The Atlantic Police Department has released a report on recent arrests. On Monday, 23-year old Nicholas Renner, of Atlantic, was arrested for Simple Assault. And, 18-year old Peyton Hill, of Menlo, was arrested for Theft in the 5th Degree (Shoplifting). On April 9th, 29-year old Brittney McMartin, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI. And, on April 6th, 37-year old Tabitha Clark, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Probation Violation. Three of the subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail, while Peyton Hill was cited into court and then released.

The Audubon County Relay for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society and their work on researching a cure for cancer, will be held June 8^th in Audubon County, at the Exira City Park. It will be held from 4:30-until 8-p.m., that day. Before that, though, and in a little over a week and a half, a Relay For Life Kick-off event is planned to help raise funds and provide entertainment. Anna Elmquist is one of the event organizers. She says the event takes place April 26^th at the Danish Countryside Vines and Wines – between Elk Horn and Kimballton, off County Road F-58 – from 6-until 9-p.m., and features musical entertainment from Loren Christensen, pizza by the slice and desserts, from the Flour Mill and Christensen will of course be selling the wine they produce at the vineyard, along with beer.

She says “It’s just a great evening of a bunch of people getting together and for a good cause.” Christensen will be performing a variety of music that evening. Last year, they raised $500 through tips for Christensen while played. All the tips were donated to the American Cancer Society.

Last year, the Relay For Life in Audubon County raised almost $38,000, which is not bad, when you consider the comparably smaller population of the County to other counties that have raised more, and the level of contributions. Elmquist says they hope to bring in more this year. The event hits home for Anna Elmquist, whose four-year old grandson was diagnosed last year, with leukemia.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa children should no longer face so-called “lunch shaming” in school cafeterias under a new law signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds. Reynolds announced Tuesday that she signed the bill, which lawmakers approved unanimously. Iowa is following the lead of several other states that have passed similar legislation banning staff from throwing away meals that were already served or publicly identifying students whose parents owe money.

Iowa schools are encouraged, but not required, to provide meals to students who can’t pay for them. Many students living in poverty can receive free meals through a federal program, and schools will expand efforts to sign up those who qualify. Schools will also be able to accept private donations to pay off unpaid meal debts. The bill didn’t include any new funding.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a man was arrested Monday on a warrant for Failure to Comply with Iowa’s Sex Offender Registry, and for Possessing a Weapon (a knife exceeding 5-inches), after he was found hiding in a closet. Pott. County Deputy Steven Maguire, who was conducting routine surveillance checks at the Regal Towers arrested 43-year old Shane Elam Rouse, of Council Bluffs, a resident of the complex. Rouse was seen on video entering a room and remaining in the room until just before 1-p.m., when he left and began walking toward the elevators on the 6th floor. The Deputy waited at the elevators on the first floor for Rouse to exit the elevator, but he failed to do so.

Probation Officers Dan Newby and Tyson Howard were en route to assist with taking Rouse in to custody. Newby and Howard arrived on scene and the Deputy began watching the surveillance cameras again. He discovered that Rouse did not get on the elevators but instead hid in the 6th floor trash closet. Newby, Howard and the Deputy went to the 6th floor and opened the trash closet door where Rouse was hiding and took him into custody without further incident. While searching Rouse’s person, he was discovered to have a knife exceeding 5 inches in length but not exceeding 8 inches on his person. The knife was seized as evidence. Rouse was transported to Pott. County Corrections and booked-in on the warrant.

The Sheriff’s Department reports also, 36-year old Michael Angelo Collins, of Council Bluffs, was served with a warrant Monday afternoon, failure to appear on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault with Injury/mental illness.  Collins was being held in the Pott. County Jail. He was read the warrant and then returned to his cell by Corrections Staff.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A Burlington man accused of using a claw hammer to fatally beat another man has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. Court records say 26-year-old Layton Tapscott entered the plea Monday to a charge of second-degree murder in the October 2016 slaying of 32-year-old Julian Menke at Menke’s home. Tapscott had been charged with first-degree murder and was scheduled to begin trial May 15. His sentencing is set for June 8.

The Hawk Eye reports that Tapscott told the judge he was angry at Menke because he thought Menke had made unwanted sexual advances to the mother of Tapscott’s child.

Members of the Audubon School District’s Board of Education, Monday night, approved a negotiated agreement with the Audubon Education Association. Superintendent Brett Gibbs told KJAN News the agreement covers contract language for the next two-years, and the financial aspect for the coming school year. The 2.66% increase was approved by the teachers last week, and by the Board Monday night. Gibbs said ordinarily, he hates the bargaining process, but the process here has been “Pretty painless.” The teachers and board, he said, have a good working relationship, one that is traditionally non-controversial.

The Audubon School Board also approved several new hires for teaching and coaching positions. Included among the new hires was Brandi Buetel as one of the district’s Special Education teachers and assistant high school volleyball coach. Kara Shanks will be a 2^nd grade teacher. Brooke Selvage will serve as a new Kindergarten teacher. Tyler Christensen, who was hired last month as a 4^th grade teacher, will also serve as one of the Assistant High School Football Coaches. Sean Birkes will be the Head Coach.

Two co-lead teachers were also hired for the District’s Summer Launch Program. They hired Jamie Christensen and Taylor Duvall will replace Jason Walter who requested the summer off to spend time with his family. More information about this year’s Summer Launch and Food Programs will be released in the coming weeks. Gibbs said they’re still looking for a Spanish Teacher for next year. In other business, Superintendent Gibbs said the Board set May 21^st at 6:30-p.m., as the date and time for a Public Hearing on an Amended Budget. The Budget session takes place prior to the start of the regular Audubon School Board meeting on that date.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A psychologist is returning home to northern Iowa to pursue her lifetime goal of operating an animal sanctuary in honor of her mother. The Globe Gazette reports that Judy Siems has started the Glady Mae Animal Sanctuary near Mason City and Burchinal. She says the nonprofit will give cats and dogs at risk of euthanasia a safe home. Siems says she promised her mother before she died that she’d open the animal sanctuary. She’d considered building the facility in Minnesota where she’d been living for 45 years, but realized the perfect place was in her childhood hometown.

Siems bought the 10-acre property in June. The organization is repairing four barns on the property to build kennels, runs and a play area. Siems also hopes to build a small medical building for an on-site veterinarian.

Members of the Griswold School Board, Monday evening, decided the future of next year’s second grade class. Superintendent Dave Henrichs told KJAN News the Board has been discussing the matter for the past couple of months. Henrichs says there are currently a total of 23 students in that class, and they’re split up into two buildings, one in Lewis and one in Elliott. Splitting it up makes for a section of 16 students and a section of 7. The question was, for next year, do they keep it two sections or make it one?

Henrichs said if it was another year down the road, when all the students are in one building, it would have been a really easy decision to make, but that’s not the case next year (2018-19). Monday night, the Griswold School Board voted to make 2^nd Grade one section. The plan now is to decide which building will house both sections, and iron out any transportation issues. Henrichs said the Griswold Board approved some new hires for next year and one resignation.

Jake Speer was hired as Middle School/High School PE/Health Teacher, as well as assistant high school boys basketball, Haley Schmidt was hired as Elementary Vocal & TAG Teacher, and Larissa Potter was hired as an Elementary Teacher. The Board approved the resignation of Peggy Casey, Middle School/High School English Teacher, and they accepted a one-year leave of absence from Sara Johnson, Elementary Teacher.

Henrichs said action on the Technology Plan was tabled until the meeting next month, and the Technology charge is unchanged from last year, at $40.