Safety Concerns

Friday
Feb. 12, 2016
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Over Half
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Failing
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Atlantic

News Telegraph

Serving Cass, Shelby, Guthrie, Audubon and Pottawattamie Counties for over 141 years. Volume 235 - No 035

School News

$1.00

Local News

Aging Bus Fleet Raises

Transportation Concerns
Board Considering
Replacement Program
Sheri Wilkerson keeps everything moving in
the Floral Department, and said Valentines
Day wasnt just one day, for her department, it
was a whole week.

BY JEFF LUNDQUIST

NT Publisher
ATLANTIC - Over half the Atlantic School Districts
bus eet has been put temporarily out of service following
a recent state inspection which ofcials say highlights the
districts need to begin updating its eet.
Following the second semester school bus inspection, it has become necessary to strongly consider the possibility of making multiple school bus purchases to rebuild
our eet, district Transporation Supervisor Dave Eckles
said. Of the 19 yellow school buses we currently own, six
were placed out of service and ve others were given 30
days to make repairs. With 11 of 19 buses having issues, it
gives rise to the question of what is actually happening.
Eckles told the board that three of the 11 buses were
sidlined with common issues that can easily be repaired
and have them back in service. As for the other buses, time
is beginning to take its toll on Atlantics aging eet.
Another bus had some minor welding issues that can
be taken care of without much expense, but time is not on
its side, because it is 16 years old and rapidly decaying,
he said. Another bus that is OOS, has a minor repair to
put back in to service, but has a long list of deterioration
issues that need to be completed in the next 30 days. That Atlantic Transportation Supervisor Dave Eckles recommended Wednesday that the disctrict
replace four busses over the next four years
Buses ................................................................ see page 2
through a lease program.

Photo by Jeff Lundquist

School Improvement Projects

District Considers
$775,000 in Capital
Improvement Projects

For Your Information:

The Cost of Safety

The cost of adding three-point seat belts to

schools busses can add as much as $10,000 to the
cost of the bus.

BY JEFF LUNDQUIST

NT Publisher
ATLANTIC - The Atlantic School district is considering several capital improvement projects over the
summer totaling just under $800,000.
On the to-do list is $80,000 for new laptops for
teachers at the high school, a $125,000 payment for previous laptop purchases, $180,000 for the Phase 2 heat
Capital Improvement ............................ see page 2

Weather
Friday
- Mostly cloudy, then
gradually becoming
sunny, with a temperature rising to near 21
by 11 a.m., then falling
to around 13 during the
remainder of the day.
Wind chill values as low
as zero. Blustery, with a
north wind 7 to 16 mph, with gusts as high
as 23 mph. Friday Night - Partly cloudy,
with a low around -6. Wind chill values as
low as -15.

friday 2-12 final copy.indd 1

School Calendar

Friday, Feb. 12,

4:30 p.m. - Basketball: Boys Ninth Game (Date Changed to

02-13) Treynor at Treynor HS
6 p.m. - Basketball: Boys JV Game (Date Changed to 0213) Treynor at Treynor HS
7 p.m. - Opera Iowa at AHS Auditorium, Open to the public
7:30 p.m. - Basketball: Boys Varsity Game (Date Changed
to 02-13) Treynor at Treynor HS

Flower
power:

