The Atlantic School Board Wednesday evening, approved the resignations of some staff and nine certified teachers, each of whom will receive a $500 stipend for submitting their request for Early Retirement prior to the end of January.

Among the teachers whose resignations was approved by the Board, was: 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.

School Board member Jenny Williams asked McDermott why he was resigning his position at the end of the school year. He said it was because of some concerns he had and there are other things he’d like to do. He kids aren’t involved in football anymore, and the job of coaching year-around, has “taken its toll.” Williams and Board Vice-President Kristy Pellett thanked McDermott for his service, and all those teachers who are leaving.

Superintendent Mike Amstein said the district has brought in a number of talented teachers in the past few years, and while we are losing a lot of experience, they have also brought in a lot of new talent, so “It’s kind of a trade-off.” The Board Wednesday, also held a preliminary discussion on the budget. Amstein said there are still three things preventing them from making much progress on the budget, not the least of which is, what the legislature plans to do with State Supplemental Aid.  Other issues/unknowns, include increases in insurance, and the outcome of contract negotiations with Certified Staff.

And, Activities Director Matt Alexander updated the Board, Wednesday, on the Athletic Facilities Study. He said since the process of looking at the facilities began in November, they have sent out Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) to companies across the State, for the purposes of conducting a more in-depth study and coming up with options or solutions. Alexander said they had received several responses. The companies’ fees for the study ranged from $10,000 to as much as $40,000. A committee was established and bids reviewed on January 4th. The Committee narrowed down their choices to three, and interviews were held with those company representatives.

Among the areas of athletic facilities they would look at, is the Trojan Bowl, where safety is an issue, the baseball and softball fields, and tennis courts. A recommendation on which firm the committee selects will come during the next board meeting. If the Board approves the recommendation, the study could begin at the end of February.

CLIVE, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Lottery officials say a Powerball ticket sold in the state is worth $2 million. Officials say the ticket matched the first five numbers but missed the Powerball to win a $1 million prize in Wednesday’s drawing. The person who bought the ticket also added the Power Play to the purchase, which multiplied the prize to $2 million.  The buyers of tickets sold in California, Florida and Tennessee will share the estimated $1.6 billion jackpot or the $983.5 million cash option.

Lottery officials say people bought more than $12 million in Powerball tickets in Iowa for Wednesday’s drawing. The odds of winning the jackpot are about 1 in 292.2 million.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports three people were arrested on separate charges, following incidents that took place in Villisca. On Monday, 60-year old Deborah Kay McCollum, of Villisca, was arrested by sheriff’s deputies, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, following an incident in the 600 block of E. 6th Street, in Villisca. McCollum was cited for the offense and then released.

Late Wednesday night, deputies in Montgomery County arrested 27-year old Jeremy Jon Thompson, of Red Oak, on a Montgomery County warrant for Probation Violation. The warrant was issued in connection with an incident that happened in the 300 block of North U Avenue, in Villisca. Thompson was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $25,000 bond. Also arrested Wed. night, was 25-year old Charles Albert Mace, Jr., of Clarinda, who was taken into custody in Villisca, on a Montgomery County warrant for Theft in the 5th Degree. Mace, Jr., was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

A new study ranks Iowa as the nation’s eighth strongest state. Iowa fell from seventh a year ago in the review by Politico Magazine. The survey uses federal data showing Iowa boasts the nation’s sixth lowest unemployment rate, the seventh-highest percentage of high school graduates, and the 16th lowest violent crime rate. On the negative side, Iowa is among 11 states with obesity rates above 30-percent. New Hampshire is ranked as the “strongest” state by Politico. Louisiana is as the bottom of the list.

(Radio Iowa)

Lottery officials in Tennessee say the winning ticket for the record Powerball jackpot in their state was sold in Munford, north of Memphis. The holder of that ticket will share the $1.6 billion jackpot with winners in Southern California and Florida. A news release from Tennessee lottery officials says the state also has a ticket that won $2 million. The winning numbers in Wednesday night’s drawing are 4-8-19-27-34 and Powerball 10.

The winners can opt for annual payments over decades or a lump-sum payment. None of the winners’ identities have yet been revealed.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

(updated 3:50-a.m.)-  Lottery officials in Tennessee say the winning ticket for the record Powerball jackpot in their state was sold in Munford, north of Memphis. The holder of that ticket will share the $1.6 billion jackpot with winners in Southern California and Florida. A news release from Tennessee lottery officials says the state also has a ticket that won $2 million. The winning numbers in Wednesday night’s drawing are 4-8-19-27-34 and Powerball 10. The winners can opt for annual payments over decades or a lump-sum payment. None of the winners’ identities have yet been revealed.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — The Linn County attorney will not press charges against two Cedar Rapids officers for a shooting death. Officers Bryson Garringer and Lucas Jones have been cleared of criminal charges for shooting and killing 21-year-old Jonathan Gossman in October. The officers fired 25 shots at Gossman after he reportedly fled the scene of a traffic stop and then pointed a gun at Garringer and a police dog.

