DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An education task force says it will present Iowa lawmakers with recommendations for implementing new state testing for students. The Assessment Task Force said Tuesday it was endorsing the Smarter Balanced assessments for public and accredited nonpublic schools starting with the 2016-17 school year. The assessments were developed by a consortium of states. The task force says it will be aimed at monitoring student progress in mathematics and reading.

The recommendations come amid heightened interest in Iowa’s system for student testing. Gov. Terry Branstad recently removed the state from an organization developing an assessment system for the Common Core education standards.

The task force is made up of more than 20 education leaders. It will present a final report in January to the Legislature and education leaders.

A Cass County man has received a special thank you for her contributions to the community. Win LaMaster of Atlantic, was selected to receive free fuel from Tanks of Thanks®, a program that rewards people who do good deeds to help make their community just a little bit better. The Tanks of Thanks program from CHS and Cenex® retailers encourages people to nominate friends, family and neighbors for free fuel as a way to say thank you for doing good in the community.

Each month, CHS and Cenex retailers give away more than $5,000 in free fuel through the Tanks of Thanks program. LaMaster was nominated for making hats and scarves for the American Cancer Society in Omaha, Nebraska. Recently, LaMaster was selected to receive a $50 Tanks of Thanks gift card, redeemable at any Cenex location.

Tanks of Thanks is a multiyear program, so there is plenty of time to nominate someone for free fuel. “Nominating someone for Tanks of Thanks is easy, and anyone can nominate or be nominated for any act of kindness – big or small.” To make a nomination, visit http://www.cenex.com/tanks-of-thanks and briefly describe why someone deserves a Tank of Thanks.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Nov. 4, 2014 – Demolition work to remove the old bridge over Interstate 29 at the Port Neal interchange (exit 135) will require closing I-29 from 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, until 6 a.m. Monday, Nov. 10, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s District 3 Office in Sioux City. During this closure, traffic will be routed on the new interchange ramps around the demolition work.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

For the latest traveler information anytime, visit www.511ia.org; call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide); stay connected with 511 on Facebook or Twitter (find links at www.iowadot.com/511/socialmedia.html); or download the free app to your mobile device.

(Press Release)

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Tuesday) released a report on recent arrests and an accident. Officials say on Sunday, 24-year old Rodolfo Padilla, Jr., of Yakima, WA, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Padilla remains held at the Cass County Jail on $100,000 bond.

Last Saturday, deputies with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested 47-year old Rex Talbot Luke,  of Anita, on a charge of OWI 2nd Offense. Luke was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.

On October 30th, 34-year old Jolene Mardell Cain, of Red Oak, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Theft 5th Degree. Cain was taken to the Cass County Jail where she pled guilty and was released the following day.

And on October 27th, 19-year old Philip Reed Thompson, Jr., of Lewis, was arrested by Cass County deputies on two Atlantic Police Department warrants for Domestic Abuse and two District Court warrants for Probation Violation. Thompson was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $25,000 bond.

The Sheriff’s Department also responded to a reported accident at around 4:45-p.m. last Thursday. Officials say a 2001 Oldsmobile Alero driven by 16-year old Alissa Sue Brosam, of Griswold, went out of control on 540th Street curve, south of Griswold. The car entered the south ditch and hit an outbuilding before coming to rest on the driver’s side. Brosam and two passengers refused medical attention.

The teen was cited for Failure to Maintain Control. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $4,000; damage to the outbuilding is estimated at $500.

An investigation into a burglary early this (Tuesday) morning has resulted in an arrest. The Clarinda Police Department reports 36-year old Justin Joseph Reed, of Clarinda, was found hiding in a closet, in a residence owned by Ralph Crawford, at 418 west Nodaway Street, in Clarinda, after officers and a Page County Sheriff’s deputy responded to a reported burglary in progress at around 4-a.m. Crawford was not at home when the incident occurred.

Upon arrival officers noticed a window screen had been removed and a pane of window glass broken on one of the windows. Officers then searched the residence and located Reed, who was arrested and was  being held on $5,000 bond at the Page County Jail. He faces a felony burglary charge, along with misdemeanor charges that include destruction of property and possession of drug paraphernalia.

With Ric Hanson.

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A pest control company employee is accused of planting electronic listening devices in a woman’s home in Red Oak. 38-year old Aaron Theodore Johnson, of Red Oak, was charged with Electronic and/or Mechanical Eavesdropping (a serious misdemeanor). He also faces a felony charge of being a Felon in Possession of a firearm. Johnson was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $5,000 cash bond, while awaiting an appearance before the magistrate.

Red Oak Police say an investigation into Johnson’s alleged activities began after the Red Oak Police Department received a complaint on Monday from 29-year old Jessica Hale, of Red Oak. Hale said a recording device had been found at her home located in 400 block of north 7th Street. Upon further investigation, a second device was found in Hale’s bedroom. She told police the only person who would have had been granted access to her residence was Johnson, whose rural Red Oak residence is also the business location for RMPKA Pest Control Services.

A search warrant executed at Johnson’s home resulted in the discovery of items similar to those found in Hale’s home, along with numerous computers, hard drives and other electronic devices. During the investigation, it was determined Johnson had previously been convicted of a felony, and was in possession of numerous firearm-related items and ammunition, all of which were seized.

The investigation into Johnson’s alleged activities continues. In addition, a forensic examination of the devices seized will be conducted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

A Creston man was arrested Monday on a Union County warrant for Failure to Appear in court on Child Support Matters. Creston Police say 40-year old Travis David Ahrens was being held in the Union County Jail on $2,000 bond.

And Creston Police are investigating two incidents of theft.  Someone entered the Adams Street Apartments sometime between Oct. 26th and Nov. 2nd and took lamps, bedding, a coffee pot, radio, fans, blinds and curtains from three separate apartments. A door jam was also damaged. The loss was estimated at $120.

The other incident happened sometime between 7-am and 6-pm Monday, when someone stole a pink Mongoose girls bicycle from 801 north Elm Street, in Creston. The loss was estimated at $300.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa man who was shot by a state trooper following a high-speed car chase has been sentenced to five years in prison. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports 29-year-old Michael Lee was sentenced after pleading guilty to charges including felony eluding and operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

Lee says he was high on synthetic marijuana when he led officers on the 2013 chase in Council Bluffs that reached speeds of 100 mph. He says he doesn’t remember what happened before waking up in the hospital.

Authorities say Lee tried to run over a trooper who had crashed his car. The trooper fired multiple shots into Lee’s vehicle and hit him at least once. The chase ended when another trooper rammed and flipped Lee’s vehicle.