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.

ORANGE CITY, Iowa (AP) — Northwestern College says it’s received a $6 million gift for its new science building, the largest single gift in school history. The $24.5 million building will be named for benefactors Jack and Mary DeWitt, who live in Holland, Michigan. The building will have classrooms, laboratories and faculty offices for the college’s biology, chemistry and nursing department, as well as space for student-faculty research. It is scheduled to open in August. Jack DeWitt served on the college board of trustees for 13 years.

(Updated) — The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest at around 12:56-a.m. today (Tuesday), of 19-year old Dalton Scott Jipsen, of Elliott. Jipsen was driving a vehicle that was pulled over at around 12-a.m. on Brothers Avenue, near the intersection with Highway 59. Mills County Deputies, with assistance from the Mills County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit, searched the vehicle, and discovered 61 grams of marijuana and THC wax. Jipsen was taken into custody for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp, and Speeding. His bond was set at $6,000.

And, 33-year old Toby Lee McCunn, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 1:50-a.m. today (Tuesday), for Driving While Revoked. His bond was set at $1,000.