Photo by Laura Bacon

Atlantic Hy-Vee Florist

has it all under control
BY LAURA BACON

NT Staff Writer
ATLANTIC - Valentines Day is on Sunday, but for
Sherri Wilkerson of Hy-Vee in Atlantic, planning started
in December, when she placed orders for the owers
shes busy arranging today.
Yesterday (Tuesday), I was designing, and I had a
clipboard in my arms, and a phone at each ear, dealing
with that many things at one time, she said.
Wilkerson is a pro at keeping all the Valentines
Day details in order, shes been doing it for many years.
She said she had been working with owers since about
1988, and has been with Hy-Vee for 19 years, and I had
my own shop prior to that.
She got her start in the oral business after moving
back home, I didnt want to live in the city, she said,
and had an opportunity to purchase a small town business in Exira, which is where Im from, so I came home
to run a small business and raise my kids at home.
Looking back, Wilkerson said she has always been
an artsy fartsy from way back when.
Like in high school, all I wanted to do was art
class, she said, Its in my blood I guess.
Getting involved in owers happened because of
the business that was for sale in Exira. I had my training in business management in college, so I got into
business management, fell into a business that was for
sale (it became Sherris Flowers), so I was not a designer at rst, I was the ofce manager and owner, and
then learned about owers from a gal I employed, so
Florist .............................................................. see page 5

Update:

Accident Near Caseys

On Feb. 10, Atlantic

Police investigated an accident at Caseys West, located at 911 SW Seventh
Street, at 1:17 p.m.
Zachary Dill of Atlantic was traveling east bound
leaving the Caseys West
parking lot from the south
drive.

Read the full report on page 2

2/11/16 4:41 PM

Local

Friday, February 12, 2016

Medication Dropbox
to be placed at APD
A permanent medication drop box will placed in
the lobby of the Atlantic Police Department to allow
the public to dispose of unused prescription drugs.
The drop box will be accessible during normal business hours of the police department office.
According to a press release, the drop box is made
possible through a grant from the Governors Office
of Drug Control Policy. Officials there say individuals
should remove all personal identification from medication containers, and place the medicine in a vials or
bags, and put them in the drop box. They asked that no
liquids or sharps be placed in the drop box, and keep
the drop box area clean.
Steven Lukan, Director of the Governors Office
of Drug Control Policy, said in the release, that his
office is pleased to partner with the Atlantic Police
Department in providing citizen a secure and environmentally responsible option to dispose of unused
prescription drugs, thus preventing their potential diversion and abuse. Most prescription drugs that are
abused come from friends and family, so cleaning out
medicine cabinets can save lives.
Prescription drug abuse is Iowas fastest-growing
form of substance abuse, and addiction to powerful
pain relievers is also fueling more herion use. Prescription pain pills and herion are both opioid drugs.
The combination is contributing to an increase in opioid-related overdose deaths in Iowa and the U.S.
According to Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green,
Many people become addicted to prescription drugs
because they started using a family members leftover
prescriptions. Once addicted some of these individuals may then eventually move to heroin to fulfill that
addiction. This is an opportunity for families to legally and responsibility dispose of prescriptions and
remove the temptation for abuse.

Cass County
Courthouse
closed Monday
Cass County Courthouse will be closed Presidents
Day, Monday, Feb. 15.

Around the House

Frugal ways to
celebrate
Valentines Day

Police Reports
Atlantic Police
Arrests
On Feb. 9, Atlantic Police arrested Justin Knutsen, 29,
of Atlantic, for domestic abuse assault (impeding air flow),
going armed with intent, operating vehicle without owners consent, and criminal mischief in the fifth degree. He
was taken into custody, transported to Cass County Jail and
booked in.
On Feb. 10, Atlantic Police arrested Devin Register, 25,
of Atlantic, on a Cass County warrant for theft in the fourth
degree. He was taken into custody, transported to Cass
County Jail and booked in.
On Feb. 10, Atlantic Police arrested Matthew Stahl,
35, of Atlantic, for serious assault (causing injury). He was
taken into custody, transported to Cass County Jail and
booked in.

Accident

On Feb. 10, Atlantic Police investigated an accident

at Caseys West, located at 911 SW Seventh Street, at 1:17
p.m.
Zachary Dill of Atlantic was traveling east bound leaving the Caseys West parking lot from the south drive. Dill
proceeded to exit Caseys parking lot to go south on Highway 6, did not straighten the wheel and continued to turn.
The vehicle then left the road way to the west, and came to
rest off the road way on a concrete culvert. The driver and
three passengers were transported to Cass County Memorial
Hospital by Medivac personnel with non-life threatening injures. Passengers were: Scott Dill, 9; Tammy Dill, 37; and
Noah Dill, 7; all of Atlantic. Estimated damage to the vehicle was $10,000, and Zachary Dill was cited for failure to
provide proof of insurance.

