ATLANTIC, Iowa (AP) – The Atlantic school district has settled with the families of three girls who sued over strip searches. That’s according to the Omaha World-Herald. A trial had been scheduled for this month in Cass County District Court, but a recent settlement ended the case. Attorneys in the case declined to reveal details of the agreement. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of three girls who claimed they were strip-searched in a locker room in August 2009 after a classmate reported the theft of $100 from her purse. No money was found.

The lawsuit claimed the girls’ state and federal rights against unreasonable searches had been violated, as was an Iowa law that specifically prohibits strip-searching students. The superintendent and several school board members declined to comment on the settlement.

A crash at a blind, uncontrolled intersection southeast of Elliott Saturday evening, caused $16,500 damage to the vehicles involved, but there were no injuries reported. Authorities say a pickup registered to Twin Pines Farms in Griswold, and driven by 39-year old Jeffrey Mundorf, of Red Oak, was traveling south on N Avenue just after 6-p.m. Saturday, at the same time a pickup driven by 43-year old Jeffrey Reynolds, of Elliott, was traveling east on 120^th Street.

When Mundorf crested a hill he saw Reynolds’ pickup approaching from the west but was unable to avoid contact. Reynolds’ 1999 Ford F-150 hit the 2011 Chevy Silverado pickup Mundorf was driving near the right rear tire, causing the vehicle to spin 360-degrees before entering the east ditch, just south of the intersection. Reynolds’ pickup went into the ditch southeast of the intersection and hit a tree before coming to rest.

The investigating officer’s report said no citations were issued because the crash was at a blind intersection coming from the north at the posted speed limit.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Enrollment at Iowa Western Community College has reached a new high. College officials say that 7,206 full- and part-time students are enrolled for 2011, a six-percent increase over the previous school year. President Dan Kinney says enrollment continues to grow because of the affordable tuition and agreements that allow students to finish their studies at four-year universities like Iowa, Northern Iowa and Buena Vista. Kinney also says the college in Council Bluffs is attracting younger students. The average age of students 15 years ago was 27. Now the average is under 21.

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will meet Monday (9/19) at 7:30-p.m., in the High School Media Center. During their session, newly elected Board members Rod Hartwig and Josh McLaren will be sworn in, along with Phil Hascall and Denny Davis, who were re-elected to another term. The new board will act on electing a Board President and Vice President before moving on to other business.

Action items on their agenda include approval: of resignations; a 2011-2012 28-E agreement with the Cass County Memorial Hospital; the Certified Fiscal Year 2011 Annual Report; and, the first reading of Internet Use, Technology, and Laptop Computer policies.

The Board is also expected to discuss the recently released list of Districts In Need of Assistance and Schools in Need of Assistance, reports.

The Griswold Community School District’s Board of Education will meet Monday afternoon, in the Central Office Board Room. During their 5:30-p.m. session, newly elected board members Scott Peterson and Douglas Lembke, and returning, re-elected board members Scott Hansen and Clarion Campbell will be sworn-in. The new board will then decide on who will become the President and Vice President for the new term.

During the business portion of their meeting, the Griswold School Board will receive an update on district improvement projects, and later, information pertaining to the Annual Progress and Annual Yearly Progress, Reports.

Other administrative matters will be taken care of as well, including direction on how the board wishes to proceed with improvement projects, fresh on the heels of the voter approved Revenue Purpose Statement.

A pedestrian crossing Interstate-35 Southbound around the 93 mile marker was struck by a semi trailer at around 3:57pm Friday (9/16) afternoon. 

26-year-old Brandon Wayne Townsley of Des Moines was attempting to cross the interstate from the left with gas for his disabled vehicle when he was struck by a 2007 KW Semi Trailer driven by 57-year-old John William Hollinger of Clive.  A second pedestrian that was with Townsley remained on the left shoulder and did not attempt to cross. 

Townsley was pronounced dead at the scene and the driver Hollinger received only minor injuries and was not transported from the scene.

w/ Chris Parks

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A festival dedicated to a type of berry many Americans haven’t heard of is taking place this weekend in western Iowa. Saw Mill Hollow in Missouri Valley is believed to have the largest aronia berry crop in the country. Andrew Pittz says his father, Vaughn, first heard about aronia berries being used in a juice drink.  “We looked into it and it was a native North American plant that no one was growing,” Pittz said. “So, we took it upon ourselves to plant the first 207 cultivated aronia berry plants in the United States.” That was 1995. Today, the Pittz family manages 25 acres of aronia berries. The dark colored berry has long been popular in Russia and Poland. Pittz says sales are picking up in the U.S. among those searching for healthier food products.

He notes studies have shown the aronia berry contains two to four times the antioxidants of a blueberry. “And the blueberry is kind of the go to super fruit,” Pittz said. Aronia berries have a unique tart taste, lacking the sweetness of grapes and blueberries. Pittz admits aronia berries probably aren’t best in the raw.  “It might not be as good – eating it fresh – as a grape, blueberry or raspberry. But, because of its profile, it makes a great wine and it bakes really well. There are all kinds of things you can do with it,” Pittz said. The 4th Annual North American Aronia Berry Festival is scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both today (Saturday) and Sunday.

learn more about the event at: www.sawmillhollow.com.

(Radio Iowa)

Council Bluffs Police were investigating a theft in progress at the Lake Manawa Wal-Mart location when the officer on scene made contact with a man named John Chestnut on Friday.  Chestnut fled the scene striking the Officer with his motor vehicle in the process.  Officers then engaged in a short chase that ended with an intervention technique and Chestnut was taken into custody.  He was charged with Attempted Murder, Aggravated Theft, and three counts of Child Endangerment.  The Officer was treated and released from a local hospital.  No further details are currently available and the incident is still under investigation.

FREMONT, Neb. (AP) — The chairman of Union Pacific says the railroad has begun a multi-year effort to double-track the route between Fremont, Neb., and Missouri Valley, Iowa, in order to move trains through the area more quickly. Union Pacific chairman Jim Young outlined the $300 million to $400 million project. Young noted there is a lot of single track in that stretch as well as two bridges, which cross the Elkhorn and Missouri rivers. Young says the railroad wants to reduce bottlenecks and prevent trains from waiting in the communities. Young, who spoke with Fremont business leaders on Thursday aboard a train car, says Union Pacific plans to spend $3.3 billion on capital projects throughout its system in the next year and hire 1,300 new employees.