DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Most teachers’ aides hire by Iowa’s public schools aren’t required by state law to undergo background checks and even when districts do run checks, the process is often less rigorous as the one required for licensed educators.  The Des Moines Register  says federal checks were added as part of the teacher licensing process in 2002. Iowa law was changed in 2007 to require state and national checks on those licensed by the state.  But most teacher aides aren’t licensed.

Experts and parents say the case of a woman who spent time in an Indiana prison on manslaughter charges and was hired as a teacher aide in Iowa shows there are gaps in the system.  Rep. Josh Byrnes of Osage says the issue may surface in the upcoming legislative session.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest today (Tuesday), of a Cass County man. 55-year old Devin Allen McDermott, of Atlantic, was arrested at around 10:30-a.m., on an outstanding Audubon County warrant charging him with Theft in the 5th degree, and Trespassing. The charges are the result of an investigation into the April 14th theft of scrap metal from property near 330th Street and Jay Avenue. McDermott was being held in the Audubon County Jail on $300 bond. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office assisted Audubon County authorities, in conducting the investigation.

An Historic Landmark in Shelby County has been purchased by Myrtue Medical Center. In a board of trustees meeting this (Tuesday) morning, Myrtue Medical Center approved to purchase Mickel’s Family Restaurant. Following a closed session by the hospital board of trustees, Myrtue Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Barry Jacobsen told the board he had a conversation with the owner of the restaurant Sue Kobold.

Jacobsen said he was contacted by Kobold about 3 months ago, with regard to her desire to sell the restaurant. He said following discussions, an agreement was reached that was contingent on the board’s approval. The purchase price would be $375,000. $175,000 would be paid at closing, one hundred thousand on July 15th, 2013 and $100,000 July 15th, 2014.

Jacobsen said there is another contingency before the Hospital can go through the process, and that is the conducting of a phase 1 environmental assessment at Myrtue’s expense with the results showing no contamination. Jacobsen says the property would be used for further expansion of the hospital. More specifically, the physicians clinic, lab and emergency room.

He said they would obviously work with Sue Kobold on the details of the purchase agreement and anything she wants to do on closing the restaurant down.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)