The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education met this (Wednesday) afternoon, at the Middle School Media Center. During their brief meeting, the Board approved the resignation of Jade Walter, Industrial Tech Teacher.

They also approved contracts for the following:

• Danielle Meek and Erin Ebling, MS ELA Teachers;
• Jeff Ebling, MS Social Studies Teacher/Boys H.S. basketball Coach;
• Michelle Blake, Interim Head VB Coach;
• Faith McCunn, 7th Grade VB Coach, and
• Derek Handel, Volunteer Softball Coach.

A woman from Union County suffered suspected minor injuries during a single-vehicle rollover accident at around 4-a.m. Wednesday (today). The Union County Sheriff’s Office says 28-year old Chelsey Rae Kile, of Creston, was driving a 1998 Chevy Blazer northbound on S. Cherry Street Road, when the SUV slipped off the edge of the road.

Kile over-corrected, sending the vehicle into the east ditch, where it rolled over. The SUV sustained about $5,500 damage. Kile was cited for Driving Under Suspension.

Council Bluffs Police were called just after Noon today (Wednesday), to the 3200 block of Atlantic Avenue, where a male subject who was distraught and threatening suicide while displaying a knife.

Officers located the man and began speaking with him. With the assistance of Crisis Negotiators, Officers were able to get the subject to calm down, put the knife away and surrender to Officers without incident. The man was then transported to a local Hospital for an evaluation.

The incident lasted for about an hour, with several roads in the area being closed off for the duration of the incident.

The Atlantic Rotary Club and Administrators with the Atlantic Community School District, Wednesday afternoon, paid tribute to retiring teachers and staff of the District. The event culminated with the award for Rotary Teacher of the Year.

Gini Jordan (far right), 2017-18 Teacher of the year, and her family. (Click on the image to enlarge)

That award went to a woman who was recognized at the beginning of the event, Gini Jordan, Schuler Elementary School Special Education teacher, who is retiring after more than 34-years with the District. Schuler Principal James Northwick spoke about Jordan’s being a Catholic School Teacher for six-months. Later she would work in Audubon, and finally to Atlantic, where she was a substitute teacher and then a Special Education Teacher.

He said he and others will greatly miss her ability to be a mentor to those around her, someone who would stay after school to talk with teachers well past the end of the school day, and was always able to revive his plants or at least offer advice on how to care for them. He says she’s always willing to help.

Toward the end of the program, last year’s Teacher of the Year award winner Lisa Munsey, read from some of the nomination forms submitted on Jordan’s behalf. One of the respondents said “This teacher is an excellent role model for our Six Pillars of Education: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship.” She went on to read “[She] treats students with dignity and respect….[she] has one of the biggest hearts in education…[she] is committed to students with Special Needs. [She] is skillful and creative in the classroom and shares knowledge and expertise with others.”

The nominator said Gini Jordan also “Has always has a special knack with some of our tougher students…[she] isn’t afraid to take on a challenge and is an expert in building  relationships with students.” Jordan’s family was in attendance for the surprise award, including her son James (who graduated from AHS in 2003. He now makes machines for genetic sequencing) her two daughters, who are also Atlantic graduates who went on to become teachers in Carroll and Iowa City respectively, and her husband Jim, who will retire from the Iowa DOT on Thursday.

She said “It’s been a wonderful career that I’ve had, the joy and satisfaction that I’ve gotten from getting to know all of you…I couldn’t have this [award] without you.” She closed by saying “I wish you all the same wonderful career that I had.” Other awards were presented to the following retirees: Ginger Bechtold, Dan Amos, and Barb Linn. Many other teachers and staff received certificates for 10- 15- 20- and 35-years of service to the District. Superintendent Steve Barber also recognized those persons who will be leaving at the end of the current school year in pursuit of other opportunities, including Activities Director/Asst. High School Principal Matt Alexander, who will become Superintendent for the OA-BCIG School District.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s lowest-performing schools must do more than show improvement to get off a list of targeted schools under a plan approved by the U.S. Department of Education. U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos informed Iowa Wednesday that its school accountability plan was accepted after revisions made by the Iowa Department of Education.

