(Radio Iowa) – Authorities say a 6th grader was shot to death and five other people were wounded during a shooting this (Thursday) morning in Perry High School — and the 17-year-old suspect, who was a student at the school, died of a self-inflicted gunshot. Four students and a school administrator are hospitalized. One of them is in critical condition, but is expected to survive. During a news conference this (Thursday) afternoon, Perry Police Chief Eric Vaughn was emotional as he praised teachers, staff and students for acting bravely and heroically during a tragic situation.

Mitch Mortvedt, assistant director of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, says the suspect has been  identified as Dillon Butler and he was armed with two weapons — a pump action shotgun and small caliber handgun.

Mortvedt says all evidence t this time suggests the 17-year-old acted alone.

Mortvedt said he had not seen a TikTok video allegedly recorded this (Thursday) morning by Brooks that has been reposted on social media platforms. A reporter at the news conference asked Mortvedt if investigators have determined a motive for the shooting.

Governor Kim Reynolds opened this (Thursday) afternoon’s news conference with a message to the Perry community.

Reynolds has ordered all flags in the state to be lowered to half-staff until sunset on Sunday in support of the students, families, teachers and staff of Perry schools and the Perry community.

(Corning, Iowa) – Adams County Auditor Rebecca Bissell will serve as the Iowa State Association of County Auditors this year. ISACA membership is made up of County Auditors and their staff from all 99 counties in Iowa. The full membership meets at least three times a year and there are also six ISACA districts within the state that meet regularly. The organization focuses on the key areas which Iowa auditors are responsible for including budgets and audits, elections, real estate and valuations and taxes.

Ms. Bissell began her time with ISACA District 4, serving as President of the district for three years and then transitioned to the ISACA Board where she has served as Secretary, Treasurer, and last year, Vice-President. She received the gavel of President at the ISACA Business meeting in August 2023 and will serve for calendar year 2024.

Rebecca Bissell

ISACA’ s goals are to maintain a permanent organization to promote cooperation among Iowa counties which in turn will help to identify common problems and assist in developing solutions to promote standardization of practices to increase efficiency and reduce costs in offices across the state. The organization provides a platform for continuing education and networking of ideas and assists in identifying and seeking legislation necessary to provide sound local services. ISACA advises and shares information with the Iowa General Assembly on matters important to members as well.

“I am honored to serve this year as the ISACA President. I have seen the great work that ISACA has done in improving practices of Auditors’ offices across the state and I am proud and excited to carry that tradition moving forward,” stated Bissell.

The state of Iowa is expanding a water quality program to clean up a northwest Iowa river, one of the state’s most polluted waterways. The Deep Creek Water Quality Initiative Project was launched in 2014 with a focus on adding cover crops along the Floyd River and tributaries in four counties — Plymouth, Sioux, O’Brien and Cherokee. Ben Brady, a conservationist with the U-S-D-A’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, helps oversee the project.

Brady says a high number of livestock confinements in the region contributed to the Floyd River’s high pollution rates, but he says the water quality initiative is working.

Iowa’s secretary of agriculture recently announced a new grant for a larger area. Almost 700-thousand dollars is available for farmers to add buffers and bioreactors to help filter water from fields.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s elected officials are responding to the shooting in Perry. Governor Reynolds posted a statement on social media, calling the shooting a senseless tragedy. Senator Grassley said the appalling violence at Perry High School is heartbreaking. Senator Ernst said she’s praying for the safety and recovery of those involved.

State Representative Carter Nordman, a Republican from Adel who represents Perry in the Iowa legislature, said he’s devastated by the news and thankful for the first responders who are handling the situation.

Congressman Zach Nunn, a Republican from Bondurant who represents Perry in the U-S House, said he is beyond angry and — in his words — “we have a duty to protect our children, families and educators.”

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was in Perry for an event right before this morning’s shooting. Ramaswamy posted on social media that someone at the event remarked that it was just a matter of time before something like this happened in Iowa — and Ramaswamy said there’s a psychological sickness at the core of our country right now. The top two Democrats in the Iowa legislature spoke at a statehouse forum after first reports of the shooting where made. House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst said it was too soon to talk about any policy response to what happened in Perry.

The Iowa State Education Association’s president and vice president issued a joint statement, saying words cannot express the sorrow they feel for the victims and the pain that everyone in Perry feels.

(Audubon, Iowa) – The Audubon County Board of Supervisors has reorganized its leadership for 2024. During the Board’s meeting Tuesday, the Supervisors nominated and approved Heath Hansen as Chairman for 2024. Doug Sorensen, who has chaired the board for the past two years, takes over as Vice-chairman. The board also appointed Chase Petersen and Abby Rasmussen to the Board of Health, and Susan Osvald to the Planning and Zoning Committee.

In other business, the Supervisors set mileage reimbursement rates as 67-cents per mile for the Sheriff and 58 cents per mile for all county employees conducting Audubon County business. The Board established the Audubon Advocate as the County’s official newspaper for legal notices, and appointed Heath Hansen as Safety Director.

The board voted to leave their meeting dates and times unchanged. They will continue to meet on Tuesdays in the Courthouse Board Room, beginning at 9-a.m.

Atlantic, IA — Officials with Cass Health, in Atlantic, have announced the arrival of the first baby of 2024. Scarlett Jean was born on January 1, 2024 to parents Chelsea and Eli Williams, of Atlantic. Surprising her parents by coming four weeks early, Scarlett now shares her birthday with older brother Silas who was born on January 1, 2022.

Chelsea and Eli Williams & daughter Scarlett Jean. (CCHS photo)

The Cass Health obstetrics team presented the family with a 2024 embroidered baby blanket and a year’s supply of diapers.