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Iowa News Headlines: Fri. Jan. 24th 2014

News

January 24th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

WASHINGTON (AP) — New rules set to be approved by Republican leaders would allow Iowa and New Hampshire to retain their coveted spots atop the presidential primary calendar. South Carolina and Nevada would also secure top spots, as they have in the past, as part of a larger plan that would significantly shorten the GOP’s 2016 presidential selection process. Today’s vote comes as the Republican National Committee works to create an easier path to the White House for its next nominee, roughly a year before campaigning begins in earnest. New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina and Nevada will vote in February 2016 under the new schedule.

WAUKEE, Iowa (AP) — Officials with the Waukee School District say they planned to begin school late due to subzero temperatures but had to cancel classes in part because many district buses wouldn’t start. KCCI-TV reports the central Iowa district initially was going to start late but then had to cancel school after 17 of its buses wouldn’t start because of the intense cold. Des Moines schools also closed yesterday, but a district spokesman says that was due to student safety, not because of bus problems.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say a Des Moines man is recovering at a local hospital after he slipped on ice and accidentally stabbed himself in the chest. KCCI TV reports William Harrison was listed in serious condition at Iowa Methodist Medical Center yesterday morning.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A used car dealership in eastern Iowa has been ordered to refund fees that officials say were improperly collected from customers. Attorney General Tom Miller said in a news release yesterday Urbana Motors Incorporated was accused of collecting improper fees, sidestepping legal protections for consumers behind on payments and not disclosing some costs. They have 90 days to contact affected customers.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Fire officials say they haven’t determined the cause of an early morning fire that damaged a Mason City bowling alley. The Globe Gazette reported yesterday that the fire department was still investigating the fire, which was reported at The Rose Bowl just after 3 a.m. Wednesday.

CCHS offers health career scholarship

News

January 23rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The CEO of the Cass County Health System says CCHS  is providing a $1000 health career scholarship again this year.  According to Todd Hudspeth, the award is available for a student studying to become a healthcare professional.  Applicants must be accepted to or currently enrolled in a health career educational program leading to at least a bachelor’s degree.  Applications are available at area high school guidance offices, the human resources office at Cass County Memorial Hospital and on the hospital’s website, www.casshealth.org.

Hudspeth says the scholarship “Is an opportunity for us to give something back to the people of southwest Iowa. “We welcome the opportunity to encourage students from this area in their educational endeavors.”

Applications for the scholarship are due April 1, 2014.  For further information, contact Sara Nelson, CCMH Public Relations Director, at 712-243-7408.

Atlantic School Board to act on $19.9-million bond referendum matters Monday

News

January 23rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will hold a work session Monday evening (Jan. 27th) in the High School Media Center, with regard to the issuance of $19.959-million dollars in bonds for Capital Improvement Projects. The Board will first receive petitions from the Atlantic School Improvement Committee (ASIC), asking for a Bond Referendum, before acting on passing a Resolution setting the date for a Special Election on the issuance of the bonds. The election will likely be held on April 1st. Earlier this week, members of ASIC the Atlantic School Board and others, sat down with members of the local media to answer previously submitted questions with regard to the Bond Election. That information will be forthcoming after the Board makes its decision Monday night on approving the special election.

During the Board’s meeting in December, they chose from two concepts to deal with increased enrollment and what they feel would offer the best opportunities for education. The first would have cost a little more than $8-million. Instead, they chose the second, more costly option, based upon a recommendation from Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein, who said the proposal was based on input from faculty, staff, the administrators, school board discussions, and input from the community.

Among other things, the bonds, if approved, would allow for the construction of: Four new classrooms on the northeast side of the Washington Elementary School, which will provide space for the two Pre-school classes currently in place at the Old Lincoln School building, as well as space for the Special Education classroom; The addition of a new Middle School building (for grades 7 and 8) next to the High School; The construction of eight new classrooms on the west side wings of the High School, and  the expansion and renovation of the Industrial Technology and Agricultural Education Lab; Replacement of 18-year old heat pumps at the high school; Reconfiguration of the Schuler and Middle School buildings, but no new construction other than a possible renovation of the Level 3 Severe and Profound classroom at Schuler or the current Middle School. The Old Lincoln building would house the Cass County Educational Opportunity Center (CCEOC), which was previously housed at that facility.

Other action items during Monday night’s Atlantic School Board Work Session include approval of personnel recommendations, and payment for the Spanish Trip. Discussion items during the work session include: Talks with Design Alliance Architect Jerry Purdy, with regard to the New Junior High Drawings and Model;The Fiscal Year 2015 Budget. and Board Long-term goals.

The meeting begins at 7:30-p.m., Monday.

Iowa State says Palo was eligible to transfer

Sports

January 23rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State is refuting reports that it prevented guard Bubu Palo from transferring to another school by delaying the decision in his student-conduct case. The university says Thursday that athletic director Jamie Pollard told Palo’s attorney, Matt Boles, that Iowa State would support a waiver for Palo to transfer. That’s after Palo was kicked off the team Aug. 30 by President Steven Leath.

Iowa State also says that Palo would have been able to transfer after the fall semester had started, but that neither Palo nor Boles gave the university an official transfer request. Palo was reinstated by a district court judge last week in a decision publicly criticized by Pollard. Palo is listed on Iowa State’s roster for its home game Saturday against Kansas State.

