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Exira-EHK School Board News

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September 18th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Exira-EHK School Board voted to retain Kevin Petersn as President and Tamie Fahn as Vice President. Superintendent Trevor Miller said their meetings will stay the same: the third Monday of the month at 6-p.m., instead of 7-p.m., which it had been switched to earlier this Summer, due to some schedule conflicts. Miller provided the Board with a construction update, which he said is “Going well” at the Exira building, but there was an issue at the Elk Horn building. The HVAC system had a “hiccup” with the boilers and how they’re set-up. Crews are working on the problem.

As for the skylight in the Elk Horn building, the Board is looking at how they want to proceed with either a repair or replacement. Miller said they will look at all options and determine from there which direction to go. Miller said there was some action taken on personnel matters. They hired Chloe Anthofer as a para-educator at Exira, and Candy Olsen as a para-educator at the Elk Horn building. They will replace a couple of para’s that resigned in August. Terry Weisenborn was offered a Junior High Cross County contract.

CAM School Board discusses facility projects and more

News

September 18th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The CAM School Board held its annual Organizational meeting Monday evening, in Anita. The Board voted to keep Gary Dinkla as President, and Chuck Kinzie as Vice-President. Lindsay Jahde was appointed Board Secretary Treasurer. Superintendent Casey Berlau told KJAN their Board meetings times and dates remain the same: the third Monday of the month at 6:30-p.m. Berlau said two facility projects were presented to the Board, Monday: Roof repair at the High School will come to $10,000. The other was the exterior walls of the Massena building. The Board approved a bid for $26,000 to have exterior work conducted on the gym at Massena. He said the joints of the precast walls are starting to wear away on the wall, and it’s hoped doing the work now will prevent greater damage later.

Berlau said there were no resignations for the Board to approve, but they did agree to offer several contracts. Lexie Winther and Anna Amdor were offered para-educator contracts; Brian Sexton – Junior High Football Coach; Manda Thomas – Co-Head Speech Coach; Middle School Student Council – Heather Scar and Samantha Rosenbeck; Joe Wollum and Nick Hodges will serve as Co-Coaches for Golf. Superintendent Berlau said the Board also discussed a revision to a District Policy regarding meal charges.

The policy stated that when a family is $50 or more in the red on their meal tickets, the student would have to receive an “Alternate meal.” That clause was removed from the proposed policy. The District will continue to inform families when their accounts are negative and work with them to get those paid, but they will no longer continue to offer an Alternative meal. The student will continue to get the regular meal.

Audubon School Board votes to continue sharing with CR-B

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September 18th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Audubon School District’s Board of Education met Monday night in a regular session. Part of their meeting included the election of officers. Sarah Asmus will continue as President, and one of the newer board members, Heath Hansen, was elected Vice-President. John Roberts will continue as Board Secretary. Superintendent Brett Gibbs told KJAN News the Board voted to continue the Superintendent and Elementary Counselor positions with the Coon Rapids-Bayard School District. Their current three-year agreement with the CR-B District is expiring, and meetings will be set-up with the Coon Rapids-Bayard Board to extend the agreement, sometime in the near future. It would also maintain the current number of administrators at 2.6.

Gibbs said the Audubon School Board agreed to offer one Early Retirement for the Administration. He said two administrators are potentially qualified for Early Retirement, including himself. Gibbs said the decision still needs to be made with regard to the direction he wants to go. He said most days he loves his job, but like with any job, there are days that make you want to reconsider. The Board plans to continue to maintain the same level of administration currently in-place, which Gibbs said is something he’s been pushing for.

Superintendent Gibbs said also, that the District’s preliminary enrollment numbers look good. Right now, he says, it appears they are up eight-or nine-students, while another survey shows the District is up 16 students, because of more open-enrolled in then out students, and the pre-K is up one student. Those numbers could change by the Oct. 1st certification, but Gibbs said the enrollment numbers look good and appear to be in-line with what they’ve projected.

(Update) Champion Golfer died from stab wounds near ISU campus

News

September 18th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

A criminal complaint says a top amateur female golfer from Spain died after being repeatedly stabbed by a homeless man at a course near her university campus in Iowa. A complaint filed Tuesday charges 22-year-old Collin Daniel Richards with first-degree murder in the slaying of 22-year old Celia Barquin Arozamena, who attended Iowa State University. Barquin was found dead Monday morning in a pond at Coldwater Golf Links in Ames. She had stab wounds to her upper torso, head and neck.

The complaint says Richards was living in a tent in a temporary camp near the golf course and that he had allegedly told an acquaintance about his “urge to rape and kill a woman.” Officers say Richards had several scratches on his face and a deep laceration on his left hand. They recovered a knife in his possession.

Grassley vows he’ll maintain order during pivotal Kavanaugh hearing

News

September 18th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — U-S Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and the woman who accuses him of sexual assault will testify under oath before Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley’s panel next Monday. Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings earlier this month were punctuated by protests from the audience and from Democrats within the Judiciary Committee. Grassley, a Republican, was asked how he’ll maintain order during Monday’s meeting with volatile accusations now in the mix. “You can’t do anything about people demonstrating,” Grassley says. “They’re expressing their constitutional right of free speech. They don’t have a constitutional right to interfere with our hearing and that’s where the police come in.”

