The Griswold School District’s Board of Education, Monday, approved an application process for off-duty law enforcement officers to carry their service weapons on school property. Superintendent Dana Kunze told KJAN News the District’s SRO (School Resource Officer) requested the Board’s approval of the policy. Kunze said while there is “Some discrepancy here in the State as to whether they  [meaning the officers] have the authority to do it or not, but Iowa Code says they are not allowed to [do so] without a resolution from the Board.”

The Griswold School Board also approved a mowing bid from Bob’s Mowing (Bob Amos), of Griswold for mowing of the District’s properties. They also approved a $10 increase in the Driver’s Education fee for the summer. The program will run $260.

In other business, the Board passed the District’s Instructional Support Levy (ISL) after holding a public hearing on the matter earlier in the meeting. The ISL is voter approved for a period of 10-years.

They also accepted the Annual Audit Report.

w/ Ric Hanson

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A 24-year-old man accused of running over his girlfriend in a Sioux City shopping center parking lot has been given 10 years in prison. Authorities say Anthony Barton was convicted on assault and another charge after prosecutors dropped two other charges in a plea agreement. On Monday Barton was sentenced to consecutive five-year sentences.

Police say Barton used a stun gun several times on 22-year-old Karilynn Schroeder and ran over her as he drove off with her vehicle Dec. 19 at Lakeport Commons shopping center.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Senior Citizens in Atlantic and the surrounding area will have a place to partake in outdoor activities designed specifically for them, possibly as soon as this Summer, following action taken by the City’s Parks and Recreation Board, Monday evening. The Board approved the final site plan for the activities area, which will be located south of the new Parks Maintenance Building at Sunnyside Park.

Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring said there will be all sorts of activities geared toward Seniors and others, including an area specifically designed for horseshoe games. There will be four, regulation-size horseshoe pits. Work on the pits should be completed by July, according to Herring. Another, 70-by 120-foot flat, grassy area, can be used for other activities. Such as Badminten, Croquet, Bocce Ball and other family-type activities.

The area would be easy to get to via an existing access road, and would feature a parking lot made up of gravel asphalt millings. A gradual grade will make the play area handicapped accessible for wheelchairs, persons with walkers, etc. There will also be two picnic tables and a grill in the area, as well.

In other Parks and Rec Board business, the Board instructed Herring to move forward with a revised agreement between the City and YMCA, for the oversight of certain recreational programs they have managed in the past, including tennis, softball and the swim team, pending approval by YMCA Director Dan Haines. The City however plans on hiring its own manager for the swimming pool instead of going through the YMCA, which means the agreement currently in-place with the Y would be reduced nearly $5,000 from the current $10,130 year agreement.

The pool manager would work 36 hours per week and be paid $9.50 per hour, with the potential to earn $4,800 over the summer for 12 weeks, from May 21^st through August 17^th. The person selected would have to meet certain criteria, and understand that they would be responsible for many aspects of the municipal pool operations. He says one of their primary duties will be finding ways to increase attendance at the pool, through the use of theme days and making the pool a more fun place to be.

Herring said he already has several qualified candidates in mind for the position.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County say a Nebraska man was arrested Monday afternoon on a Montgomery County warrant. Deputies in Page County arrested 21-year old Lars Alexander Barcel, of Columbus, NE, on a warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance. Barcel was turned over to authorities in Montgomery County, where he was being held on $1,000 bond.

Police in Glenwood arrested a Shenandoah High School student Saturday, for allegedly selling drugs during the state speech competition at Glenwood High School. The Daily NonPareil reports 18-year old Matthew Taylor Gray, of Shenandoah, was taken into custody just before 4-p.m.

Sgt. Pat Martin told the paper school officials had reported to police that Gray was attempting to sell prescription drugs. Gray was charged with three counts of unlawful possession of prescription drugs – all serious misdemeanors – and one count of prohibited acts, an aggravated misdemeanor. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum five years in prison, but Mills County Attorney Eric Hansen said since the incident occurred on school grounds, a conviction would add 100 hours of community service.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

TIPTON, Iowa (AP) — State and local officials continue to investigate the death of a teenager in the eastern Iowa community of Tipton. Authorities were asked to check on the welfare of 15-year-old Keifla Thomas Robinson on Sunday morning when they discovered his body inside a home. An autopsy revealed no trauma to the body.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Senate has postponed a vote on legislation that would help schools across the state better respond to cases of bullying. The bill as written would broaden the definition of bullying, require parental notification, grant school officials the authority to respond to bullying off-campus and require that school officials receive training. Cracking down on bullying in Iowa schools has been a priority of Gov. Terry Branstad this session.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A western Cedar Rapids road has been reopened as the city monitors flooding from the Cedar River. Ellis Road NW is open west of Edgewood road. No ice was on the road and there are no reports of initial damage. Otis Road SE, which has a foot of water on it, remained closed Monday night.

LECLAIRE, Iowa (AP) — An Illinois man has been accused of assaulting a woman who tried to him help in eastern Iowa. A woman at the scene of a vehicle crash in a cornfield off Interstate 80 told authorities she got out of her vehicle to offer the man aid before emergency personnel arrived. The woman, a registered nurse, says the man assaulted her. Forty-year-old Jeremy A. Stone, of Chicago, is charged with operating while intoxicated, failure to maintain control and no insurance. He is also charged with assault on a health care provider.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Senate has postponed a vote on legislation that would help schools across the state better respond to cases of bullying. Republican Sen. Mark Chelgren, of Ottumwa, requested Monday that the Senate delay a final vote on the bill while he drafts an amendment. Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal says the Senate could resume debate on the bill as early as Tuesday.

The bill as written would broaden the definition of bullying, require parental notification, grant school officials the authority to respond to bullying off-campus and require that school officials receive training. Cracking down on bullying in Iowa schools has been a priority of Gov. Terry Branstad this session. Both the House and Senate have drafted proposals to address the issue.