(Panora, Iowa/Iowa Capital Dispatch) – A science class for middle school students at Panorama Middle School commonly involves a trek out to the prairie behind the school, a sketch of native seeds under the microscope or a homework assignment to track the progress of a backyard bluebird from its birdhouse. Teacher Mark Dorhout created an outdoor education program at the middle school in Panora to “connect (students) to the natural world,” foster environmental stewardship, and give students a real-world application to the science they learn in the classroom.  Dorhout, who has a degree in wildlife and fisheries sciences, spent the majority of his career teaching or administering at middle schools and has been teaching sixth through eighth grade science at Panorama Middle School for four years.  He started the outdoor education program by taking students out to a recently restored prairie behind the school, and using the school’s backyard in his lessons as much as possible.

“This has been a long-standing passion of mine that has become more and more apparent as we move along in this society,” Dorhout said. “And really the main thrust to that is that kids are out less and less into this environment.”  Now the class and its non-traditional classroom has a reputation among the middle schoolers — all of whom will go through the project, make a birdhouse, and get to meet Dorhout’s Labrador retriever, which never misses a field day.  Dorhout said he’s thankful the school district has been very supportive of the program and works with him to supply materials and promote the course in newsletters to parents. “They get it,” Dorhout said of his district. “They understand the value of a program like this.”

Students observe a “pocket prairie” installed by teacher Mark Dorhout who leads an outdoor education program at the middle school in Panora. (Photo courtesy of Mark Dorhout)

Dorhout said the 11-acre prairie behind the school has been there for over 20 years but really fell out of use until seven or so years ago when the local members of the Izaak Walton League worked to “grub out” some of the trees that had overtaken the area, and replant it to prairie. Each grade has a different project. Seventh graders build either a bluebird or a wren box that they take home, hang on a tree, and monitor through the rest of their time in middle school.  “They never knew that there was the whole other thing going on … and then all of a sudden they’ve started paying attention to the birds in the neighborhood,” Dorhout said.  Eighth grade students get to work in the greenhouse as part of their curriculum on genetics and climate change. Last year he added sixth graders to his docket and uses the prairie for their lessons in water quality and chemistry.  Dorhout said going out and conducting water quality tests gives the students a real life application of the chemistry they learn in the classroom.

And all of the students get about 50 field days over the course of their time in middle school. Throughout the program, Dorhout has his students gather seeds, add plants into the prairie and analyze what makes one section of the prairie better than another. All of it leads to pretty “rich conversations” around soil quality and biodiversity. “Kids that you wouldn’t think would like doing prairie work, just totally get into it,” Dorhout said.

Dorhout spoke about his class during a Watershed Talk with the Iowa Division of the Izaak Walton League of America Dec. 17.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa chapter of the American Red Cross will be starting out 2025 much as it always does, with a critical need for blood donors, as stockpiles are dangerously low. Agency spokeswoman Sue Thesenga says she’s hoping the blood shortage in the new year makes people stop and think about what they can do to help year-round. “We really encourage people to resolve to do something good this year and blood donation is a very easy way to make a resolution to help people in need,” Thesenga says. “It only takes an hour of someone’s time and it doesn’t cost a dime.” The Red Cross is in need of blood donors of all types, especially those with type O, which is considered the universal type for transfusions.

“You can safely donate blood every 56 days,” she says. “So a lot of times donors donate once or twice during the year, and that is fabulous, but if they donated more regularly and more often, that would probably help us avoid situations like we’re in right now.” As New Year’s Eve is one of the deadliest nights of the year to be on the road, Thesenga says just one or two motor vehicle crashes could quickly drain this precious resource.

“A single-car accident victim may require as many as 100 units of blood,” Thesenga says. “That’s a lot of blood going to one person. So we need to make sure that people that experience emergency situations, or just regular surgeries and stuff, have all the blood products that they need.” While most blood center offices will be closed for the holiday, you can schedule an appointment right now to give blood later this week at RedCrossBlood.org.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – After 44 years of dedication to Atlantic and the surrounding communities, an Atlantic Firefighter/Engineer signed-off today (Tuesday), and marked the beginning of his retirement. John Johnson’s wife Linda posted his last official call to the Cass County Comm. Center. His call sign 15-29 and service, were acknowledged with a heartfelt thank you.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa State Patrol is running a Critical Accident Reduction Effort through the New Year. Trooper Paul Gardner says they have extra officers on the roadways. “And the goal of this initiative is to reduce serious injury and traffic fatalities through high visibility and enforcement, and we’re going to be addressing concerns such as speeding, distracted driving, seat belt usage and impaired driving through the holiday season,” he says. Gardner says many people celebrate the New Year with alcohol, and part of that is planning how to get home safely.

“We want to make sure that if you are going to any kind of get together that involves alcoholic beverages, we need to make sure that you’re getting a sober design designated driver to get you home safely,” Gardner says. “Last year, December, 2023 we had 34 traffic fatalities on Iowa roadways, over half of those involved and intoxicated driver.” Trooper Gardner says many accidents happen New Year’s Eve.

“Iowa ranked in the top 16 states according to stats that were provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 50 percent of fatal crashes on New Year’s night involved alcohol,” he says. Gardner says plan ahead and get someone to be your designated driver if you are drinking alcohol as part of your celebration.

(Corning, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Adams County report five people were arrested over the past couple of weeks. On Dec. 27th, 27-year-old Zackery Martin, of Corning, was arrested on an active warrant for Failure To Appear (FTA) in court. He was later released on bond. That same day, 41-year-old David Yazell and 63-year-old Michael Arthur, both of Corning, were arrested and charged with Violation of a No Contact/Protection Order.

