(Fontanelle, Iowa) – The Nodaway Valley Community School District and the CAM Community School District
Boards of Education Tuesday night, announced that a contract for the shared superintendent position has been offered to Dr. Pam Stangeland.

On Monday (April 7, 2025), three finalist candidates participated in interviews with panels consisting of community members, staff, and students from both districts. Final interviews were then conducted by the Nodaway Valley and CAM Boards of Education. Dr. Stangeland’s impressive qualifications and leadership experience quickly brought her to the forefront of the selection process.

Dr. Pam Stangeland (Boone Community School District photo)

“Our boards believe that Dr. Stangeland’s ability to connect and serve our communities will be invaluable. We feel that Pam has a lot of wonderful attributes and qualifications that will make her an asset for our districts’ unique needs. We are excited for this opportunity and look forward to fully welcoming her to our NV and CAM families” – said Board Presidents Cara Murphy and Kristen Jensen.

Dr. Stangeland earned her Doctor of Education degree from Drake University in May 2024. She holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership (2007), a Special Education teaching license, and a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Communication, all from Iowa State University. She currently serves as Associate Superintendent for the Boone Community School District, a role she has held for the past three years.

Prior to that, she worked as Director of Special Education for the Fort Dodge Community School District and served as a Regional Administrator for Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency. Reflecting on her appointment, Dr. Stangeland shared:
“I am honored and excited to join the educational teams at Nodaway Valley and CAM Community School Districts. Through the interview process, it became very clear to me that both districts have a rich history of excellence, a genuine commitment to students, and a strong sense of family for all. I immediately felt at home and knew I wanted to be part of these
vibrant and caring communities.”

The Nodaway Valley and CAM Community School District Boards of Education ask you to, “Please join us in welcoming Dr. Pam Stangeland and her family to Nodaway Valley and CAM. We look forward to the future under her leadership and are excited for the continued growth and success of both districts.”

(Radio Iowa) – The co-founder and chairman of the board of Kemin Industries has died. Information from the company says 98-year-old R.W. Nelson died at his home Monday. Nelson was born in Kansas City and moved to Des Moines when he was seven. He graduated from Dowling Catholic High School and Drake University.

He created Kemin Industries in Des Moines in 1961, and the company grew to become an international supplier of specialty ingredients for human and animal health and nutrition products with operations in 90 countries. Nelson was celebrated as an innovator and was recognized for his scientific discoveries and business achievements — including citations from presidents Nixon and Carter.

Nelson is survived by his wife, Mary, and four children, thirteen grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

(Shenandoah, Iowa) – A vehicle whose driver failed to yield, was struck by a semi tractor-trailer late this (Tuesday) morning south of Shenandoah, resulting in a death. The Iowa State Patrol reports 79-year-old Joyce Kruse, of Shenandoah died, when her 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser was struck by a 1998 Peterbilt semi driven by Jeffrey Dean Hall, of Westboro, MO.

The crash happened at around 11-a.m. at the intersection of Highways 2 and 59. The Patrol says when Kruse failed to yield as she was traveling west on Highway 2, her car was struck by the semi in the southbound lane of Highway 59 by the southbound semi. The car came to rest in the southwest ditch. The semi came to rest on the shoulder of Highway 59, south of the intersection.

Joyce Kruse died at the scene. The semi driver was not injured in the crash.

(Des Moines, Iowa/ Iowa Capital Dispatch) – Gov. Kim Reynolds said Tuesday she intends to sign a bill setting a statewide ban on public school students using cellphones during class time. The Iowa House passed the bill, which the governor introduced in January, on a 92-4 vote Tuesday and sent it to her desk.

“Digital distractions are at an all-time high, disrupting focus, learning, and productivity in our classrooms,” Reynolds said in a statement. “Iowa students deserve to learn free from the disruption of personal electronic devices to fully focus on their education. We’ve seen tremendous progress in student behavior and engagement at our schools that have already implemented such policies. I look forward to signing this bill, allowing every Iowa student to once again prioritize learning.”

Gov. Kim Reynolds said Tuesday she intends to sign a bill setting a statewide ban on public school students using cellphones during class time. The Iowa House passed the bill, which the governor introduced in January, on a 92-4 vote Tuesday and sent it to her desk.

“Digital distractions are at an all-time high, disrupting focus, learning, and productivity in our classrooms,” Reynolds said in a statement. “Iowa students deserve to learn free from the disruption of personal electronic devices to fully focus on their education. We’ve seen tremendous progress in student behavior and engagement at our schools that have already implemented such policies. I look forward to signing this bill, allowing every Iowa student to once again prioritize learning.”

(Radio Iowa) – Republicans in the legislature have settled on general state funding to support educating Iowa’s K-12 students. House Republicans sought slightly more, but today approved spending nearly $8000 on each student in public and private schools during the next academic year. “Under Republican leadership in Iowa, we’ve delivered responsible and sustainable increases to education year after year, with a focus on stability and student success,” said Representative Dan Gelbach, a Republican from Urbandale.

