IRETON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a northwest Iowa teacher has died after being struck by a tree limb while helping a neighbor. The accident occurred Saturday afternoon about five miles southeast of Ireton. The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office says 49-year-old Christopher Soppe was helping clean up storm debris when he was struck by a branch he was cutting down.

The Sheriff’s Office says Sopped died later at a hospital in Le Mars. The Boyden-Hull School District says Soppe was a special-education teacher who also coached baseball.

Four area school districts will hold their regular, separate monthly school board meetings, Monday. The Griswold School Board will gather in the Central Office at the Middle School/High School Building for their session, beginning at 5:30-p.m.

On their agenda, is action on: Fuel and Tech Support bids; The naming of a Level 1 & 2 Child Abuse Investigator; Hours for the Transportation In-District Director; a Non-Certified staff Bargaining Agreement for 2016-17; An Operational Sharing Agreement with the Lenox School District; and, Registration Fees for 2016-17.

In Audubon, the Audubon School Board will meet at 7-p.m. in their boardroom at the high school. Action items on their agenda include: Approving a retaining wall bid; Establishing a notice for the proposed sale of surplus property; the final reading of Board Policies pertaining to online fundraising campaigns (specifically, “Crowfunding”), and Unmanned Aircraft (Drones). They’ll also discuss and possibly act on a proposed policy change pertaining to Substitute Teachers, followed by the setting of Substitute Teacher pay for 2017.

In Elk Horn, the Exira-EHK School Board will meet in the Conference Room at the Elk Horn Building, beginning at 7-p.m., Monday. The Board will act on approving a contract with Frederick Griffen, High School Science teacher. They’ll also discuss and/or act on: the Exira Elementary School Land; Approval of a new Press Box for the Exira Football Field; Approval of concrete and drainage around the Weight Room and Press Box; and, the possible sharing of a Technology Director.

The CAM School Board is set to meet at 6:00pm in Massena to start with a tour of the facilities there. Their meeting will then begin at 6:30pm at the CAM Middle School Commons.  On their agenda is a public hearing on the Massena Elementary roofing improvements and then taking action on approving plans and awarding a contract for the work. They will also review open enrollment applications, consider resignations and contracts, name a migrant liaison, discuss the wireless access point improvement project, IACA out of state travel, consider an agreement with Woodriver Energy for Natural Gas purchasing, discuss board policies, and present Iowa Assessment results from the 2015-16 school year.

The Red Oak Police Department reports a two vehicle accident occurred at 8:25 am this (Monday) morning in Red Oak.  A 2015 Ford F-150 owned by Healthy Turf Mow and Snow LLC and being operated by 27-year-old Clayton Lynn Adams of Red Oak was traveling southbound on North 3rd Street approaching the intersection with Elm Street when the truck struck a 2011 Ford Econoline Passenger Van driven by 21-year-old Ashlynn Marie Larson of Randolph.  Larson had failed to yield the right of way at the intersection and pulled out in front of the Adams vehicle.

The van was owned by Nishna Productions Inc.  No injuries were reported at the time of the accident and Larson was issued a citation for Failure to Obey Yield Sign or Yield Right of Way.

The Ford truck received an estimated $4,000 damage and the Van sustained an estimated $3,000 damage.

The Atlantic Police Department released details Monday on one recent arrest. On Friday, June 17th officers arrested 26-year-old Alan Beattie of Anita on a Cass County Warrant for Failure to Appear for Debtors Exam.  He was taken to the Cass County Jail and booked in.

An accident on Interstate 80 in Cass County is under investigation. The Sheriff’s Office reports at around 12:24-a.m. on June 12th, Cass County deputies responded to a report of an accident near the 77 mile marker on I-80 westbound. 25-year old Brandon E. Greser, of Fremont, NE., was westbound on I-80 in a 2011 Buick when he reported being sideswiped by a white Chevy pickup. No injuries were reported. Damage to Greser’s vehicle was estimated at $2,500. The incident remains under investigation.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Monday (Today), released a report on arrests dating back to June 10th. Most recently, on Sunday (June 19), 43-year old Todd Edward Kimpson, of Corning, was arrested on a warrant for Violation of a No Contact Order. Kimpson was also charged with another charge of Violation of a No Contact Order, and Harassment 3rd Degree. He was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on $600 bond.

On June 16th, Cass County deputies arrested 43-year old Tracy Frances Kiser, of Omaha, NE, on a Polk County warrant. Kiser was taken to the Cass County Jail and transferred to Polk County later that day. That same day, 25-year old Keelan Dale Woods, of Bridgewater, was arrested on a charge of OWI 2nd Offense. Woods was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.

