Area News from Ric Hanson.

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(Radio Iowa) – The Department of Education’s recent report on the state of education showed the number of full-time teachers in public schools in 2020-21 was up by 455 from the previous year to 37-thousand-567. Department analyst, Jay Pennington, says special programs are part of the reason for the increase. “With the teacher leader and compensation system that provides an additional over 250 million dollars annually — along with the teacher leader supplement — which also provides an additional 250 million. Both of those initiatives have pumped money into the profession,” Pennington says.

He says the programs have helped experienced teachers mentor the new teachers coming. “And it also really helped the bottom line in terms of raising the average teacher salary in Iowa to be more competitive, to he in the upper half when we look at rankings,” he says. The average regular teacher salary was up 661 dollars to 58-thousand-771 in 2019-20. School districts this year appear to be having some of the same issues in hiring teachers as other businesses. “We have heard anecdotally from districts that there are lots of vacancies — hard to fill positions — more so in the 2021-2022 school year than in other years,” he says.

Pennington says they don’t know yet if the number verify the anecdotal reports. “We look at the data for the 2021-2022 school year. Given the increases of the overall number of educators that we have seen — consistently seen over the last decade — it will be interesting to see if we see a subsequent decline at some point,” according to Pennington. The report showed there was a 13-point-one percent increase in the number of full-time public school teachers from the 2000-01 school year to the 2020-21 school year.

(Radio Iowa) – A week ago the U-S Senate unanimously voted to award the Congressional Gold Medal to a top secret World War II unit — national recognition that was inspired by the work of an Iowa student. Caleb Sinnwell , a ninth grader in the Nashua-Plainfield School District, won a 2021 National History Day award for creating a website about the Ghost Army.

“It used a wide array of deceptive tactics and over 20 military operations, which we all successful, by the way,” he says. The mere existence of the Ghost Army was classified for more than 40 years. The unit of 11-hundred men used inflatable tanks, sound effects and other tricks — convincing the Germans far larger groups of U.S. soldiers were in position or planning to attack. Sinnwell says his interest in the group was sparked by family.

“My great-great grandpa was in World War I. My great grandpa was in World War II and my current grandpa right now, he was in Vietnam,” Sinnwell says. “…We always talk about Vietnam and it’s very interesting. I find the military a very interesting topic.” The teenager is a veteran of the National History Day competition. Sinnwell’s first entry was in 2020. It was about the Iowans involved in a humanitarian mission after two typhoons devastated an agricultural area in Japan.

“I love pigs. I really wanted to do a topic about pigs,” Sinnwell says, “so when I heard about the 1960 Iowa Hog Lift, I thought it was a great fit right away.” Sinnwell’s project mentioned the Iowa soldier who had the hog lift idea as well as the eventual flight of 36 Iowa pigs to an area northwest of Tokyo. Sinnwell is entering the 2022 National History Day competition, but he’s not ready to reveal the topic.

“That’s actually classified at the moment,” Sinnwell says. Sinnwell is hoping his next entry does as well as his last, since some National History Day activities were cancelled this past year. “I’m excited for this year now,” he says, “that I can hopefully get my trip to Washington, D.C.” Sinnwell’s long term goals are to join his family’s farming operation, work as a utility lineman and be a volunteer fire fighter, too.

(Decorah, Iowa) – A public memorial service will be held early tonight (Thursday) for two Decorah High School seniors who died in a single vehicle accident last Friday night. Eighteen year old Dalton Hemsath and Carter Ike,, both of Decorah, died from injuries they received in the accident. Three passengers were also seriously injured.

The public celebration of life will begin at 5 p.m. at Decorah High School.

(Schleswig, Iowa) Two people were injured during a head-on collision Wednesday evening, in Crawford County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2006 GMC Envoy driven by 35-year-old Austin Wulf, of Denison, and  a 2007 Chevy Impala driven by 28-year-old Beth Weber, of Mapleton, collided at around 4:36-p.m., north of Schleswig.

Authorities say the GMC was southbound on Highway 59 when for some reason it crossed the center line of the road and collided with northbound Impala, just south of A Avenue. Both drivers were transported to the Crawford County Memorial Hospital by Crawford EMS. A report on their injuries was not available.

The Patrol says Wulf was not wearing a seat belt.

Sheriff’s Deputies in Page County, Wednesday, arrested 18-year-old Clayton Michael Kenneth Tillman, of Clarinda.  He was taken into custody for Violation of the Iowa Sex Offender Registry and transported to the Page County Jail, where his bond was set at $2,000.

Clayton Tillman (Page County booking photo)

Atlantic, Iowa – Officials with Cass Health have announced that beginning January 3, 2022, Aubrey Molgaard, DNP, ARNP will provide care to patients of all ages at Atlantic, Griswold, and Massena Medical Center.

