A school leader in southwest Iowa says he made a “poor mistake” over the weekend when he was ticketed for having an open container of alcohol in the car he was driving. Lenox School Superintendent David Henrichs says he’s sorry for embarrassing the school district and his family and he takes full responsibility for the incident. “I did receive an open container ticket,” Henrichs says. “I informed the board as soon as I got back from being issued that ticket. I did not get arrested and there was no OWI. We will have a discussion about the situation in full detail at the August 19th board meeting.”

The incident happened Saturday night as there was a flurry of police activity in the Taylor County town, which included a serious domestic abuse situation, a drug bust and the discovery of a body in a corn field. There were rumors a school staff member might have been involved in the incidents, which was evidently not the case. Still, Henrichs says he agreed to drive that employee to the area where the body was found.

“I absolutely made a poor mistake, I have no excuses,” Henrichs says. “I was very concerned about all these other rumors going around. I have tried to be very proactive by contacting the board immediately, I’ve been telling staff members as soon as I’ve seen them at school. That’s where we are.”

Henrichs has served the Lenox School District, first as principal, then as superintendent, for the past 15 years.

(Chuck Morris/Radio Iowa)