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Griswold School Board meeting set for May 20th

News

May 19th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Griswold, Iowa) – A regular meeting of the Griswold School Board takes place 5:30-p.m. Monday, May 20th, in the Conference Room at the Griswold School. Among the items on the Board’s agenda under “New Business,” is action on:

  • Approving TLC positions
  • Approval of phone system bids
  • Approving a Content Monitoring contract, and,
  • Establishment of Activity Pass Fees

See the full Griswold School Board agenda, below:

• Call Meeting to Order

• Reading of Mission Statement

• Approval of Agenda (D.R.)

• Public Input

• Superintendent’s Report:

  1. Thank You Card(s) (I)
  2. The Month in Review – Administration (I)
  3. Board Learning Opportunities (I)

– Honor April Recipients

– Select May Recipient(s)

– Board Recognition Month

– End Of The Year Staff Lunch

• Consent Agenda (D.R.)

Approval of Minutes

Approval of Financial Statements

Approval of Bills

4. Personnel

5. Gifts, Memorials, Bequests

Old Business

6. Board Policies – Second Reading (D.R.) – 405.2, 411.2, 507.8R1, 704.1, 704.6,

706.2, 706.3, 706.3R1, 707.4, 707.6, 802.1, 802.2, 802.3, 802.4, 802.4R1,

802.4R2, 802.5, 802.6, 802.7. Rescind – 504.5, 504.5R1, 707.2, 707.3 (I)

New Business

7. Consider Approval Of TLC Positions (D.R.)

8. Consider Approval Of Phone System Bids (D.R.)

9. Consider Approval Of Content Monitoring Contract (D.R.)

10. Consider Approval Of Fundraiser (D.R.)

11. Consider Authorization To Apply For COPS Grant (D.R.)

12. Establish Activity Pass Fees For 2024-2025 (D.R.)

13. Approve Fuel Bid Specifications (D.R.)

14. Approve Technology Support Bid Specifications (D.R.)

15. Consider Approval Of City Agreement (D.R.)

16. Consider Approval Of Social Worker Agreement (D.R.)

17. Consider Approval Of English Language Learner Virtual Supports And

Services Contract (D.R.)

18. Consider Approval Of Mechanical Breakdown Insurance Renewal (D.R.)

19. Consider Approval Of John Baylor Test Prep Program Contract (D.R.)

20. Consider Approval Of Window Replacement Bid (D.R.)

21. Annual Review Of Policies 410.2, 603.2, 711.4 (D.R.)

22. Board Policies – First Reading (I) – 803.1, 803.2, 804.1, 804.2, 804.4,

804.6, 804.6R1, 804.7, 804.7R1

23. Consider Change Of Date / Time For June And July Meetings (I, or D.R.)

• Adjourn

(D.R.) = Decision Required

(I.) = Informational

The final agenda will be posted in the Central Office no less than 24 hours before the meeting.

Posted in News |

Former Carroll & Eagle Grove Police Officer sentenced on stalking & harassment charges, faces more time in prison

News

May 19th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa [Iowa Capital Dispatch]) – A former police officer who was recently sentenced to up to 19 years in prison for repeatedly stalking and harassing a woman, called her nine times from the Polk County Jail after his latest arrest, in violation of a no-contact order, according to court records.
 

Walter Pacheco, 29, of Pleasant Hill, has asked a judge to reconsider that sentence, claiming its imposition last month “has impressed upon him the importance of living a lawful lifestyle,” according to the request. He had already repeatedly violated no-contact orders that stemmed from his criminal cases related to the woman in the past two years, including by passing her the draft of a letter to send to county prosecutors in an effort to escape punishment, court records show.

The victim emailed the letter to Thomas Tolbert, an assistant Polk County attorney. In it, she describes herself as “very jealous” and “insecure,” according to a copy of the letter that was filed recently in court.

It’s unclear whether the victim knew the full contents of the letter because she speaks Spanish and Tolbert has requested a translator to assist her testimony at trial, court records show.

Booking photo of Walter Pacheco. (Courtesy of Polk County Jail)

Pacheco initially received suspended prison sentences for his convictions of burglary, stalking, tampering with a witness and willful injury. Despite subsequent warnings to cease his contact with the woman or face prison time — including one that resulted in a jail stint last year for violating a no-contact order — Pacheco was arrested in October for allegedly approaching her at a public gym and following her in his vehicle.

He was charged with felony stalking. While at the Polk County Jail, Pacheco called the victim nine times in October, November and December, most often using the phone accounts of other inmates, court records show. The victim declined to answer each of Pacheco’s calls, court records show. In addition to the stalking charge, Pacheco now faces nine more criminal charges for those calls for contempt of court, which were filed this week. His trial has been delayed to July.

