ISU Theatre’s spring musical, Les Misérables, based on the French novel by Victor Hugo, opens April 10th at 7:30 p.m. in Fisher Theater. Universally beloved as one of the world’s most popular musicals, Les Misérables is a passionate story of redemption, sacrifice, and love, and it is filled with some of musical theatre’s most powerful and iconic songs, including “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own,” “Bring Him Home,” and “Do You Hear the People Sing.” ISU Theatre’s production features students of Iowa State as well as children from Boone, Ankeny, and Ames.

Area students taking part in the production include: Angela Burg (assistant stage manager), a senior in Performing Arts from Bridgewater; Austin Farwell, a senior in Performing Arts from Council Bluffs; Sam Johnson, a senior in Music, from Atlantic; and Samantha Koontz, a senior in Performing Arts, from Lewis.

Sam Johnson, from Atlantic

Samantha Koontz, from Lewis.

In addition to the April 10, 7:30 p.m. performance, other performances are scheduled for April 11, 17, and 18 at 7:30 p.m. with matinees on Sunday, April 12 and April 19 at 2 p.m. Admission is $24 for seniors and adults and $16 for students. Tickets can be purchased at the Iowa State Center Ticket Office in Ames (located in the ground floor of Stephens Auditorium at Lincolnway and Beach Avenue) 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, all Ticketmaster locations, or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the door in Fisher Theater, although advance purchase is strongly suggested.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report a woman from Malvern was arrested Saturday morning. 42-year old Carrie Darlene Dejarnett was taken into custody on Warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault. Her bond was set at $2,000.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A Council Bluffs man is currently in first place in voting for the chance to do his dream job by spending two weeks in Norway as a photographer. The Daily Nonpareil reports that voters have put 35-year-old Jeremiah Knutson in first place on DreamJobbing.com, which works with companies to place people from across the United States in their dream jobs. Past positions include a week as a producer for CBS television and backup singer for Michael Bolton.

The winner of the competition will travel Norway taking photos and maintain a journal about the adventure. As of Saturday, Knutson has 3,051 votes. The trip would also be an opportunity for Knutson, who is of Norwegian heritage, to visit relatives and explore his history. The organization was created by three people with ties to reality television shows.

Two people were arrested recently in Fremont County on drug & child endangerment charges. The Sheriff’s Department says 31-year old Lacey Jo Smalley, of Clarinda, was arrested Saturday for Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Child Endangerment. On Friday, deputies arrested 38-year old Michael Shawn Beltran, of Bellevue, NE., for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Driving Under Suspension, and Child Endangerment.

Lead paint on window frame/sill

A few recent incidents are serving as a reminder that childhood lead poisoning continues to be a serious concern in Iowa. Kevin Officer, with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), says one Iowa toddler was recently hospitalized with unusually high blood-lead levels. Health inspectors found several lead-based paint hazards in the child’s home, which was built more than a century ago.

“One the issues he had was he was actually picking at the paint and putting it in his mouth,” Officer says. In another recent case, a toddler was treated for lead poisoning after biting around windows in a rental home built in the early 1900s. Officer says children could be at higher risk for lead poisoning if they live in homes built before 1960. Seven years ago, Iowa passed a law requiring kids be tested for lead poisoning before they enter grade school.

“There has been, since about 2008, much more awareness of lead poisoning and the need to have kids under the age of six tested,” Officer says. Lead poisoning is a more widespread problem in Iowa, compared to other states, because Iowa has a lot of older homes in rural communities. “In Iowa, we have a lot of rental properties and those properties aren’t always maintained as well over the years,” Officer says. “Those are a lot of the ones where we do see problems with renters who come and go and the maintenance isn’t always up to where it should be to maintain that paint.”

An Iowa law that took effect in 2011 requires contractors and landlords to be “lead certified” to do work in homes and child-occupied facilities built prior to 1978. More information about lead screening and the proper method for lead paint removal is posted on the IDPH website.: www.idph.state.ia.us/LPP/Default.aspx

(Radio Iowa)