(Griswold, Iowa) – The Griswold Community School District’s Board of Education is slated to hold a Work Session on Monday (Jan. 15), beginning at 4:30-p.m. in the Conference Room at the School. Board members will proceed throughout the District’s facility,with the purpose of conducting a facilities assessment. The Board will conduct its regular session in the Conference Room, beginning at 5:30-p.m.  The agenda for that session is as follows:

• 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 December Recipients

– Select January Recipient(s)

– Day On The Hill

– FFA Week

• 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.) – 708, 709, 710.1, 710.1E1, 710.1E2, 710.2, 710.3, 710.4

New Business

7. Accept FY23 Audit Report (D.R.)

8. Consider Approval Of Modified Supplement Amount (MSA) And Plan

For Dropout Prevention And At-Risk Programs (D.R.)

9. Consider Approval Of 2024-2025 Corner Conference Agreement (D.R.)

10. Approval Of Chemical Application Specifications (D.R.)

11. Board Policies – First Reading (I) – 502.7, 605.6, 605.6R1, 605.8, 605.8R1,

701.1, 701.2, 701.3, 701.4, 711.1, 711.2, 711.2R1. 711.3. Rescind 703.2. Renumber 401.13 to 713, 401.13R1 to 713R1, and 401.13E1 to 713.E1.

12. Discussion On 2024-2025 School Calendar (I)

• Adjourn

(D.R.) = Decision Required

(I.) = Informational

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

(Audubon, Iowa) – Members of the Audubon Community School District’s Board of Education will meet 7-p.m. Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in the Audubon High School Board Room. Their agenda follows:

1.0 Call to Order

2.0 Approve Agenda

3.0 Approve Consent Agenda

3.01 Minutes – December 18, 2023, Regular Meeting

3.02 Warrants and Financial Reports

4.0 Public Comments – Please contact the Supt. or Board President (Board Policy #213)

5.0 Action Items

5.01 Approve Fundraiser for Free Student Admission

5.02 Approve Auditor Contract

5.03 Approve Change Orders

5.04 Approve Reimbursement of Athletic Fund from General Fund for Safety Equipment – $1681.07

5.05 Personnel

Hires – Kris Obermeier – Head Softball

Resignations – Jaime Christensen

6.0 Communication & Updates

6.01 Superintendent Report

6.01.1 – Building Project Update

6.01.2 – Safety Grant Update

6.01.3 – Bus Garage Update

6.01.4 – Legislative Update

6.02 Principal’s Reports

6.03 Adjournment

Next Regular Meeting: Monday, February 19, 2024, 7:00 PM

(Anita, Iowa) – Firefighters in Anita along with three-other communities were battling a house fire at 305 Michigan Street on the south side of Anita, this morning. Crews responded at around 8:20-a.m.. to the scene where smoke was observed coming from the attic area/roof.   Anita Fire called for mutual aid from the Wiota, Atlantic and Adair Fire Departments.

The loan occupant in the home got out safely. The house sustained substantial damage. The Red Cross has been called to assist the resident.

Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon said Highway 148 was closed at the scene of the fire. Additional details are currently not available.

Photo courtesy Kennon, Cass County EMA.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say no injuries were reported following an accident Friday afternoon on Irving Street, near the intersection with North Vine Street. Authorities say 39-year-old Chadd Money, of Creston, was backing his 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup through a snow drift at the end of his driveway, when he backed into a 2017 Cadillac that was stuck on the south side of Irving Street, across an alley.

When the pickup hit the car, it caused a total of $2,000 damage and moved the car a little ways. The owner of the Cadillac said his car had become struck earlier in the day, and he was waiting for the weather to clear before digging it out.

No citations were issued.

Des Moines, Iowa — Weather continues to impact the schedule of presidential candidates heading into the Iowa caucuses as former President Donald Trump has now canceled three out of his four in-person commit to caucus rallies, including one scheduled for this (Saturday) afternoon, in Atlantic.

Instead, Trump will hold a series of telerallies and is still expected to go forward with his in-person appearance at his commit to caucus rally in Indianola. Trump canceled both rallies he was scheduled to hold today in Sioux City and Atlantic and is now holding a tele-rally featuring Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird this evening at 7-p.m.

Trump was in Iowa on Wednesday for a Fox News town hall, but his last campaign event was on Jan. 6, where he delivered remarks in Newton and Clinton. The four-stop Iowa swing this weekend would have served as the final boost for Trump in the final days of Iowa caucuses, during an election cycle when the former president has had a lighter campaign schedule compared to some of his GOP rivals.

