LOGAN, Iowa (AP) – An 18-year-old man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for shooting at an Iowa Department of Transportation officer during a high-speed chase. Chauncy Jewett of Sioux City was sentenced Monday. He had pleaded guilty last month to intimidation with a dangerous weapon and carrying weapons.

According to police, Jewett fired at motor vehicle officer Derek Floerchinger during a chase on Interstate 29 on May 18. Court documents say Jewett leaned out of his vehicle’s window and Floerchinger heard an object strike his car. It was later determined that the officer’s car had been struck by a gunshot.

Jewett was arrested near Missouri Valley, Iowa, after he lost control of the car and fled on foot. Police say the car Jewett had been driving was stolen.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

PLEASANT HILL, Iowa (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency says former owners of a site once used to handle and store chemicals have agreed to reduce chemical contamination and control leakage of hazardous materials into groundwater. The property known as the former Townsend Industries Facility includes about 12 acres and a 45,000-square-foot building. It is located in Pleasant Hill. The EPA says a variety of hazardous waste compounds have been detected.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Police have identified a woman found dead near an intersection in Cedar Rapids. The Cedar Rapids Police Department says the body of 41-year-old Sharon Rae Mead was found early Friday near a bus stop. Investigators are awaiting the results of an autopsy. Additional information about the death has not been released.

IOWA FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a Minnesota man died when he was apparently struck while walking along a highway in northern Iowa. The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office says the body of 23-year-old Timothy Nussbaum, of Hutchinson, Minnesota, was found Sunday in a ditch near Highway 65, north of Iowa Falls. Investigators say they think they have found the vehicle that hit Nussbaum. Authorities haven’t made any arrests.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A leaked email shows that a computer expert with Iowa’s executive branch inquired about the cost of Italian hacking software used by intelligence and police agencies worldwide but didn’t buy the product. State official said the 2012 product inquiry was part of their research into potential cyber threats that could be used to hack into confidential state data.

There was a changing of the guard for the Atlantic School District’s Board of Education, Monday night.

From the left: Josh McLaren leads the new Atlantic School Board session; Superintendent Mike Amstein; Dr. Keith Swanson & Jenny Williams.

New Board members Alison Bruckner, Keith Swanson and Jenny Williams were sworn-in, Josh McLaren was elected Board President, and former Board President Kristy Pellett was elected Vice President. Olivia Newburg, Secretary to Superintendent Mike Amstein, was elected Treasurer, and Mary Beth Fast was re-elected to the Board Secretary’s Position.

Prior to the new board taking their seats, the retiring Board, consisting of Dennis Davis, Phil Hascall and Rod Hartwig, were recognized for their years of service and provided with a plaque.

Kristy Pellett made the presentations. First up to receive recognition and an award, was Hartwig, who’s served for the past four-years.

Rodney Hartwig receives recognition from departing Board President Kristy Pellett.

Phil Hascall just received a plaque for his years of Board service.

Next came Phil Hascall, who has been a member of the Atlantic School Board for 13-years.

And finally, Dennis Davis was recognized for his 29-years of service. Pellett said she called the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) to ask who the longest tenured board members were in the State. Unfortunately, they don’t keep a list of that nature. But they did say, that when the IASB switched over to digital records, there were one or two persons who started their service in 1970.

Kristy Pellet congratulates Dennis Davis.

Dennis Davis started on the Atlantic School Board in September, 1986. He was one of a few that started in the 1980’s, so Pellett said she “Can safely says he’s in the top ten of longest tenured Board members in the State, to which Davis replied “That shows you how old I am,” a comment which drew laughs from those in attendance.

Afterward, Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein thanked each of the three retiring Board Members for the work they have done. He said each one brought a specific area of expertise to the Board, along with a specific point of view, and “Without that, we couldn’t have accomplished the things that you’ve been able to do.” He said the board hasn’t always agreed with each other and the administration, but the students have always been first and foremost in their sights.

Rod Hartwig welcomed the new Board and challenged them to keep in touch with the District’s School Principals to learn about the programs and process involved with education. Hascall said he’ll miss the experience, because of the support the district and education has received from the community. Dennis Davis said for him, the Board has come full circle with the election of Dr. Keith Swanson, because Davis replaced Swanson on the Board 29-years ago. He had this piece of advice for the new board members: Listen…listen before you speak, because…your first year you don’t know anything…listen, and talk to people. Good luck.”

The new Board then proceeded with business, and decided to set chnage the date and time of Board meetings and work sessions from Monday’s at 7:30-p.m. to the second and fourth Wednesday’s of the month at 5:30-p.m., effective Sept. 30th, due to some scheduling issues. In other business, the new Atlantic School Board approved the 2015 FFA Convention Trip to Louisville, KY, and a 28-E agreement with the Griswold School District for a Fiscal Year 2016 Industrial Technology class.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce has announced it is partnering with the Atlantic High School and several other Community minded organizations and businesses to start the Silver Cord Program in the Atlantic.  The Silver Cord Program is a graduation incentive program to promote volunteerism in the Atlantic Area.  Atlantic High School seniors who volunteer a minimum of 200 hours throughout their high school career will graduate with a silver cord and be eligible for a $500 scholarship provided by the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce.  The program encourages volunteer opportunities with all Civic Organizations and will benefit the entire community.

