A music teacher in Cedar Falls is in the running for a Grammy. Michelle Droe, who teaches at Lincoln Elementary School, is a semifinalist to receive the 2018 Music Educator Award from the Recording Academy and the Grammy Museum. Droe is among 25 music teachers from across 17 states identified as semifinalists. She was nominated last spring by a Cedar Falls family. Droe was eventually asked to submit a video of herself teaching and explaining how she’s overcome obstacles in her career. “I think I even recorded kids on the last day of school to make that happen,” Droe said, laughing. “So, that was kind of interesting. I just found out a couple of weeks ago that I’m among the 25 semifinalists. It’s pretty exciting.”

The Music Education Award recognizes educators from kindergarten through the college level who have made major contributions to the music education field. Droe says after many years, it’s still a fun job. “I love my job and I work hard at it, so it feels good to have your hard work recognized,” Droe said. “I kind of like to have the focus be more on my kids, so it’s a little uncomfortable in a way. But, I’m really appreciative and excited at the same time.”

Michelle Droe

Droe says 10 finalists for the award will be revealed sometime in December and the ultimate winner will attend the 60th Grammy Awards show in New York on January 28.

(Radio Iowa)

The final listening session for the Leopold Center at Iowa State University is set for next week in northeast Iowa. Center director Mark Rasmussen says a task force put together the listening sessions to chart the future after the Legislature voted to shut down the center, but then Governor Terry Branstad vetoed the portion of the bill that cut the center. Rasmussen says there’s been a lot of input in the sessions. “It’s ranged all across the board in terms of people’s comments, “Rasmussen says, “of course some people want to still critique the past actions and make some comments about that.”

But Rasmussen says the goal now is to see how they can move forward with the cut of its major source of funding. They’ve supplied those at the listening sessions with some questions. He says they are asking what people think the projects and priorities should be and any ideas on funding sources for the future. The center has financed hundreds of ag research projects aimed at reducing soil and farm chemical runoff in its 30 years. Rasmussen says one thing he has learned thus far is that people care about the center. “I’ve been humbled by the amount of support that the center has had during these past six months of these trying circumstances,” Rasmussen says. “It started with all the people who called the governor’s office and encouraging him to not sign this bill in its entirety…and since then we’ve had people show up and give their two cents worth on where the center should go.”

Rasmussen says the task force will use all the information and suggestions it is hearing to come up with recommendations. “Some of the task force members are already starting to summarize and write down things that they’ve heard. And the task force will be preparing a report that goes to the Leopold Advisory Board, plus to me as director of the center, plus to the College of Ag dean,” according to Rasmussen.

The final listening session is scheduled for November 15th on the campus of Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar. It begins at 5:30.

(Radio Iowa)

The Creston Police Department says a resident living in the 400 block of New York Avenue, reported Saturday morning, that sometime between Nov.. 1st and 3rd, someone had vandalized a building belonging to him at 200 Russell St. Several Windows were broken out with bricks and a doorknob was damaged. Estimated damage of $250.  And, late Sunday morning , a woman reported that sometime between the hours of 9-p.m Saturday and 9-a.m., Sunday, someone had broke into her vehicle that was parked at 512 W. Montgomery. Inside, they stole cash, debit/credit cards and a LG Tablet. The loss was estimated at $215.

The Creston Police Department has been busy making arrests. At around 10:40-p.m. Friday, 22-year old Jeremiah Crago, of Afton, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center (LEC) in Creston, on charges of Public Intoxication, Assault on an Officer without injury, and Interference with Official Acts. Crago was later released from the Union County Jail on a $1,600 bond.

Just after 1-p.m. Saturday, Creston Police arrested 22-year old Kami Hilton, of Des Moines. She was arrested at the LEC on a Union County Warrant for Failure to Appear on the original charge of Theft 4th. Hilton was being held in the Ringgold County Jail on a $1,000 bond. At around 1:30-a.m. Saturday, 35-year old David Richman, of Creston, was arrested for Public Intoxication/3rd or subsequent offense. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a $1,000 bond. At around 8:15-p.m. Saturday, 22-year old Dakota Rosch, of Creston, was arrested on an Adair County Warrant for Violation of Probation. Rosch was released to the custody of Adair County Deputies.

Taken into custody at around 9:15 pm Saturday, in Creston, was 43-year old James McFail, of Creston, who was arrested on a Union County Warrant for Violation of Parole. He is being held in the Union County Jail while awaiting bond hearing.  At around 1:20-a.m. Saturday, 18-year old Deaven Reese, and 19-year old Ian Burns, both of Creston, were arrested for Possession of Paraphernalia. They were later released from the Union County Jail on a Promise to Appear in Court.

And, just before 12:30-a.m. Sunday, 44-year old Justin Means, of Lorimor, was arrested in Creston for OWI 1st offense, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd Offense. Means was released from the Union County Jail on a $3,000 bond.

Voters in Audubon County have two contested races to follow, Tuesday.

In Brayton, incumbent Mayor Cally Christensen faces a challenge from Neil C. Poldberg. The two incumbent City Councilpersons, David L. Hansen, and Greg Gust, are unopposed to fill two open seats on the Council.

In the City of Gray, there are two seats on the City Council, and three candidates. They include incumbent Joan Cramer, Roy John Bolick, and Jared Olson. Incumbent Mayor William Cramer is running unopposed for the top seat. Samuel Wendt is also unopposed in his bid to fill a single, Vacancy term on the Grey City Council. That term will expire in 2019.

In the City of Audubon, incumbents Brad Hemmingsen and Jason Hocker, along with Nick Weihs, are running for three open seats on the City Council.