(Atlantic, Iowa) -Travel outside of Atlantic, especially on the southwest side of town at the City limits, is not advised due to near zero visibility, this afternoon. Here is the latest from 511ia.org. (4:10-p.m.)

(Radio Iowa) – The first round of presidential preference cards is out in the mail for Iowa Democrats. So far, more than eight-thousand Democrats have requested a card and that number is expected to increase following the party’s in-person Caucuses on Monday night. Although they no longer go first in their party’s presidential nominating process, State Party Chair Rita Hart says changing to an entirely mail-in system is the beginning of what will be the most inclusive Iowa Democratic Caucus in the state’s history.

“For the first time, a firefighter or a police officer working a third shift, or a parent who may not have childcare, or a snowbird who is spending the month in Arizona or Florida, and those in our disability community who struggle with home health care, can now make sure that their voices are heard,” says Hart. Party committee member Scott Brennan feels the same way.  “We need to make it easier for people to participate, not harder. I believe this mail in process will put us in the best position for 2028, when we will have a competitive presidential process,” says Brennan.

Hart is not concerned about some Democrats reportedly switching their party registration to vote in the Republican Caucuses for someone other than Trump. “I have not heard very many people express that desire,” she says. “I think maybe there’s maybe some idle talk about that, but I really don’t see that as a priority of many Democrats. But instead, their priority is that we’re committed to getting more Democrats elected.”

The winter weather and a non-competitive Democratic primary are expected to lower Monday’s turnout, but Hart says that’s why the new mail-in process is a good move. “If people are able and willing and can make it to the caucuses, they will go. But some people will not be able to go and so this gives them an assurance,” says Hart.

Since Iowa Democrats have re-shuffled the presidential nominating calendar, will there be less money for Iowa coming from the national party and the presidential election? “I think that there has been a significant investment,” says Hart. “We have seen some financial support from the DNC and they recognize that we are in a rebuilding process and they are very committed to helping us do exactly that.”

Democrats can continue to request a card through the party’s website or by mail until February 19.

(Radio Iowa) – Waterloo is being designated as Iowa’s only World War Two Heritage City. The designation from the National Park Service came through the collaboration of the city’s museums, economic development corporations, and former mayor Tim Hurley. The nomination process took nearly three years. Hurley says the people of his hometown made Waterloo’s contribution to the war effort special.

“By 1940, there were 55,000 people in town,” he says, “and 8,000 or 8,500 of our citizens in Waterloo enlisted, went to war or were drafted.” Hurley says part of what separated Waterloo’s story from other cities in Iowa was the doors that its manufacturing sector helped to open.

“It turned the workforce over. It reopened that pipeline from the Mississippi delta back up to Waterloo for African Americans,” he says, “and many of those families still live here, and their grandchildren and great-grandchildren are doing great things here.”

Waterloo is among 11 sites across the country granted the distinction. Only one community per state can be designated as a heritage city.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by DeeDee & David Kalny, with CMG Home Loans, on Thursday, January 11th, 2024. The Ambassadors joined the husband and wife in celebrating the launch of their branch of CMG Home Loans in the Atlantic/ Cass County area with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Dee Dee and David Kalny have been married for 20 years, and moved to Cass County three years ago, to be close to their son and family. DeeDee shared about her passion for personal relationships and how relationships are crucial in helping families get into the home of their dreams. DeeDee firmly believes that everyone that has the desire to own their own home, should be able to achieve that goal with the right help.

Ambassadors (Left to Right): Jake Olsen, Elaine Otte, Alex McAfee, Dolly Bergmann, Jessie Shiels, Alisha Wagner, Krysta Hanson, Sue Liston, David Kalny, BJ Hart, DeeDee Kalny, Dr. Keith Leonard, Kathie Hockenberry, Tori Gibson, Wes Anstey, Megan Sramek, Colt Doherty, Shannon Nelsen, Graydon Schmidt, Anne Quist

The couple plans to take their passion for home ownership and share their over 14 years of knowledge with the community. DeeDee and David will host quarterly “Home Buyer Workshops” to inform and empower first-time homebuyers. These workshops will be hosted at the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce Office and will take on topics such as down payment assistance, home buying process, financing a home, and more.

CMG Home Loans was established in 1993 by Charles Micheal George, and has since grown the company into one of the nation’s Top 10 retail mortgage lender and the largest privately owned independent mortgage bank in nation. CMG Home Loans prides their business on delivering the right loans for the right reasons in a way that exceeds all expectations.

For more resources or questions about home buying, visit www.deedeekalny.com or call 515-480-4436.