(Anita, IA) – The CAM Community School District (CSD) Board of Education will hold their Annual and Organizational  Meeting of the retiring and newly elected School Board, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, beginning at 6:30-p.m. The meeting takes place in the CAM High School Media Center, and begins with a Public Hearing on the District’s Instructional Support Levy (ISL). During their meeting last month, the Board held discussion with regard to the voted PPEL and ISL were held. A special election for renewal will be held in March.

The Annual Meeting of the Retiring CAM School Board will follow. The Consent Agenda includes action on approving: Open Enrollments; Personnel matters, such as resignations and contracts, along with other administrative matters. The Board will hear from Mrs. Brahms, with regard to the STEAM/TAG programs.

Once the Annual Meeting concludes, an Organization Meeting of the new Board will be called to order, and includes the Election/Oath of Office to the (elected) Board President, who will then preside over that portion of the meeting. There will also be an election for the Board Vice-President along with administering of the Oath of Office, and the appointment of the School Board Secretary/Treasurer.

The new Board will vote on establishing the date, time and location of their future meetings, and act on several matters to come before them, including: Snow Removal Bids; a Carpet Bid, and other matters. See the full agenda here: 4.1 December 8, 2025 Public Hearing and Organizational Meeting Agenda

(An IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH report) – Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have expanded Iowa public lands access with two parcel acquisitions in Fremont County. The 350 acres abut existing public lands owned by state and federal agencies and will be enrolled in the Iowa Habitat and Access Program to allow public hunting access while employing habitat management practices to improve the prairie.

The Iowa Habitat and Access Program is managed by wildlife biologists at Iowa Department of Natural Resources who help to improve the quality of wildlife habitat on a property. The first parcel is a 174-acre addition to the Copeland Bend Wildlife Area. The conservation groups’ acquisition connects multiple tracts of the existing public lands northeast of Nebraska City. The second parcel, also 174 acres, is a few miles southeast of the first site and connects portions of the M.U. Payne Wildlife Area along the Missouri River. The groups said the site will improve access to the northern end of the existing wildlife area.

The acquisition of the sites was funded by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Build a Wildlife Area program. The program has led to permanent protections and publicly accessible land for more than 243,000 acres in 17 states since 1982, according to a news release from the nonprofit organizations. The news release said the newest parcels add habitat for the game birds in areas that are “heavily utilized” by Iowan and Nebraskan hunters.

In 2024, hunters bagged an estimated 460,000 roosters, or male pheasants, and 27,500 quail in Iowa. Quail Forever acquired another Iowa parcel in August that similarly connected several areas of public land, near Centerville, managed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Iowa DNR.

(Union County, IA) – No injuries were reported following a collision Saturday afternoon (12/6), northeast of Kent, in Union County. According to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, a pickup truck driven by 38-year-old Jacob L. Hubbard, of Creston, was traveling west on 240th Street at the same time a Chevy Cruze driven by 40-year-old Juaneber De La Cruz-Ruiz, of Kent, was traveling north on Clover Avenue.

Authorities say when De La Cruz-Ruiz failed to stop at the posted stop sign intersection, his vehicle struck the pickup truck on the left rear, causing the pickup to turn and hit the other stop sign before ending-up in the ditch. The Chevy Cruze came to rest on the roadway. The collision happened at around 2:30-p.m.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene, with the damages estimated at $8,000 altogether. The Sheriff’s report said there were no citations issued at the scene, but that De La Cruz-Ruiz would be issued a citation for running the stop sign, and the citation would be sent through the mail.

(Greenfield, IA) – In an update to our social media posts Friday morning, with regard to a two-vehicle accident in northwestern Adair County, a report from the Adair County Sheriff’s Office said 16-year-old Kason Jene Calhoun, of Anita, was injured in the crash that occurred at occurred at around 8:15-a.m., in the 1700 block of Brown Avenue (near 170th Street).

Sheriff’s officials say a 2012 Dodge Durango SUV driven by Kason Calhoun was traveling northbound on Brown Avenue at the same time an end loader driven by 35-year-old Kyle Christian Jorgensen, of Anita, was traveling southbound. The SUV and end loader met at the crest of a hill. Calhoun swerved to the right and drove into snow on the side of the roadway. The SUV lost traction and veered to the left the driver’s side of the before it struck the end loader.

The SUV then entered the east ditch and rolled an undetermined amount of times before coming to rest on its wheels. Jorgensen told authorities he swerved to the right in order to try and avoid the collision. Calhoun was found outside of the SUV. Authorities believe he may have been ejected.

Calhoun was transported by Anita Fire and Rescue to Cass Health in Atlantic (CCHS) before being flown by Lifeflight 3 helicopter to the University of Nebraska Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered flags to be at half-staff in honor of those wounded or killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Reynolds has ordered flags to be lowered in honor of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Flags will remain at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on December 7.

Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 17, 1941. It claimed over 2,400 lives and led to America’s entry into World War II.

“On Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, we honor the thousands of servicemembers and civilians who were killed and wounded in this horrific attack on our country,” Governor Reynolds said. “This day is a solemn reminder that our freedom isn’t free, and we are grateful for every American who serves in uniform.”

