Audubon Community School District Superintendent Brett Gibbs has announced he’s retiring at the end of this current school year. Gibbs told KJAN News he handed in his resignation during a Monday evening meeting of the Audubon School Board. The Board accepted his letter of resign. He’s taking early retirement at the end of the current contract year, June 30 2019. Gibbs has served the Audubon School District for 12 years, and it “was time.” He spoke about what his plans are for retirement. He and his wife will move back to northeastern South Dakota, where he grew up and has family living.

A local search committee will meet next week to discuss finding Gibbs’ replacement. They will begin advertising for the position. The District will run its own search process, rather than hiring a profession “Head Hunter” firm to interview and weed out potential candidates. He said the Board thought that money would be better spent on the students. Gibbs will lead the search, but the Board has the final decision on who to hire.

In other, “bigger news,” according to Gibbs, the Audubon School District applying to the SBRC (School Budget Review Committee) for additional funding, because the district saw an increase in enrollment this year. It’s only the second time in his 12 years of being there that he’s seen an increase. It wasn’t entirely unexpected because there are two little classes that have been working their way through the system for the past 12 years. One graduated last year, the other will graduate in the Spring of 2019. He says they expect an increase next year, as well. The District’s Certified Enrollment is up 7.8 students. “Actual butts in seats,” according to Gibbs is up nearly 15 students. The open enrolled-in is greater than the outgoing, by around 10-to 12 students. The increase means an extra $53,000 per year from the State, which is what the District will levy to the SBRC.

Gibbs said also, that the Board is looking at have a committee meeting 6-p.m. next Monday in Audubon, to discuss continued sharing opportunities with Coon Rapids-Bayard, and their role in selecting a shared Superintendent. The Audubon District has already voted to continue sharing with CR-B, and he thinks CR-B is interested in continuing the arrangement as well. And, Gibbs was proud to announce Sophomore Anna Campbell recited the FFA Creed to the Board Monday night, as part of her preparation to represent Audubon County and the State at the National FFA Convention.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports there were two arrests, and one accident was investigated, last Friday. On Friday, 38-year old David Francis Dennis II,  of Anita, turned himself in at the Cass County Jail on a Sheriff’s Office charge of Assault with Intent to Commit Serious Injury. He was released later that day on $2,000 bond. And, 20-year old Shawn Michael Putnam Jr., of Atlantic, was arrested on a Council Bluffs Police Department warrant. Putnam was taken to the Cass County Jail and later released to Pottawattamie County authorities.

And, an accident last Friday afternoon in Cass County resulted in one person being transported to the hospital. Sheriff’s officials say a 2005 Kia Spectra driven by 39-year old James Lee Wolff, of Walnut, was westbound on 750^th Street at around 2:20-p.m, when a southbound 2018 Chevy Silverado owned and driven by 73-year old Dennis Dean Newell, of Anita, pulled away from a stop sign, causing the Spectra to strike the Silverado’s passenger side. Wolff was transported to CCMH via Anita Rescue. Damage to Wolff’s vehicle is estimated at $8,500; damage to Newell’s vehicle is estimated at $1,500. Newell was cited for Failure to Yield Right-of-Way at a Stop Sign.

(12-p.m. News)

Democratic nominee for Iowa Governor, Fred Hubbell, spoke to a crowd of about 40 people this (Tuesday) morning, at the Cass County Democratic Party Headquarters, in Atlantic. Hubbell and his running mate Rita Hart, are trying to spur Iowan’s to vote early and vote Democrat. Hubbell said Iowa is “At a tipping point.” He said Reynolds represents more of the same old same old, a continuation of Gov. Branstad’s policies and the taking away of Collective Bargaining rights. He says she also threw money out the window with wasteful corporate tax giveaways, took away worker protections, underfunded education and health care and continue to do little to protect the environment.)

Dem. nominee for IA Gov. Fred Hubbell (Ric Hanson photo)

He said Reynolds will also likely work to take away IPERS from State employees and teachers. Hubbell said “we have a choice.” He said “We need to elect a governor who’s going to put people first, for a change.” Hubbell said “There’s plenty of money in State government, we just don’t have the right priorities.” That starts, he said, “with education.” Hubbell said “I want to make sure we have all-day Pre-K for 4-year olds, all across our State. There are a lot of places in our State where we don’t have any Pre-K programs, because because we’re not paying those people well enough, and they can’t make enough money to have that occupation.”

He said also, “We need to fully fund our public schools. We’ve been underfunding them for eight-years in a row.” Hubbell spoke also about jobs training, healthcare, which he said “Is a disaster,” in Iowa, and return funding for Planned Parenthood. Later, when he was asked about Governor Reynolds’ assertion that he (Hubbell) didn’t look like he was having “fun” at the last Gubernatorial Debate, Hubbell said he had a lot of fun, but he takes a different approach. “I don’t necessarily go on the attack all the time like her ads do or like she did in the debate. I think about things, I approach with a common-sense bi-partisan agenda. And that’s what I’m going to be doing as governor. I to represent ALL people, not just her party.”

