The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will hold its regular, monthly meeting Wednesday evening in the Media Center at the High School, beginning at 5:30. During their session, the Board will hear a presentation from Larry Sigel, with the Iowa School Finance Information Services, with regard to the Certified Budget.

Afterward, the Board will act on various contracts and/or Letters of Assignment, and on accepting the resignations of several individuals. They include: Drew Duff, High School PE/Health teacher; Margo Magill, Junior Kindergarten teacher; Paulette Hansen, 4th Grade teacher; Rita McLaren, 1st Grade teacher; Rebecca Osborne, Early Childhood Special Education teacher; 6th Grade teacher Catherine Larsen; 5th Grade teacher Kathi Hansen; High School Science teacher Nancy Jenkins; High School Math/Science teacher Steve Baier; LmB Reading teacher Pam Tibken, and Head 7th Grade Football Coach, Mike McDermott.

Other Board action includes approval of: Early Retirement participants; Early Resignation incentives, and, the first reading of Series 300 Board Policies. Discussion items near the end of the meeting will include preliminary talks about the 2016-17 Budget, and an update on the Athletic Facilities Study from Activities Director Matt Alexander.

The Iowa State Patrol is investigating a fatal crash west of Mount Ayr in Ringgold County early Sunday morning. 30-year old Nicholas Grose, of Mount Ayr, was east bound on Highway 2 west of Mount Ayr and lost control around 3 A-M Sunday. Grose left the roadway and began to slide down the embankment of the north ditch. During this action, the unit began to roll multiple times, and Grose was ejected from the vehicle. Grose was dead by the time law enforcement responded around 8 A-M Sunday.

(Radio Iowa)

(Update 7:30-a.m.)

Firefighters from as many as eight communities battled a stubborn house fire late Monday night into early this (Tuesday) morning, in Harrison County. A dispatcher with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office told KJAN News there were no injuries. The blaze, at 501 2nd Street in Persia, began around 11:40-p.m., Monday. The house was a total loss. Crews remained on the scene until 6:25-a.m. today (Tuesday).

Photo courtesy Dave Archibald

During the night, firefighters fought to contain the flames through stiff winds and temperatures in the upper teens.  No other details are currently available.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Lottery officials say a 23-year-old man has claimed a $1 million Powerball prize, after buying the ticket in Sioux City. Joel Dominguez is a pipefitter for Performance Contractors, the firm that is building a fertilizer plant south of Sioux City. His ticket numbers matched the first five drawn Saturday night but didn’t match the Powerball number. It was bought at a Hy-Vee grocery store. His ticket was one of 25 across the country that won the $1 million prize.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — After several years of preparation and fundraising, plans to build a mosque in Dubuque have finally moved forward into the construction stage. The city has recently given the Tri-State Islamic Center the required zoning approval and building permit for the project. Center President Tauseef Khan said his group has raised about 70 percent of the $500,000 needed to construct the 4,300-square-foot mosque and school.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — With up to $1.4 billion at stake in Wednesday’s Powerball, questions about the drawing seem to be as abundant as the convenience-store kiosks offering tickets for the record-breaking jackpot. Officials with the Multi-State Lottery Association say one of the most frequent complaints is that all the winners seem to be from certain states. For example, in the past two years, Missouri and Tennessee have each been home to three Powerball jackpot winners. But lottery officials, backed by mathematicians, say probabilities equal out over time.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Hillary Clinton is escalating her attacks on Democratic primary rival Bernie Sanders as polls show the race for the party’s nomination for president tightening in Iowa. Clinton is criticizing the Vermont senator’s opposition to a 2005 gun control bill. She is calling Sanders proposal for single payer health care system a “risky deal,” saying it would “hurt more than help” a lot of American families.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Lottery officials say a 23-year-old man has claimed a $1 million Powerball prize, after buying the ticket in Sioux City. Joel Dominguez is a pipefitter for Performance Contractors, the firm that is building a fertilizer plant south of Sioux City. His ticket numbers matched the first five drawn Saturday night but didn’t match the Powerball number. It was bought at a Hy-Vee grocery store.

