OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Federal safety investigators say enforcing better school bus driver standards and installing a fire suppression system may have prevented the deaths in a 2017 school bus fire in western Iowa. National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Robert Sumwalt said Tuesday that the Riverside Community School District didn’t ensure the driver was medically fit before the crash.

Sumwalt says 74-year-old bus driver Donald Hendricks, who died in the fire along with his 16-year-old passenger Megan Klindt, had mobility issues that limited his ability to evacuate the bus. Hendricks used a walker and had back surgery scheduled the week of the fire. Investigators said the fire likely started in the bus’ turbocharger, which overheated after the bus’ rear tires became stuck in a drainage ditch.

Sumwalt says having an improved fire suppression system could have provided more time to evacuate. The federal requirements for school bus fire safety haven’t been updated since 1971.

Shared CAM/Nodaway Valley School District Superintendent Dr. Casey Berlau attended his last, regular monthly meeting of the CAM School Board, Monday evening (June 17th). Berlau will begin his duties as the Carroll Community School District Superintendent on July 1st. During the meeting, Monday, the CAM School Board heard a presentation with regard to the Summer Lunch program. This is the first year the District has offered summer lunch to students.

The Board also received a report from the Compensation Committee.

The Board approved the purchase of a diesel school bus from Hogland for $93,500. The other bid was from School Bus Sales. They also approved an agreement with Casey Computing for the 2019-20 School Year. Jim Casey serves as the District’s Technical Director, and the Board approved a 4% increase in pay for his services. In other business, the CAM School Board approved three resignations. They include Brian Sexton – Middle School Social Studies Teacher, Kathy Claussen – ParaEducator, and Becky Peach – Model Teacher.

There were also several contracts issued.

Berlau gave his thoughts on leaving the shared Superintendent position and embarking on a new endeavor at Carroll

HAMBURG, Iowa (AP) — Two new bridges are planned for a highway low spot near a Missouri River bridge that connects southeast Nebraska with southwest Iowa. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the Iowa Transportation Department will begin taking bids next month for construction of eastbound and westbound bridges for a section of Iowa Highway 2. The highway runs from Interstate 29 west to the bridge and Nebraska City on the Nebraska side.

The highway reopened in May after 56 days of being shut down, with drivers forced to use a temporary lane made of permeable rock. But that section eventually became submerged again. The section also was flooded in 2011. An Iowa Transportation Department official says construction could start as soon as August but probably wouldn’t be finished until fall 2021.

The Creston Police Department says 33-year old Kyle Kreb, of Creston, was arrested on drug charges at around 4:50-a.m. today (Tuesday). Kreb was taken into custody for Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a $1,300 bond. Monday evening, 41-year old Cari Langille, of Senaca, MO., was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County warrant for Failure to Appear on an original charge of Theft in the 5th Degree. Langille was released on a $300 bond.

And, late Monday morning, 37-year old Zeke Chafa, of Greenfield, was arrested in Creston for Driving While Revoked. He was later released on a $1,000 bond.

WAVERLY, Iowa (AP) — A trial is scheduled to begin July 16 for a northeast Iowa man accused of shooting to death his 36-year-old son. Bremer County District Court records say 59-year-old Daniel Niebuhr, of Fairbank, pleaded not guilty Monday to a charge of first-degree murder. The judge also ruled that Niebuhr was mentally competent to stand trial.

The Bremer County Sheriff’s Office says Niebuhr told deputies who were called to the Fairbank home March 22 that he shot his son as his son sat on a couch watching television. Deputies found the body of Brock Niebuhr inside the home.