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Area School Board meetings set for Monday evening

News

March 20th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Four area school district Boards of Education will hold their separate meetings this (Monday) evening.

The Griswold School Board meeting begins at 5:30-p.m. with a Public Hearing on the 2016-17 School Year Budget, followed by approval of the budget during the “New Business” portion of the agenda, which also includes action on: The Driver’s Education Fee; Operational Sharing; Activity Conference; a target for budget cut reductions; the process for future facility plan, and the process for filling the Superintendent vacancy. The Griswold School Board will also hold a closed session prior to adjournment, with regard to an evaluation of the Board Secretary.

In Anita, the CAM School Board will meet at 6:30-p.m. Action items on their agenda include: Consideration of a request from the CAM Shooting Sports Club; The presentation of an opening offer to CAMEA (the CAM Education Association); and, Setting the time and dates for public hearings on the 2016-17 school calendar and budget. The CAM School Board will also discuss Capital projects before moving into an exempt session with regard to negotiations.

In Elk Horn, the Exira-EHK School Board meets at 7-p.m., Monday. They’ll recognize a donation to the school library, and act on contracts for: David Thompson – Assistant High School Softball Coach; Jeff Van Ert – Special Ed Driver; Christine Madsen – Chaperone for the Special Ed vehicle; Brenda Hansen – Library Aide for 2016-17, and Barb Paulsen – Middle School Para educator. The Board will also act on approving a Budget Guarantee Resolution to levy property tax for F.Y. 2016-17 for the regular program budget adjustment, as allowed under the Code of Iowa. They’ll also act on: approving a trip to Washington, D-C for April 7-10, 2017; Approving additional spectator restrooms for the football field in Exira, a two-phase process; and, setting April 11th at 5-p.m. as the date/time for public hearings on the 2016-17 Exira-EHK Budget and School Calendar.

And, in the Audubon School District, the Board of Education will meet at 7-p.m. to set the publication and hearing date for a Budget Plan, as well as act on: Approving a sharing agreement with Coon Rapids-Bayard; Early Retirement; a 1:1 Technology upgrade; Quotes for a School Security project; A change in Driver’s Ed; and a FY 2017 Budget Reduction. The Audubon School Board will also receive an update and/or discuss: Summer projects; Iowa Testing Data, and the Superintendent Evaluation Process. Prior to concluding their meeting, the Board will move into an exempt session for discussion of strategy with regard to negotiations with a collective bargaining unit.

(Update) 2 transported to CCMH following Sun. afternoon accident

News

March 20th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

(Update to our earlier post) – The Iowa State Patrol says a Michigan couple was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic Sunday afternoon, following an accident on Interstate 80 that took place at around 12:06-p.m. Authorities say 70-year old Joseph Stachowski, Jr., of Westland, MI., was driving a 32-foot long 2008 Peterbilt motorhome westbound in the left lane of I-80 between the Atlantic and Elk Horn exits, when he lost control of the r-v as he was passing a semi.

The motor home, and the SUV it was towing, left the road and entered the median, where it struck a high spot, became airborne and when it landed, hit a concrete culvert before coming to rest, upright in the median. Stachowski, and his 66-year old passenger, Judy Kaye Stochowski, also from Westland, MI., and both of whom were wearing their seat belts, were transported to CCMH by Medivac ambulance. Judy Stachowski was complaining of lower back pain, but otherwise appeared uninjured, according to dispatch reports.

Atlantic and Marne Fire and Rescue personnel along with Medivac Ambulance, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa State Patrol responded to the scene.

Iowa stopped inspecting egg farms during bird flu outbreak

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 20th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa suspended its inspections of egg farms last year during the bird flu outbreak, and the state still hasn’t resumed the routine checks. The Des Moines Register reports state officials followed the lead of federal investigators in stopping inspections to help limit the spread of bird flu, which prompted the slaughter of 48 million birds nationwide.

Federal inspectors are responsible for large egg-laying farms that typically have more than 3,000 birds. State inspectors make sure smaller farms are following safety regulations. Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey says the state plans to resume its inspections when the Food and Drug Administration lifts its own ban on them.

Several other states were bird flu was found also suspended inspections for several months, but most resumed inspections late last year.

