It’s “Back to the drawing board” for the Audubon School Board, when it comes to the district’s building project, which came in $4-million over budget. Superintendent Eric Trager says they started the project with a feasibility study in the fall of 2019. The price tag came in at $7.5-million dollars, but the bids came in at $11.5-million, or 53% higher than the original estimate.

That, he says, will unfortunately result in a delay of the work, and that some construction will need to take place during the school year. The idea he said it still to get the project done, and get it done right. Trager said the board was shocked and disappointed in the way things have turned out, to-date.

He says it’s too late to play the blame game, “We just need to figure out how do we move forward.”

In other business, the Audubon School Board approved trading-in three old Dodge Minivans for three new, locally purchased Chevy Traverse’s with the same passenger capacity. And, they approved a renewed Sharing Agreement with the Coon Rapids-Bayard School District. Those positions include Superintendent, H-R and Transportation Directors, Elementary Counselor, and Social Worker.

The Audubon School Board also approved the resignation – effective at the end of the school year – of Special Education Teacher Tyler Tassel. The Board thanks him for his service to the district.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports a pair of recent arrests.

On Friday, January 15th at about 8:35 p.m. Adams County Deputies arrested 32-year-old Shawn Crouch of Corning was arrested and charged with Criminal Mischief 4th Degree. The arrests stems from an investigation on January 13th when his neighbor’s car window and bedroom window were shot out with a BB gun. Crouch was taken to the Adams County Jail and booked in.

On Saturday, January 16th at about 2:14 a.m. Deputies arrested 36-year-old Kimberly Bloom of Corning on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bloom was taken to the Adams County Jail and booked in.

Police in Creston, Monday, arrested a man wanted on a Union County warrant for Failure to serve his sentence on an original – Possession of Marijuana/1st offense – charge. 40-year old Justin Robertson, of Creston, was taken into custody at his residence and was being held in the Union County Jail until the remainder of his court-ordered time is served.

The Griswold School Board, Monday night, voted to require Remote Learners to return to on-site (in-person) learning on or before Feb. 15th, with some exceptions. Superintendent Dave Henrichs tells KJAN News….

Dave Henrichs said the district has been fortunate to have had little impact from COVID-19. To-date, he said, there have been four elementary students, 11 middle school/high school students, and 11 staff, who have tested positive for COVID-19. ALL have recovered. In other business, the Board, following a public hearing (during which there were no comments), approved the 2021-22 School Calendar. Henrichs said it essentially mirrors the current calendar, with some exceptions.

The Griswold School Board also voted 7-0 NOT to terminate the contract of an employee, following a closed session.

(Radio Iowa) – A deadly hit and run is under investigation in eastern Iowa. Davenport police say a pedestrian was hit by a vehicle shortly after 7 on Monday night. It appears the unidentified man was dragged for more than a half mile. His body was found by a passerby in the street and the vehicle was long gone.

It happened in the city’s Five Points area and based on the information from police, the vehicle would’ve passed Genesis Medical Center — where the man was later pronounced dead. Police are asking for witnesses to come forward.