(MOUNT PLEASANT) – The Iowa Board of Corrections voted today (Friday) in support of the appointment of Stephen Weis as the next warden of the Clarinda Correctional Facility (CCF) in Clarinda, Iowa. His appointment was recommended to the board by an internal department hiring committee. Weis will replace former warden Randy Gibbs, who was selected as the warden for the Iowa State Penitentiary in April.

Weis has served as the deputy warden of the CCF since December of 2015. He started his more-than-31-year career in corrections with the Nebraska Department of Corrections in 1987. Throughout his career in corrections with both Nebraska and Iowa, he has held such positions as: correctional officer, parole officer, parole supervisor, community treatment coordinator, and associate warden.

Commenting on the approval by the board, Iowa Corrections Director Beth Skinner said, “I couldn’t imagine a better person for this position than Warden Weis. He has a wealth of experience in both community-based and institutional environments, and has shown an unyielding commitment to both the staff and incarcerated men at the Clarinda Correctional Facility. I’m confident that CCF is in good hands with Warden Weis.”

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A July trial has been scheduled for a man accused of shooting a Davenport police officer. Scott County District Court records say 28-year-old Brett Dennis Sr. entered written pleas of not guilty Thursday to attempted murder and other charges. His trial is set to begin July 8. Prosecutors say Dennis shot Davenport Police Officer Ryan Leabo on April 25 after a foot chase and struggle. Dennis had run away when Leabo tried to talk to him and another man. They’d been seen rummaging through a car.

Prosecutors say one shot from Dennis hit Leabo in a leg and a second gunshot was stopped by Leabo’s bulletproof vest. The release says Leabo then shot Dennis in a leg. Dennis later told investigators he wanted Leabo to shoot him.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The attorney for former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has filed an unusual request to the Iowa Supreme Court that seeks to stop a civil trial now in its third day, arguing rulings by a judge are unconstitutional. Branstad and two former staff members were sued by former Iowa Workers’ Compensation Commissioner Christopher Godfrey, who claims he was pressured to quit after Branstad took over as governor in 2010 and cut his pay cut by a third. Godfrey claims it was because he’s gay. Branstad denies he knew Godfrey was gay.

An eight-person is hearing the case in Polk County District Court. Branstad attorney Frank Harty says in a document filed with the Supreme Court Thursday that the trial judge is allowing Godfrey to put on trial Branstad’s positions on gay marriage and the Republican Party’s “anti-gay” views.

Harty says such a trial violates free speech rights of Branstad and all Iowans by chilling political speech. He says the trial should be stopped and the constitutional claims considered.

The Nodaway Valley and CAM School Boards announced today (Friday), the hiring of a new, shared district superintendent. Feedback from over 70 stakeholders was considered in closed session after the formal interviews on Thursday, June 6th. Feedback about all three final candidates was overall positive and provided clarity that Mr. Paul Croghan had the skills and experience that are needed in districts at this time.

New CAM/Nodaway Valley Superintendent Paul Croghan.

Croghan was pleased to accept the position saying, “I am looking forward to learning more about the communities and am excited about all the positive things that were shared with me through this interview process.” He will transition with current Superintendent Dr. Casey Berlau between now and officially starting his contract on July 1st.

Paul Croghan currently serves as the Shared Superintendent between the East Mills and Essex School Districts. He has served in this role for the last 5 years. Prior, he served the East Mills District as the High School Principal and Activities Director from 2010-2013. He also served as the Assistant High School Principal and AD in Atlantic and Walnut High School Principal prior to that. His leadership efforts have expanded vocational opportunities for students, improved the financial conditions of both districts and also included multiple facilities improvements. He is also an advocate through the Rural School Advocates of Iowa as the Southwest Iowa District representative.

Croghan has a Bachelor of Science degree from Mount Mercy College. He earned a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Drake University in 2007. His superintendent licensure was issued from Drake as well after completion of his Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership. In his application, Croghan said, “Every day I am thinking of ways to make the educational process better for all students. This commitment is a part of who I am, and I know of only one way to work in education. Since education is all about people, the students, staff, and community; I will do what it takes to make the system successful for student achievement.”

Paul and his wife Brenda have five children: Kelsey, Kendra, Kassidy, Karsen, and Kegan. In his free time, he says he enjoys spending time with his family, construction, farming and being in the outdoors.

WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley’s Iowa regional directors based in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Sioux City and Waterloo will hold traveling office hours in 47 counties across Iowa throughout June and July. Iowans are invited to stop by during the scheduled hours to seek assistance regarding a personal issue with a federal agency or share concerns on matters of federal policy. Grassley is represented by his regional directors and will not be in attendance. Grassley’s state offices regularly help constituents contact federal agencies to resolve problems with Social Security payments, military service matters, immigration cases and other issues.

Grassley says his “Top priority is serving the people of Iowa. Open office hours is one way of doing that. “My staff helps Iowans resolve issues they may have with the federal government and I hope anyone experiencing problems will use this resource.”

