(Griswold, Iowa) – The Griswold School Board has approved the District’s 2022-23 Budget. Superintendent Dave Henrichs said the Board, Monday evening, approved a Tax Levy rate of $13.04/$1,000 assessed valuation. That’s the lowest it’s been, he said, since 2018, and keeps a promise they made to District patrons.

The Budget includes an advanced payment on General Obligation bonds, to help lower the amount of interest being paid.

Dave Henrichs said also, the Board approved contracts for district employees who had not otherwise tendered their resignation effective the end of the current school year. Beginning with the Certified Staff…

As far as Non-Certified Staff are concerned, current staff will get a $2-dollar an hour increase, with the starting wage at $14 per hour, which is an increase of $2.50.

In addition, the Board approve a Retention Bonus for all employees currently under contract and remaining under contract a pay period next year.

He said the Board was happy to be able to offer the Bonus, payable through the ESSER funds. Henrichs said also, Sharing Agreements with the Atlantic and Riverside School Districts for certain positions were renewed with no changes, but Driver’s Education fees, what students are charged and teachers are paid, are going up five-percent.

Griswold students will be charged $365, with non-Griswold students taking the course charged $470. Classroom instructors for Driver’s Ed will be paid $1,545 plus $33.50 per hour, Drive-Time. The Board approved the renewal of a mowing contract with Bob’s Mowing, but they tabled discussion and action on Baseball Field Maintenance bids, until they have more information.

A woman from Texas was transported by Medic 1 Ambulance to the Greater Regional Hospital’s E-R room in Creston, following a collision that occurred at around 3:34-p.m., Wednesday. The extent of her injuries was not disclosed.

Creston Police report a 2012 KIA Sportage driven by 20-year-old Laura L. Ramirez, of Alamo, TX., was traveling north on Maple Street, and a 2006 Chevy Monte Carlo driven by 27-year-old Joshua R. Wills, of Creston, was traveling west on Clark Street. The KIA had the right-of-way.

Police said Wills told them he didn’t see the car, due to a truck parked on the west side of Maple Street, close to the intersection. Ramirez her vision of the intersection was obstructed by the parked truck. The Monte Carlo struck the KIA in the middle of the intersection. No citations were issued. Damage to both vehicles was estimated at $1,000, each.

Police in Creston arrested a man Wednesday night, on an out-of-county warrant. Authorities say 38-year-old Joseph John Leatherby, of Creston, was arrested at a residence in the 300 block of N. Pine Street at around 8:26-p.m.  He was wanted on a Dallas County warrant for Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree. Leatherby was held in the Union County Jail, until being picked up by West Des Moines Police, and transported back to Dallas County.

(Updated 3/24/22) – Police in Red Oak, Wednesday evening (March 23rd), arrested a man for OWI/1st offense, following an investigation into a property damage accident. Authorities said the incident occurred at around 7:45-p.m. in the 400 block of East Reed Street, at Fountain Square Park. The driver of the suspect vehicle, identified as 67-year-old Randal Joe Barr, of Red Oak, was located at the intersection of 2nd and Prospect Street, along with a 2003 Ford Ranger pickup.

The pickup sustained an estimated $6,000 damage. Barr was checked for injuries by Red Oak Rescue personnel, but was not to have been injured. He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail, and held on $1,000 bond.

The City of Red Oak sustained an estimated $5,000 in damages to multiple city-owned objects at Fountain Square Park, and, a Chevy Malibu, registered to Russell Skellenger, of Red Oak, was broad-sided, sustaining about $1,000 in damage during the incident. The car was parked in the 700 block of N. 2nd Street, when it was struck.

(Marne, Iowa) – Rescue crews from the Marne Fire Department and Cass EMS in Atlantic were dispatched to a two-vehicle, personal injury accident this (Thursday) morning. The incident, which occurred on I-80 eastbound near the 52.5 mile marker, was reported at around 6:27-a.m.  An injured elderly female was said to be in one of vehicles, that was in a ditch. Additional details are currently not available.