The plan replaces Iowa’s old system that required 100 percent student proficiency. Iowa now seeks to have 80 percent of high schoolers proficient in reading and 84 percent in math.

Iowa wanted to allow schools in the bottom 5 percent of proficiency that show consistent improvement to stop being subjected to special policies intended to improve performance. Federal officials said those schools must no longer be in the bottom 5 percent to remove the designation.

An accident in Council Bluffs involving a transit bus resulted in three people being transported to the hospital and injuries to three others who were treated at the scene. Council Bluffs Police say officers responded just before Noon today (Wednesday) to the scene across from the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office at 1300 Big Lake Road, where a small transit bus crashed into the train trestle.

Upon arrival, officers noted the bus was too tall to make it under the trestle and the top of the bus was severely damaged. The back of the bus was ripped off during impact with the trestle. The bus was owned by Notre Dame Housing, an assisted-living facility in Omaha, NE. There were six people on the bus, including the driver. All of them had minor injuries and three of the passengers received treatment at local hospitals for non-life threatening injuries.

The driver of the bus was issued a citation for the accident. The Canadian National railroad was notified during the incident and all train activity was stopped causing traffic jams throughout the area for about an hour. Train traffic has returned to normal by around 3-p.m.

Authorities say it was six-months ago today (Wednesday), on Nov. 16th, 2017, that a similar accident occurred at the same location where, thankfully, no one was injured. The clearance for this bridge is only eight feet eight inches. The public is reminded of the low clearance, and should plan routes accordingly.

A Judge in Cass County District Court has dismissed charges against a Cumberland man charged in Sept. 2017, with Sexual Abuse in the 3rd Degree. According to online court records, The alleged incident involving 47-year old Matthew Lynn Dorscher took place Jan. 1st, 2015. After a criminal complaint was submitted Sept. 7th, 2017 and a warrant was issued in association with the investigation, Dorscher turned himself-in on the warrant for felony Sexual Abuse 3rd Degree, and Lascivious Conduct with a Minor. The latter charge was dropped, and Dorscher was set to stand trial April 24th.

Dorscher’s attorney submitted documents April 16th for an Alibi Defense. Two days later, the State (Prosecution) filed a motion to dismiss the case, with court costs assessed to the State. Judge Susan Christensen summarily dismissed the case without prejudice.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on arrests dating back to April 24th. Among those arrested: On Monday, 47-year old Kimberly Barbara Hoffman, of Walnut, was arrested on an active warrant for Theft in the 1st Degree, and Forgery. Hoffman was booked into the Shelby County Jail and held under $15,000 cash/surety bond pending initial appearance. She was released later that day after appearance with Shelby County Magistrate. And, last Sunday, 40-year old Seamus (Shame’us) Walsh Vaughan, of Shelby, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, and carrying weapons. Vaughan was transported to the Shelby County Jail and held under $3,000 cash/surety bond. Vaughan was released the following evening from jail after posting a cash bond.

On May 4th, Deputies in Shelby County arrested 24-year-old Cody Michael Doss, of Council Bluffs, on charges of carrying concealed weapons, possession of drug paraphernalia, and providing false information to a peace officer. Doss was transported to the Shelby County Jail and held under a $2,000 cash/surety bond. Doss had an active warrant out of Pottawattamie County, and was transferred to their facility after posting bond on Shelby County charges, May 10th. Also arrested May 4th, was 20-year-old Wayne Richard Koster, of Patchouge, New York. Koster was charged with eluding, prohibited acts, operating while intoxicated, possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. His arrest was the result of a pursuit through the county at speeds reaching 150mph. Koster was transported to Shelby County Jail where he is being held under a $7,000 cash/surety bond. Koster was also being held while awaiting extradition on an outstanding warrant out of New York.

Information on other arrests can be found on the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office’ Facebook page.