A court hearing to discuss Pacheco’s request to reconsider the prison sentence was delayed to next week. He is still held at the county jail. Pacheco — also known by the surname Pacheco Belen — was a briefly a police officer in Carroll and Eagle Grove, even though another woman had alleged he threatened to kill her and her daughter. Pacheco was forced to resign from the Carroll job and was fired by Eagle Grove. He is no longer a certified peace officer.

Posted in News |

Luther College breaks single-year fundraising record with more than $33 million committed

News

May 19th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Decorah, Iowa via the Iowa Capital Dispatch) – With a multi-million dollar gift from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous, Luther College has broken its record for the most funds raised in one year. The Decorah-based private university announced in a news release Friday that the anonymous person’s donation, which will be put to scholarships for future students, is the second-largest planned gift to Luther College. More than $33 million has been committed to the college this fiscal year, topping the previous record of $26.1 million set in 2005-06.

“On behalf of all our current students, faculty and staff, we are so very thankful to those who have supported the mission of Luther College this year,” Vice President for Development Mary Duvall said in the release. “We have been so excited by some of the transformational gifts we have received in recent months, and we continue to be grateful for the groundswell of individuals who have stepped up to support Luther in the past year.”

Luther College also received its largest-ever individual gift this year in the form of a $10 million commitment from Michael and Nicole Gerdin and the Gerdin Charitable Foundation. The money will go to renovating the Regents Center and renaming it the Gerdin Fieldhouse for Athletics and Wellness. The fieldhouse also received a $2 million donation from Dennis and Suzanne Birkestrand, the news release stated, which will support the renovation and have its court named the Birkestrand Family Court. Its opening phase will begin this summer.

Giving Day records were also broken at the college, with $1.2 million raised for Luther’s unrestricted fund to support “all students, faculty, staff and community endeavors on campus,” according to the news release. The college’s athletics department had its most successful fundraising day on record as well, receiving more than $365,000 in donations.

More than 9,000 individual gifts were donated to the university this academic year, according to the news release.

Posted in News |

Iowa teen dies in rollover crash in Boone County

News

May 19th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

BOONE COUNTY, Iowa — [KCCI] – An Iowa teen died in a rollover crash in Boone County, according to authorities. Authorities responded Thursday night to a crash that happened four miles east of Ogden on old Highway 30. Officials say the driver, a 17-year-old, was found dead. Their name has not yet been released (as of this report).

Investigators do not yet know what caused the crash.

Posted in News |

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Sunday, May 19, 2024

Weather

May 19th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers & thunderstorms, mainly after 5pm. High near 80. E/NW winds 10-20 mph. A few storms this afternoon and evening may be strong to severe, especially over southern Iowa. Strong winds, hail and locally heavy rainfall will be the primary concerns, but a tornado can`t be ruled out.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy w/a 60% chance of showers & thunderstorms. Low around 62.

Monday: Cloudy to partly cloudy, w/a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms. high near 81. S/SW @ 5-10 mph. There is the potential for more strong to severe storms in the afternoon and evening hours. Main threats will again be strong winds, hail and locally heavy rainfall, with the potential for a tornado or two as well.

Monday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Low around 62.

Tuesday: Windy. Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 82. SW winds 15-30 mph. Severe storms with damaging winds, large hail, heavy rainfall and tornadoes are possible, but more details on this system will be  provided in the coming days.

Tuesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorm. Low around 49. Breezy.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70.

Saturday’s High in Atlantic was 85. Our Low this morning, was 51. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 67 and the Low was 34. The Record High for May 19th was 94 in 1934 & 1975. The Record Low was 22 in 1894. Sunrise: 5:58. Sunset: 8:36.

