KJAN News can be heard at five minutes after every hour right after Fox News 24 hours a day!
Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
KJAN News can be heard at five minutes after every hour right after Fox News 24 hours a day!
Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School Board, Wednesday, approved the 2022-23 Amended Certified Budget, which will not result in an increase in taxes, according to District officials. As previously mentioned, the amendment amounts to an increase of $793,569, for a total budget of $27,140,000. Increases come in the areas of Instruction, Total Support Services, and Other expenditures.
In other business, the Board approved the resignation of Paul Iekel, HS Cross Country Asst. Coach, and Contract Recommendations for Dalton Franken, Varsity Boys Basketball Coach, and Bri Loving – Paraeducator.They also passed a Resolution to transfer $21,120 from the General Fund to Activity Fund, for Protective Athletic Equipment, including: pads/girdles; helmets; helmet reconditioning, and additional pads/helmets. The Board approved a recommendation from HS Asst. Principal/Activities Director Andy Mitchell, for Winter Sport Coaches assignments, and 2023-24 Club Sponsors.
2023-24 Substitute Employee Pay Rates were also approved by the Atlantic School Board. Superintendent Steve Barber…
The Board, at the request for Superintendent Barber, approved student fees for breakfast and lunch, which are unchanged from the past six-years, as far as student fees are concerned, but food prices will increase the Adult Meal price from $4.13 to $4.85. They also approved the awarding of a milk contract to Andersen-Erickson, and the bread contract to Pan-of-Gold, both of which have served the district “well,” according to Steve Barber.
In other business, the Atlantic School Board approved a quote from Per Mar Security for the addition of a door entry key fob system for the district’s buildings, in the amount of $28,690 for installation, plus $350/month for operating costs. And, a change order for the storage shed in the amount of $31,300, that would increase the size of the shed 750 square feet, from 35×50, to 40×60 feet.
(Radio Iowa) – The Academy of Country Music has recognized an eastern Iowa native as the New Female Artist of the Year.
Thirty-three-year-old Hailey Whitters is from Shueyville, a small town about 10 miles south of Cedar Rapids. She moved to Nashville after graduating from high school. Whitters has been a songwriter, with hits like “Happy People” by Little Big Town in 2017. She’s touring with Shania Twain and is the opening act at concerts next week in Madison, St. Paul and Lincoln.
Whitters is scheduled to perform in tonight’s (Thursday’s) Academy of Country Music Awards show that’ll be hosted by Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks. Last year’s New Female Artist of the Year was Lainey Wilson, who has a role as a musician in the T-V hit “Yellowstone” and is nominated for six Academy of County Music Awards this year. Wilson and Whitters have co-written some songs and performed together before.
(Drakesville, Iowa) – A head-on crash in southeast Iowa’s Davis County, Wednesday evening resulted in a death, and two people injured. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2017 Honda Accord was traveling north on Ice Avenue south of Main Street in Drakesville at around 5:45-p.m., when it crossed the onto the shoulder. The driver over-corrected, sending the car across the center line of the road and into the path of an oncoming 1999 Chevy Suburban, driven by 54-year-old James J. McKelvey, of Bloomfield.
The driver of the car died at the scene. Their name was being withheld pending notification of family. James McKelvey, and a passenger, 21-year-old Emma F. Beechy, of Bloomfield, were both injured, and transported by helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines.
The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Davis County Sheriff’s Office, Bloomfield and Drakesville Fire Departments, Davis County Ambulance, and Mercy1 helicopter. The crash remains under investigation.
Battle Creek, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Public Safety said Wednesday, that first responders were dispatched on May 4, 2023, to 500 Maple St. in Battle Creek, for a report of an unresponsive child. The child was transported to Horn Memorial Hospital in Ida Grove, and then transported to Children’s Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska.
The child died on May 5, 2023, at Children’s Hospital. An autopsy was performed by the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner on May 6, 2023. An investigation into the child’s death is on-going. The Ida County Sheriff’s Office is being assisted by the Ida County Attorney’s Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Ida County Sheriff’s Office at 712-364-3146.
