The first in a series of meetings to discuss facility issues pertaining to the CAM School District, begins Sunday. CAM Superintendent Paul Croghan says facility improvements have been in the planning and initial stages since before last July. That includes engineering & architect walk through’s of the district’s buildings, and an evaluation of the mechanical and electrical systems.

(He says they’ve also had conversations with financial institutions on ways to fund improvements and how to pay for any improvements. Those discussions led to the decision to hold public forums on what’s at stake and the desire for public input on how to proceed.)

One of the top reasons for looking into building improvements, has to do with keeping students and staff safe.

The public hearings are being held three-days in a row at different times and locations, so all district patrons who are interested in attending, might be able to attend. The first meeting to discuss facility assessments takes place 1-p.m. Tomorrow (Sunday, Feb. 9th), at the Cumberland Community Building.

The second CAM CSD meeting is on Monday, February 10th at 5:00 p.m., in the high school commons in Anita. The third, and final meeting is 5-p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11th, in the Middle School Commons area. All school board members may be present at each or any meeting.

(He says the meetings are expected to last 60-to 90-minutes, depending on audience participation.)

The same information will be presented during each meeting. As the process moves forward, there will be additional meetings with more specific information. The next, regular board meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the superintendent’s office at the high school building in Anita.

The Marne Community Club is holding its Annual Chili Contest this Sunday (Feb. 9th), at the Marne Community Center. At the same time, the Annual Men’s Pie Baking Contest will be held. Judging for both contests will be “people’s choice.” Anyone interested in entering the Chili Contest should bring a gallon crock pot of chili to the Marne Community Center by 6:00-p.m., Sunday. The same goes for entering the Men’s Pie Contest.

There are no fees for entering. Trophies for both chili and pie winners are on display at the Marne Community Center, and the  1st place winners’ names will be added to their respective trophy.Everyone is welcome to join the fun, either as a participant or a judge! Come to Marne and share a meal. The main course will be, of course, chili. Please bring a potluck salad to share. Pie for dessert! Beverages will be provided.

CORALVILLE, Iowa — Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections report prison inmate, 39-year old Justin Lee Dewitt, of North Liberty, died Friday afternoon, at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center. The cause of his death is yet to be determined. An autopsy will be performed by the Johnson County Medical Examiner.

DeWitt was arrested on June 27, 2016, for allegedly attempting to hire a hit man to kill his former business associate, the associate’s wife and two children, then ages 2 and 4. He began serving a 35-year sentence for multiple counts of Attempted Murder and Solicitation to Commit Murder. His sentence began July 27, 2018.

(Radio Iowa) — The man accused of killing an Algona woman outside a bank in the Kossuth County town of LuVerne late last year changed his plea from not guilty to guilty during a hearing, Friday. Thirty-five-year-old Valentino Williams of Coralville, Iowa changed his plea during a hearing in Kossuth County District Court. Williams admitted in court to killing 43-year-old Jessica Weishaar outside the bank in LuVerne on the morning of December 4th, 2019. Williams was arrested following a traffic stop along Interstate 35 in rural Franklin County little more than an hour after the shooting. Law enforcement was able to track down Williams vehicle after he was recorded driving more than 80 miles-an-hour by a D-O-T Enforcement officer south of Belmond. As a part of the plea deal, prosecutors dropped the first-degree Robbery charges against Williams. Judge Nancy L. Whittenburg accepted the plea and handed out the mandatory sentence of life without parole.

Police in Red Oak report the arrest at around 6:25-p.m. Friday, of 42-year old Richard Allen Straw, from Red Oak. Straw was taken into custody for Driving While Suspended. His bond at the Montgomery County Jail was set at $566.