Southwest Iowa residents who have an opinion about the current state of education in Iowa, and Governor Terry Branstad’s latest education initiative, may want to attend one of several town hall meetings being held around the area today (Tuesday) and tomorrow (Wednesday). Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds will hold town hall meetings focusing on their education blueprint today in Mount Ayr, Bedford, Clarinda and Red Oak, and on Wednesday in Creston and Greenfield.

The Governor has proposed the boosting of beginning teacher pay and holding entry-level teachers to higher academic standards. In his initiative, which was unveiled October 3^rd, the Governor set a goal of Iowa becoming the top-performing state in education, over the course of the next decade. To do that, he’s proposed: linking aspects of teacher pay to classroom performance; treating beginning teachers as “at-will” employees, who would have their contracts renewed annually by their local boards of education; requiring a minimum 3.0 college G.P.A to enter teacher prep programs; and, requiring 3^rd graders to demonstrate their reading ability before being promoted to the 4^th grade.

You can hear about his initiative and offer your input at these meeting places and times…
Tuesday, October 25th, 2011
11 a.m. In the auditorium at the Mt. Ayr High School
1:30 p.m. In the Bedford Community High School
3 p.m. In the Commons area at the Clarinda High School
5:30 p.m. At The Wilson Performing Arts Center in Red Oak.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011
9 a.m. At the Creston High School
11 a.m. In the Auditorium at the Nodaway Valley High School in Greenfield.
For more information, visit www.governor.iowa.gov

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will hold a work session this evening in the ICN room at the High School. During the 7:30 meeting, the Board will hear from District Technology Coordinator Roger Warne, about the new ICN classroom and the future of district technology. In addition, Warne will preview the new district webpage and discuss technology purchases for the 2011-2012 school year.

Other discussion will center on activities associated with the Iowa Association of School Boards. No action is expected on those matters, during tonight’s work session.

A single-vehicle accident Sunday in Cass County created another accident moments later. Sheriff’s officials say 20-year old Alicyn Dalene Kuhns, of Atlantic, was traveling south on Buck Creek Road, when she lost control of the  2003 Pontiac Grand Prix she was driving . The car slammed into a bridge railing near the intersection with Glacier Road, and when then hit from behind by a 1995 Buick Lesabre.  The driver of the second car, 17-year old Anthony Scott Lucas, of Atlantic,  had been following Kuhn’s car, and was unable to stop following her accident. 

No injuries were reported.  Authorities estimated the damage to Kuhns’ vehicle at $4,000, while  Lucas’s car sustained about $1,000 damage.  Damage to the bridge was estimated at $5000.

Sheriff’s officials in Adams County said Monday, a traffic interdiction program conducted on Highway 34 Sunday afternoon, led to the arrest of a Corning man.  Officials say as a vehicle driven by Denise Carder, of Nodaway, was stopped and  searched by a Ringgold County k-9 unit,  information was received indicating a controlled substance could be found at the residence of Carder and 40-year old Martin Lee Grace, who authorities say lives in Corning. 

Carder gave authorities permission to search her residence, during which a controlled substance was in fact, located. Martin Grace, who was already being detained in Adams County while an OWI investigation was underway, was placed under arrest for Possession of a Controlled Substance. He faces charges of Possession of Controlled Substance on Certain Real Property, and two-counts of Child Endangerment.

The case remains under investigation.