Officials with the Council Bluffs Police Department report a man involved in a pursuit and officer involved shooting, was released from an Omaha hospital Sunday afternoon, and taken into custody. 28-year old Wade Clifton was being treated for injuries he suffered during the May 1st pursuit and subsequent officer-involved shooting. Upon his release, Wade was arrested by Omaha Police and booked into the Douglas County, NE. Jail, for being a Fugitive from Justice.

Clifton Wade

Authorities say proceedings will begin to have Wade extradited to Iowa, to face charges that include two-counts of Attempted Murder of Peace Officer, Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer, and Felony Eluding. Additional charges are pending, and remain under investigation. Last week, Pottawattamie County Attorney Matt Wilber said no charges will be filed against Officer Jason Burleigh, who fired nine rounds at Wade, hitting him three times. The shots were fired after Wade intentionally rammed two police cruisers during the pursuit.

The CAM School District’s Board of Education met briefly this (Monday) morning at the high school in Anita, and approved an agreement with the CAM Education Association (CAMEA), representing the District’s teachers. Superintendent Dr. Casey Berlau said they came to an agreement on a 2.97% increase in salaries. That includes adding $415 to the base of the salary schedule, “aging” the salary schedule, meaning the teachers get to move a step on the wage scale, and the teachers who have “aged out” or “Maxed out” of the schedule (5 teachers in all), receive another 1.5% increase, to make their salary closer to what others on the salary schedule would have received.”

Berlau said everyone is still trying to navigate and understand changes made last year to collective bargaining rules, but they managed to hash out something both sides could feel comfortable with. He said they just have to move forward now with getting the contracts ready.” Berlau said also, the Board approved the Schedule B contracts with Coaches, sponsors and others, which increased the percentages for each of those positions by three-percent.

He said the CAM School Board approved the resignations of Joanie Ehm, Master Teacher/Instructional Coach, who is part of their Teacher Leadership Program (TLC), and Cindy Nichols, a veteran Music Teacher. The Board also approved contracts with Brittany Woods, Massena 2^nd Grade Teacher, and Amy Goldstein, who was offered the School Counselor’s position for 2018-19. Andy Kinzie was also approved as a para-educator at the north Elementary.

And, the Board approved a 1-to-1 laptop computer resolution. The obtained financing through Houghton State Bank in Griswold and Cumberland, to pay for the computers. That means just about every child will have new machines to work with next year, but not all will be on the 1-to-1 basis.

Iowa conservationists are concerned a rollback of federal rules could put migratory birds at risk. The Trump administration has announced it won’t prosecute the unintentional killing of species protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Iowa State University wildlife biologist Adam Janke says habitat loss poses the greatest risk to birds in the state, while loosening regulations could make the situation worse. Janke says, “On top of all those stresses related to habitat loss and habitat degradation, we may add on top of that an unnatural mortality source associated with transmission lines or wind turbines or things like that in some locations.”

The federal government plans to stop prosecuting companies that accidentally kill protected species. The law encourages oil, energy and telecommunications developers to work with conservationists to lower their impact on habitat. Janke says wind energy companies have done a good job of placing their turbines in the state, but now, that could change. “You could end up with a wind energy complex right next to a major migratory stopover location for birds,” he says, “because under this interpretation of the law, there may not be regulatory mechanism to discourage that.”

Conservationists worry developers won’t be pushed to work with them if there’s no punishment for killing the animals. An estimated 500 species of migratory birds spend part of their lives in the upper Midwest.

(By Kate Payne, Iowa Public Radio, via Radio Iowa)

Melanie Petty, with the Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund, says the non-profit organization answered the call of the Nishna Valley Family YMCA, and donated $1,000.00 to their annual Partnership with Youth campaign.  Petty says they “Feel strongly that our local YMCA is changing lives by offering membership assistance to over 150 families in our community.  The YMCA offers a safe environment for our youth and also offers many programs to keep our youth active and social.” She adds, “If you want to pledge to assist the YMCA give them a call at 712-243-3934.  No dollar amount is too small.”

Pictured: Laena Sonntag, Bennett Sonntag and Grant Petty (Photo submitted)

The T-Fred Memorial golf tournament is coming up August 11th, and is their only fundraiser.  Petty says “It’s because of the generosity of our family, friends and community that we are able to donate to these wonderful organizations in Trevor’s name.  Please consider golfing this year or come out to Nishna Hills and check out our silent auction that goes on all day.”