Ouida Wymer, Executive Director of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, said “We are pleased to partner with the Kiwanis Club of Atlantic. Their generous donation will allow the Silver Cord Program to utilize the on-line resource volunteerspot.com.” Volunteer Spot is an on-line tool used for volunteer sign-ups, scheduling and management.  Wymer says “Volunteer spot will be beneficial to the students involved in the Silver Cord Program and the entire community. Everyone will have access through www.AtlanticIowa.com.“

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce will host an educational meeting on Wednesday, September 16th, at the Noon at the Rock Island Depot (102 Chestnut Street).  The purpose of the meeting is to introduce the program to any Civic Organization or business interested. The meeting will also teach the organizations and businesses how to use volunteerpsot.com

It’s open to any Civic Organization in the Atlantic Area. Call the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017 to book your seat, or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com .

The Atlantic Police Department released a statement Monday evening at 5:00pm that they had cited 18-year-old Nicholas Terry of Red Oak for Leaving the Scene of an Injury Accident.

Police were searching for a suspect in a silver 2009 Chevy Malibu after an accident that occurred around 11:15am this (Monday) morning at 10th and Plum Streets in Atlantic.  Reports described a young male driver had struck a female pedestrian causing her to fly onto the hood of the vehicle at impact.  The driver then left the scene and a partially full beer can was found at the scene and taken into evidence.

Atlantic Police have identified the victim as Sarah Darling of Atlantic.  She was taken to the Cass County Memorial Hospital for treatment and no report on her condition was immediately available.

(Update 1:24-p.m.)

An All-Points Bulletin has been issued for a vehicle suspected of being involved in a pedestrian hit-and-run accident in Atlantic this (Monday) morning. Law enforcement officials are looking for a silver, 2009 Chevy Malibu, with Iowa license plate DEA 049. The vehicle will have front end and hood damage.

The driver is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol when they struck a female at 10th and Plum Streets in Atlantic, at around 11:15-a.m. The woman was tossed onto the hood of the car during the impact. She was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, where a report on her condition was not immediately available.

A partially full can of beer was found at the scene and taken into evidence. The car is registered to a subject out of Red Oak. Authorities say witnesses told them the driver appeared to have a been a young male. The suspect has a lengthy record in Montgomery County, according to dispatch reports. He also is known to frequent a residence in Bridgewater.

The phones are working once again at the Cass County Courthouse. The system went down earlier this morning, but was repaired and functioning again just before noon. It was the second time in just under a week the phone system crashed at the courthouse.

Atlantic Police are looking for a vehicle involved this morning in a pedestrian hit and run accident at 10th and Plum Streets. The accident happened at around 11:15-a.m. The suspect vehicle is a silver, possibly 2009 4-door Chevy Malibu, registered to a subject out of Red Oak. The vehicle (with Iowa license plate # DEA 049) will have front end damage, as the victim of the hit-and-run was tossed over the hood. The driver appeared to have a been a young male. A partially full beer can was discarded at the scene of the accident.

Authorities in Montgomery County have been notified to be on the lookout for the vehicle and a possibly intoxicated driver. The suspect has a lengthy record in Montgomery County, according to dispatch reports. He also is known to have a residence in Bridgewater. Authorities in Adair County have also been notified.

A female victim of the hit-and-run was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by ambulance. No other information is currently available.

The manager of an Iowa apprenticeship program says there’s more demand for skilled workers than his program that trains plumbers, welders and technicians who work on heating and air conditioning systems can supply. Jason Shanks, the training director for the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 33 in Des Moines, says “Apprenticeship has been the best kept secret for a long time. If you have a conversation with people about apprenticeships, they know what the work is, but they don’t understand the true meaning of apprenticeship. I think that’s been the biggest problem.”

The apprenticeship program he runs lasts five years and the cost for the apprentice is only 200 dollars a year, plus a contractor hires that apprentice as a “helper” and they earn a paycheck. “Day one they get the same benefits that I receive, health care,” he says. “…They don’t have a huge student loan debt when they’re done. They have a career.” There are 753 apprenticeship programs registered with the State of Iowa today.

Duane Boswell of Iowa-based T-M-C Transportation says his employee-owned company started a “heavy truck” apprenticeship program in the early 1990s and today there are a thousand drivers enrolled. “One of our greatest challenges and frankly one of the greatest challenges in the over-the-road trucking industry is finding enough quality individuals to drive our trucks,” Boswell says. “It’s not everybody that wants to be out a week at a time or more.”

But the apprentices who go to work for his trucking firm can earn 50-thousand dollars in their first year of training, plus they get health benefits. Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds invited the two apprenticeship program managers to speak at a news conference at the statehouse this morning (Monday).

“There is a significant skills gap in Iowa and across this nation,” Reynolds says. “And as we continue to work every day to grow this economy, we need to make sure that we have that talent pipeline in place not only to meet the jobs of today, but to meet the jobs of the future.” A new state program started in 2013 provides three million dollars annually to cover the some of the costs of equipment, materials and other expenses for apprenticeship programs in Iowa.

(Radio Iowa)