The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has released more information about an accident that took place Sunday night on White Pole Road (Highway 6), north of Lewis. Officials say a 1998 Chevy Blazer owned and driven by 20-year old Dillion Ray Sharp, of Atlantic, was eastbound on White Pole Road Sharp swerved to avoid a deer, causing the SUV to enter the north ditch, where it rolled over. Sharp, and three passengers in the vehicle: 15-year old Tyler Lee Sopcich,  of Atlantic; 19-year old Kayla Marie Case,  of Oakland,  and 17-year old Jamie Greubel,  were transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by Griswold Rescue.  Sopcich was later transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, by Mercy 3 Helicopter. Damage to Sharp’s vehicle is estimated at $4000. Officials say Sharp was cited with Failure to Maintain Control.

Officials in Harrison County report a Pottawattamie County man was flown by Life Net helicopter to a hospital in Omaha,  following a motorcycle accident late Saturday afternoon. Authorities say 34-year old Shawn Beu, of Council Bluffs, was traveling west on 335th Street on a 2010 Harley Davidson motorcycle, when he approached a right curve in the roadway near the intersection with Norwood Avenue and Norwich Road.

Beu took evasive action prior to entering the curve and lost the control. The bike left a skid mark in the center of the road on 335th Street and came to rest on the roadway along with the driver. The accident happened around 5:40-pm Saturday.

The Harrison County Sheriffs say Beu was transported to Creighton Medical Center by Lifenet for possible injuries. The motorcycle sustained $500 damage. No citations were issued.

The state’s largest general farm organization, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF), today (Tuesday), launched the ANF Great Grocery Giveaway in partnership with the University of Iowa Athletics Department and Hy-Vee. The grocery sweepstakes invites Iowans to meet today’s farmers through video tours of their farms and register for a chance to win free groceries for a year worth $5,000.

Iowans can register for a chance to win by visiting www.americaneedsfarmers.org and taking virtual farm tours; each video they watch earns an entry in the ANF Great Grocery Giveaway while giving them an up close and personal look at five Iowa farm families.  Website visitors can register with each of the five farmers each day of the sweepstakes, which kicked off today, Farm Bureau Day at the Iowa State Fair, and runs until noon October 31st, 2013. The web-based farm video tours feature five diverse Iowa family farmers who grow corn or soybeans and raise pigs, beef or dairy cows.

David Rydberg, a cattle rancher from Essex, is one of the featured farmers in the ANF Great Grocery Giveaway. He says “We’re excited to be a part of this because as a family farmer, I believe in the value of transparency and education; most people who enjoy beef today don’t live on a farm, but they want to know how we farm, how we raise our animals and how we keep them safe and healthy.”

Following the sweepstakes, one lucky winner will be chosen at random for $5,000 in free groceries from their local Hy-Vee.

Area and State news with KJAN News Director Ric Hanson….

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The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education Monday night, approved a recommendation by Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein allowing district FFA students to attend the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, this fall. Erik Miller, Agricultural Education Instructor/FFA Advisor, told the board it’s a great opportunity for seven students who are selected to attend the convention to learn and make new friends from around the country. Miller said it’s a good way for the FFA chapter to gain publicity, as well as leadership experience.

The convention is slated to take place October 30^th through November 2^nd. The keynote speaker is University of Louisville Head Basketball Coach Rick Pitino, who will talk about his 10 step motivational process to success. Other speakers include New York City Fire Dept. veteran Joe Torrillo, who was twice buried in the twin tower collapses on 9-11, as he took part in rescue efforts, and, others. Entertainment includes a concert by Country music star Dierks Bentley, a rodeo, hypnotist show and a dance.

Miller says more than 5,000 students are expected to attend the convention, which allows the students to come out of their local group shell, and meet people they might otherwise not have had the opportunity to meet.

Miller says giving students an assignment to collect names of other students from around the country and its territories makes for a good “ice-breaker.” He says usually, the first night of the convention, the kids stick together in the same group they came in, but by the end of the convention, they’ve made new friends and shared experiences. It also gives them “life lessons” on how to stay safe in the big city.

The trip is being paid for through local fundraising efforts, and other sources. It’s the first time in over 10-years students from Atlantic have attended a national FFA convention.

