complete the Iowa Domestic Abuse Program, a mental health evaluation, a substance abuse evaluation and the drinking driver’s course. He was fined $1,250 and ordered to pay surcharges.
• 48-year-old Jessie Gregory McFarland, of Farragut, admitted in court to violating the terms of his probation. He was found in contempt and sentenced to 3 days in the Page County Jail and ordered to pay court costs and court-appointed attorney fees.
  

  Page County Courthouse

• And, 22-year-old Shyra Ruthann Potts, of Blanchard, pled guilty in Page County District Court, to Count I: Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree and Count II: Assault on Persons Engaged in Certain Occupations. She was sentenced to 60 days in the Page County Jail with all but 10 days suspended on Count I. For Count II, Potts was sentenced to 60 days in the Page County Jail with all but 10 days suspended. Count I and II shall be served concurrently. Fines of $430 were imposed and suspended on each count. Potts was placed on 1 year of probation and ordered to pay victim restitution, court costs and court-appointed attorney fees.

All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak, this (Wednesday) morning, arrested a man wanted on a warrant for Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. Authorities say 21-year-old Michael Daniel Hohl, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 10:45-a.m. in the 900 block of N. 4th Street, on the Red Oak P-D warrant. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash-only bond.