Senate Republicans approved the spending package yesterday. It includes nearly a million dollars to support small schools that share more administrative staff, plus it has more money for school districts with high transportation costs due to long bus routes. Democrats like Representative Heather Matson of Ankeny say Republicans aren’t providing enough state funding for public schools. “It will not set us on a path to being number one in education again,” Matson said. “It keeps our public schools in survival mode. It simply doesn’t get us where we need to go.”

House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst aid the plan amounts to a 44% increase in state money towards private schools, since all private school students will be eligible for nearly $8000 in state funding this fall while public schools will get a 2% general increase in state funding. “It’s not enough for our public schools thrive,” Konfrst said. “It is not enough for our public school kids, the kids who deserve a quality education.”

Gelbach, the only Republican to speak during todays’ debate, said the bill will provide nearly $106 million more to support educating all of Iowa’s K-12 students. “Since Republicans took control in 2017, we’ve made education a priority,” Gelbach said. “We’ve raised per pupil spending every year while balancing the state budget and providing tax relief for Iowans.”

Without debate, the House approved another school-related bill on a 92-4 vote. It requires school districts to adopt policies that at least restrict cell phone use during class time. Governor Reynolds called on legislators to pass this policy during her “Condition of the State” address in January.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa National Guard members in northwest Iowa are preparing for a major, year-long deployment next month that’ll take them to an undisclosed location in the Middle East. Captain Ivan Naranjo, commander of the Le Mars-based 113th Cavalry Unit, says they’re ready to carry out their assigned mission.

“Wherever we go, we’re going to just provide security for the place that we are at,” Naranjo says. “It’s a defensive mission. We’re just going to help protect the base that we’re in, and our partner nation forces in supporting them in what they do. We’re letting them take the reins on operations, and we’re just helping to provide security along the way.” The Le Mars unit is one of many from Iowa that will make up a force of 18-hundred taking part in the mission.

Naranjo took over command of the 113th about a year ago, and he says he’s very fortunate. “I came into it and it already had an incredibly positive and productive culture. People want to go to extra schools. They want to go to extra training. They take the job seriously, as they should, for being infantry men,” he says. “We have a potentially dangerous job in terms of what we do, but everybody here approaches it like a true professional.”

Following his service in Afghanistan, this will be Naranjo’s second deployment overseas, a mission for which he and the rest of the unit have long been training. “This is a fantastic opportunity, because I get to use it, you know, it’s not just training anymore,” he says. “I get to take all the lessons learned in training and apply them into real life situations. That’s going to help keep me and my soldiers safe, which is the ultimate end goal, to bring everybody home, keep them safe and teach them how to be a more professional soldier.”

There will be a sendoff ceremony for the Le Mars unit on May 28th at Le Mars Community High School. After the sendoff, the 113th will leave for the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Johnson, Louisiana, then the soldiers will be overseas for about ten months.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A public hearing will take place Wednesday evening, with regard to the 2025-26 Atlantic School District Calendar. The meeting is on the agenda as part of the Atlantic School Board’s regular meeting that takes place in the High School Media Center, beginning at 6:30-p.m.

Action items on the agenda include:

a. 25-26 MOU with Green Hills AEA
b. 25-25 Educational Agreement with Iowa Western Community College
c. 25-26 Timberline Billing Services Annual Agreement for Medicaid and Addendum
d. Sponsorships for Industrial Tech Club
e. District Career Academic plan
f. Graduating Class of 2025

The Board will also act on the following:

Resignations/Retirements

• Brooke Lamp Middle School Volleyball; Fall Season
• Daniel Johnmark, Para
• Charisma Burg, Para

Recommendation to Hire

• 2025 Summer School Supervisor
• Summer Weight Room Coordinators
• Baseball and Golf 2025 season volunteer coaches
• Fall Sport coaching recommendations

View the complete agenda here: PUBLIC AGENDA 04092025-1

(Clarinda, Iowa) – Page County Attorney, James L. Varley, today (Tuesday) reports the following activities in the Iowa District Court for Page County for the week of March 24, 2025. The Honorable, Michael Hooper, District Court Judge of the Fourth Judicial District presided. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