Posted in Weather |

Hawkeyes Run Rule Panthers to Even Series

Sports

May 18th, 2024 by Seth Tiegs

DES MOINES, Iowa – The University of Iowa baseball team defeated Florida International, 15-2, in seven innings on Saturday night at Principal Park.
The Hawkeyes exploded for eight runs in the first inning to set the pace in the run rule victory. They scored two runs in the second, fourth, and fifth innings and plated one run in the third.
“Over time you see a lot of good innings, but I don’t know if I’ve seen 12 quality at bats in a row,” said head coach Rick Heller. The outs were all 400 feet. The guys were dialed in, last night stung a little bit. The focus was there. It was crazy how that inning went and each inning after that until the sixth. We’ve had a few this year you see five, six, seven, eight in the first inning and then we don’t score the rest of the game. To see us answer back and keep putting quality at bats together was great to see.”
The Hawkeyes hit four home runs in the contest and seven different Hawkeyes each had two hits as Iowa outhit FIU, 15-4.
Andy Nelson, Gable Mitchell and Michael Seegers each had three RBIs for Iowa. Ben Wilmes and Cade Moss each brought home two RBIs a piece.
Cade Obermueller got the start and the win; he threw five innings and allowed no runs on five hits. The Iowa City, Iowa, native struck out seven and walked one.
“I felt like we needed this from Cade,” said Heller. “It wasn’t bad at Illinois; it just wasn’t sharp. This season our bad days have been because of walks and free bases. I think it was great for Cade to get back out there and have some success. Didn’t look like there was any discomfort whatsoever.”
Zach Voelker and Jack Whitlock each threw an inning to close out the shortened game.
The Hawkeyes and Panthers close out the series and the regular season tomorrow at 12:05 p.m. (CT) at Principal Park.

Posted in Sports |

Allen Earns NFCA First Team All-Midwest Region

Sports

May 18th, 2024 by Seth Tiegs

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State junior outfielder Angelina Allen picked up another postseason honor this afternoon, as she was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) First Team All-Midwest Region, the organization announced.

Allen, a Moreno Valley, Calif. native, earns her second postseason honor of the year, having notched an All-Big 12 Second Team selection last week. With Allen’s recognition, it marks 12 straight years that ISU has had someone selected to the NFCA All-Midwest Region First Team.

Angelina is the eleventh Cyclone ever to receive All-Midwest Region First Team recognition and the first since both Sami Williams and Mikayla Ramos each did so in 2021. This is the 15th time a Cyclone has been on the All-Midwest Region First Team.

One of just four Cyclones to start all 51 games, the Iowa State left fielder led the team in most every offensive category. Allen had one of the best seasons in ISU history, as she slashed .435/.489/.759, leading the team in all three departments. Her .435 batting average and .489 on-base percentage are the second-highest in a single season in program history.

Angelina recorded 74 hits in 170 at-bats, scored 38 runs and tallied a team-high 43 RBI. She also registered a team-high 33 extra-base hits on the year, recording 22 doubles – the second most in school history and the third-most in the nation – and 11 home runs.

After spending her first season and a half as the Cyclones’ primary first baseman, Allen was swapped to left field during her sophomore year. There, she has been able to excel both in the field and at the plate, playing next to her best friend, Milaysia Ochoa, in center.

NFCA member head coaches from each respective region nominated student-athletes and voted for the teams. All awarded student-athletes now become eligible for the 2024 NFCA Division I All-America squads. The NFCA Division I All-America teams, voted on by the NFCA DI All-American Committee, will be announced at a later date.

Posted in Sports |

2024 State Track and Field – Championship Saturday – 05/18/2024

Sports

May 18th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Here is a rundown of all the events we will be tracking on Championship Saturday at the 2024 State Track and Field Championships. Initial listings are qualifying places and spots. When an event goes final we will add (FINAL) after the event heading. This will be continuously updated through the day.

Girls 1A 800M Sprint Medley Relay (Final)

-5th Tri-Center (Kaitlin Kozeal, Lucy Elsener, Jozie Payne, Tess Casey) 1:53.27

-6th Riverside (Emma Gordon, Adaline Martens, Olivia Lund, Lydia Erickson) 1:53.65

-17th Nodaway Valley (Allie Cornelison, Maddie Weston, Annika Nelson, Emma Lundy) 1:55.24

-22nd ACGC (Nora Langgaard, Hannah Muller, Savannah Akers, Ava Campbell) 1:56.19

Girls 2A 800M Sprint Medley Relay (Final)

-10th AHSTW (Caitlyn Dills, Loralei Wahling, Brooklyn Buck, Bella Lamp) 1:52.83

Girls 3A 800M Sprint Medley Relay (Final)

-5th Glenwood (Elaina Dougherty, Allison Koontz, Megan Hughes, Brooklyn Schultz) 1:50.11

-6th Lewis Central (Payton Mathews, Irelynn James, Brooke Nelson, Madeline Fidone) 1:50.35

-17th Atlantic (Hailey Huffman, Jayci Reed, Morgan Botos, Claire Pellett) 1:52.64

Boys 1A 800M Sprint Medley Relay (Final) 

-2nd Lenox (Jordan Martin-England, Dawson Evans, Donald Bashor, Gabe Funk) 1:32.90

-9th Audubon (Brody Schultes, Mason Steckler, Aaron ,Olsen Ezekiel Konkler) 1:36.86