U-S Capitol police arrested 227 demonstrators during the four days of Kavanaugh’s hearings this month. Most were charged with obstruction or disorderly conduct and were fined. Grassley says he recognizes there will likely be outbursts during Monday’s hearing and he’ll be vigilant to stay on task. “I intend to do like I did those four days, keep the meeting going, let the police do their job,” Grassley says. “I intend to be respectful. These are very worthwhile things for us — they’re very necessary things for us to be looking into and I hope my colleagues will be as respectful, too.”

Christine Blasey Ford accuses Kavanaugh of physically and sexually assaulting her when they were both in high school in the early 1980s, claims Kavanaugh staunchly denies. Grassley says Ford “deserves to be heard.” He was asked whether he’s worried the accusations may torpedo Kavanaugh’s chances of being seated on the nation’s high court. “I can’t be worried about that at all at this point, because that’s why we’re having the hearing,” Grassley says. “It could have a bearing on it or not have a bearing. At this point, I’ve gotta’ keep an open mind.”

Grassley says to “provide ample transparency,” the public hearing will be held Monday to give the allegations “a full airing.”

 

Atlantic City Council to act on several matters, Wednesday evening

News

September 18th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic City Council will hold a regularly scheduled session 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, in their Chambers at City Hall. On the agenda is:

  • Action on an order to close certain streets for the Oct. 13th 2018 Atlantic Fireman’s Parade, beginning at 4-p.m. Parade participants will line-up along W. 2nd Street and proceed south on Chestnut to 6th Street before turning east on 6th, and then north on Walnut Street.
  • A request to close certain streets for a private auction Nov. 3rd, beginning at 10-a.m. The auction will be held at 310 Pine, and Patricia Swanson, who is making the request, suggests the City close Pine Street from the alley to the intersection west of Pine Street. The neighbors, according to Swanson, would still have access to their property. City Administrator John Lund will recommend the Council consult with Police Chief Dave Erickson with regard to a closure of a street for private events, which has typically not occurred in Atlantic.
  • Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones is expected to announce Wednesday, that Halloween will take place Wed., Oct. 31st, from 5:30-until 7:30-p.m.
  • The City Council will act on the third and final reading of an amended ordinance pertaining to traffic code enforcement, with regard to parking violations. The ordinance calls for a $30 fine for regular parking violations, $50 for snow emergency parking violations, and $100 for a handicapped parking violation.
  • The Council will also act on the second reading of an amended ordinance pertaining to Zoning, and fencing regulations. The ordinance proposes allowing fences up to 12-feet tall with barbed wire, in Heavy Industrial Zones, and fences higher than the current 6-foot limit in Light Industrial and all Commercial zones.
  • The Council will act on approving an agreement with Tallgrass Archeology, LLC. from Iowa City, for a Reconnaissance Survey and completion of Iowa Site Inventory forms for the City of Atlantic Downtown Revitalization Project. SWIPCO received four competitive proposals for the assessment project, with Tallgrass scoring highest on the search criteria. Tallgrass’ quote for the survey  and site inventory amounts to $22,500, but the City had budgeted $20,000 for the work, meaning 16 individual site inventory’s can be completed for that price, depending upon the number of building owners who agree to participate in the CDBG application.

In other business, the Council will consider, but is not expected to act on, a speed limit for the south side of Sunnyside Lane. Action on that is expected to take place during their meeting on Oct. 3rd. And, they’ll likely act on approving the contracts and bonds for the 2018 Bull Creek Tunnel Improvements Project.

Neola woman arrested on drug & false ID charges

News

September 18th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County report a woman was arrested on drug and False Identification charges, Monday, following a traffic stop on a vehicle at 480th and Highway 6.The woman initially identified herself as Laura Beth Whaley. She was taken into custody for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (a socket marijuana pipe). After she was transported to the Pott. County Jail, the woman admitted her name was not Laura. She was instead identified as 30-year old Rachel Linn Nielsen, of Neola, who also listed a residence in Missouri Valley.  Nielsen had two valid warrants out of Council Bluffs for Violation of Probation and Contempt of Court. She was booked into the jail on both warrants as well as her local charges that include drug paraphernalia possession and two counts of providing false information. Bond was set at $6,300 altogether.

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 9/18/18

News, Podcasts

September 18th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Creston Police report, 9/18/18

News

September 18th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Creston Police Department report 27-year old Kelly Belt, of Creston, was arrested on a charge of Theft in the 5th degree at around 1:45-a.m. today (Tuesday). Belt was cited for the offense and then released from custody on a Promise to Appear (later, in court). Two people were arrested at around 10:30-p.m. Saturday, in Creston. 38-year old Johnnie Lovell and 26-year old Amanda Steinbach, both of Creston, were arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on charges of Burglary in the 2nd Degree. Lovell and Steinbach were later released from the Union and Adams County Jails, respectively, on $10,000 bond each.

And, Creston Police say a resident reported Sunday afternoon, that sometime on Saturday, someone took a handgun from his residence in the 200 block of N. Division Street, in Creston. The loss was estimated at $150.

(Podcast) KJAN Morning News & Funeral report, 9/18/2018

News, Podcasts

September 18th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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