OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) – Bernie Sanders is seeking out first-time Iowa caucus participants where they live, work and shop. Pete Buttigieg is signaling to them through friends of supporters and closing the deal in big rallies. The strategies represent one of the most important pieces of a winning presidential Iowa campaign: getting new people to participate.

It always matters, but in a highly competitive Democratic presidential caucus campaign, expanding the electorate is vitally important for the pack of four candidates scrambling to break out in the coming two weeks. The candidate who turns out the most and the broadest array of first time participants stands a very good chance of winning.

Several meetings are set to kick-off the week around the listening area, from Boards of Supervisors to School Board sessions. The Adair County Board of Supervisors will meet 9-a.m. Monday in their Boardroom at the Courthouse in Greenfield. On their agenda are FY21 Budget Requests from Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, and Auditor Mandy Berg (re: Auditor & Data Processing), followed by a Budget Work Session.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will meet 1:30-p.m. Monday, in their Boardroom at the Courthouse in Atlantic. On their agenda is the interview during a closed session, of an applicant for the County Engineer’s position, followed by a report from the Cass County Attorney, and the amendment of a 2020 5-year Secondary Roads Program, and budgetary considerations.

The Griswold School Board will meet 5:30-p.m. Monday in the Conference Room at the High School. The Board will consider approval of a retirement compensation package for Non-Certified Employees, conduct a facilities inspection walk-through, and possibly hold a closed session for strategy negotiations.

The Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton School Board meets 6-p.m. Monday in the Conference Room at the Elk Horn Building. Discussion and/or Action items include those pertaining to: A Sharing Agreement; Setting the time and date for the 2020-21 Calendar Hearing; and Personnel Hires/Transfers and related matters.

The CAM School Board meets 6:30-p.m., Monday, in the CAM High School Superintendent’s Office. The Board will continue discussions with regard to a Facility Assessment with Boyd Jones & Alley Poyner Macchieto.

And, the Audubon School Board meeting gets underway at 7-p.m., Monday, in the High School Boardroom. Their action items include: Setting the date/time for the March 3rd meeting; Possible action on Wrestling Room RTU(s); Approving a contract with Denovo for Construction Management Services (re: High School Improvements), and approving a contract with Studio Melee, for Architect Services; also, approval of changes to the shared superintendent’s position with two districts, and…personnel matters. Discussion will also be held with regard to possible calendar options for 2019-20.

Police in Red Oak report a traffic stop at around 2:30 this (Sunday) morning, resulted in the arrest of a Clarinda woman. 31-year old Shona Renae Carlson was arrested for OWI/1st offense. She was transported to the Montgomery County Jail, and held on a $1,000 bond.

Many area churches have cancelled their Sunday services today (1/19), due to the bitterly cold air. The list on our CANCELLATIONS page will be updated as necessary, but for now, here is the list of churches that have cancelled for today (as of 4:20-a.m.):

• Adair-Good Shepard Lutheran Church (1/19)
• Adair-United Methodist Church (1/19)
• Bridgewater-United Methodist Church (1/19)
• Buck Creek Methodist will not have services Sunday. (1/19)
• Casey-United Methodist Church (1/19)
• No services at the Trinity Christian Church in Bridgewater. (1/19)
• Coon Rapids-First Christian Church (1/19)
• No services at the Marne Methodist Church. (1/19)
• Massena-United Methodist Church (1/19)
• No services or Bible classes at the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Audubon (1/19)
• No services at the United Congregational Methodist Church in Lewis. (1/19)
• No services at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Anita. (1/19)

ANKENY, Iowa (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg says the Oval Office benefits from the perspective of a commander in chief who has served in the military in wartime. During an interview in Iowa Saturday, Buttigieg says his service gives him a special understanding of deployed men and women.

He says it sets him apart from not only his top tier rivals, but President Donald Trump. He says, “That perspective is needed especially when we’ve got a president who thinks that strength is the same as the chest-thumping of the loudmouth guy at the end of the bar.”