State lawmakers concerned about concussions among high school athletes moved a bill forward in the Iowa Senate Wednesday to make it harder for coaches to put an injured player back in the game without proper rest or evaluation. There’s growing concern about the impact of untreated or repeat concussions on athletes from the amateur to the professional level. Senator Tod Bowman, a Democrat from Maquoketa, says his son was removed from a wrestling match his junior year for a concussion.

“My son wanted to return to action. That’s the constant battle coaches face where athletic trainers or other medical personnel have a little different perspective in life moving forward,” Bowman says. Bowman says the trainer was present when his son was knocked out during the match and settled the issue about whether he would continue.

“And she immediately evaluated him and said ‘you’re done son,’” according to Bowman. The Senate bill would require a professional trainer to evaluate injured players at varsity competitions for the so-called collision sports of football, soccer and wrestling. The trainer would also notify the school’s athletic director if an athlete from a visiting team suffered a concussion.

Trainers who attended the statehouse hearing told of coaches putting star players back in the game. Skeptics wonder if there would be enough athletic trainers in the state to staff every varsity event — for example, on a Friday night when hundreds of teams are playing across the state.

(Radio Iowa)

The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office reports three, recent arrests. Officials say 28-year old Andrew Kaipus, of Lenox, was arrested Tuesday on a Monona County warrant for Probation Violation. His bond was set at $5,000. On Feb. 6th, a 17-year old female was charged with Simple Assault. The teen was referred to Juvenile Court. And, on Feb. 5th, 52-year old Rafael Rodriguez, of Creston, was arrested in the 400 block of W. Illinois Street in Lenox, for Criminal Trespass. His bond was set at $300.

The Sheriff’s Office said also, no injuries were reported following an accident Feb. 4th. 30-year old Zachary Matney, of Corning, was traveling east on Taylor County Road J-20, near Highland Avenue, when he lost control of his 2006 Nissan pickup on the slick road. The vehicle hit a power pole in a ditch, and sustained $2,500.

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A new grazing education and networking program intended for young and beginning graziers will be offered this year by the Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University, in Adams County. ISU extension beef program specialist Joe Sellers said Grassroots Grazing is a three-part series that was started in 2015, with a southwest Iowa program offered in Corning, on February 22nd, 2016.

The grazing management series is designed primarily for young and beginning graziers but anyone interested in basic forage management is welcome to attend. All participants will receive a resource manual for use throughout the course and at their farms. The first session includes discussions on controlling feed costs, setting goals for your grazing system, and pros and cons of various grazing programs. The February meeting is part one of a three part series, with pasture walks and additional meetings later in the year (dates to be determined by the participants).

The series is sponsored by the ISU Extension and Outreach and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and sessions will be led by local ISU extension beef program specialists with assistance from other producers and volunteers. Local sponsors in Corning include the Southern Iowa Forage and Livestock Committee and the Adams County Cattlemen’s Association.

Joe Sellers say “There is no fee to attend, but we strongly encourage pre-registration to plan for the meal and ensure adequate materials for everyone. Please register by February 19th.”

The date, start time and address for the initial session at each location are listed below, along with the contact person for each site.

Corning, Iowa: February 22, 2016 – 6:30 pm at the St Patrick’s Church Parish Center (607 6th Street, 4 blocks west of Casey’s).

The Board of Supervisors in Adair County have set their regular meeting on March 2nd at 9:30-a.m., as the date a time for a Public Hearing on the County’s FY 2017 Budget. The hearing will take place in the Board Room at the Adair County Courthouse.

The Board has received several departmental budget proposals over the past few weeks, and after crunching the numbers, the Adair County Supervisors have set the tax asking at $6.42 per thousand dollars valuation for urban taxpayers, which is about the same as last year. Rural property tax payers would pay $10.37 per thousand, or an increase of six-cents per thousand dollars over last year.

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education Wednesday evening approved an Early Retirement request from full time TAG Coordinator K-12, Middle School STEM teacher and 8th grade volleyball coach, Joann Sandage. Superintendent Mike Amstein said that brings the number of Early Retirement applications to the predetermined level of 10 employees. The Board had set the deadline for the incentive as Feb. 1st, but they agreed to accept Sandages’ application because of what Amstein said were “Extenuating circumstances.”

