GUTHRIE CENTER, Iowa — On May 15th at 12:27 AM, the Guthrie Center Fire Department was dispatched to 1005 Main Street in Guthrie Center for a house fire.  They were assisted by the Panora Fire Department, Panora Ambulance and Guthrie County Sheriff’s Deputies.

One person was critically injured and transported by air to Omaha, Nebraska, where they remain hospitalized.  Two other individuals died as a result of the fire and their positive identifications will be made during autopsies that will conducted later this week by the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner.

An investigation into the fire is being conducted by the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, as well as the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa State Patrol.

It is asked that anyone who may have information related to this investigation call the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office at (641) 743-2214.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report two people were arrested on separate charges, Sunday. 38-year old Sena Allen Mullins, of Malvern, was arrested for Driving While Barred. His bond was set at $2,000. And, 31-year old Kim Michael Britt, of Glenwood, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault, and Interference with Official Acts. He was being held in the Mills County Jail without bond.

The Sheriff’s Office said also, Louis Gerbino, of Silver City, reported an incident of 3rd Degree Burglary, Saturday afternoon. The incident remained under investigation.

Officials with The Dollar General Literacy Foundation today (Monday) announced the award of nearly $67,000 in literacy grants to Iowa nonprofit organizations, libraries and schools. The funds are aimed at supporting adult, family and summer literacy programs within a 20-mile radius of a Dollar General store or distribution center across the 44 states Dollar General serves, and plan to positively impact the lives of more than 6,100 Iowans. Statewide grants are part of more than $7.5 million that the Dollar General Literacy Foundation awarded.

Locally: The Casey Public Library received $500; The Mount Ayr Raider Education Foundation received $1,500, and The Harlan Community Library Foundation received $1,500.

Todd Vasos, Dollar General’s CEO, said in the Press Release “Dollar General is excited to provide these organizations with funding to support literacy and education throughout the 44 states we serve.  Providing these grants and supporting the communities we call home reflects our mission of Serving Others and it’s rewarding to see the impact these funds have.”

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is also currently accepting applications for youth literacy grants through Thursday, May 18th, 2017. Youth literacy grants support schools, public libraries and nonprofit organizations in implementing new or expanding existing literacy efforts. Funding can be used to purchase new technology, equipment, books, materials or software to enhance literacy programs. Applications are available online at www.dgliteracy.org.

Audubon Community School District officials report the 29th annual Iowa Industrial Technology Exposition took place on Friday May 12th,  at SE Polk High School in Pleasant Hill. The event was sponsored by Southeast Polk Community School District, East Polk Rotary and the Iowa Department of Education. Entries were organized into seven classification areas, with 27 sub categories, each with 5 divisions based on age and experience.

Projects could receive ratings of 1st Place (blue ribbon), 2nd place (red ribbon) or 3rd place (white ribbon) for the division entered. Any project receiving a 1st place rating in any category is then judged again to determine Best in State (Gold, Silver, or Bronze). Audubon students competed against students from about 70 schools of all sizes across the state; bringing home three of twelve medals in the four divisions they took part in.

Audubon was represented by the work of 14 students, accompanied by their Industrial Arts teacher Steven Thoelke.

Audubon students receiving recognition were:

Timothy Bozzo, freshman, Division II (Grade 9, beginning level) received a blue ribbon (1st Place) and was further recognized when awarded the Silver medal (2nd Best in State) for his Shaker Bench.

Eric Hermansen, freshman, Division II (Grade 9, beginning level) received a blue ribbon (1st Place) and was further recognized when awarded the Silver medal (2nd Best in State) for his Backdoor Boot Bench.

Macy Debower, junior, Division IV (Grades 10-12, advanced level) received a blue ribbon (1st Place) and was further recognized when awarded the Gold medal (Best in State) for her Low-profile Platform Bed.

Tristan Schlichte, senior, Division IV (Grades 10-12, advanced level) received a blue ribbon (1st Place) for his Cherry Nightstand.

Isaiah Taylor, senior, Division IV (Grades 10-12, advanced level) received a blue ribbon (1st Place) for his Drop-leaf Coffee Table.

Dustin Andreasen, junior, Division III (Grades 10-12, beginning level) received a blue ribbon (1st Place) for his Craftsman Tile Top Table.

Lane Lawson, sophomore, Division III (Grades 10-12, beginning level) received a blue ribbon (1st Place) for his Backdoor Boot Bench.

Jarrett Meaike, junior, Division III (Grades 10-12, beginning level) received a red ribbon (2nd Place) for his Golf Ball display rack.

Tyler Riebhoff, junior, Division III (Grades 10-12, beginning level) received a blue ribbon (1st Place) for his Craftsman Tile Top Table.

Micky Williamson, senior, Division III (Grades 10-12, beginning level) received red ribbons (2nd Place) for his Mini Baseball Bat display rack and two full sized Baseball Bats turned on a lathe.