Single-vehicle accident w/minor injuries Sun. afternoon

News

March 20th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Atlantic and Marne Fire and Rescue personnel along with Medivac Ambulance were called to the scene of a single-vehicle accident Sunday afternoon on Interstate 80. The accident was reported at around 12:06-p.m.

A 32-foot R-V pulling a Jeep Liberty was said to be in the median at the 55.6 mile marker. A female in the vehicle with previous back issues was said to be complaining of lower back pain. The 66-year old female and a 70-year old male in the R-V, both from Michigan, were transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital to be checked out.

Traffic control was being established in the area for the safety of emergency personnel.

1 man dies and another hurt in incident at fertilizer plant

News

March 20th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

SERGEANT BLUFF, Iowa (AP) — One worker died and another was hospitalized while working to build a massive fertilizer plant in northwest Iowa. The Sioux City Journal reports the two men were working inside a tower tank Saturday afternoon when the problem occurred at the CF Industries construction site near Sergeant Bluff. The man who died fell unconscious inside the tank and couldn’t be rescued before his death. The second man escaped the tank, and was hospitalized in Sioux City.

CF Industries says the area where the incident occurred isn’t in operation now, so it shouldn’t be a danger to other workers. The company is nearing the completion of a $2 billion expansion of its Port Neal fertilizer plant. The project includes new ammonia and urea plants.

Western IA authorities search for Bluffs Work Release escapee

News

March 20th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections reports an inmate escaped Saturday from the Council Bluffs Work Release Facility. 58-year Michael Richard Rae was placed on escape status following an unexcused absence from the facility. Rae was described as being a white male, with gray hair and brown eyes. He stands about six-feet, two-inches tall, and weighs 223 pounds. He also has a scar on his left ankle.

Rae was serving a ten-year sentence for second degree robbery in Pottawattamie County. Anyone with information on his location is asked to call their local law enforcement agency.

Iowa egg farm faces state legal action for wastewater spill

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 20th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — One of the nation’s largest egg farms, which lost millions of hens in last year’s bird flu outbreak, is defending itself against legal action by the state over a wastewater spill that killed 163,000 fish. The Environmental Protection Commission has referred Sunrise Farms to the attorney general for enforcement of violations of state laws and administrative regulations regarding the contamination of about 18 miles of Stoney Creek. The company owns egg-laying barns near Harris designed to hold up to 8 million hens.

An attorney for Sunrise Farms, an affiliate of South Dakota-based Sonstegard Foods, says the wastewater discharge happened a few months after the bird flu outbreak destroyed 3.8 million chickens and the farm was dealing with production issues it had never before experienced.

Crawford County’s K9 scores another drug bust & 2 arrests

News

March 20th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

A traffic stop this (Sunday) morning north of Denison, in Crawford, County, netted drugs and the arrest of two men. The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office reports the department’s K-9 “Bayou” conducted a perimeter search of a vehicle pulled over on Highway 59 and alerted to the odor of narcotics coming from the vehicle. As a result of the search, Marijuana, Methamphetamine, and Drug Paraphernalia were located and seized.

22-year old Stormy Trucke, of Mapleton, was arrested for Possession of Meth 3rd or Subsequent offense, Possession of Marijuana 3rd or Subsequent offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $5,000. 37-year old Chad Gloede, also of Mapelton, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $300.

Sheriff James R. Steinkuehler reports, as of today (Sunday), K-9 Bayou has assisted in making 130 arrests, the recovery of 28 pounds of narcotics, and the seizure of nearly $25,000 in cash.

Rollover accident in I-80 in Cass County – no injuries

News

March 20th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Authorities said no injuries were reported following a two-vehicle accident Saturday night on Interstate 80, in Cass County. According to dispatch reports at around 10:12-p.m., a vehicle rolled off I-80 between the 56 and 57-mile marker, westbound, during the collision. The road was said to be icy at the time.

The Iowa State Patrol was handling the accident investigation. No other details are currently available.

NE man arrested Sat. night on a drug charge in Adams County

News

March 20th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Adams County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested a Nebraska man on a drug charge Saturday night, following a traffic stop. The vehicle driven by 21-year old Garrett Jeffrey Bazzell, of LaVista, NE., was pulled over at around 9:40-p.m.  During the stop, the deputy noticed an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. When asked for the narcotics, Bazzell handed over to the deputy, a small amount of marijuana. He was booked into the Adams County Jail for Possession of Marijuana. Bond was set at $1,000.