There’s been a slight decline in the certified enrollment numbers at the Griswold Community School District. That was the word from Superintendent Dana Kunze, to the Griswold School Board, during their meeting Monday evening. Kunze told KJAN News he reported to the board they are down seven students this year, which he said is on their “trend line.” He said it’s not unexpected, but “Not what we were hoping for, either.”

In other business, the Griswold Board of Education opted to utilize the district’s existing staff to manage the k-through 12 sports program, instead of hiring a Sports Coordinator. He said the discussion focused on the need to coordinate an elementary through high school program, to make sure they weren’t losing students or student athletes as they make the transition through the grades. He says they decided their current staff is adequate, and capable of handling the necessary duties.

When the Atlantic City Council holds their regular session Wednesday evening, they’re expected to receive more information on a proposed preliminary plat for Namanny Commercial Development, on the City’s west side. The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the preliminary plat during their meeting a little over a week ago. Plans call for a nearly eight-acre tract of land owned by the Namanny Company to be divided into four different lots, one of which is located just north of Boulders’ Inn and Suites. Two small lots would be just off of Highway 6 would be for commercial buildings. City Administrator Doug Harris says the goal of some private parties is to create more of a commercial/retail hub in the area, which would also generate more activity around the Boulders Inn. Approval of the proposed layout by the P-and-Z however, does not constitute final approval of the plans, and submittals that are part of the final plat.

In other business, the Council, Wednesday, will receive a draft of the proposed Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Policy. The matter was tabled during their last meeting two-weeks ago, so that Councilman Shaun Shouse and the City Attorney could review the document and make sure it was in compliance with recent changes to the State’s Urban Renewal Law. The Council is being asked to review the draft as presented and ask questions, but they are not expected to take action on the policy until at least November 2nd.

The Atlantic City Council meeting begins at 5:30-p.m.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors are set to act Wednesday morning, on Resolution calling for the vacating of a portion of 662nd Lane. Action on the Resolution will follow a public hearing on the proposal. The hearing begins at about 9:05-a.m.  In other business, the Board will hear quarterly reports from Cass County Veteran’s Affairs Director Mitch Holmes, and a Conservation Report from Micah Lee. Their meeting in the Supervisor’s Board Room at the Cass County Courthouse begins at 9-a.m.

w/ Ric Hanson

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The Atlantic Parks and Rec Board Monday approved a grading and seeding project for the Schildberg Recreation Area, in Atlantic. Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring presented the final draft plans from Engineer Ken Coffman and the Schildberg Recreation Committee for the campground area, which will be graded and prepped for gravel pads. The one-way (south to north) entrance to the campground area, once completed, will be off of Iowa Avenue, and make its way toward the parking area on the east side of the lakes, and back toward Chestnut Street.

Herring said the 60-foot long gravel camping pads will be at the recommended 60-degree angle, to make for easy entry. There will also be an 8-foot, L-shaped gravel “patio” for a picnic table and a fire ring. There will be water and electric hookups as well, but Herring says two pads will have to share one water hookup. There will be separate electric hookups to each pad, however. A dump station will be available at the end of the campground driveway, for disposal of r-v and camper “gray water” and waste, just like those found at the Cass County Fairgrounds.

Future plans, according to Herring, call for a road to 10-acres of City-owned land, for the another, large R-V Park, capable of handling 32-foot campers and custom coach-type R-V’s. The parking stalls for those types of campers and vehicles will be drive-through, so no backing-up will be necessary. There will also be a boat ramp in that same location, for access to Lake Number Two. One small parking area will be designated for campground visitor’s use, also, to eliminate parking congestion. There will be 21 stalls for that purpose.

Herring says walkers and bikers around the lakes don’t have to fear their path being disrupted by the future plans, as those paths will remain in-place. In fact, signs indicating mileage around the lakes will be installed soon. And in the future, there will be 33 spaces on the gravel lot for pedestrians and bicyclists to park their vehicles, four of which will be marked for handicapped use.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Red Oak Police report the arrest Sunday of a local man, on drug charges. 18-year Gillian Ray James Bourn was arrested early Sunday morning at the corner of North 1^st and Elm Streets, on a Possession of Controlled Substance charge. Bourn was being held Monday in the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on $1,000 cash bond.

A proposed ban on tobacco use at the Sunnyside Park skateboard area in Atlantic was snuffed out by the City’s Parks and Recreation Department Board of Directors, because it was too narrow in scope, and because the proposal came from an outside group, and not from the skateboarders themselves, who have been tasked with policing the area to keep it clean and free from vandalism.

The proposal was made by Cass County Community Hospital Tobacco Prevention/Cessation Specialist Karla Akers and Circles for Success Coordinator, Melissa Stark, in coordination with students with the Atlantic Middle School and other, local groups. Akers said while there may be a perception of skateboard enthusiasts being smokers in other parts of the country, she admitted she doesn’t know if there is a problem with smoking at skate park in Atlantic.

Akers gave some reasons why they think the skate park should be tobacco free. One the reasons, is it makes for a healthier place for kids to play. She says it reduces the toxic litter, and helps prevent younger kids from playing with discarded cigarette butts. It would eliminate the danger of second-hand smoke, and allow kids to have fun without tobacco products. She said they’d like the park to be a model for healthy behavior to the citizens of, and visitors to Atlantic.

Atlantic Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring said the proposal is too narrow in focus, and doesn’t give those who use the skate park a say in what the policies are. He says he would rather the proposal be made by the skate park users themselves, for one thing, as opposed to an outside group dictating their behavior. He says it boils down his personal philosophy of “You have to police your own.” The Park Board agreed, they needed more input from the skate park users and from the Middle School “Builders Club,” before discussing the matter further and taking any action.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa farmers are close to wrapping up this year’s harvest as much needed rain finally fell across most of the state. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says 87 percent of the corn crop has been harvested, which is a month ahead of schedule. Ninety-three percent of the soybean crop is in from the fields, which is three weeks ahead of normal. The USDA says in Monday’s report that rain over the weekend helped Iowa’s pasture and range land. Hay supplies are running short across 41 percent of the state. Calves are being weaned and sold early due to the short supply of winter hay. The statewide average rainfall last week was 1.65 inches, triple the normal for the week. It was Iowa’s wettest week since early May.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press