-17th Panorama (Hunter Kempf, Ryan Cogil, Ashton Hutchins, Braylon Dawes) 1:38.11

Boys 2A 800M Sprint Medley Relay (Final) 

-1st Shenandoah (Hunter Dukes, Cole Graham, Brody Cullin, Alex Razee) 1:32.08

-17th Underwood (Riley Sealock, Charlie Myers, Josh Ravlin, Will Buckholdt) 1:36.62

Boys 3A 800M Sprint Medley Relay (Final) 

-20th Atlantic (Jaice Larson, Jarrett Hansen, Tye Houser, Grant Petty) 1:37.77

Girls 1A 800M (Final) 

-6th, Ava Campbell, ACGC, 2:21.27

-9th, Ada Hansen, CAM, 2:23.75

-11th, Isah VanArsdol, Tri-Center, 2:25.20

-15th, Allysen Johnsen, Logan-Magnolia, 2:26.53

-16th, Izabelle Seda, Woodbine,  2:26.63

-23rd, Heady Hall, Logan-Magnolia, 2:30.20

Girls 3A 800M (Final) 

-1st Marie Dea, Carroll, 2:13.09

-4th Claire Pellett, Atlantic, 2:17.93

-14th, Ava Bussey, Lewis Central, 2:23.16

Boys 1A 800M (Final)

-1st Landon Bendgen, Woodbine, 1:56.26

-19th Ezekiel Konkler, Audubon, 2:03.65

-23rd Gunner Wagner, Woodbine, 2:05.20

Boys 2A 800M (Final) 

-19th Kyle Wagoner, Clarinda

Boys 3A 800M (Final)

-3rd Ethan Eichorn, Lewis Central, 1:54.74

-6th Brandon Briley, Creston, 1:56.60

-8th Andrew Smith, Glenwood, 1:56.69

Girla 1A Shuttle Hurdle Relays (Final)

-2nd Fremont-Mills (Bella Gute, Izzy Weldon, Lana Alley, Emily Madison) 1:06.23

-5th Stanton (Kyla Hart, Lauren Johnson, Elly McDonald, Hannah Olson) 1:08.07

-6th Tri-Center (Layla Meador, Cassidy Cunningham, Avilyn Killpack, Quincey Schneckloth) 1:08.69

Boys 1A Shuttle Hurdle Relays (Final)

-1st Lenox (Donald Bashor, Jordan Martin-England, Dawson Evans, Gabe Funk) 59.72

Boys 2A Shuttle Hurdle Relays (Final) 

-3rd Underwood (Mason Boothby, Sam Hulsing, Lucas Bose Jr., Jack Vanfossan) 59.74

Girls 1A 100M (Final)

-1st Jaidyn Sellers, Panorama, 12.41

Girls 2A 100M (Final) 

-3rd Jerzee Knight, Clarinda, 12.79

Boys 1A 100M (Final)

-3rd Cash Emgarten, Exira-EHK, 11.19

-6th William Anderson, Logan-Magnolia, 11.31

-7th Donald Bashor, Lenox, 11.42

Boys 2A 100M (Final)

-4th Brody Cullin, Shenandoah, 11.29

-5th Brayden Sifford, Red Oak, 11.30

Boys 3A 100M (Final)

-3rd Cade Sears, Harlan, 11.11

Girls 1A 100M Hurdles (Final)

-4th Hannah Olson, Stanton, 16.24

-6th Lauren Johnson, Stanton, 16.47

-8th Carsyn Adams, Griswold, 16.79

Girls 3A 100M Hurdles (Final)

-3rd Jaycee Reed, Atlantic, 15.67

Boys 1A 110M Hurdles (Final)

-1st Gabe Funk, Lenox, 14.83

-2nd Jack Follmann, CAM, 14.92

-6th Jaxon Gordon, Riverside, 16.20

Boys 2A 110M Hurdles (Final)

-6th, Gavin Newcomb, AHSTW, 15.23

Girls 1A 200M (Final)

-1st Jaidyn Sellers, Panorama, 25.09

Girls 2A 200M (Final)

-3rd Jerzee Knight, Clarinda, 25.90

Boys 1A 200M (Final)

-4th, Cash Emgarten, Exira-EHK, 22.49

Boys 2A 200M (Final)

-5th, Luke Sternberg, AHSTW, 22.74

Boys 3A 200M (Final)

-3rd, Cade Sears, Harlan, 21.92

Girls 1A 1500M (Final)

-4th Ava Campbell, ACGC, 4:57.06

-9th, Kylie Rochholz, Panorama, 5:03.83

-12th, Allysen Johnsen, Logan-Magnolia, 5:05.43

-20th, Adyson Lapel, Woodbine, 5:13.62

Girls 3A 1500M (Final)