Dominguez claimed his prize at lottery headquarters in Clive on Monday. His ticket was one of 25 across the country that won the $1 million prize. No one matched all six Powerball numbers, and lottery officials expect the Powerball jackpot to hit $1.4 billion by Wednesday’s drawing.

Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green has announced his intention to run for the Cass County Board of Supervisors in District 1. The seat is currently held by Republican Duane McFadden. Green will also run as a Republican in the June 7th Primary.

In a memo to the news media Monday evening, Green said he has lived in Atlantic since he was two years old. He graduated from the Atlantic High School in 1977 and served three-years in the Marine Corps before beginning a career in law enforcement with the City of Harlan, in 1980. After working about 18 months, he took a job in Texas, working for the private sector.

Green returned to law enforcement in 1986, when he joined the Atlantic Police force. Since he joined the force, he has held many responsibilities, including being an investigator in drug and child abuse cases, and has held several leadership positions. He became Police Chief in 2008, and says he does not want to become a politician, but rather “A statesman.”  Green says “The voters who put me in office deserve to have their voice heard.”

Steve Green, candidate for Cass County Board of Supervisors, District 1

He acknowledged that “While [he] has probably made as many people upset [during his 30-years on the Atlantic Police force] as [he] has pleased, [he] always put the department’s integrity and [his] personal honor before any personal or political gain.” Green says he’s running as a Republican because he is “Most closely aligned with conservative values,” but at the same time “Will look at every issue as closely as I can by every constituents’ view point.”

To date, the only other person who has announced their candidacy for the June 7th Primary, is Wendy Richter, who intends to run for Cass County Auditor. Current Auditor Dale Sunderman, a Republican, has hinted that he will not be running for re-election.

Persons interested in running for County Office may circulate nomination papers prior to first date for filing as well as during the filing period. Nomination papers and candidate information are available at the office of the county auditor and from the secretary of state: http://www.sos.iowa.gov.

In addition to County Auditor and District 1 Supervisor, these County positions will appear on the Cass County ballot for the 2016 PRIMARY ELECTION: Sheriff; District 4 Supervisor, and District 5 Supervisor.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey announced today (Monday), that three projects focused on expanding the use and innovative delivery of water quality practices have been selected to receive $1.92 million in funding through the Iowa water quality initiative over the next three years. In addition to the state funds, the three projects will provide over $2 million in matching funds to support water quality improvement efforts as well as other in-kind contributions.

Among the projects, is the Taylor County Water Quality Initiative. The $1.58-million  project received a $611,705 grant award. Project partners AgSolver, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Iowa Cattleman’s Association, Taylor County Cattlemen, Southern Iowa Forage and Livestock Committee, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, will work with farmers in Taylor County by promoting alternative land management practices on farmed areas identified to be marginal or unprofitable.

The project will work with producers on an individual basis to evaluate the specific production levels and goals within their farming operation by utilizing several tools to evaluate current farm scale profitability combined with conservation practice and land use alternatives. Rather than focus on the entire field, the project will demonstrate which areas of a field should be considered for alternative forms of production, thus making them more profitable and more sustainable.

In addition to the three new projects, 29 demonstration projects are currently located across the state to help implement and demonstrate water quality practices. This includes 16 targeted watershed projects, 4 projects focused on expanding the use and innovative delivery of water quality practices and 9 urban water quality demonstration projects. More than 100 organizations are participating in these projects. These partners will provide $16.72 million dollars to go with the $11.11 million in state funding going to these projects.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports an Anita man was arrested Friday. 29-year old Samuel Lavern Huffman was taken into custody on charges of OWI 1st Offense, Possession of Marijuana 2nd Offense, Driving While Revoked, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Huffman was also arrested on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Huffman was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $6000 bond.

Also arrested Friday, was 36-year old Joshua James Mullen, of Atlantic, on a District Court charge of Probation Violation. Mullen was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $50,000 bond.

In other news, the Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded late Saturday morning to a report of an accident at Casey’s in Anita. Authorities say 14-year old Jacob Allen Worthington, of Anita, was attempting to park a 1991 Ford Escort in front of the Casey’s General Store in Anita, when the teen pushed the gas pedal instead of the brake. The car hit the building, causing $10,000 damage to the structure, and an estimated $2,000 damage to the vehicle. No injuries were reported.