In Exira, Mayor Mike Huegrich in unopposed, while incumbent Dwight Jessen and Courtney Peppers are running for two open seats on the City Council, and appointed incumbent Melissa Paulsen, along with Clark M. Borkowski, are running unchallenged to fill two Vacancy seats on the Exira City Council. Those terms will expire in 2019.

Voters in the City of Kimballton have one choice for Mayor on the ballot. That name is Millette L. Shores. And there are two persons running for three seats on the City Council: Incumbent Tony Petersen and Chelsee Jacobsen. The third seat will be filled by Write-in vote.

Adams County voters have some Public Measures to vote on, but there are no contested races for City Office.

In the City of Carbon, incumbent Mayor Larry E. Johnson is unopposed for re-election, and three incumbents plus two other candidates, are running five open seats on the City Council. The candidates include incumbents Vicki Haley, Michael Kempton and Donna Rochau, plus newcomers Helen Hickman and Harold Mitchell.

In Corning, Mayor Janice Mercer Leonard is running unopposed, as is Ward 2 incumbent Councilman Jerry Peck. Judy Beckett is the lone candidate to file for the At Large seat on the Corning City Council. Voters in Corning will also decide the fate of: Public Measure A, which asks if a 7% Hotel-Motel Tax should be imposed, beginning Jan. 1, 2018, and Public Measure B, which asks if the Corning Municipal Utilities Board of Trustees should consist of five members effective January 1st, instead of the current three members, which would be discontinued on Jan. 1st.

In Nodaway, incumbent Mayor Patricia Shipley is not being challenged for her seat, and all five incumbents for City Council are running for re-election to the five open seats. The candidates include Gene Dixson, Brenda and Christine Dunn, Becky Poen and Gary Poen.

In Prescott, incumbent Mayor Greg Wilkinson is running unopposed, and there are three candidates for the three City Council seats, including incumbent Glen Hickman, Incumbent Brenda Robison, and Kevin Ray Schafer. In addition, incumbent Ann R. Lydic is running for a City Council seat To Fill a Vacancy.

City elections are set to take place Tuesday across Iowa. In the KJAN listening area, here’s a look at the candidates whose names will appear on the ballots for each respective community in Cass County as well as Public Measures to vote on:

City of Anita:

City Council (elect 3 to a 4-year term each) – Ben Daughenbaugh, Incumbent Mark Harris, and John Knutson.

City of Atlantic:

Mayor (4-year term): Incumbent David R. Jones.

City Council At Large (4-year term, elect 1): Gerald A. Brink (appointed).

City Council 2nd Ward (4-year term, elect 1): Incumbent Kathy Somers.

City Council 5th Ward (4-year term): Incumbent Richard D. “Dick” Casady

Parks & Recreation Board (6-year term beginning 11/2017), elect 2: John Krogman, and Incumbent Jolene Smith.

City of Cumberland:

Mayor (2-year term): Incumbent Nancy Virginia Coughlin

City Council (elect 3 to a 4-year term each): 4 candidates – Incumbent Gary Cooper, Darrin Hardisty; Incumbent Michael Martin, and Mike Hill.

City of Griswold:

Mayor (4-year term): Brad Rhine, of Griswold.

City Council (elect 2 to a 4-year term): Julianne M. Adams, and Carol Preston.

City of Lewis:

City Council (elect 2 to 4-year terms): Ryan Archibald (appointed), Don Cohrs, Leroy Easter, Chad Frieze, Bryan Olson-Everett, and Rick Sanny.

City Council (Vacancy term, 4-years, elect 1):  2 candidates – Ryan Lockwood (appointed), and Natalie Olson-Everett.

City of Marne:

Mayor (2-year term): Incumbent Randall I. Baxter.

City Council (*2-year terms, elect 5): 6 candidates – Vergil Anderson, Incumbent Lori Holste, Mark Opbroek, Wayne Priester, Incumbent Angela Redler, and Jericho Schmitt.

City of Massena:

Mayor (2-year term): No candidate filed. Winner to be determined by Write-In votes.

City Council (4-year term, elect 2): Incumbent Jackson Bissell, Bobby McKnight, and Incumbent Douglas Venteicher.

City of Wiota:

Mayor (2-year term): Incumbent Ford Lillard.

City Council (4-year term, elect 3): Incumbent Jeff Lillard, Two Write-In candidates to be elected.

In addition to those candidates, voters in Atlantic, Cumberland, Lewis, Marne and Masserna have to decide the fate of certain Public Measures:

In Atlantic, Public Measure G asks if the City should increase the current Hotel-Motel Tax from 4% to 7%, effective January 1^st, 2018. The 4% tax is already used for Atlantic Parks and Rec Department purposes. The additional 3% revenue would be used for the Schildberg Recreation Area, walking paths and trails inside the City of Atlantic.

In Cumberland, Public Measure C asks voters if the City should amend sections of the City Code of Ordinances by changing the number of Cumberland Library Board members from seven to five who are appointed by the City Council. (50% of the votes are required for passage).

In Lewis, voters will decide if an annual levy at a rate not to exceed 27-cents per $1,000 assessed property valuation will be used to provide monies for public library services (Public Measure B) and, if the City should change how its Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) revenue is used. (Public Measure E). 50% approval is required for both measures)

In Marne, Public Measure D asks voters of the community if the term of the Mayor and Council Members be changed from 2-years to 4-years. (50% approval needed for passage)

And in Massena, Public Measure F asks citizens for permission to change the use of the City’s LOST revenue. (50% approval required for the measure to pass).