-3rd, Lindsey Sonderman, Harlan, 4:48.69

-4th, Claire Pellett, Atlantic, 4:50.70

-8th, Grace Berglund, Glenwood, 4:53.70

-10th, Delayna Reese, Lewis Central, 4:57.14

Boys 1A 1600M (Final)

-1st, Landon Bendgen, Woodbine, 4:17.34

-11th, Andrew Mahaffey, ACGC, 4:33.12

-17th, Noah Poldberg, Panorama, 4:38.00

-22nd, Gunner Wagner, Woodbine, 4:41.82

Boys 2A 1600M (Final)

-5th, Kyle Wagoner, Clarinda, 4:26.87

-16th, Collin Harder, AHSTW, 4:38.61

Boys 3A 1600M (Final)

-3rd, Ethan Eichorn, Lewis Central, 4:17.53

-5th, Bryant Keller, Glenwood, 4:20.45

-15th, Kevin Coots, Lewis Central, 4:33.22

Girls 1A 4x100M Relay (Final)

-4th Nodaway Valley (Grace Britten, Maddie Weston, Emma Lundy, Annika Nelson) 50.81 

-7th Riverside (Elly Henderson, Adaline Martens, Emma Gordon, Lydia Erickson) 51.00

Boys 1A 4x100M Relay (Final)

-8th Riverside (Cole Jeppesen, Aaron Smith. Jaxon Gordon, Grady Jeppesen) 44.43

Boys 2A 4x100M Relay (Final)

-1st Shenandoah (Hunter Dukes, Alex Razee, Cole Graham, Brody Cullin) 42.75

Boys 3A 4x100M Relay (Final)

-1st Harlan (Lukas Francis, Matthew Sorfonden, Brehden Eggerss, Cade Sears) 41.68

Girls 1A 4x400M Relay (Final)

-1st Riverside (Veronica Schechinger, Elly Henderson, Lydia Erickson, Carly Henderson) 4:02.69

-7th Tri-Center (Isah VanArsdol, Jozie Payne, Sophia Hazen, Tess Casey) 4:13.38

Girls 3A 4x400M Relay (Final)

-5th Carroll (Marasyn Wittrock, Averi Burke, Katelyn Aden, Marie Dea) 4:01.28

Boys 1A 4x400M Relay (Final)

-3rd ACGC (Luke Brincks, Lance Bunde, Jarrett McClain, Eli Madsen) 3:25.50

Boys 2A 4x400M Relay (Final)

-5th Underwood (Josh Ravlin, Riley Sealock, Mason Boothby, Will Buckholdt) 3:24.32

Posted in Sports |

High School Baseball Scores from Friday

Sports

May 18th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Non Conference Matchups

Lewis Central 10, Thomas Jefferson 0 

Harlan 4, LeMars 2 

Creston 19, Martensdale-St. Marys 0 

Tri-Center 15, Sidney 1 

AHSTW 12, Stanton 4 

Clarke 12, Southwest Valley 0 

Posted in Sports |

High School Soccer Regional Match Results

Sports

May 18th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Class 2A 

Region 1:
Western Dubuque 4, Decorah 0
Central United 2, Wright County 0

Region 2:
Boone 5 Perry, 2
Spirit Lake vs Storm Lake

Region 3:
Glenwood 5 Atlantic, 0
Winterset 4 Creston, 0

Region 4:
Le Mars 6 Sioux City, West, 3
Denison-Schleswig 2 Carroll, 1

Region 5:
Newton 3 Des Moines, Hoover, 0
Bondurant-Farrar 6 Carlisle, 0

Region 6:
Marion 10 South Tama, 0
Mount Vernon 9 Oskaloosa, 0

Region 7:
Bellevue 4 Clinton, 2

Region 8:
Fort Madison 10 Keokuk, 0
Burlington, Notre Dame 8 Mount Pleasant, 1

Class 3A

Region 1:
Des Moines, Lincoln 4 Des Moines, East, 0

Region 2:
Ames 2 Sioux City, East, 0

Region 3:
Sioux City, North 7 Fort Dodge, 1

Region 4:
Valley vs Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln (May 21)
Urbandale vs Des Moines, North (May 21)

Region 5:
Dubuque Senior 6 Cedar Rapids, Washington, 0

Region 6:
Prairie 3 Cedar Rapids, Kennedy, 2

Region 7:
Cedar Rapids, Jefferson 5 Waterloo, West, 0

Region 8: 
Muscatine 12 Davenport, West, 0

Posted in Sports |