DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa has received a $1.2 million federal grant for a project related to science, technology, engineering and math education.  Gov. Terry Branstad announced the funding from the National Science Foundation Tuesday in a press release. The study of these four subjects collectively is known as STEM.

The money will be provided over three years and will help develop a statewide system for evaluating STEM education in Iowa. The funding goes to an advisory council that works on advancing STEM education. Branstad established the council in 2011.

In the release, Branstad calls Iowa a “pioneering state in advancing these important life and career skills.”

A grant received through the efforts of Audubon firefighters’ wives has resulted in the Audubon City Hall receiving a defibrillator. City Clerk Lora Hansen told KJAN News the City Council in Audubon was informed about the grant during their meeting, Monday night. The “Firehouse Flames” group is responsible for obtaining the grant, which will also provide for the training of City personnel and those who serve congregate meals, in the use of the life-saving device.

In other business, the Audubon City Council approved a resolution setting May 28th at 7-p.m., as the date and time for a Public Hearing to consider the sale of three lots in block 13 of the City of Audubon. The City took possession of the dilapidated and/or abandoned homes, which were then demolished. Hansen says the City hopes to eventually sell the lots and see new homes built on the land.The Council also passed a resolution setting the date for a Public Hearing on the Budget Amendment for the same meeting on May 28th.

Hansen says also, the City of Audubon will be sending out reminder notices to residents about the need to separate recyclable trash from regular trash. A copy of the rules regarding recycling will be included in the notice.

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency says NO OPENING BURNING is allowed in the County today (Tuesday, May 14th), due to the extremely dry and forecast windy conditions. Officials have bumped the grassland and field fire danger index into the “EXTREME” category for today. The fire danger rating was listed Monday, as “High.”

A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the listening area though late this evening. Officials say Red Flag Warnings are not common in the Midwest, therefore when one is received, the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency will put the Fire Danger index into the Extreme category, and no open burning is permitted. 

If you see smoke please report it immediately so fire suppression can take place while the fire is small.  For those that find themselves near a fire, explosive fire growth is expected – make sure you are in a safe location and report fires immediately.

A Harlan man was taken into custody last week on a warrant out of Cass County for felony forgery, after he allegedly lead police in Harlan on a brief foot pursuit. 29-year old Gabriel Brown was arrested May 9th and transported to the Cass County Jail by deputies with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department. Brown was being held in the Cass County Jail on $5,000 bond.

Police in Harlan report also, the arrest on Saturday, of 21-year old Alisha Buttry, of Macedonia. Buttry was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Authorities in Harlan are also investigating an incident of vandalism. Officials say a Harlan resident reported on May 6th, someone broke the window out of his 2002 Ford Taurus. The incident remains under investigation. No arrests have been made.

The Harlan Police Department reports two people were arrested on Domestic Abuse Assault charges, Sunday. 24-year old Kane Griffith, of Walnut, was arrested after officers were called to the 1400 block of 8th Street in Harlan, for a domestic disturbance. An investigation determined Griffith allegedly assaulted a Harlan woman. In addition to the assault charge, Griffith faces charges of Obstruction of Emergency Communications, and Public Intoxication.

And, 21-year old Aric Davis, of Harlan, was arrested Sunday, after a woman came to the police department to request an officer assist her in retrieving her belongings from the residence she shared with Davis. Officials say the woman had several visible injuries. Following an investigation, Davis was arrested and brought to the Shelby County Jail, where was charged with assault and Possession of a Controlled Substance, as well as Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

w/ Ric Hanson

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• 1 medium head cauliflower
• 1/2 cup celery
• 1 green pepper
• 1 red onion
• 8 ripe olives
• 8 green olives
• 8 ounces grated cheddar cheese

Dressing:

• 8 ounce carton sour cream
• 8 ounce bottle creamy Caesar salad dressing
• 2 tablespoons ripe olive juice

Dice vegetables.  Toss with cheese.  Mix dressing ingredients (use olive juice to rinse out salad dressing bottle).  Mix well and pour over salad.  Refrigerate.  Keeps several days

(Gwen Hayes)

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson….

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The Atlantic School Board is expected to approve at a later meeting, the addition of another mobile classroom for the Washington Elementary School, to handle the district’s expanding enrollment. Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein told the School Board Monday night that he is looking into placing Special Education and other classes not requiring water and sewer hookups” into the temporary structure as a way of dealing with the space needs for those classes that typically run less than 30-minutes.

Amstein said the question boils down to where the double-wide mobile classroom should be placed. The only logical site he says, is in front of the building, near where the other mobile classroom is located, because they don’t want to impede on playground space. The set up cost is around $20,000 and a $10,000 lease per year.

Amstein said there may be a need for additional mobile classrooms in the future for another of the district’s schools. He said they might be looking at one “down the road for Schuler, also.” That prompted Board member Phil Hascall to quip tongue-in-cheek, “I can hardly wait.”

Hascall joked earlier that they could “Start a trailer park out there. Tie it down, so it doesn’t blow away.” Principal Stacey Hornung said there haven’t been too many issues with the current mobile classroom, other than it was installed later than expected, and it’s “Pretty ugly,” but it “Serves its purpose,” and will serve well for another year.

A decision regarding allowable growth funding for school districts in the Iowa legislature that was expected in March, is still being discussed, and that lengthy delay has forced many school districts, including Atlantic, to hold off on making decisions on spending for things other than those that directly related to students’ academic growth. The Board Monday night discussed the possibility of hiring a School Resource Officer versus a Dean of Students, the addition of a teacher and two para-educators, along with the need for extra-curricular activities.

Atlantic Superintendent Dr. Mike Amstein was not willing to step out on a limb and fully recommend to the Board the hiring of a Sheriff’s Department employee as a School Resource Officer, simply because the district doesn’t know what the Allowable Growth rate will be. He says the district hopes for four-percent, but they have budgeted for zero-percent. The difference in how much the school gets would range from $85,625 at zero-percent, to as much as $300,000 at four-percent.

The Iowa Legislature has been setting the statewide allowable growth rate since 1993. Before that the rate was automatically determined by a formula which examined enrollment figures, state revenue growth, inflation and economic indicators. The monies received typically are used to fund teacher salaries and benefits.  Even if the money was available now, Cass County Sheriff Darby McLaren said it would take “Months” to hire someone, train them if necessary at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, and have them ready to serve the district. Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy Corey Larsen currently serves as the SRO on a part-time basis. A full-time SRO would cost the district $78,000 per year for salary and benefits. The County would provide the officers’ car, uniform and equipment. Sheriff McLaren said an SRO’s contract would have to be for a “Multi-year deal,” and not one-year at a time.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board will act during its next regular meeting, on recommendations from Activities Director Josh Rasmussen, for the addition of Dance, Archery, Bowling and Swimming to the district’s extra-curricular activities in the coming years, but approval seems unlikely, given the Board’s desire to focus on spending for programs essential to student academic achievement, and the fact there is no system in-place to evaluate current, much less future student involvement.

Board member Phil Hascall said he thinks Atlantic has “enough activities,” and the board should throw its support behind proven methods of teaching, such as a those exhibited in a report Monday evening about the Lindamood-Bell teaching program which emphasizes spelling, comprehension, critical thinking, and express language.