Stelen Vehicle
On Feb. 8 at 5:40 p.m., deputies with the Montgomery
County Sheriffs office located the White 2002 Dodge Dakota Pickup that was stolen early Monday morning from the
United Farmer Mercantile Company in Red Oak. The vehicle was located a quarter of a mile east of Highway 71 on
140th Street near Grant. This investigation is still ongoing
and anyone with any further information is encouraged to

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On Monday, Feb. 8, deputies with the Shelby County

Sheriffs Office and officers with the Harlan Police Department served a search warrant at 611 Fifth Street in Harlan.
Upon completion of the search warrant, officers discovered
a firearm, a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and
drug paraphernalia. As a result, the following suspects were
taken into custody and transported to the Shelby County
Jail:
Benjamin Allmon, 37, of Harlan-charged with felon in
possession of a firearm (Class D Felony), possession of a
controlled substance (aggravated misdemeanor), possession of drug paraphernalia (simple misdemeanor), gathering where controlled substances are kept (Class D Felony),
and prohibited acts (aggravated misdemeanor). Bond is currently set at $5,000.
Zachery Kloewer, 22, of Harlan-charged with possession of a controlled substance (aggravated misdemeanor),
possession of drug paraphernalia (simple misdemeanor),
and unlawful possession of prescription drugs (serious misdemeanor). Bond is currently set at $1,000.
Justin Stevens, 38 of Ogden-charged with possession
of a controlled substance (aggravated misdemeanor), possession of drug paraphernalia (simple misdemeanor), and
unlawful possession of prescription drugs (serious misdemeanor). Bond is currently set at $1,000.
Marcus Blunt, 25, of Rockwell City-gathering where
controlled substances are kept (Class D Felony). Bond is
currently set at $5,000.

CORALVILLE (AP) - The Department of Corrections

says a man convicted last month of two murders in southern
Iowa has killed himself in prison.
The agency says staffers at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Coralville found 37-year-old Jerry Ray
Dillinger hanging from a bed sheet in his room late Wednesday. Staffers tried to revive Dillinger, and he was taken to an
Iowa City hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
An autopsy is planned but the Corrections Department
says it appears the death was asphyxia due to suffocation.
Dillinger pleaded guilty Jan. 22 in Union County to two
counts of first-degree murder in the killings of his former
sister-in-law, Loretta Dillinger, and Michael Robinson, who
was in a relationship with a Dillinger family member.
He was serving two life sentences.

District Capital Improvement

Capital Improvement................................. From page one

pump replacement at the high school and $125,000 for

work on the Washington Elementary playground. Work on
the roof at Washington Elementary has also been earmarked
with $90,000.
Tuck-pointing at the middle school and concrete work
at the high school and middle school is expected to cost
about $75,000.
Also included is $100,000 for a four-year bus lease.
District Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein noted that
the funds would come from the districts Physical Plant and
Equipment Levy (PPEL) with is expected to have around
$1.1 million available.

School Considers Transportation Issues

Buses............................................................................................................................................................From page one

bus is 17-years-old. The
final bus that is OOS has
had an engine failure and at
15-years-old, is not worthy
of repair. Of the five buses
with 30 day repairs, three
are very minor issues, while
the other two are rapidly decaying and will take extensive repair to be able to pass
inspection in 30 days, let

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Search warrant leads to charges

