No fewer than four area school district Boards of Education are set to meet Monday evening. The Griswold School Board meeting gets underway at 5:30-p.m. in the Central Office, Middle School/High School Building.

On their agenda under “Old Business,” is an update from KPE/Estes officials with regard to District facilities, along with the second reading of 507- and 508-series Board Policies, a presentation and possible approval of the purchase of a school sign to replace one that was damaged. “New Business” for the Griswold Board includes: action on a possible rejection of building project bids; information with regard to financial projections; action of approving the 2017-18 Individual Career and Academic CTE Plan; An informational presentation pertaining to Building Goals; Approval of a copy machine lease, and Chemical application specifications.

The CAM School Board meeting begins at 6:30-p.m. in the CAM High School Media Center. Discussion and/or action items include, but are not limited to: The purchase of new computers; a revised Early Retirement Incentive Policy; Capital Projects; Bids for Audit services and the consideration of a bid for an old school bus; and, the approval of revisions to board policies.

The Audubon School Board meeting will be held in the Boardroom at the High School in Audubon, beginning at 7-p.m., Monday. Their action items include: Approval of new math textbooks for FY 2019; Action on the transfer of City land for the baseball field along with approval of additional fencing at the baseball field; approval of bargaining groups for FY 2019, and moving the date for their February Board meeting. The Audubon School Board will also discuss the District 2018-19 School Calendar.

And, the Exira-Elk Horn Kimballton School Board meeting takes place 7-p.m. Monday, in the Conference Room at the Elk Horn building. The Board is set to receive an update from KPE architects and hold discussion on the information presented. They will also discuss an update with regard to a plan for realignment, act on setting the date and time for a Public Hearing on the 2018-19 Calendar, as well as discussing and taking action on personnel hires, transfers, resignations, etc.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Some Nebraska colleges are offering tuition discounts to students from other states in the hopes of filling classrooms, balancing budgets and expanding programs. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the pool of new high school graduates in the state isn’t expected to grow much in the short term.

Some schools are offering nonresidents lower tuition rates with the hope of boosting enrollment. Peru State University has been offering in-state tuition to out-of-state students since 2009.

The Midwest Student Exchange Program has offered nonresidents a rate of 150 percent of resident tuition at participating public colleges in 10 states. Many Nebraska institutions participate in the program, which has been operating for about 25 years.

While Iowa doesn’t participate in the exchange program, the University of Nebraska at Omaha has been offering Iowa students that rate since 2008.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new facility in the Omaha area will help cook up new food-related businesses. The 2,500-square-foot Kitchen Council plans to open in early February. Its commercial kitchen and business development experts will help entrepreneurs launch food-related businesses.

The Kitchen Council’s director Holly Benson Muller says the facility in Council Bluffs, Iowa, is designed to make it easier for food businesses to get started. The facility will work with entrepreneurs from around the region.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds highlighted multiple priorities in her Condition of the State speech, but recent history shows plans can change. Republicans have indicated strong support for several proposals in the Jan. 9 speech, such as reducing taxes and expanding workforce opportunities.

But topics not discussed such as the death penalty and immigration, or only briefly mentioned like abortion and school choice, could rise to the top of lawmakers’ agenda.

In last year’s Condition of the State address, former GOP Gov. Terry Branstad didn’t stress proposals that later dominated the session, including eliminating most collective bargaining rights for public workers, requiring voter identification at the polls and banning local minimum wage increases.

Republicans say lawmakers have different priorities than the governor. Democrats say looming budget cuts deserved more attention.

Emergency responders from Anita and Wiota, as well as law enforcement are on the scene of a collision between a vehicle and a semi on Interstate 80 in Cass County. The collision was on I-80 eastbound at the 64-mile marker. It occurred at around 8:50-a.m.

Two subjects were transported to CCMH. One person was said to have been seriously injured. The left lane of the eastbound Interstate was partially blocked and traffic was moving slowly. Be prepared for stop and go traffic in the area. There’s also a “massive pile-up” at the 70-mile marker, according to dispatch.

A Veterinarian was called to check on a horse being hauled in a trailer that was involved in an accident. Numerous other, non-injury accidents are being reported along the same stretch of road from the 64 to the 70 mile markers, both east and westbound.