(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Police in Council Bluffs say a warrant has been issued for a man wanted in connection with a stabbing that occurred late Wednesday night. 55-year-old Jeff Edward Smith, of Council Bluffs, is wanted for Willful Injury, 1st Degree Kidnapping, Harassment in the 1st Degree, and Domestic Abuse Assault – Strangulation w/bodily Injury.
The warrant stems from an incident that took place at around 11:11-p.m., Wednesday, in the 600 block of 5th Avenue, in Council Bluffs. The suspect’s girlfriend told Police that Smith assaulted her, held her against her will in their bedroom, stabbed her in the hand with a knife, choked her and threatened to kill her. Smith left the scene before officers arrived.
Jeff Edward Smith
Anyone with information about this case or the whereabouts of Jeff Edward Smith, is asked to contact Pottawattamie County Dispatch at 712-328-5737.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – [UPDATED] – The Atlantic School Board, by a vote of 4-to-1, Wednesday evening approved a 2023-24 Interim Superintendent Contract with Dr. Beth Johnsen. School Board President Laura McClean said there were 19 applicants for the position. Four were interviewed. Johnsen, she said, “Rose to the top.
School Board elections will be held this Fall. Board members McLean, Jenny Williams and Nicholas Hunt will all be up for re-election.
McLean said Dr. Johnsen’s contract will be for two-years, beginning on July 1st, 2023. Board member Josh McLaren voted against the two-year contract.
Dr. Johnson is currently serving as an interim Superintendent at Thayer Central Schools in Nebraska. Prior to her working in her current district, Dr. Johnsen was a Superintendent for 10 years at Conestoga Public Schools, in Southeast Nebraska. She has spent time as an educator at Buena Vista teaching educational leadership courses and also has spent time consulting and coaching individuals in school leadership. ACSD Interim Superintendent, Dr. Johnsen sees herself as a leader of leaders, with her primary focus being on empowering and supporting all staff.
Johnson shares that she is eager and excited to become a Trojan. Right off the bat, she plans to focus on the current culture of the district and where the district wants it to be. She is ready to empower leaders within every department, which she hopes has a significant impact overall. Dr. Johnsen currently resides in the Underwood area with her husband, Ben, of 42 years. Dr. Johnsen and Ben have 5 grown and married children, and 15 grandchildren. Additional information and a bio about Dr. Johnsen and her family will be coming in the near days ahead.
Dr. Johnson plans to introduce herself to the district soon and looks forward to working together for the common goals and priorities for Atlantic. Dr. Johnsen’s position is effective July 1, 2023. She will succeed current Superintendent Steve Barber, whose resignation is in effect as of June 30, 2023.
(Atlantic, Iowa) [UPDATED] – The Atlantic School Board meeting Wednesday evening began with a Public Hearing on the Amended 2022-23 Certified Budget. Afterward, the regular Board session got underway. During the Public Comment segment, LeAnne Pellett, of Atlantic, spoke with regard to a student walk-out held March 1, 2023. The event was to protest what was termed in the online school newspaper “The Needle,” as “anti-LGBTQIA+ bills being debated at the time in the Iowa legislature. Pellett said was speaking “On behalf of the citizen taxpayers” who were in attendance at the meeting, and “Many more citizens who were upset” about the event held on school property.
The event on March 1st was scheduled for 1-p.m.
Pellett asked rhetorically, “Were opposing views on this protest ever presented to all persons?”
Similar walkouts occurred at 14 school districts in Iowa, led by the Iowa QSA, or Queer Student Alliance, a youth-led organization. Atlantic High School Principal Heather McKay stated to the Needle prior to the event, that “If a student chooses to participate in this activity in a manner that does not cause a school-wide disruption and [they] remain on school grounds, they will not be disciplined for truancy.”
Other public comments received during the meeting were with regard to news last week, that the Atlantic School District sent a letter to the Nishna Valley Family YMCA. Executive Director Dan Haynes said “The letter gives notice that we should vacate the ELC Infant Room by Dec. 15, 2023.” An agreement between the District and YMCA Board, stipulates the agreement to vacate should have been given no less than 120 days before the end of the end of the current school year, in order for the termination to be in effect for the next school year. The letter was dated April 25th, 2023.” The letter stated an increase in Special Education needs for the district’s three-year-old population necessitated the need for an extra preschool room.
