Tim Mitchell, Superintendent of the Riverside Community School District, reports in celebration of 25 years as a school district in the Fall of 2018, Riverside instituted a Hall of Fame to honor graduates, employees, teams, individuals and friends of the district for their accomplishments at and/or to the service of the district. The Class of 2018 included: Marion Coons, Clark Christensen, Wm (Rich) Livengood, Dr. Trevor Richardson, Dr. Corey Vorthmann, 1996 Riverside Wrestling Team, 2001 Riverside Football Team, John McCowen and Carmella Pigneri.

The Class of 2019 induction ceremony will be held on Thursday October 3, 2019 at 2:30 PM in The Riverside Middle/High School Gym at 18997 Highway 59 Oakland, and 2019 inductees will also be featured in the Homecoming Parade on Friday October 4, 2019 at 2:00 PM in Oakland. The final recognition will take place prior to the Homecoming Football Game on Friday October 4, 2019 at the Charles E Pigneri Athletic Complex at 6:45 PM. The Selection Committee announces the following members of the Class of 2019:

Nicole Allen Osborn-Distinguished Graduate-Riverside Class of 1994

Nicole founded Meridian Clinical Research in 1999 in Omaha, NE. Under her guidance, Meridian grew from a single dedicated research center in Omaha, NE, to a network that includes more than 20 research sites and 60 principal investigators across North America. Under Osborn’s direction, research at Meridian is frequently published and presented at major scientific and academic events worldwide.

Donell Hotze Kvaal-Distinguished Graduate-Riverside Class of 1996

Donell has distinguished herself in the Riverside community as a community leader volunteering her time for numerous community organizations. She helped her softball teams to the state tournament in her 8th grade year (Carson-Macedonia) and again her senior year (Riverside). She went on to play at Central College where she was the 2000 NFCA Division II Softball Player of the Year. She already has been inducted into the Central College Hall of Honor and the Iowa High School Softball Hall of Fame.

John W Hamilton-Friend of Riverside

John was a Civil War Veteran who served with Company A 134th Indiana Infantry. He settled near Macedonia and was a farmer and raised livestock. As a noted philanthropist, he donated the money for a new Church and Parsonage in Macedonia (Macedonia United Methodist Church) in 1929. He also donated land to the Macedonia School for the Hamilton Athletic Field and to build the Softball Field Grandstand. The historic grandstand is said to be one of two remaining in the state of Iowa. He dedicated the field to the children of Macedonia in memory of John G Hamilton, his son who died at the age of 22.

Marilyn Mickey-Distinguished Graduate-Carson-Macedonia Class of 1964, Friend of Riverside, Riverside Board Member and Riverside Employee

Marilyn has distinguished herself in many ways and has shown a tremendous commitment to the community and the school district in her lifetime. Marilyn is a member of the Riverside Optimists Club, Riverside Links, PEO, Carson Park Board, Macedonia United Methodist Church, and the Riverside Booster Club, to name just a few. She volunteers time for Quilts of Valor, Honor Flight, Dreamland Theatre, 4-H Leader, Sunday School Teacher, Metro Area Youth Foundation, and is a Promise Scholarship Mentor. She served on the Riverside School Board, was employed as the Board Secretary and has already been inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame.

1973-1974 Carson-Macedonia Football Team-Team/Group-Coaches Larry Wax and Terry Statton

This team has the distinction of being only one of 15 teams in Iowa High School Football history and the most recent to be undefeated, untied, and unscored upon, and the only team to accomplish it in the playoff era. They were 7-0 and Western Iowa Conference Co-Champions with Avoca who they did not play that year. They were 8-0 overall with a strong defense that had 33 takeaways (20 interceptions,13 fumbles and blocked 2 punts). Several opponents threatened to score, but non succeeded, stopped by turnovers, strong defensive stands, timely tackles, and missed field goal attempts. Lead by Coaches Larry Wax and Terry Statton with Duane Laughlin being named a National Football All-American by Who’s Who in National High School Football.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports a traffic stop Tuesday in Clarinda, resulted in the arrest of the driver. 71-year old Nina Louise Moore, of Clarinda, was arrested for driving under suspension. She was transported to the Page County Jail on a $566.25 bond.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests took place, Tuesday. At around 8:30-p.m., dispatch advised deputies of a disturbance at a residence on N. Pine Street, in Avoca. Deputies made contact with 32-year old Blake Ashley Behrens, who was taken into custody for Interference with Official Acts. At around the same time, a Macedonia man was arrested in Oakland, following a reported incident of alleged Domestic Abuse. 37-year old Jacob Lee Roberson was arrested For Domestic Abuse Assault, Contempt of Court and Failure to Appear on a citation. His bond was set at $300.

And, 34-year old Ashley Nichole Rubio, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Council Bluffs at around 9:55-p.m. Tuesday, for Violation of a No Contact or Protective Order – Contempt of Court.

