The Atlantic School Board will hold their regular monthly session in-person this (Wednesday) evening, in the High School Media Center. The session begins at 6-p.m., and will include a Special Presentation from ACSD Technology Coordinator Roger Warne, with regard to a Connectivity Update for the District’s online students and others. The Board will also receive an update on the District’s Athletic Facilities.

Superintendent Steve Barber said Tuesday that because construction work continues on the all-surface four-lane track that surrounds the playing field in the Trojan Bowl, the Bowl will be closed to the public from today (Wednesday, October 14), to Tuesday, October 20th. The new asphalt has cured, and now it’s up to crews from Midwest Tennis and Track to finish the work. Construction continues as well on the baseball and softball fields, the soccer field, and track at the high school.

The Atlantic School Board will also consider and act on the purchase of an Summer/Winter Operations and Maintenance vehicle from Deter Motor Company. The one-ton pickup will support the district’s snow plow and salt/gravel applicator. The truck comes with a price tag of $29,165. Superintendent Barber says if the Board approves the truck purchase, the District will need to purchase a flatbed that would support the salt applicator as well as grounds work in the summer.

In other business, the Board will discuss and act on:

• SBRC (School Budget Review Committee) Modified Supplemental Amounts for a Special Education Deficit ($639,584) and LEP (Limited English Proficiency) Excess Costs ($71,601).
• Appointing a representative for the IASB Delegate Assembly on Nov. 17th
• A pay application for work completed on the Atlantic Athletic Facilities Project ($613,816.55).
• Proposal requests with regard to the Athletic Facilities Project (credit for not installing a conduit for internet connections [wireless will be used instead]; changes required for the USTA grant (re: tennis courts)
• and, 13 TLC Facilitator contracts (@ $2,500 stipend per employee, plus FICA/IPERs). According to Mr. Barber, approving the contracts would allow the district to meet its goal of having 25% of the teaching staff serve in a leadership position.

Montgomery County Auditor Stephanie Burke, Tuesday, released information with regard to applicants to be considered for the District 1 Montgomery County Supervisor’s seat. Burke says according to the Code of Iowa, the Montgomery County Auditor, Recorder and Treasurer (Supervisor Appointing Committee) intend to make an appointment to fill the vacancy in the office of Montgomery County Supervisor District 1 at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21, in the basement meeting room at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Red Oak.

Burke says the following candidates will be considered, as they submitted all the requirements by the deadline of 4:30 p.m. on October 13th:

• Steven Berendes
• Steven Masters
• Troy Preston
• Charla Schmid.

Interviews of all eligible candidates will be conducted by the SAC 5:30-p.m. October 20th,  in the courtroom at the Courthouse in Red Oak. The meeting will be open to the public and also available via Zoom.

The appointment made by the committee on October 21st, will be valid until January 1, 2023. The citizens of Montgomery County may request a special election to fill the vacancy by filing a petition with the Montgomery County Auditor containing 80 signatures of eligible electors within 14 days after the publication of notice, or within 14 days after the appointment is made.

The State of Iowa’s Coronavirus dashboard, Wednesday (today) indicated (as of 10-a.m.), there were 1,180 new cases of COVID-19 since 10-a.m. Tuesday, for a total of 101,812. There are NINE more positive case of the virus in Cass County, for a total of 247. Across the KJAN listening area, there are: 37 more positive cases of COVID-19 in Pottawattamie County; 32 additional cases in Harrison County; six additional cases in Madison County; five more in Guthrie County; five more in Shelby County; four more cases each in Adair and Audubon Counties; and two new cases in Mills and Union Counties. There was also one additional death reported in both Guthrie and Harrison Counties, for a total to date in those counties of 49 and 207 respectively.

There have been 11 more deaths statewide since 10-a.m. Tuesday, for a total of 1,492. The IDPH says of the reported deaths, 1,007 (67%) were related to a pre-existing medical condition. There have been a total of 872,748 Iowans tested for COVID-19 to-date, with 769,770 total Negative results. There have been 4,797 results received since 10-a.m. Tuesday, with 4,200 of those Negative, and 593 Positive. Officials say 11.7% of persons tested had a positive test result.  Iowans who have recovered from the virus number 79,049.

State data also shows 18 counties with a 14-day average positivity rate of more than 15%, the level at which Gov. Kim Reynolds allows school districts to apply to the state to send students home for online learning temporarily.

Hospitalizations are up from 463 Tuesday to 473 today. The IDPH says: 106 patients with COVID-19 are in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (compared to 114 previously); 74 people with COVID symptoms were admitted to a hospital (compared to 62 previously); and 46 patients are on a ventilator. Western/Southwest Iowa hospitals report 27 people hospitalized, nine are in an ICU, six were admitted to a hospital, and one person was on a ventilator (Compared to none the past few days).

There are a total of 61 Long-Term Care (LTC) facility outbreaks in Iowa, with 1,388 positive cases of COVID-19 among the patients and staff at those facilities. LTC facilities also report 718 persons have recovered, and there have been 753 deaths since the outbreak began.

In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases in each county, along with the 24-hour change in case numbers {+#}; the number of persons recovered, and the total number of [deaths] (if any), since the pandemic began,

• Cass, 247 cases {+9}; 198 recovered; 2 deaths
• Adair, 104 {+4}; 60; 1
• Adams, 55; 33; 0
• Audubon, 121 {+4}; 50; 1
• Guthrie, 346 {+5); 207; 14
• Harrison County, 487 {+32}; 200; 6
• Madison County, 319 {+6}; 208; 2
• Mills County, 292 {+2}; 157; 1
• Montgomery, 139 {+5}; 112; 5
• Pottawattamie County, 2,710 {+37}; 2,043; 43
• Shelby County, 319 {+5}; 281; 1
• Union County,  192 {+2}; 144; 3

Sheriff’s Deputies in Adams County were called to 838 4th Street in Prescott, at around 11-p.m. Tuesday, following a report of an assault with a dangerous weapon. Upon further investigation, it was learned 36-year old Michael Schehl, of Prescott, allegedly displayed a knife during a fight, and tried to use it. He was transported to the Adams County Jail. No other information was released.

Police in Red Oak, Tuesday evening, arrested a woman from Shenandoah on drug charges. Authorities say 24-year old Summer Brooke French was taken into custody at a residence in the 2400 block of N. 8th Street, on charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. French was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Senator Joni Ernst is suggesting those who warn President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee will help overturn Roe v Wade are overlooking a case Amy Coney Barrett has already ruled upon. Barrett was part of a three-judge panel that cited the precedent set by another ruling and upheld a Chicago ordinance banning abortion protesters from approaching people entering an abortion clinic. Ernst mentioned the case yesterday (Tuesday) during Barrett’s Senate confirmation hearing.

“In that case, using precedent, it did favor that abortion clinic — is that correct?” Ernst asked and Barrett replied: “That is correct.” Ernst read part of a letter from the Susan B. Anthony List, a group that opposes abortion. “Now I know this is going to make a number of members on the committee just very squeamish,” Ernst said before quoting from the letter. “…’Judge Barrett has proven herself to handle disputes impartially…She is a jurist who rightly leaves politics to politicians and legislating to legislators.'”

Ernst also used her time during yesterday’s (Tuesday’s) hearing to review her own complaints about how the Environmental Protection Agency has handled ethanol-related policies and to criticize Democrats over pandemic relief negotiations.