He added, “We believe that with widespread community collaboration, we can meet the needs of all families we both have already committed to. After meeting with the State Fire Marshall and our DHS consultant this, we also believe that without widespread collaboration the YMCA board will have to seriously evaluate if we can physically and financially be able to continue to provide infant care in our community.” Local economic development officials, including Atlantic Chamber Director Bailey Smith, CADCO Executive Director Jennifer McEntaffer, and Christina Bateman, speaking on behalf of CCHS CEO Brett Altman, also spoke of the dire need to leave the child care space alone, citing current and future child care demands upon the community. No action was taken on either topic during the School Board’s meeting.
In response, Superintendent Steve Barber, in his report to the Board, said in the discussion, it’s important to talk about the needs of the district’s preschool program, and how to best serve those children.
He said “fast forward to March of this year…”
By adding a fourth section of preschool, Barber says “We were faced with a space issue.”
At the beginning of the new school year, Barber says, “A temporary classroom will be created in the southeast portion of the multi-purpose room, which connects the ELC and Wickman building. Half-way though next year, we are looking at permanently moving into the ELC classroom with our fourth, three-year old program.” Those reasons, he said are part of the rational “behind the thinking of meeting the needs of our preschool programs, and we anticipate moving forward and noticing some great things with those students.”
(Radio Iowa) – Iowa will no longer require experienced physician assistants — known as P-As — to be work under the direct supervision of doctor in order to practice medicine. P-As who are newly licensed, though, will have to have an agreement with a supervising doctor for two years before they may practice independently. Governor Kim Reynolds signed the bill making those changes into law today (Wednesday).
“This is a game changer for rural hospitals and it really makes a difference to be able to provide that access to Iowans who need it,” Reynolds says. “We want to make sure that we do everything we can to maintain health care in rural Iowa.” Over half of the licensed P-As in Iowa today are working in rural communities. Representative Josh Turek, of Council Bluffs, says about 40 percent of the P-As who graduate in Iowa, though, leave to practice elsewhere. “Allowing the PAs to operate independently I think will lead us to keeping more of our PAs here as we are the Harvard of the PAs,” Turek says.
The first class of P-As graduated from the University of Iowa in 1974. The P-A program at Des Moines University has been operating nearly four decades. In the past decade, St. Ambrose University in Davenport and the University of Dubuque started P-A training programs. The P-A program at Northwestern College in Orange City started in 2020.
Onawa, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Public Safety reports that at around 1:50-a.m today (Wednesday), the Monona County Communications Center responded to an individual suffering from being stabbed and was subsequently receiving medical treatment at the Burgess Health Center, Onawa. The individual was flown Mercy One in Sioux City, Iowa.
After an investigation by the Monona County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the stabbing victim has been identified as 32-year-old Derek Webster Jr., of Monona, Iowa. Webster Jr is currently in stable condition at Mercy One.
Inessa Lyons, 30 year old, of Monona, Iowa was arrested by the Monona County Sheriff’s Office and has been charged for Attempted Murder and Willful Injury.
Court documents indicate Webster told investigators he’d been attacked outside a bar by a white man on a motorcycle, but Lyons later admitted Webster had repeatedly asked her to take him to a store to buy more booze and she stabbed him with a knife in their kitchen.
Inessa Lyons
Note: A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – Rolling Hills Bank and Trust has partnered with the Atlantic Parks and Rec Department, to purchase fruit trees for our area parks as a community orchard. During an Ambassadors meeting Parks Director Wyatt Adderton spoke about the tree loss in our parks, and how they were going to need to replace some trees.
Photos courtesy Rolling Hills Loan Officer BJ Hart
Assistant Parks Director Jeff Christensen later commented about a beloved pear tree located near the pool that they lost recently. He said it was a shame that it died so many people loved that tree. 
Rolling Hills Loan Manager B.J. Hart said “I went back to the bank wanting to do something and talked with CEO Keith Honke about a tree project. Keith encouraged me to get some information which prompted me to contact our new director. As Wyatt and I were talking the idea was born to have a community orchard.”
The Parks and Recreation Department purchased 26 fruit trees. Apple, Pear and Cherry Trees. The first tree for the Community Orchard was planted today (Wednesday), at Sunnyside Park.
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
RSS