No other details are currently available.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will meet in a regular session beginning at 9-a.m. Monday, in their Boardroom on the second floor or the courthouse, in the courtroom.  Their meeting includes discussion and/or action on: Taxable mileage, and a report from/on the Southern Iowa Council of Governments (SICOG) Trust Fund. They will also hold a Budget Work Session, with discussion to continue after their last regular agenda item.

The Adair County Board will also act on a 28-E Sanitarian Agreement with Guthrie County Environmental Health, and they’ll hear a regular report from County Engineer Nick Kauffman, who will present information for possible action on: a Farm-to-Market rock contract and bond with Schildberg Construction Company; the signing of a bond for a bridge project, and the signing of a Detour Agreement for Highway 25, with the Iowa DOT, along with his regular report on Secondary Roads Department maintenance and activities.

The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors will meet 5:15-p.m Monday (Jan. 15th), in the City Council’s Chambers, at City Hall. Action or New Business items on their agenda include:

• Approval for a full application to the Water Quality Initiative: Urban Conservation Projects.
• Schildberg Recreation Area Development Project (update)
• Lake #3 Trail (update)
• Community Parks Project (Update) – Public
• Accepting funds from the Atlantic Royal Neighbors
• Sunnyside Entrance Sign (update)
• Parks Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) 10-year Plan – preliminary layout.

And, in his report to the Board, Parks and Rec Director Seth Stasshelm will provide updates on: The Ice Rink; Campground at the Schildberg Rec Area, and a report on Sunnyside Park being open all winter – road to remain open, weather permitting.

Red Oak Police, Saturday afternoon, arrested 28-year old Bruce Anthony Kaimann, Jr., of Red Oak. The man was taken into custody at around 2:15-p.m. in the 1400 block of Forest Avenue. He faces charges that include Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense, Simple Assault, and Obstruction of Emergency Communications. Kaimann, Jr. was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, Saturday, held its annual Chamber Banquet and Awards, program at the Cass County Community Center. The biggest event of the evening, was presentation of the 17th annual (2018) Athena Award.This year Atlantic High School Principal Heather McKay was the recipient. It was presented by 2017 Athena Award Winner, Dr. Tressa Wilcox. The award is sponsored by Deter Motor Company.

According to Athena International, the award is given to “An exceptional individual who has achieved excellence in his or her business profession and serves the community in a meaningful way and assists women in their attainment of professional goals and leadership skills.”

Locally, past winners include Lavon Eblen, Kathie Hockenberry, Lanette Plambeck, Pat Markman, Dolly Bergmann, Wendy Richter, Ann Pross, Janell Hansen, Jan Kinison, Carole Schuler, Glenda Farrier, Margaret Slepsky, Denise O’Brien, Leanne Pellett, Judy Marnin, and the 2017 winner, Tressa Wilcox.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:45 a.m. CST

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in northeastern Iowa have released the names of three people from Waterloo killed in a crash that also seriously injured three others. Police say 20-year-old Elijah James Showalter, 21-year-old Daniel James Delagardelle and 16-year-old Brady Hagenstein died in the Friday evening in Cedar Falls. Police say the three were traveling in a speeding westbound car on Viking Road that crossed the center line and hit an eastbound SUV head-on.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a 2-year-old girl found unresponsive along with her mother in a Council Bluffs apartment fire has died. The Omaha World-Herald reports that A’Nyia Patton died Friday night at Children’s Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, where she was taken after being found by firefighters in the burning apartment Wednesday morning. An autopsy has been ordered. The girl’s mother, 37-year-old Michelle Patton, remained in critical condition at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Officials say there may be a delay in starting repair work on a bridge that spans the Big Sioux River, connecting Sioux City to North Sioux City, South Dakota. The Sioux City Journal reports the anticipated five-month closure of the Military Road bridge may not happen until 2019. The city had originally slotted the work to begin this year but says a languishing permit process through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could push back the start date.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — An officer for a contractor who admitted falsifying and submitting invoices that resulted in nearly $808,000 in overcharges to the Iowa Transportation Department has been sentenced to supervised release. Federal prosecutors say 31-year-old Jenna Wilson, of Sergeant Bluff, was sentence Friday in Sioux City’s federal courthouse. In addition to two years’ supervised release, she was ordered to pay a nearly $34,500 fine.