In western Iowa, Regional Director Donna Barry will be available on the following dates, times and locations:

Thursday, June 20th:

• Harrison County, 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.; Missouri Valley City Hall
• Pottawattamie County, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.; Walnut City Hall

Thursday, June 27th:

• Fremont County, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.; Fremont County Courthouse in Sidney.
• Mills County, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.; Glenwood City Hall

Thursday, July 11th:

• Audubon County, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.; Audubon County Courthouse
• Cass County, 3 p.m. – 4 p.m.; Cass County Courthouse

Regional Director Adam DoBraska will be available:

Thursday, July 18th:

• Guthrie County, 8 a.m. – 9 a.m.; Guthrie County Courthouse – Public Meeting Room.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports telephone social security scams in various versions, are making the rounds again. Authorities say unless you have a planned telephone conference with Social Security, hang up!

(Radio Iowa) — There’s a brand new Wells Dairy Ice Cream Parlor and Visitors’ Center in the northwest Iowa city that bills itself as the Ice Cream Capital of the World. Adam Baumgartner, the vice president of retail sales, gave local media a tour of the facilities in Le Mars yesterday (Thursday). “It’s all about fun. It’s all about bringing that to our guests and our employees as well,” Baumgartner says.  The new, three-million-dollar Visitors Center tells the Wells Dairy story, starting as a family business delivering milk to what is now the second-largest dairy in the country. Interactive exhibits show how ice cream is made. The new Ice Cream Parlor features 37 different flavors of ice cream. “It really creates a one-of-a-kind event and place and location that you won’t be able to find anywhere else,” Baumgartner says.

Before the Ice Cream Parlor closed for renovations, it annually attracted more than 200-thousand visitors. “Our goal is to more than double that and the investment that we’ve put into this facility and everything we’ve done will truly support that,” Baumgartner says. “We think beyond the Iowa State Fair this will be the single-biggest tourist attraction in the state of Iowa.”

The new facility will have a staff of 40 full-time employees. A “soft” opening will be held tomorrow (Saturday). The grand opening is set for Wednesday, the start of Ice Cream Days in Le Mars, which is also celebrating its sesquicentennial.

(Radio Iowa) — The board that governs the state’s public universities has approved a nearly four percent increase in undergraduate tuition for students at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University. There will be NO tuition increase at the University of Northern Iowa. The three-point-nine percent increase in tuition at Iowa and Iowa State takes effect this fall. The 2019 legislature did not provide as much of a boost in state taxpayer support of the schools as the Board of Regents requested. The tuition hike is nearly one percent higher than the board predicted last November. Regent Milt Dakovich says it makes sense for the board of wait until state funding decisions are final. “I think it’s a lot better mechanism than we’ve had in the past,” Dakovich says. “Previously, we’ve been setting tuition prior to the legislative session.”

That meant after approving tuition rates in November for the NEXT fall, the board might vote AGAIN in the spring to hike the rate if state funding was below expectations. “It provides a lot more predictability to students and parents,” Dakovich says. The legislature provided a 12 million dollar increase in taxpayer support of the schools for the next academic year. Each institution will get four million dollars.

QUIMBY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a city’s untreated wastewater no longer is flowing into the Little Sioux River in northwest Iowa’s Cherokee County. The Iowa Natural Resources Department had said a sewer main break was reported Monday morning by the town of Quimby. River flooding has kept repair crews from finding the break and fixing it, allowing more than 15,000 gallons (56,780 liters) of untreated wastewater to flow into the river each day.

The department said Thursday that Quimby hired a manure hauler who’s begun moving wastewater from a pump station to the city’s wastewater lagoon. The city is working with an engineering firm to determine how best to fix or replace the sewer main.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests, two warrants served, and several prisoner transfers-in to the Pott. County Jail from other jail facilities. At around 11:45-p.m. Thursday, 32-year old Phillip Michael Houston, of Walnut, was arrested in Avoca, following a traffic stop for speeding. Houston was charged with Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender. His bond was set at $2,000. 23-year old Shyanne Allison Dalton-Birdsong, was taken into custody in a Pott. County Courtroom, Thursday morning. Dalton-Birdsong was wanted on a valid Pottawattamie County warrant for Violation of Probation.

A prisoner at the Pott. County Jail was presented with a Nebraska warrant Thursday morning, for being a Fugitive from Justice. 45-year old Corey Anthony Tarascio, of Council Bluffs, is being held in the jail on a charge of Criminal Trespass/3rd offense. His bond was set at $2,085. 19-year old Mason Sande Beaverson, of Council Bluffs, was also presented with a warrant out of Nebraska, Thursday, for being a Fugitive from Justice. Beaverson was being held on numerous drug-related charges. His bond set at $2,300 altogether.

Prisoners transported to the Pott. County Jail from other agencies include:

• 35-year old Douglas Dean Peck, who was wanted for Theft in the 2nd Degree and on a hold for another agency.
• 32-year old Edward Joseph Bartunek, of Council Bluffs, who was wanted for: Attempt to Commit Murder; 1st degree Robbery; Theft in the 1st degree; 2 counts of Theft in the 2nd degree, and Willful Injury resulting in serious injury. He was being held on a total of $40,000 bond.
• and, 46-year old Phillip Ryan Rasmussen, of Omaha, was transported to the Pott. County Jail, where he was wanted for Violation of Probation.