The State Capitol Building and flag displays in the Capitol Complex will be at half-staff. All public buildings, grounds, and facilities will also fly flags at half-staff in Iowa.

GRINNELL, Iowa (IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH) – Grinnell College is launching a new scholarship program aimed at Iowa’s high-performing students. The private university announced the new Iowa Dean’s Scholarship — an annual, renewable $50,000 scholarship — Thursday in a news release. Students from Iowa need to have earned a 4.0 or higher grade-point average or “have succeeded in the most demanding curriculum offered by their schools” to qualify for the scholarship, the release stated.

“Iowa has always been home to Grinnell College, and Grinnell College champions Iowa. We are grateful for the support and advocacy that we receive from the state, the Grinnell community, and all of the people who make Iowa home for these outstanding students,” President Anne Harris said in the release. “This scholarship recognizes that support and the impact that Iowa’s top students can have at the College and as they go on to professional success and community leadership in our state.”

The Iowa Dean’s Scholarship will become available to students in the fall 2026 semester, the release stated. It joins other financial aid programs offered by the college, including the full-tuition Iowa Access Initiative for students coming from households earning less than $100,000 annually, according to the release, and the $20,000 Founders Scholarship for all admitted resident students. According to the college’s website, 92% of Grinnell College students receive financial aid, and 100% of “demonstrated need” is met by the college without requiring students to take out loans.

Grinnell College Dean Ruth Feingold said in the release that the university “brings bright, engaged students from around the world to live and learn in Iowa” and fosters a campus where students can join the intellectual community and learn from more people than just their teachers. “Our new Iowa Dean’s Scholarship is our way of extending a clear welcome to high-performing students from our home state: come join us here,” Feingold said in the release.

(Adel, IA) – Reports out of Dallas County indicate a Cass County man was arrested Wednesday (Dec. 3rd) in Adel, in connection with an incident that took place Oct. 22nd. The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office reports say 40-year-old Delaney Luke Pace, of Atlantic, was arrested by Adel Police and booked into the Dallas County Jail on a charge of Harassment in the 1st Degree – an Aggravated Misdemeanor.

According to court documents, Pace allegedly threatened to harm an Adel man and his friend, during a confrontation at a residence in Adel. His alleged victim told Police about the incident on Nov 14th, during which Pace allegedly threatened to snap his and his friend’s necks” during the confrontation. Two witnesses told Adel Police that they heard Pace make the alleged threats.

Pace was being held in the Dallas County Jail without bond.

Delaney Luke Pace (Dallas County Jail photo)

*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The lawmaker who leads the Commerce Committee in the Iowa House says it’s too early to say what path legislators may take to reduce property taxes for Iowans. Representative David Young of Van Meter suggests nothing’s been ruled out — yet.

Young was part of a panel discussion earlier today (Friday) at the Iowa Taxpayers Association annual meeting.

Representative Larry McBurney, a Democrat from Urbandale who was part of the discussion, is not opposed to starting over from scratch and redesigning the property tax system.

Senator Bill Dotzler, a Democrat from Waterloo, suggests new restrictions based on household income and finding some way to limit property tax increases for Iowans who are retired.

Young says legislators are hearing emotional stories from older Iowans who are getting priced out of their homes because of rising property taxes.

Young and other panelists raised concerns about property tax breaks for some economic development projects and suggested lawmakers may no longer allow those tax breaks to be permanent. The 2026 Iowa legislative session begins January 12th.

(Radio Iowa) – The electric transmission provider I-T-C Midwest is now starting to upgrade and build new high voltage power lines through four eastern Iowa counties. Spokesperson Rod Pritchard says the Morgan Valley-Twinkle Project will connect a substation in Marshall County to one in Linn County, as part of the Long-Range Transmission Plan (L-R-T-P) to increase the supply of electricity.

(as said)“The load growth is definitely here, and so the L-R-T-P projects, including Morgan Valley-Twinkle, are going to help provide power to all of the load growth anticipated in the greater Cedar Rapids area,” Pritchard says.

The project was introduced before Google and Q-T-S announced their plans for data centers in Cedar Rapids that will need a lot of energy. Pritchard says that won’t impact the advantages of more robust transmission infrastructure and reduced congestion.

(as said)“We are confident that energy consumers will still realize the benefits of the project as envisioned by MISO ( Midcontinent Independent System Operator),” he says. The lines are expected to be in service by 2027.

(Radio Iowa) – The Pottawattamie Board of Supervisors has set next Friday at 4:30 p.m. as the deadline for any county resident to submit a letter of interest in filling a vacancy on the board.

Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson reports.

(As said) – Scott Belt was temporarily removed from the board last month. After a two-day trial this week, a judge ruled Belt cannot serve on the board because he was intoxicated during official county business. Belt was accused of being intoxicated when county officials met with residents in Carson on November 5th. An attorney for Belt argued it was not an official meeting of the board. Video shown in court showed Belt drinking in a bar and others who were in the bar testified Belt was drunk when he left to attend the meeting. Belt served on the Council Bluffs City Council before his election to the county board of supervisors in 2008. He was reelected in 2022 to a term that will expire in 2026.

*********

Pottawattamie County officials plan to appoint a replacement for the last year of Belt’s term rather than hold a special election to fill the vacancy.