Sheriff’s officials in Union County say a man from Afton reported Sunday, that sometime between Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon, someone stole his 2014 red and white Honda CRF-250-L motorcycle, from his residence. The loss was estimated at $4,000.

And, an accident Friday morning just east of Creston, caused $12,500 damage, but no serious injuries were reported. Authorities say a 2011 Ford car driven by 57-year old Henry Fienhage, of Creston, was sitting at a stop sign at the intersection, and did not see a 2013 GMC pickup traveling westbound on Highway 34. Fienhage pulled out from the stop sign and struck the pickup driven by 28-year old Allyson Vonderschmidt, of Afton. Both drivers complained of pain or possible injury, but were not transported to the hospital.

The Iowa State Patrol is investigating a fatal vehicle-versus-pedestrian accident that took place a little after 1-a.m. today, in southern Iowa. Authorities say the accident happened on Highway 34, about three-miles east of Albia, when a 2011 Chevy sedan struck 23-year old Zachary Allen Bates, of Albia. The driver of the car, 23-year old Marcus Anthony Major, of Albia, was traveling west on Highway 34, when for reasons unknown, Bates entered the westbound lane near a driveway.

Major took evasive action by braking and swerving to the left, but was unable to avoid hitting Bates, who died at the scene. Marcus Major and his passenger in the car, were not injured.

(Radio Iowa) — An analyst from an international non-profit group that conducts school safety training has been in two Iowa cities this week. Chris Dorn of “Safe Havens International” spent Tuesday in Fort Dodge. On Monday, he was in Algona, meeting law enforcement, school staff and the public. “It’s really nice to get the message out and talk about a cohesive approach to lots of different stakeholders,” Dorn said.

One of the points Dorn emphasizes is that making a school safe involves more than just locking doors and keeping people out. “Schools have risks every day and we’ve seen for hundreds of years risks of medical emergencies, natural disasters, severe weather, violence — any number of things,” Dorn says. “…We need to train school staff to be able to recognize danger and respond quickly to it, no matter whether it’s a shooter or an allergic reaction.”

While Dorn offers advice on expensive things like security cameras, Dorn also points to research suggesting school violence is often perpetrated by students who do not have the influence of a caring adult in their lives. “Some of the most valuable things and impactful things in school safety are those relationships,” Dorn says, “those intangible things that may not cost anything.”

Dorn’s organization conducts safety assessments. The group also provides schools with books and videos that cover a number of safety issues — including whether teachers and school staff should be armed with a gun. “We ask people, basically, to think very intentionally about safety and their personal security,” Dorn says.

Dorn has recently authored a book titled: “Staying Alive: How to Act Fast and Survive Deadly Encounters.”

Coca-Cola Days will be held September 27th and 28th in Downtown Atlantic. The event is the second largest collector’s show in the United States and includes a tailgate barbeque open to the public, a Show, Swap & Sell, “Coca-Cola Makes Life Bearable” raffle and many more activities for all ages. The theme for the 2019 Coca-Cola Days in “Coca-Cola Makes Life Bearable”.

Raffle items include: A Coca-Cola mini fridge, Coca-Cola Corn Hole game, Coca-Cola Wireless Headphones, Coca-Cola Water Cooler, Coca-Cola Tailgate Cooler, Two Cases of Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Bear, Coca-Cola Patio Umbrella, Hy-Vee Gift Card, Olsen’s BP Gift Card and Coca-Cola Blanket. Tickets are available at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce for $5 a ticket. The winner will be announced Saturday, September 28th at 2 PM at the Show, Swap & Sell meet at the Herring Building.

T-Shirts for the 2019 Coca-Cola Days Celebration are also available for purchase. The shirts are heather grey and feature the theme, “Coca-Cola Makes Life Bearable”. T-Shirts can be purchased for $16 at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce or day-of at the Show, Swap & Sell Saturday, September 28th.

For more information on Coca-Cola Days or a full list of activities, please visit www.cocacoladays.com, call the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017 or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com.

The Iowa Dept. of Public Safety reports that at around 12:50-a.m. today (Wednesday), the Burlington Police Department (BPD) and Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office (DMCSO) responded to a shots fired call in the 300 block of N. Gunnison Street, in Burglington. Witnesses described a white S-10 Chevrolet pickup truck, with a topper as possibly being involved in the aforementioned shooting.  At approximately 12:57-a.m. BPD officers located the vehicle near Central and Division Streets and initiated a vehicle stop near Angular and Summer Streets.  Initial reports indicate the driver exited the vehicle and displayed a firearm towards the officers and the subsequently fled on foot.  Law enforcement gave chase and multiple rounds were fired by the suspect and law enforcement.  The suspect, who’s name will be released once family has been notified, was mortally wounded and pronounced dead at the Great River Medical Center. The Officers and Deputy were not injured in the incident.

The Burlington Police Department and the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office requested an independent criminal investigation be conducted by the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI).  Per departmental policy, the BPD officers have been put on paid administrative leave pending the investigation.  The names of the officers and deputy will not be released prior to their interview with DCI.

No further information will be released at this time.