On June 15th, Cass County deputies arrested 20-year old Selena Marie Hansen, of Atlantic, on two warrants for Failure to Appear and one warrant for Probation Violation. Hansen was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $1,300 bond. On June 14th, 30-year old Joseph Duane Tye, of Griswold, was arrested on charges of OWI 2nd Offense, and Driving While Revoked. Tye was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on $2,000 bond.

On June 13th, 56-year old Barry Dean Schmidt, of Massena, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Schmidt was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $10,000 bond. On June 12, 2016, 35-year old Timothy George Myers, of Elliott, was arrested on a charge of OWI 2nd Offense. Myers was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.

On June 11th, Cass County deputies charged 26-year old Alexander Paul Dvorak, of Atlantic, with Serious Assault. Dvorak was being held at the Cass County Jail at the time; an additional bond of $1,000 has been added to his existing bond. And on June 10th, 27-year old Marshall Brandon Fischer, of Atlantic, was arrested on two district court warrants for Probation Violation. Fischer was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $10,000 bond.

In an update to our earlier report, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Monday (Today), said an Atlantic man suffered minor injuries when the ATV he was riding was hit by an SUV, near Cumberland. 59-year old Joseph Dale Herbert, of Atlantic, was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, after the 2010 Honda ATV he was on was struck by a 1997 Jeep Cherokee, driven by 37-year old Kerri Corrine Wood, of Anita.

The accident happened at around 9:20-a.m. Sunday, on Quincy Road, near the intersection with 650th Street. Officials say Wood was eastbound on Quincy Road her SUV hit the oncoming ATV. Damage to Wood’s vehicle is estimated at $1,000; damage to the ATV is estimated at $500. No citations were issued.

The Creston Police Department issued their weekly arrest report on Monday and report 4 recent arrests.

On Saturday at 4:10 am officers arrested 40-year-old
Jamie Vandel at 1011 Manor Drive in Creston on a Union County Warrant for the charge of Violation of Probation on the original charges of 2 counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance – 2nd Offense and Violation of Probation. He is being held in the Union County Jail on a $5000 bond.

Also on Saturday at 6:25 am 27-year-old Dusten Thrasher of Creston was arrested at
Elm/Montgomery streets on the charges of Public Intoxication and Unlawful Possession of Prescription Pills. He was released from the Union County Jail on a Promise to Appear.

Also Saturday at 10:07 pm officers arrested Wendy Kinyon of Creston at her
residence on the charges of OWI 2nd offense and 2 counts of Neglect of Child. She was released from the Union County Jail on $2000 bond.

On Sunday at 2:57 am officers arrested 28-year-old Trintke Welder of Toledo, IA at the intersection of Jarvis and Adams Streets on 2 Marshall County Warrants
for the charges of Criminal Mischief 5th Degree and Burglary 3rd Degree. She was released to the custody of Marshall County.

w/Chris Parks.

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Supporters of Bernie Sanders won a policy victory at the Iowa Democratic Party’s state convention this weekend. At 10:45 Saturday night, Sanders forces successfully added a plank to the state party’s platform that calls for getting rid of so-called “super delegates” to the Democratic National Convention. David McFarland of Dallas County was among the Sanders supporters who argued the elected officials and party leaders who are “super delegates” do not represent the will of the people.

“Super delegates lead to voter suppression,” he said, sparking applause and loud cheers from the other Sanders delegates in the room. “And what the Democrats want is not voter suppression. That’s a Republican idea.” Holly Herbert of Polk County and other Sanders supporters have been outraged media outlets called Hillary Clinton the party’s “presumptive nominee” before all the voting in primaries was over because of Clinton’s support from unpledged “super delegates.”

“Even Mrs. Clinton herself said that she appreciated the support, but she still had additional primaries to win,” Herbert said. Six Iowa Democrats at the state convention were given a chance to debate the issue before a vote was taken. A Clinton backer told the Sanders supporters they were making a “moot point.”

“If we do away with our super delegates altogether, Hillary wins by 400 delegates,” said the man, who did not identify himself. “If we apportion them by primary results, she wins by 600 delegates.” Emily Legal of Johnson County argued FOR super delegates, so rank-and-file Democrats don’t have to compete against party leaders for delegate slots at the national convention.

“By abolishing Super Delegates, you’re not giving the people a voice,” Legel said. “You’re taking one additional voice away from an activist who has earned it simply because an elected official, for example Dave Loebsack, has more name recognition than anyone else.” Sanders supporters complain the 2016 Iowa Caucuses resulted in a near tie between Sanders and Clinton, yet six of the seven Iowa Democratic Party’s “super delegates” say they will vote for Clinton at the party’s national convention in Philadelphia.

(Radio Iowa)