Montgomery County Sheriff

A day set aside to shower a loved one with gifts and

touching words of affection, Valentines Day brightens the
often gloomy month of February. Established centuries
ago with origins shrouded in mystery, Valentines Day has
evolved into one of the most popular - and expensive - days
of the year. Many couples celebrate Valentines Day with
cards, gifts and nights out on the town, and such celebrations can stretch budgets.
Coming on the heels of post-holiday bills, Valentines
Day can feel like a costly prospect. Yet, even those on a
budget can enjoy a special day to remember without breaking the bank. The following are several frugal ways to enjoy
Valentines Day.
Create your own greeting card. It can be challenging
to find cards that offer just the right sentiments. Sometimes
cards seem distant, too risque^a or overly sentimental. Instead, create your own card. Find a decorative blank card
or make one from card stock. Search through your digital
photos and print one of the two of you together. Glue on
a paper heart border, and then jot down some affectionate
sentiments.
Cleverly wrap favorite chocolate. Chocolate is synonymous with Valentines Day, and its easy to spend a lot on
gourmet chocolates without even knowing if your valentine
will like whats inside the box. Stick to what you know he
or she likes, even if its a simple chocolate bar from a convenience store. Buy a few and then wrap them in a fancy
box with ribbon.
Go out for a small bite to eat. If youre concerned
about the cost of an expensive dinner out or anticipate being
restricted to a certain menu, plan to dine at home. You can
opt to go out for cocktails prior or head to a cafe^a for dessert and cappuccino afterward. This way youll still get the
experience of going out without being forced to overspend.
Purchase a rosebush. Bouquets of roses are traditional
gifts for Valentines Day. However, thanks to the increased
demand, the cost of roses tends to increase as Valentines
Day draws nearer. If you want to save money but still give
roses, buy a plant that blooms each year. Buy a rosebush and
plan to put it in the garden come spring when all danger of
frost is gone.
Turn older jewelry new again. Diamonds and other
jewelry can be costly. If a new piece simply isnt in the budget, consider repurposing an older piece of jewelry that isnt
worn as often. Its amazing what a new setting on a ring can
look like or how stones on a seldom-used necklace can be
turned into fashionable stud earrings. If you have a good
amount of mismatched gold jewelery lying around, you
may be able to sell it or have it melted down and turned into
a beautiful new creation.

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alone being able to pass another inspection in the next

six months.
The overall problem
Eckles says is age.
Our bus fleet currently
has an average age of 10.37
years. Most buses have a
useful life of 12 to maybe
15 years if well maintained.
With the environment these
vehicles are exposed to, it is
becoming increasingly difficult to extend their useful
life beyond those years, he
told the board.
Eckles estimates that
a new bus will cost about
$95,000. He recommended
the board purchase four new
buses through a leasing program which would allow the
district to make annual payments over the next three

years, thereby, only paying

for one bus per year, which
is still less than what we
should be buying annually
just to maintain our fleet.
I would like the board
to entertain the idea of making multiple bus purchases
before the next school year.
The process of purchasing
school buses can take several months to complete, that
is why it is imperative that a
decision to start the process
begins soon. To maintain the
size of our current fleet, we
would need to replace buses
at the rate of 1.5 buses/year,
to end up with an expired
bus at nearly 13 years of
age.
The advantages to
this would be fewer repairs
on buses that are corroding
away due to age and usage,
locking in a rate that will
undoubtedly rise from year
to year for new buses and
being able to have our more
immediate needs met, while
still being able to manage
our transportation budget.
He added that one of the

buses should be equipped

for special needs children
noting the age of the current special needs bus and
the importance of keeping it
running.
You dont want that
bus to break down, he said.
Board members agreed
that the fleet needed updating. Board member Alison
Bruckner suggested the
district include an annual
amount for the purchase of a
new bus in an effort to rotate
in newer equipment.
Its something were
just going to have to do,
she said.
Eckles also proposed
the disctrict purchase propane powered busses and
build a refueling station
in the district. The project
would cost about $20,000
but would allow the district
to take advantage of bulk
rate discounts.
Eckles is expected to
put together bids and other
information for discussion
at a future meeting.

The family of Phyllis Schwab

would like to thank you for
the many kind expressions of
sympathy on the loss of our
mother, grandmother and
great-grandmother.
Dennis & Jeanne Schwab, Dean & Carol
Schwab, Donna & Winston Hoegh
Deb & Lee Butler, and families

2/11/16 4:32 PM