On Dec. 24th, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call about two men who were fighting. Following an investigation, 41-year-old David Yazell, of Corning, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense. He was booked into the Adams County Jail and later released on a Promise To Appear in court.

And, on Dec. 19th, 40-year-old Cory Smith, of Elliott, was arrested in Adams County, following a traffic stop. He was pulled-over for having no plates on his dump truck. Authorities determined Smith had a barred Iowa Driver’s License. He was arrested for Driving While Barred and transported to the Adams County Jail and subsequently released.

“Any potential criminal charges identified above are merely allegations, and any defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”

(Union County, Iowa) – UPDATED 7:50-A.M. – Officials with the Creston Fire Department posted on social media, Monday, that First responders in Creston/Union County had a busy Monday afternoon, including two accidents to which the Creston Fire Department responded. Officials say that a little before 4-p.m., Greater Regional Health Medic 2, Afton Volunteer Fire Department, Union County Sheriff’s Office, and CFD responded to a two-vehicle, personal injury accident at Hwy 34 and Redwood Ave., in Afton. Additional details on that accident are currently not available.

While CFD’s Tanker 4 was returning from the scene, an accident in Creston occurred at W Devoe St and N Sycamore St during which a 2017 GMC Terrain SUV struck a legally parked 2000 Jeep Wrangler, resulting in the GMC turning on its side. The Jeep was pushed into a yard as a result of the collision. The Creston Police Department says the SUV was driven by 38-year-old Thomasina Maria Jackson, of Creston.  Jackson told police she was looking down at her ashtray just before the collision occurred. Bystanders extricated the woman from the vehicle before rescue workers arrived on the scene.

Thomasina Jackson complained of pain, and was transported by her husband to the hospital in Creston, to be checked-out.

Creston FD photo by Chuck Spindler

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report a man was arrested Monday night for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 21-year-old Jonathan Dean Williams, of Creston, was arrested at a residence in the 100 block of W. Buckeye Street, at around 7:35-p.m.  Williams was cited and released from the scene, on a promise to appear in court.

(Andrew County, Missouri) – Authorities in northwest Missouri report a woman from southwest Iowa died during a single-vehicle accident over the weekend. According to a report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the unidentified 35-year-old woman from Council Bluffs died in a crash that happened at around 4:15-a.m. Saturday on southbound Interstate 29, of Country Club, in Andrew County, MO.

The woman was driving a 2018 Nissan Pathfinder when for reasons unknown, the vehicle entered the median, struck an emergency crossover, and became airborne. The SUV then rolled several times, ejecting the driver, who was not wearing a seat belt. The woman died at the scene.

The vehicle came to rest on its wheels in the median.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold their annual Organizational Meeting beginning at 9-a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 2nd.  Their first order of business is to elect a permanent chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, and, to set the schedule for 2025 Board Meetings, as well as the use of Zoom to broadcast those meetings.

Other administrative matters for the Cass County Supervisors include:

Name official county newspapers (IA Code 349.3)
a. Anita Tribune
b. Atlantic News Telegraph
c. Griswold American

Set mileage reimbursement rate (IA Code 70A.9)
a. Employees
b. Sheriff’s civil processing

Set medical examiner fees (331.803 IA Code)
• Standard call ($200 in 2024)
• Involved call ($400 in 2024)
• Reimbursement for expenses incurred

Set 2024 Holidays the Courthouse will be closed:
Memorial Day 5/26/2025; Independence Day 7/4/2025; Labor Day 9/1/2025; Veterans’ Day 11/11/2025; Thanksgiving 11/27/2025; Day After Thanksgiving 11/28/2025; Christmas 12/25/2025; New Year’s Day
1/1/2026,

Set Christmas Eve hours for employees not covered by bargaining agreements: Wed, 12/24/25

• Approve the Investment Policy
• Authorize county officials to destroy records in their possession which have been on file for 10 or more years and are not required as permanent records (331.323(2)(d))
• Approve Resolution 2025-01, Appointment of Deputies and Assistants by Elected County Officers
• Approve Resolution 2025-02, Livestock Facility Construction Evaluation and use of the Master Matrix
• Approve Resolution 2025-03, Authorization of County Auditor to Issue Warrants.
• Approve Resolution 2025-04, Authorization for County Engineer to Close Secondary Roads.
• Appoint a member of the board of supervisors to the board of directors of the Fourth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services for 2024.
• Appoint a member, and alternate, of the board of supervisors to:
  • a. 28E Southwest Iowa Mental Health and Disability Services Region Board (MHDS)
  • b. 28E Board, Multi-county 28# Agreement Regarding Juvenile Detention Center and Emergency Juvenile Services
• Appoint Weed Commissioner for 2025.
• Approve Committees Appointments:
  a. County Committees
  b. Regional Committees
  c. Citizen Appointments
  d. Condemnation in Eminent Domain Proceedings
  e.Township Clerks and Trustees
• Approve Landus to place a 72,000-gallon anhydrous ammonia tank, and anhydrous facility, on the property located 53597 650th Street, Atlantic, IA as recommended by the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
• Approve job classification and wage change for Stephanie Witzman from Sheriff’s Office Assistant ($26.73) to Civil Processor/Office Manager ($27.53)Regular business:
• Discuss/Approve appointing Darby McLaren as Reserve Deputy Sheriff
• Report from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken
• Reports of Supervisors and Committees
• Filed Reports, if available.
• Adjournment

Next Meeting: Tuesday, January 21, 2024

To Join the Jan. 2nd meeting Electronically:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2899195216?pwd=R0hSa2FOOTh0NUdra1ZSdVhVWHpMUT09
Meeting ID: 289 919 5216
Passcode: 012064

To Call In: 312-626-6799, press *9 to indicate you wish to speak.