Atlantic School District Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein has announced he will be retiring at the end of the 2016-17 school year. The announcement came during Wednesday evening’s regular meeting of the Atlantic School Board.

Amstein, who has served the Atlantic School District since April, 2010, said when he concludes his service here, he will have “been on one side of the desk or the other side of the desk for 53-years. My wife tells me it’s about time to ‘come to the house.'”

Atlantic Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein (Ric Hanson, photo)

He said “You get a point in your life where you know it’s time to take a look at something else.” Amstein says he has some ideas of what he might do upon retirement, but “It probably won’t be in education….I want to do something that normal people do.”

He said in the meantime, he looks forward to the upcoming year, and that he will do whatever is necessary in the upcoming year to help in the transition to a new Superintendent, next year.

In a prepared statement, Dr. Amstein said “I am grateful to the Atlantic Community for making me feel so welcome into the community. My wife and I have been fortunate that we have been able in the short time that we have lived here, to have developed some life-long friendships that we will cherish and hope to continue.”

He said he’s proud “Of the fact the district’s test scores have improved steadily over the past six-years, the graduation rate has improved, while the district’s dropout rate has dropped to below the state average. None of these things could have been accomplished without the hard work and dedication of our teachers, support staff, administrators and school board members.”

Amstein joins a list of Superintendents from around southwest and western Iowa who have announced their resignations or retirements since the beginning of the 2015-16 school year. The most recent being Griswold’s Dana Kunze and Riverside’s Jim Sutton. Superintendents at Exira-Elk Horn/Kimballton and Farragut School Districts all announced their plans to leave this past fall and winter. Farragut’s Tom Hinrichs’ decision was immediate, after the State Board of Education stripped away the district’s local control.

The entire Sioux City Community School District was placed on lockdown this (Wednesday) morning after a threatening call was received around 8:20 a-m at the administration building. Sergeant Brad Bollinger of the Sioux City Police says the call claimed that explosive devices had been placed at each school in the district, and that the schools would be attacked with rifles within a half hour.

He says it was a robotic voice that said a bomb would go off at all schools. “These calls have been going around the country recently, and numerous school districts have received them in the past. In fact, this is the second time that the Sioux City School District has received them,” Bollinger says. Officers were dispatched to the buildings and the call proved to be a hoax. Bishop Heelan High School Principal Chris Bork says the city parochial schools did not receive the call, but police notified them of the threat and they also briefly went on lockdown.

He says they went outside and made sure the students were safely moving across campus. Bork says started talking with a police officer about the best way to handle things, and during that meeting the public schools lifted their lockdown. The lockdown was canceled at 9:15. Sergeant Bollinger says the F-B-I has been notified of the threat and the investigation is continuing.

(Radio Iowa)

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Legislature’s proposed higher education budget target could hike tuition at the state’s three public universities and 15 community colleges this fall. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that lawmakers have agreed to give a nearly $4.9 million increase for public higher education in the 2016 to 2017 fiscal year budget. But the proposed target is more than $3 million less than the minimum that the Iowa Board of Regents says it needs to keep resident undergraduate tuition the same at the University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University.

The University of Iowa’s base tuition will already increase by $100 per semester starting in the fall, but the budget target could mean another increase.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports three people were arrested Tuesday. 35-year old Lisa Mae Harper,  of Atlantic, and 36-year old Joshua Michael Lillard, of Atlantic, were arrested on one charge each of Possession of Methamphetamine 3rd/Subsequent Offense (D Felony). Both were taken to the Cass County Jail where they remain held on $5,000 bond each.

56-year old Barry Dean Schmidt, of Massena, was arrested Tuesday on a District Court Warrant for Probation Violation. Schmidt was also charged with Felon in Possession of Ammunition (D Felony), Possession of Methamphetamine 2nd Offense (Aggravated), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Schmidt was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $12,300 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Des Moines school district spokesman has confirmed that ninth-grade girls hired a male stripper to perform at their school’s synchronized swimming club’s annual banquet. On Wednesday district spokesman Phil Roeder told The Des Moines Register that the Roosevelt High School principal will decide whether the girls violated school policies and punishment is merited.