• Christopher Chane Adkins, age 35, of Shenandoah, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Operating While Intoxicated, First Offense. The Defendant was granted a deferred judgment and placed on probation for 9 months. The Defendant was ordered to attend and complete a 12-hour drinking drivers’ course, as well as complete a drug/alcohol evaluation and follow through with any recommendations. A civil penalty of $1,250 was assessed and the Defendant was ordered to pay all court costs, surcharges and court-appointed attorney fees.
• Matthew Ross David Buckridge, age 45, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, appeared pro se and admitted to violating the terms and conditions of probation. The Defendant was found to be in willful contempt of court and sentenced to 48 hours in the Page County Jail. Defendant is to continue on probation as previously ordered and obtain a new substance abuse evaluation and follow any recommended treatment. Court costs and court-appointed attorney fees were imposed.
• Alexis Lynn Eveland, age 21, of Shenandoah, Iowa, appeared by counsel and admitted to violating the terms and conditions of probation. The Defendant was found to be in willful contempt of court and sentenced to 20 days in the Page County Jail, with credit given for time previously served. The Defendant was ordered to pay court costs and court-appointed attorney fees.
• Cindy Joe Gray, age 45, of New Market, Iowa, appeared with counsel and pled guilty to Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver. The Defendant was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined $1,000. The term of incarceration and fine were suspended and the Defendant was placed on probation for 3 years. As a condition of probation, the Defendant must obtain a drug/alcohol evaluation and follow through with any recommendations. The Defendant was ordered to pay court costs, surcharges and court-appointed attorney fees. This case will run concurrently with the case below.
  • Cindy Joe Gray, age 45, New Market, Iowa, appeared with counsel and pled guilty to Count 1: Operating While Under the Influence, First Offense and Count 2: Possession of a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance, Marijuana-2nd Offense.
  • Count I: The Defendant was sentenced to 20 days in the Page County Jail, with all but 2 days suspended and given credit for time served. The Defendant was placed on probation for 9 months and required to complete a 12-hr Drinker Driver’s Course and a substance abuse evaluation. The Defendant was assessed a fine of $1,250, and ordered to pay court costs, surcharges and court appointed attorney fees.
  • Count II: The Defendant was sentenced to 2 years in the State Penitentiary, all time suspended, and placed on probation. The term of probation will run concurrently with Count 1 and the case above. The Defendant was assessed a fine of $430, and ordered to pay surcharges, court costs and court-appointed attorney fees.
• Timothy Alan Groves, age 55, of Etna, Maine, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Sexual Exploitation by a Counselor or Therapist. The Defendant was sentenced to 365 days in the Page County Jail, with all time suspended, and placed on probation for 1 year. Defendant was ordered to complete the Sex Offender Treatment Program and register as a sex offender. In addition to the sentence above, a special sentence was imposed and the Defendant was sentenced to a term of 10 years of supervision as if on parole. The Defendant was ordered to pay a fine of $430, plus surcharges, court costs, and court-appointed attorney fees.
• Shalee Dawn Laughlin, age 53, of Imogene, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Theft in the 4th Degree. The Defendant was granted a deferred judgment and placed on 9 months of probation. The Defendant was ordered to pay a civil penalty of $430, plus court costs, surcharges and restitution.
• Jessie Gregory McFarland, age 48, of Farragut, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Count I: Operating While Under the Influence, 2nd Offense and Count II: Driving While License is Denied or Revoked. The Defendant was sentenced to 60 days in the Page County Jail on each count, with all but 7 days suspended, and the sentences shall run concurrently. The Defendant will be on probation for 9 months and as a condition will obtain a drug/alcohol evaluation and attend and successfully complete the Drinking Driver’s School. The Defendant was ordered to pay a fine of $1,875, plus court costs, surcharges, and court-appointed attorney fees.
• Misty Dawn Nolan Myre, age 50, Shenandoah, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Operating While Intoxicated, 1st Offense. The Defendant was granted a deferred judgment and placed on probation for 9 months. The Defendant was specifically ordered to complete a 12-hour drinking drivers’ course, as well as complete a substance abuse evaluation and follow up with any recommendations. A civil penalty of $1,250 was assessed and the Defendant was ordered to pay all court costs, surcharges and court-appointed attorney fees.
• Phillip Wayne Reynolds, age 34, Shenandoah, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Interference with Official Acts. The Defendant was fined $430 and ordered to pay court costs, surcharges and court-appointed attorney fees.
• Charles Eugene Woods, age 62, of Shenandoah, Iowa, appeared with counsel and admitted to violating the terms and conditions of probation. The Defendant was found to be in willful contempt of court and sentenced to 20 days in the Page County Jail. Defendant was unsuccessfully discharged from probation and ordered to pay all court costs and court-appointed attorney fees.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports an Adams County woman was arrested Monday afternoon on drug and other charges. 24-year-old Mirtha Castro Yesenia, of Corning, was arrested at around 4:15-p.m., for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and OWI/1st offense. She was being held in the Union County Jail on a a $1,300 bond, with an allowed 10-percent posted, before she was released.

(Midwest News) – The night sky lit-up early this (Tuesday) morning when a bright meteor streaked across the atmosphere and broke apart. The event was seen by people across the Midwest at around 5:21-a.m. central time. A video of the meteor was captured by a property surveillance camera located between Griswold and Oakland. The video, submitted to KJAN on our Facebook page by Chelsey Muhlbauer, has garnered over 200 comments from those impressed by the event, and from those who witnessed the celestial happening from around southwest Iowa and beyond.

Still frame image of a meteor breaking-up (image taken from a video of the event, as viewed between Griswold & Oakland), courtesy Chelsey Muhlbauer

The American Meteor Society says reports were coming in from Minnesota to Texas from those who saw the entire 3.5-second event, or parts of it. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1C4gY23mw5/