Noah Morgan, freshman, Division II (Grade 9, beginning level) received a blue ribbon (1st Place) for his Veneered Accent Table.

Luke Mosinski, freshman, Division II (Grade 9, beginning level) received a blue ribbon (1st Place) for his Veneered Accent Table.

Tanner Petersen, freshman, Division II (Grade 9, beginning level) received a blue ribbon (1st Place) for his Veneered Accent Table.

Syrus Stice, freshman, Division II (Grade 9, beginning level) received a blue ribbon (1st Place) for his Veneered Accent Table.

STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) – Iowa school districts are struggling to meet the need for more English language teachers amid growing demand from students and stagnant state funding. The Des Moines Register  reports that enrollment in English language learner programs has grown five times in the last 25 years to more than 27,200 students in 2016. Forty-one percent of students in Storm Lake are still learning English.

State funding for ELL programs and services has nearly doubled over the last 10 years from $25.9 million in 2006 to $55.4 million in 2016. Still, Iowa educators say school districts need more state funding to cover additional years of ELL classes for students who have difficulty picking up English.

Recent efforts to continue increasing state funding haven’t gained traction, including legislation introduced this session that would’ve boosted per-student state funding from five to seven years.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents of the county of possible scam involving driveway paving. On the Sheriff’s Office social media page, officials say it appears individuals are going door to door offering to lay driveway pavement (blacktop). During the incident reported to the Sheriff’s Office, the contractors offered  no quote for work prior to the job being completed, only a verbal rough estimate.

The business stated they would provide a quote, but homeowner came home to driveway project already completed. A bill was given to the property owner after the work was done, and the price was extremely higher than expected and instead of the blacktop pavement they used crushed millings. Asphalt millings are often considered recycled asphalt pavement – essentially, they’re former asphalt projects being crushed into gravel. Because no new materials are used in creation or needed to be transported, therefore cost is severely diminished.

The Sheriff’s Office says they would never hinder the sales of legitimate businesses, they also advised residents to always ask for price quote and/or contract prior to any agreements, and make sure the door-to-door contractor has a sales permit. Use your best judgement and the old saying; if it sounds to be good to be true then do more investigation into the business. If there is ever a doubt, please contact the Sheriff’s Office.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds says she’s decided whether she will appoint a lieutenant governor when she replaces Gov. Terry Branstad, but she won’t disclose those details yet. Reynolds told reporters Monday her transition team has a plan in place, but the public will need to wait until Branstad is confirmed as U.S. ambassador to China and resigns as governor.

Democratic Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller recently released an opinion that Reynolds will have the title and powers of governor, but not the authority to choose a new lieutenant governor. He cited wording in the Iowa Constitution and historical precedent.

Reynolds, Branstad and other top Republicans have criticized Miller’s opinion, with many calling it a political move. If Reynolds appoints a No. 2, she could face a legal challenge.

Governor Terry Branstad says he’s thrilled China has taken additional steps to lift its embargo against U.S. beef.  “Oh, it’s huge,” Branstad told reporters this morning. “This is something we’ve wanted for years and years and years.”

The embargo was imposed in 2003 after a Mad Cow case. China actually agreed to lift the ban last September, but it wasn’t until last week that the reopening was finalized. Branstad expects U.S. beef imports to hit China in mid-July. “So I intend to bring Iowa premium beef to China and I intend to serve it in the ambassador’s residence and in the embassy,” Branstad said during his weekly news conference, slapping his hand his lectern in celebration. “This is a big deal. This is a really big deal.”

Sometime this week, Branstad is likely to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as U.S. ambassador to China. In the past four years, Chinese per capita consumption of beef has grown 33 percent.

(Radio Iowa)

Afton Police Chief John Coulter reports a 17-year old, Kayden Witt,  from Creston, was referred to Juvenile Authorities, May 5th, on a charge of Willful Injury. The charge was the result of an incident that took place during an East Union School outing.

Coulter also reminds residents about a Publisher’s Clearing House phone call scam. The Chief says residents continue to receive calls from people claiming to be from the Marketing Company, and that the caller claims the resident has won a prize. They will also say PCH staff are waiting for the resident in another, nearby town to deliver their money.

Coulter warns “This is a scam, and people should hang-up and not provide any personal or financial information to the caller.”

A Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputy responding Saturday evening to a residence in Oakland to investigate a road rage incident at Highway 6 and 370th Street, arrested a man for Violation of an Order/Contempt of Court. 40-year old Timothy Lee Anderson, of Henderson, was arrested at around 8-p.m. and brought to the Pott. County Jail.

The Sheriff’s Office reports also, 25-year old Cory David Kuehl, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at around 4:30-a.m. Sunday, for Probation Violation. Kuehl was a passenger in a vehicle whose driver was arrested for OWI. And, 27-year old Stephanie Rae Tuttle, of Council Bluffs, was arrested early Sunday morning for OWI/1st offense after a deputy observed what was termed “Suspicious driving behavior.”