New CCHS CEO’s 1st week on the job

News

January 23rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Cass County Health System is spending his first week on the job. Todd Hudspeth began his duties on Monday, January 20th. He was hired to succeed the retiring Pat Markham, whose last day on the job was last Friday. In a Press Release, Hudspeth said “I am thrilled to be selected as the next CEO of CCHS. Pat and her leadership team have done a tremendous job creating an excellent health system and I am excited to work with the board, leadership and the entire hospital team to continue to make CCHS a great place for patients, employees and physicians.”

Todd and Jessica Hudspeth

Todd and Jessica Hudspeth

Ned Brown, Chairman of the CCMH Board of Trustees, said Hudspeth brings over 15 years of success as a CEO in critical access hospitals. He added “We are confident that his expertise and leadership are just what we need to guide our health system through the many challenges facing the healthcare industry today and in the years to come.”  Brown noted there were over 100 applicants for the position.

Hudspeth most recently served as the President and CEO of Jamestown Regional Medical Center, a 25-bed regional hospital in Jamestown, ND.  Prior to Jamestown, he was CEO at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake, Iowa.  He has also served as CEO at Guthrie County Hospital in Guthrie Center.  Hudspeth recently relocated to Atlantic.

His wife, Jessica, and two of their five sons will move to Atlantic at the end of the school year.  The boys will be in 6th and 4th grades next fall.

Lawmakers working on tougher kidnapping penalties

News

January 23rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa lawmakers are seeking to enact tougher kidnapping penalties following the kidnapping and killing of a teenage girl last year. The Des Moines Register reports a House subcommittee on Thursday granted preliminary approval to a bill that would increase the punishment for kidnapping if the victim is 15 or younger.

The legislation raises the sentence for such crimes to 25 years and blocks those convicted of certain crimes from the ability to reduce a sentence. The legislation responds to the death of 15-year-old Kathlynn Shepard, who is believed to have been killed by registered sex offender Michael Klunder. Klunder’s 41-year prison term was cut in half under Iowa law, which shaves sentences by an additional 1.2 days for every day served. He killed himself after the incident.

Iowa lawmakers advance military pension bill

News

January 23rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Legislation that would exempt military pensions from state income tax is moving rapidly through the Iowa Senate. A Senate committee approved the legislation during a brief hearing Thursday. It is expected to soon move to the full Senate for a vote. Sen. Herman Quirmbach, a Democrat from Ames, says the bill honors veterans and may attract more military retirees to the state.

The military pension exemption is a top priority for Republican Gov. Terry Branstad, who has made support for veterans a key part of his budget plan this year. According to the Branstad administration, the pension exemption would cost the state a projected $10 million in lost annual revenue.

PHILLIP POLLARD, 71, of Fontanelle (Svcs. 1/27/14)

Obituaries

January 23rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

PHILLIP POLLARD, 71, of Fontanelle, died Thu., Jan. 23rd, at his home in Fontanelle. Funeral services for PHILLIP POLLARD will be held 1:30-p.m. Monday, January 27th, at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle. Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield has the arrangements.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 26th from Noon-until to 4-p.m. at the Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield, where the family visitation is from 2-until 4-pm. Online condolences may be left to the family atwww.steenfunerals.com.

Burial will be in the Greenfield Cemetery with a luncheon will be held at the Summerset Estates in Fontanelle following the burial.

Memorials may be directed to the Phillip Pollard memorial fund to be established at a later date.

PHILLIP POLLARD is survived by:

His wife – Susan Pollard of Fontanelle.;

His daughters – Kim Daino and husband Marty of Fontanelle, Kathy Pollard of Fontanelle and Jennifer Lake and husband Jake of Guthrie Center.

His brother, Larry Pollard of Virginia, and his sister, Betty Pollard of Washington.

11 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

Missouri woman sentenced for her role in s.w. IA bank robbery

News

January 23rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The U-S Attorney’s Office for Southern District of Iowa reports a former Shenandoah resident was sentenced Wednesday in Council Bluffs to serve 4-months in prison followed by 4-months of home confinement for her role in the robber of a bank in Fremont County. 40-year old Tiffany Ann Stanley, of Tarkio, MO.,must also serve four years of supervised release for theft by a bank employee.
On June 6, 2013, Stanley pled guilty to the charge which was the result of an investigation conducted into a reported bank robbery of the Great Western Bank of Riverton. On November 17th, 2012, Stanley reported to the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, that she was forced to give money to a male robber. The  investigation showed that Stanley was not robbed, but reported the robbery to cover her stealing of bank funds during the course of her employment as a teller.
As part of her sentence, Stanley was ordered to pay $25,166.40 in restitution to the Great Western Bank.
The investigation was conducted by the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation , and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Atlantic man sentenced Wed. to more than 9-years in prison

News

January 23rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports a Cass County man was sentenced Wednesday to more than 9-years in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. 44-year old Old Paul William Jessen, of Atlantic was sentenced in U-S District Court in Council Bluffs, to 122 months in jail followed by 4-years of supervised release.

On September 4th, 2013, Jessen pled guilty to the charge which was the result of an investigation conducted into methamphetamine distribution in and around the Atlantic area. Jessen was part of a drug trafficking group who distributed methamphetamine obtained from a source in Omaha, Nebraska.

The investigation was conducted by the Atlantic, Iowa, Police Department, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement