The Lenox and Griswold School District Boards of Education held a Special Joint Board Meeting Wednesday evening, to discuss and act on a continuation of the shared Superintendent Agreement, and for Lenox, an individual contract. Shared Superintendent Dave Henrichs told KJAN News both Boards unanimously approved having Henrichs as their shared Superintendent for a fifth year, with no changes.

The Lenox Board then addressed Henrichs’ individual contract. The only change was with regard to an increase in the health insurance premium package. Since the district has not received the renewal rates yet, it’s not clear what that the amount of increase will be. Griswold did not vote on the matter, because the individual contract only pertains to the Lenox District. Henrichs said the Griswold Board, fully supported the contract renewal, and provided that input to the Lenox School Board.

Henrichs said the biggest thing for him, with regard to the shared superintendent agreement, is the quality of people who make up the administrative team. He says “I have great people in both districts that support me greatly. Without that, I couldn’t do it…I’m very fortunate to have people that I have at both schools.”

Henrichs said it’s important for people to understand why the districts are sharing a superintendent. He says both districts benefit financially. The agreement qualifies for Operation Sharing dollars, which means both districts get an additional eight students worth of funding, or about $56,000 each, per year. Salary and benefits cost are split between the districts. The cost savings for each district each year, amounts to about $110,000, or one-half million dollars altogether, by the end of year number five.

(Radio Iowa) — The new director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources appears to be on track be confirmed for the job by the Iowa Senate. Republican Governor Kim Reynolds appointed Kayla Lyon as D-N-R director last summer. Some criticized the appointment because Lyon has worked as a lobbyist for farmers and agribusiness. Lyon discussed that with lawmakers this week. “Yes, my background is in agriculture,” she said. “I’m proud of my agriculture roots. Iowa has a strong culture and heritage in agriculture, but that does not mean agriculture and natural resources cannot coexist and they should, in order for agriculture in Iowa as a whole to be successful in the future.”

Senator Rob Hogg, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says while some have raised concerns about Lyon’s previous work, he predicts she’ll be confirmed.  “It’s not necessarily the worst thing to have people from outside perspectives come in,” Hogg says. Lyon had served as the governor’s lobbyist at the legislature before she became the first female to lead the Department of Natural Resources in June. State agency directors must win the votes of at least 34 senators to be confirmed to their jobs.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A house fire in Sioux City has left two people dead and one critically injured. Firefighters were called to the fire Thursday morning in the rental home and found residents of the main floor outside. The Sioux City Journal reports that while extinguishing the fire and searching the basement, firefighters found three people and rushed them to a hospital. A man and a woman later died, and another man was in critical condition. Authorities haven’t released their names. Sioux City Fire Marshal Mark Aesoph said fire investigators didn’t find any working smoke alarms in the house. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) reminds Iowans with low to moderate income, Iowans who are elderly, and Iowans with disabilities that they can get free tax preparation services at sites throughout the state. Funding for the initiative comes from a two-year grant through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) grant program. VITA is an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) initiative designed to promote and support free tax preparation services for the underserved, in both urban and non-urban locations.

DHS contracts with the Iowa Center for Economic Success to promote and deliver the tax preparation services through coalition partners across the state. You can find locations and times for tax preparation assistance at: http://theiowacenter.org/taxes/ or at http://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/.

Michelle Bartusek with Iowa Center for Economic Success, says “Our volunteers train and certify with the IRS to prepare tax returns for Iowans and ensure they receive the credits and refunds for which they are eligible. Our focus remains on preparing accurate returns at no cost for Iowans who meet criteria for the program. This is money Iowa families can save or use to pay off bills, buy a car to get to work, or make a down payment on a home.”

During the 2018 filing season, over 141,000 Iowa families claimed over $61.7 million in Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). EITC eligibility can be complex and varies by income, family size, and filing status. By visiting a VITA site, Iowans can access IRS-trained and certified volunteers who can help them determine if they qualify for the EITC and other refundable tax credits, such as the Child Tax Credit or education credits. Volunteers at these sites also prepare and e-file (electronically file) tax returns at no cost. More than 740 volunteers prepared over 19,000 returns during last year’s filing season.

DHS Director Kelly Garcia, says “The Earned Income Tax Credit can be extremely helpful for working Iowans, providing them more money to help them pay for groceries, housing costs and other bills. We want to spread the word and encourage Iowans eligible to file a tax return, even if they don’t owe any taxes, to take full advantage of the EITC.”

Police in Red Oak say there were no injuries, but the driver of an SUV was cited, following a collision Thursday afternoon, at the intersection of Joy and 3rd Streets, in Red Oak. Officials report a 2002 Dodge Durango driven by 67-year old Ronald Lee Lunsford, of Red Oak, was traveling east on Joy Street at around 4:25-p.m., when he failed to yield at the posted intersection. A 2019 Nissan Altima, driven by 44-year old Jeanette Eggerss, of Red Oak, was traveling southbound on the one-way 3rd Street when she was broadsided by the SUV.

Damage from the collision amounted to $8,000 altogether. Ronald Lunsford was cited for Failing to yield at a Yield Sign.