Graham Gillette’s daughter is a member of the swimming club and says the girls employed the stripper as a joke. Gillette says the stripper appeared but didn’t totally disrobe at Friday evening’s event at the Des Moines Social Club. Roeder says a Social Club employee asked the stripper to leave, deeming the appearance inappropriate for the students.

The Sharks synchronized swimming club is run and funded by students in grades nine through 12.

Officials with the Upper Midwest Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society report the annual MS Auction at Atlantic’s Fireside Lounge, held in March, raised nearly $17,000 to support the regional MS chapter. The effort brings the event’s 20-year fundraising total to more than $240,000. Over the last two decades, the funds have helped provide life-changing programs and services for people living with MS in Iowa and across the Upper Midwest, as well as fund cutting-edge research for the disease.

Holly Anderson, President of the National MS Society, Upper Midwest Chapter, said in a Press Release, “We’re immensely grateful to Mark Foegen for his passion and leadership these past 19 years, not to mention the outstanding generosity of the Atlantic community. Events like these are truly helping to change the world for people with MS and end the disease forever.”

And, event organizer Mark Foegen has expressed his appreciation to the Atlantic community for supporting the event, of which 100 percent of the proceeds are directed to the National MS Society, Upper Midwest Chapter. Foegen also wanted to especially thank Jessie Vais and those with Anita Livestock Auction for the volunteering efforts.

In addition to all those who attend and donate each year, many local businesses and individuals have played a critical role in the auction’s continued success — from donating advertising and auction items to helping with event planning and execution.

Sheriff’s officials in Fremont County arrested a man Tuesday on assault, and other charges. Authorities say deputies were on routine patrol in Sidney, when they were flagged down by a witness who reported a possible fight in progress at Maple Street and Filmore Street. Through an investigation, deputies determined 28-year old Austin Haler, of Sidney, had allegedly assaulted an 18 year old male, and a 17 year old female who were walking past his residence.  The 18 year old and 17 year old had no contact with Haler prior to the assault.

Haler was arrested for Public Intoxication, Disorderly Conduct, and two counts of Simple Assault. He was being held in the Fremont County Jail, pending an arraignment with the Magistrate.

Iowans who may be green in their careers are being nudged to start planning now for their golden years. Iowa Insurance Commissioner Nick Gerhart is encouraging people, especially younger Iowans, to begin plotting ways to fulfill their financial needs for the decades ahead. “We often say we spend a lot of time planning a summer vacation and yet we don’t plan very much for a 20-year vacation,” Gerhart says. “We just want people to think ahead and make some steps today to plan for that retirement.”

Diversifying investments in several areas is a safer financial bet, he says, as opposed to simply hoping Social Security will provide for us. “We do not want people to rely solely on that,” Gerhart says. “Having other sources of predictable retirement income will help insure you have a dignified retirement. We want people to look at how they’re going to have their assets spread across different asset classes, different streams of income. Start planning today because this is going to be a 20 to 30 maybe 40-year retirement for some folks.”

Talk to family members and friends about their financial advisors and insurance agents and consider hiring one of your own who can offer advice on the opportunities and risks. “For a lot of folks, sitting down with a good advisor or agent can be very helpful,” Gerhart says. “Make sure that he or she is licensed and supervised either by the Iowa Insurance Division or FINRA. You can do some research online. We also think just having a little bit of education can go a long way toward having a good conversation with that advisor.”

One key is to prepare for the long haul, not quarter-by-quarter. A little planning, he says, can go a long way. “This is not a sprint, it’s a marathon,” Gerhart says. “You’re going to have to do this over a long term. Never make an investment decision based on what the stock market’s doing today or next week. Warren Buffett always says, ‘I don’t know what it’s going to do this year or next year, even, but I know over time, it’s probably going to do pretty well.’ Having a long-term diversified strategy makes the most sense.”

This is National Retirement Planning Week. Gerhart recommends a website for all sorts of resources, tools and tips: www.RetireOnYourTerms.org.

(Radio Iowa)

Area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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