INDIANOLA, Iowa (AP) — Seven students at Indianola High School have been diagnosed with mumps or a similar illness since the end of December. The first case was discovered just before Christmas break. Since then three other lab-confirmed cases have been reported along with three probable cases. Authorities say two of the seven students were not vaccinated.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The chief justice of the Iowa Supreme Court says the state is making progress in addressing racial disparity in its criminal justice system. Chief Justice Mark Cady spoke to the Iowa General Assembly on Wednesday. He says more than 700 judges, magistrates and other judicial branch staffers received training last year that helps them recognize implicit biases that may contribute to racial disparity.

Representatives with the Atlantic Education Association presented their Initial Collective Bargaining Proposal for the 2016-17 School Year to the School Board, Wednesday evening. The contract, as proposed, is based on 190 contract days, including those for Professional Development. JoAnn Runyon spoke before the Board at the High School Media Center.

Runyon said their proposal includes a nearly 5.9-percent increase in salaries and benefits for Certified Staff, meaning the current base pay would increase $2,000, from $34, 411 per year to $37,411, including step and lane movement. That would put the base salary somewhat more in-line with what other Hawkeye 10 Conference schools are paying, based on enrollment figures. Their proposal also calls for a change in how much the District contributes toward family insurance coverage. Under the proposal, that would jump from $100 per month to $200 per month for teachers requesting family coverage. Employees who do not have a family policy can elect to receive a cash payment or have the amount applied towards a Tax Sheltered Annuity, under the Association’s proposal.

The Education Association also requested a change in the dollar amount for payment of FFA Sponsor from $1,374 to $2,748, and the addition of a summer weight room supervisor (under the Extended/Special Contracts Salary part of the proposal). That person would receive $4,000. The old provision simply said a weight room supervisor, outside of contract hours, would be paid $10 per hour.

And, the Association requested the number of Personal Leave days be increased from two, to three, or a maximum accumulated leave of five days in any one year, instead of three. They also requested a section of the current contract stating Personal leave days may not be used to extend a vacation or holiday..with certain exceptions…be stricken from the contract.

Officials with the Atlantic Community School District (ACSD) presented their proposal Jan. 6th. The next step is for the District to revisit its initial proposal, before additional talks are held.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday released information on multiple recent arrests.

On Tuesday, January 12th at 11:00am officers arrested 37-year-old Dusty Linn Evans of Glenwood on a Warrant for Theft 4th Degree.  Evans was held on $1,000 bond.  At 4:01am officers arrested 21-year-old Cory Lane Jones of Council Bluffs for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Jones was held on $300 bond.  At 4:27pm deputies arrested 37-year-old Joseph Cory Jack of Glenwood on a Warrant for Theft 5th Degree.  Jack was held on $100 bond.  Finally on Tuesday at 6:31 pm officers arrested 23-year-old Lance David Weber of Glenwood on a Warrant for Harassment 3rd Degree.  Weber was held on $500 bond.

Mills County Officials also report two arrests on Wednesday.  At 12:01 am deputies arrested James Craig Thomas of Council Bluffs for Driving Under Suspension and on a Warrant out of Pottawattamie County.  He was held on $300 bond.  Then at 1:12am deputies arrested 47-year-old Wendy Renee Huftless of Council Bluffs for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Huftless was held on $300 bond.

A single vehicle accident occurred on Tuesday as well in Mills County.  Jaime Bostic of La Vista, NE was driving a 2005 Honda at 8:14am northbound on Levi Road and lost control for unknown reasons.  Bostic went of the edge of the roadway to the right and then over corrected skidding to the left and back across the roadway striking the embankment.  The vehicle then came to rest in the east ditch on its top after rolling.  No injuries were reported at that time.

The Red Oak Police department reports the arrest Wednesday of a Red Oak man on a valid warrant for Probation Violation.  At 3:20pm officers arrested 49-year-old Russell Lee Peterson of Red Oak at 106 West Coolbaugh Street.  Peterson was taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $10,000 bond.

Police in Council Bluffs report a Ford F-350 pickup stolen Monday night or early Tuesday morning from the parking lot of the Harrah’s Hotel and Casino in Council Bluffs, was recovered early this (Wednesday) morning near 11th and Grace Streets, in Omaha. A Yamaha R6S motorcycle that was also stolen has not yet been recovered. Authorities are still asking for your help in locating the motorcycle.

Tuesday evening, authorities announced Omaha Police had recovered an SUV and the trailer it was being hauled on. Both were also stolen from the Hotel/Casino parking lot in Council Bluffs.

Stolen Yamaha motorcycle

The vehicles and trailer belong to Nicolas Craig and his wife, Rochelle, who were in the process of moving from Virginia Beach, Virginia to the state of Washington. They had stopped in Council Bluffs Monday evening and got a room at Harrah’s and awoke Tuesday morning to discover their vehicles, a trailer and many of their personal belongings were missing.

If you have any information about the thefts, call 712 328-5737, and select Option 1.