As area schools head back to classes this week, the Cass County Child Abuse Prevention Council is encouraging local students to BE A FRIEND, Not a bully!    While parents and students should keep in mind that bullying takes place all year, the local Child Abuse Prevention Council is asking for the communities support this week and always in reminding local youth to BE A FRIEND, Not a bully!

Starting a conversation with your child about bullying can be the first step to prevent bullying, and helping them feel supported. Give your child some helpful hints in dealing with bullies, such as the ones listed below.  Suggest that your student look at their actions and how they can affect the feeling of others.  Also, keep in mind that bullying is a legal matter. More information on preventing bullying, or steps to take if your child has been bullied or is bullying others, can be found at http://www.education.com/topic/school-bullying-teasing/  or contact the Prevention Hotline 855-581-8111.

Bullying can be devastating for everyone involved, especially a child.  Bullying can create a feeling of being frightened, angry, and depressed.  Types of bullying may include physical abuse (hitting and pushing), verbal abuse (teasing and calling names), and relationship abuse (rumors/gossip and isolation). 

Ways to stand up for yourself…  (Adapted from HELPGUIDE.org)

-walk away from a bully

-protect yourself against physical abuse

-report the event to a trusted adult and continue to report it until someone      helps.

Ways to BE A FRIEND…

-Be Kind and Compassionate

-Resolve conflicts peacefully

-Focus on positive friendships

-Respect yourself and others

Cass County is a strong community.  It is up to us to protect our children and teach them how to respect their peers and themselves.  Make it a “back to school resolution” to talk to the youth in your life about this important topic, and help kick off the new school year right!

A teenager from Red Oak was arrested late Monday night on a charge of Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. The arrest of 17-year old Bryan Nathan Gross took place at around 11:30-p.m. at the corner of Center and West Coolbaugh Streets, and was the result of an investigation into an earlier incident. Gross was released to his parents after receiving a citation to appear in Juvenile Court.

A group of area school administrators is coordinating their efforts in an attempt to meet the standards necessary to obtain a grant that could range anywhere from $4-million to $10-million. Atlantic School District Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein  announced during Monday evening’s School Board meeting, that he’s been working with Superintendents at the Harlan, CAM, Exira-EHK and Griswold School Districts, to apply for a “Race to the Top” (R2T) grant, which had previously only been available to States.

He said the Dept. of Education has shifted the focus of the race to school districts or consortiums, instead of states. Amstein said the districts are applying for an R2T grant that focuses on Career Tech Education (CTE). He said the hope is that the districts can use the grant monies to build-in some programs not currently offered, and expand on those that are being offered. The districts would apply for a Tier 1 grant.

In order to qualify for a Tier 1 grant, the consortium of districts must have anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 students. Working with the other districts, Amstein says, will enable the group to meet the requirement. He says the Superintendents plan to meet by conference call and/or in-person this Friday afternoon, to file a “Letter of Intent,” to apply for the grant, which he says would be a “Great shot in the arm” for rural Iowa, if the grant is received.

He says they’ll be working hard over the next few months to prepare the grant for consideration. Amstein says he’s excited about the prospects of working with the other school administrators to obtain the funding and focus on CTE programs, which he says is in “Dire need of expansion.”

“Race to the Top” was created in 2009 and designed to spur innovation and reforms in state and local district K-12 education. It was funded by the Economic Development Recovery Act as part of the 2009 ARRA (The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act), or economic stimulus package. States were awarded points for satisfying certain educational policies, such as performance-based standards. In May 2012, the Department of Education proposed draft criteria for a district-level Race to the Top program.

Authorities in Montgomery County say no citations were issued following an incident where a dog broke free of its tie out, and attacked a neighboring dog, in Elliott. The incident happened at 411 Linden Street, on Monday. Officials say the dog, owned by Julia Daughtery, broke free of its harness and bit a dog owned by Scott and Beth Peterson. The Peterson’s animal was bitten in several places, causing injury.

The dog returned home and was secured, after Daughtery was notified about the incident. Officials say both parties appeared to have been attempting to comply with the City of Elliott’s dog ordinance, and understanding of liability for injuries to the dog.