The CAM School District’s Board of Education met briefly this (Monday) morning at the high school in Anita, and approved an agreement with the CAM Education Association (CAMEA), representing the District’s teachers. Superintendent Dr. Casey Berlau said they came to an agreement on a 2.97% increase in salaries. That includes adding $415 to the base of the salary schedule, “aging” the salary schedule, meaning the teachers get to move a step on the wage scale, and the teachers who have “aged out” or “Maxed out” of the schedule (5 teachers in all), receive another 1.5% increase, to make their salary closer to what others on the salary schedule would have received.”

Berlau said everyone is still trying to navigate and understand changes made last year to collective bargaining rules, but they managed to hash out something both sides could feel comfortable with. He said they just have to move forward now with getting the contracts ready.” Berlau said also, the Board approved the Schedule B contracts with Coaches, sponsors and others, which increased the percentages for each of those positions by three-percent.

He said the CAM School Board approved the resignations of Joanie Ehm, Master Teacher/Instructional Coach, who is part of their Teacher Leadership Program (TLC), and Cindy Nichols, a veteran Music Teacher. The Board also approved contracts with Brittany Woods, Massena 2^nd Grade Teacher, and Amy Goldstein, who was offered the School Counselor’s position for 2018-19. Andy Kinzie was also approved as a para-educator at the north Elementary.

And, the Board approved a 1-to-1 laptop computer resolution. The obtained financing through Houghton State Bank in Griswold and Cumberland, to pay for the computers. That means just about every child will have new machines to work with next year, but not all will be on the 1-to-1 basis.

Iowa conservationists are concerned a rollback of federal rules could put migratory birds at risk. The Trump administration has announced it won’t prosecute the unintentional killing of species protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Iowa State University wildlife biologist Adam Janke says habitat loss poses the greatest risk to birds in the state, while loosening regulations could make the situation worse. Janke says, “On top of all those stresses related to habitat loss and habitat degradation, we may add on top of that an unnatural mortality source associated with transmission lines or wind turbines or things like that in some locations.”

The federal government plans to stop prosecuting companies that accidentally kill protected species. The law encourages oil, energy and telecommunications developers to work with conservationists to lower their impact on habitat. Janke says wind energy companies have done a good job of placing their turbines in the state, but now, that could change. “You could end up with a wind energy complex right next to a major migratory stopover location for birds,” he says, “because under this interpretation of the law, there may not be regulatory mechanism to discourage that.”

Conservationists worry developers won’t be pushed to work with them if there’s no punishment for killing the animals. An estimated 500 species of migratory birds spend part of their lives in the upper Midwest.

(By Kate Payne, Iowa Public Radio, via Radio Iowa)

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

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Melanie Petty, with the Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund, says the non-profit organization answered the call of the Nishna Valley Family YMCA, and donated $1,000.00 to their annual Partnership with Youth campaign.  Petty says they “Feel strongly that our local YMCA is changing lives by offering membership assistance to over 150 families in our community.  The YMCA offers a safe environment for our youth and also offers many programs to keep our youth active and social.” She adds, “If you want to pledge to assist the YMCA give them a call at 712-243-3934.  No dollar amount is too small.”

Pictured: Laena Sonntag, Bennett Sonntag and Grant Petty (Photo submitted)

The T-Fred Memorial golf tournament is coming up August 11th, and is their only fundraiser.  Petty says “It’s because of the generosity of our family, friends and community that we are able to donate to these wonderful organizations in Trevor’s name.  Please consider golfing this year or come out to Nishna Hills and check out our silent auction that goes on all day.”

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

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Creston Police report two men were arrested on separate charges, Sunday. At around 2:15-a.m., 34-year old Steven Lamer, of Creston, was arrested in the 1500 block of N. Lincoln, for Assault with Intent to Injure, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Lamer was being held in the Union County Jail on a $3,000 bond. And, at around 9:10-a.m. Sunday, 59-year old Andrew Carney, of Creston, was arrested in the 300 block of N. Maple Street, for Simple Domestic Assault. He was being held in the Union County Jail while awaiting a bond hearing.

Creston Police said also, the A&G Restaurant, in Creston, reported May 2nd, that sometime between 11-p.m. May 1st and 6-a.m. May 2nd, someone intentionally shattered a solid glass front door. The damage was estimated at $450. And, on May 4th, a resident of the 600 block of S. Maple Street, in Creston, reported to Police that a package containing an electric knife for use in beehives, was delivered to his residence and stolen from the mailbox. The Post Office confirmed the date and time of delivery. The loss was estimate at $30.

(7-a.m. News)

CLIVE, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Lottery officials say a ticket bought at a convenience store in Davenport is worth nearly $4.4 million. The ticket matched the six numbers in Saturday’s Lotto America drawing: 8-15-18-32-45 and the Star Ball number of 1. The ticket was generated free when the person bought a Powerball ticket at the store as part of an Iowa Lottery promotion for May.

The odds of winning the jackpot in Lotto America are around 1 in 26 million, with the odds of about 1 in 292.2 million of winning the Powerball jackpot and about 1 in 302.6 million of winning the Mega Millions jackpot. Jackpot prizes must be claimed at Iowa Lottery headquarters in Clive.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Billionaire Warren Buffett says stocks remain the best option for investors — not bonds, and especially not bitcoins. Buffett says he doesn’t think the stock market is overpriced compared with other options even though he’s had trouble finding entire businesses to buy at reasonable prices. Buffett appeared on CNBC Monday after spending Saturday answering questions before thousands of shareholders.

Buffett says cryptocurrencies like bitcoin are nonproductive assets similar to gold. So Buffett says anyone buying bitcoin is betting that someone else will pay more for it later. Buffett reiterated his standard advice that buying an index fund, such as the S&P 500 fund, regularly over time is the best option for most people. Roughly 40,000 people attended Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting on Saturday.

FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) — A man convicted in 1970 of fatally shooting a gas station attendant during a robbery in Cedar Rapids has died in prison. The Iowa Corrections Department says Lacy Kelley died of natural causes Saturday at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison. He was 66. He’d been housed in the hospice room at the prison because of a chronic illness. Kelley was convicted of first-degree murder for using a shotgun to kill 19-year-old Thomas Noethe.

A teacher in the Howard-Winneshiek School District has been arrested and charged with sexual exploitation by a school employee.

Tiffany Ranweiler-Oblander

The Howard County Sheriff’s Department says 29-year-old Tiffany Ranweiler-Oblander was charged after a complaint was filed Thursday. Authorities say Ranwiler-Oblander allegedly engaged in sexual contact with an 18-year-old numerous times during the current school year. She is in the Howard County Jail on a $5000 bond. Authorities say a no-contact order has been issued prohibiting the teacher from contacting the student.

(Radio Iowa)