A familiar face to many, Molgaard has been a part of Cass Health since 2006. Previously, she worked in nursing and diabetes education. While working, she continued in her studies and recently completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice in July 2021 at Nebraska Methodist College.

Aubrey Molgaard

Molgaard is dual certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE). Because of her background as a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, she works closely with the endocrinology team at UNMC.

“Honestly my passion is helping people connect the dots and giving them the best care possible. I love helping people and giving them hope with a partnership in their own self care,” said Molgaard.

Appointments with Molgaard will be available two days a week in Atlantic, and one day a week in both Griswold and Massena. To make an appointment, please call 712-243-2850.

• Carroll County: EF-U (unknown strength) from 4:45-p.m. to 4:51-p.m.; 9.7-mile long; Starting 2 miles N/NE of Willey, ending 3 miles E. of Lidderdale. Path width to be determined (TBD)
• Guthrie County: EF-1 (Winds 90-100 mph); 9.7 miles, stating 10 mile W. of Guthrie Center at 5:13-p.m. & ending 3 miles S/SW of Bayard at 5:16-p.m.
• Guthrie County: EF-2 (Winds 115-120 mph); Starting 8 miles N/NW of Adair at 5:17-p.m & ending 6 miles NW of Bagley at 5:31-p.m. (23.8 miles).
• Greene County: EF-2 (Winds 115-120 mph); Starting 5:26-p.m. 5 miles N/NE of Bayard & ending 3 miles S/SW of Jefferson at 5:34-p.m. (7.1 miles).
• Greene County: EF-2 (115-120); 5.9-miles; Starting 5:32-p.m. 4 miles E/SE of Scranton & ending 5:35-p.m. 2 miles N/NW of Jefferson.
• See the rest of the incidents in Greene, Calhoun, Webster, & other counties, HERE.

The events of Dec. 15 have been categorized as a derecho, which is the first recorded derecho in December in United States history. At least five people died across Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota. One of which was in eastern Iowa where a semitrailer rolled after being struck by high winds. Iowa State Patrol confirmed the driver was killed during the incident.

Reports confirm more than 400,000 homes were without power between Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa and Kansas. Officials are still surveying the damage. Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for residents in 43 counties. Locally, that includes: Audubon, Cass, Guthrie, Harrison, Madison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Sac, Shelby, Union, and Worth counties.

(Updated 12/23/21) – A collision between a pickup truck and a car Wednesday afternoon at Highway 48 and Union Street, near the Griswold High School, resulted in two people being transported to the hospital. According to reports, the pickup was traveling north on Highway 48 at around 1:30-p.m.   A Chevy Impala was exiting the Griswold H.S. parking lot. The vehicle stopped, but then pulled out in front of the pickup, and was struck on the left front side. The pickup had the right-of-way.

The accident happened at around 1:30-p.m. Authorities say two people in the Impala, a 15-year old female driver and her male juvenile passenger were injured and were transported by Griswold Rescue to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital. The driver of the pickup was identified as 65-year-old Paul Travis, of Lewis. He suffered minor injuries but was not transported to the hospital at the time of this report.

Authorities said sun glare may have impaired the vision of the car’s driver, resulting in the collision. Damage to the pickup was estimated at $40,000, while the car sustained $7,000 damage.

MASON CITY, Iowa –  The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation was requested by the Iowa Falls Police Department to investigate a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred December 8th within the city limits of Iowa Falls.  The DCI has completed its investigation and the results were forwarded to the Hardin County Attorney’s Office and the Iowa Attorney General’s Office for review.  On Wednesday (today), the Iowa A-G’s Office released the results of their review.

In it, they said the actions of Iowa State Patrol Troopers Corey Smock and Jeremy Schaffer were “Entirely legally justified” and the subject in question, 35-year-old Jared Risius, “provided no other option to officers other than to utilize dead force against him.” The report said also, Risius “Was provided every opportunity to end the confrontation peacefully, and chose not to do so. Risius died from his wounds. The A-G’s Office now considers the investigation closed.

Brief incident summary:

Police said on Dec. 8th at around 7:03-a.m., a woman called police to report a man was stalking her in his vehicle. The two had previously dated. The Iowa Falls Police Department, the Hardin County Sheriff’s Department and the Iowa State Patrol sent units to respond. The law enforcement officers arrived in time to see the man hit the woman’s car with his own.

The incident unfolded near the intersection of College Avenue and Siloam Avenue, about two blocks from both an elementary school and the community college. Police say the woman who called about the stalking was taken to safety. Video taken by neighbors shows officers taking up positions while trying to get the man into custody.

Shortly after that, police say Risius was shot while trying to get away.