The Board also discussed the possibility of bringing an Income Surtax for the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL or “Peppel”) back to the voters sometime this year.
Last September, voters rejected a public measure to add an income tax surcharge component to the district’s physical plant and equipment levy. The result though, was tight: 452 No to 443 Yes votes, or 49.5 percent of voters approving of the measure.
Amstein said the Board needs to revisit the matter for several reasons.

He says as it stands right now, the only source of revenue for the PPEL is property taxes. An income surtax would give the Board the ability to have more flexibility with what it can do with the tax levy. Board Secretary/District Business Manager Mary Beth Fast said the maximum surtax the District could impose, if approved, is 10-percent. Even if the District requested a nine-percent surtax, that would generate $300,000 and make for 67-cents difference in property tax relief.

Board member Dr. Keith Swanson said the last Surtax asking was “Sold so poorly to the public,” he couldn’t believe it…meaning, it wasn’t explained well at all. Fast agreed, the voters need to understand the surtax would reduce the property tax asking. Fast and Amstein will look into when the surtax could come up again for a vote, and report back to the Board during the next, regular meeting.

Mike Amstein said that if the State Legislature fails to set Supplemental Aid (SSA) by the time the District’s Budget is prepared, such as was the case last year, the District has to base its budget on the “Worst case scenario,” or zero-percent aid. The percentage of State Aid will impact how much the tax levy (property tax rate), will be for patrons of the Atlantic School District.

He says at 0%, the levy rate is $15.71 per thousand dollars valuation. At 1%, that drops to $15.50. At 2% – the current rate – the levy becomes $15.29. At 3% it’s $15.08. And if the legislature should approve 4% State Supplemental Aid, the levy would drop to $14.87 per thousand dollars valuation. That span he says, “Has a huge impact on what the Board is able to do with the tax rate, the flexibility [they would have].”

Amstein said even after the district certifies its budget by April 15th, the tax rate can be lowered, if the percentage of State Aid increases, but they can’t raise the levy rate if the Aid falls below the current 2%. That’s why they assume, unless the Legislature decides before the end of March, that the amount of State Aid will be Zero-percent.

Police in Red Oak arrested a local woman Wednesday afternoon, for Driving While Suspended. Police say 36-year old Allison Mary Ruhl, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 4:42-p.m. and brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center, where she was held on a $300 cash bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Civil rights groups have made their case at the Capitol for legislation that would reform Iowa’s criminal justice system. Members of local chapters of the NAACP and other advocacy groups gathered Wednesday in Des Moines in support of multiple bills aimed at reform. It includes legislation that would ban racial profiling, keep juvenile records confidential and “ban the box” to expand work opportunities for people with criminal histories.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — Security cameras and access control doors will be installed in the Webster County Courthouse in the next phase of security improvements in the building. The Messenger reports that the county will pay more than $7,200 for cameras on the first floor, and more than $11,600 for locked doors on the east and west sides.

NASHUA, N.H. (AP) — Tuesday’s winners in the New Hampshire primary might have gained momentum but they didn’t pick up many delegates. That’s because there weren’t many delegates at stake, and both parties awarded them proportionally, meaning even the losers got some. Bernie Sanders picked up a total of 15 Democratic delegates and Hillary Clinton won nine.

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Zach Smith made two free throws with 18 seconds remaining in overtime to lead Texas Tech past Number 14 Iowa State 85-82 Wednesday night. It was the second straight year the Red Raiders beat the Cyclones in Lubbock. Deonte Burton scored a season-high 20 points and Abdel added 19 points to lead ISU.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Two women accused of staging a bank robbery in Sioux City have each been sentenced to five years in prison. The Sioux City Journal reports that 19-year-old Heaven Zevenbergen and 18-year-old Angelica Perez were sentenced in separate hearings Wednesday. Both had pleaded guilty to second-degree theft.

Prosecutors said Perez entered a Security National Bank branch at a Hy-Vee supermarket last August in a disguise, and warned Zevenbergen via a note that she was armed. According to prosecutors, Zevenbergen, then a teller at the bank, knew Perez and gave her $10,000. Both women have been ordered to jointly repay the bank the $10,000.