When asked about Reynolds comment about him “Tearing down the state,” during the first debate, Hubbell said his campaign is about putting people first. After his vist to Atlantic, Hubbell and his entourage went to Pottawattamie County, for a “Get out the vote” event in Council Bluffs.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — An engineering report blames the failure of a pipe cap for a massive steam release that fatally injured an employee at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. The report from HBK Engineering says the “sudden, catastrophic failure of this cap is the likely cause of the incident” at a campus dining hall. The university asked HBK to investigate in order to quickly determine what happened. The school also is awaiting a report from Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

University steamfitter Kevin Bley was fatally injured Sept. 10 as he was testing the steam distribution service for the dining hall. The dining hall had been closed since Sept. 4 because of a prior steam leak.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Three of nine current and former Omaha Tribal officials who admitted using federal funds to give themselves bonuses have been sentenced to probation and ordered to pay restitution. The Sioux City (Iowa) Journal reports that former members Mitchell Parker and Amen Sheridan and current member Jeff Miller were given five years of probation at their sentencing Monday in U.S. District Court in Omaha. Parker and Sheridan were ordered to pay more than $13,400, and Miller was ordered to pay more than $40,200. They’d pleaded guilty.

Prosecutors say the former and current officials misused federal funds by awarding nearly $389,000 in bonuses to themselves. Officials say the bonuses were paid from Indian Health Service funds meant to provide health care to members of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, who reside on the Omaha Reservation in Macy in northeastern Nebraska and in western Iowa.

HOLSTEIN, Iowa (AP) — After six decades of construction, an expansion project to build a four-lane expressway across northern Iowa is finished. The Des Moines Register reports that a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held Friday in Holstein for the completed U.S. Highway 20 corridor. The corridor now extends 302 miles (486 kilometers) to connect Sioux City with Fort Dodge, Waterloo and Dubuque. Road widening of the expressway’s first 3-mile section started in 1958. But the remaining miles have taken 60 years to complete.

Gov. Kim Reynolds and Rep. Steve King will join Iowa Department of Transportation officials in celebrating the alternative to the often-congested Interstate Highway 80 across Iowa’s midsection. Shirley Phillips is president of the U.S. Highway 20 Corridor Association, a lobbying group representing communities along the route. Phillips says members are ecstatic and never thought they’d see the project’s completed.

ACKLEY, Iowa (AP) — A trial has been rescheduled for a central Iowa man accused of locking his 8-year-old son in a basement. A judge granted the delay for 30-year-old Alex Shadlow. He and 39-year-old Traci Tyler have pleaded not guilty to kidnapping charges. Authorities say the boy was locked up for at least 9 hours a day last summer in a space under the basement stairs at the couple’s Ackley home. Authorities say the couple withheld food from him and made him endure dog bites. He slept on concrete and had no access to a bathroom.

Shadlow’s new trial starting date in Dickinson County is Jan. 7. The trial was moved there because of trial publicity in Hardin County. Tyler’s trial is scheduled to begin Nov. 5 in Cerro Gordo County. Shadlow had requested separate trials , citing the likelihood that his defense would conflict with that of Tyler.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports an Avoca woman turned herself-in to the Sheriff’s Office Monday afternoon. 38-year old Carolin Sue Mills was arrested on a warrant for Probation Violation, and turned over to Corrections Staff. An inmate at the jail, 23-year old Cody James McAuliffe, of Council Bluffs, was served with a warrant Monday morning, for Violation of Probation. He was then returned to the custody of Corrections Staff.

The Atlantic Police Department has released a report containing numerous arrests. On Sunday, 39-year old Bridget Barnholdt, of Atlantic, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana), and on a Cass County warrant for OWI/2nd offense. Also arrested Sunday, was 18-year old Robert Mwalia, of Atlantic, for Public Intoxication.

On Saturday, 26-year old Carly Seddon, of Atlantic, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct, Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree, and Trespass/1st offense. Last Friday, 23-year old Shawn Jensen, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication and Disorderly Conduct. On Oct. 11th, 18-year old Rene Cole, of Atlantic, was arrested on Cass County warrants for Burglary in the 3rd Degree, Theft in the 3rd, and Conspiracy to Commit a Non-forcible felony.

On Oct. 10th, 25-year olds Curtis McCoy and Jacob Sweeney, both of Atlantic, were arrested for Burglary in the 3rd Degree, Theft in the 3rd, and Conspiracy to Commit a Non-forcible felony. And, 56-year old Paul Hansen, of Atlantic, was arrested for Assault Causing Injury, and Criminal Mischief in the 5th degree. On Oct. 7th, 24-year old Nicholas Renner, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. The previous day, 19-year old Parrish Wright, of Atlantic, was arrested for Attempted Burglary/3rd degree (Vehicle related). Wright was cited into court and released.

On Oct. 2nd, 28-year old Justine Jacobs, of Atlantic, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct, and on Oct. 1st, 27-year old Kawaichy Alafen, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI.

Police in Glenwood report two recent arrests, and three, non-injury accidents. On Monday, 29-year old Levi Charles Daniels, of Bellevue, NE, was arrested on a warrant for 5th Degree Theft. His bond was set at $300. And on Sunday, 33-year old Jeremiah Louis Roenfeld, of Malvern, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000.

The accidents occurred Oct. 10th, 13th and 14th, and involved the following drivers: Eugene Murdock, of Glenwood, who was cited for Failure to Obey a Stop sign, and Lora Haefele, of Bellevue, NE; Benjamin Mouw, of Council Bluffs; Samantha Joslin and Tevis Langel, both of Glenwood. Again, no injuries were reported in any of those accidents.