DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – City and business leaders are backing an effort to end greyhound racing in Dubuque and Council Bluffs.  The Mystique greyhound track in Dubuque and Bluffs Run Greyhound Park at Horseshoe Council Bluffs are the last two remaining in the state, and attendance has been falling for years due to casinos. Gambling profits at the tracks have plummeted from a combined total of $186 million in 1986 to $5.9 million in 2012.

The Des Moines Register reports about $14 million in annual subsidies from Iowa casino profits help keep greyhound racing operations afloat. Some lawmakers believe the money could be better spent. Other lawmakers, expressing concern over job losses, say they want the greyhound industry and casino industry to reach an agreement before a bill is formally on the table.

The Harlan Police Department says two people were injured during separate accidents last week. On Friday, vehicles driven by Julie Schneider, of Portsmouth, and Jacob Wilderding, of Neligh, NE, collided at 10^th and Durant Streets, after Wilwerding failed to yield upon entering a through highway. Schneider was transported by private vehicle to Myrtue Memorial Hospital for treatment of back pain. Damage from the crash amounted to $11,000.

And on Jan. 13^th, vehicles driven by Helen Schmitz, of Harlan, and Michael Fisher, of Council Bluffs, collided at the intersection of 19^th and Chatburn, in Harlan. A passenger in the Fisher vehicle was transported to Myrtue Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. The accident caused $4,500 damage. The report did not indicate any citations were issued.

The Harlan Police Department released a report today (Tuesday) on recent incidents, investigations and arrests. Officials say on Sunday, a Harlan resident reported that someone had broken the window out of her 2000 Toyota Sienna while parked at her residence in the 800 block of Court Street. A cable receiver was also missing from her garage, and graffiti spray painted on the garage. The estimated cost of repairs and replacement amounted to $950.

Authorties say last Friday, Theft charges were filed by Dana Lauritsen, Harlan, against Daren Lauritsen, Exira, for allegedly removing a playhouse and swing set from the property in the 1600 block of West Park. Charges were filed with the clerk of court.

On January 16th, Express Lube and Tire in Harlan reported to police the theft of a blue 1997 Chevrolet. The vehicle was taken from the business at 1101 Chatburn Avenue. Authorities continue to investigate the incident.

On January 14th, a Harlan man reported to police the theft of a custom dirt bike. The bike was taken from a residence in the 1700 block of 6th Street. There are no suspects and the case remains under investigation.

On January 11th, 39-year old Victoria Gonzales, of Harlan, was arrested following an investigation. Gonzales was taken to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with child endangerment. Officials say two minor children were transported to Children’s Square in Council Bluffs.

And on January 10th,  a female in Harlan reported the theft of an iPod taken from her vehicle parked at Dollar General. There are no suspects and the case remains under investigation.

About one-third of the state’s school districts have started the application process to set up teacher mentoring programs and start changing the way teachers are paid. The application deadline is January 31st and Iowa Department of Education director Brad Buck says the grant money will be distributed based on a formula, so schools of all sizes and in all areas of the state will get started in year one.  “Great teachers are at the heart of good schools,” Buck says. “The teacher leadership and compensation system is about investing in our teachers, who are the most important influence on learning inside schools, to improve instruction and raise student achievement.”

The education reform law passed in 2013 set aside enough grant money for these teacher projects in one-third of Iowa schools in the first year, two thirds in the second and all schools in the third year. The new law does not require schools to participate, but Governor Terry Branstad expects all will do so given the additional state money that’s being offered. Branstad says three-hundred-and-nine dollars ($309) per student is a “significant financial incentive” for participation.

A few schools in rural areas with low enrollment, however, may opt out because of the higher minimum teacher salary required by the new law, as the additional state money won’t be enough to cover the required salary hikes. Buck says two task forces created by the 2013 law are coming up with recommendations, too. One task force is considering new ways to evaluate teachers and the other will recommend the best way to test students.  “The main goal with this is to make sure we’re going everything we can as a state to make sure all students leave high school prepared for post-secondary education and training,” Buck says.

A new state-run website for job openings in Iowa schools — www.TeachIowa.gov — has been created because of the education reform plan, too. Almost 15-hundred job openings advertised on the website today.

(Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will act Wednesday on a Resolution setting Feb. 12th as the the date for a hearing on the vacating of a section of County-owned road Right-of-Way. The affected  road is 644th Street in Section 14 of Grove Township,  and a portion of 700th Street, lying between sections 2 and 3, Grove Township.

In other business, the Supervisors will act on approving a contract with SWIPCO for the providing of services necessary to carry out the formal adoption of a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) for rural Cass County and the eight cities within the County. Total cost of the contract amounts to $53,000, with the Feds and State picking up $45,050 of the cost, and the local, in-kind share amounting to $7,950.

The Board will also act on an appointment to fill a vacancy term on the Cass County Board of Health, if an appointee name is made available.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Search teams have resumed the effort to recover the body of a worker killed in a southwestern Omaha industrial accident.  Omaha Fire Department Battalion Chief Tim McCaw says the search resumed about 8 a.m. Tuesday, as temperatures hovered just below zero.

Witnesses at the International Nutrition livestock feed manufacturing plant reported hearing an explosion before a fire and partial collapse of the three-level plant Monday morning killed two people and injured 17 others.

The body of 53-year-old Keith Everett, of Omaha, was recovered from the mangled structure Monday evening. But a combination of strong winds, cold temperatures and the dangerous rubble forced rescuers to suspend operations before the second victim could be recovered. That second victim’s name has not yet been released.

The Boyer Valley Community School District has taken the next step in finding a new Superintendent/Middle School High School Principal. In a packed community room at the high school Monday night, the board heard from several members of the audience during the open forum to voice their disapproval of the recent board vote to combine the principal and superintendent jobs into one.

Twenty five people were in attendance. Elizabeth Heistand, a recently elected board member, told the audience the board decided in an agreement to approve the motion at their last board meeting. Of the concerns from the crowd, trust was an issue as was the lack of research done by the board. Board member Steve Puck agreed. “We should have discussed the ideas of how we are going to cover it, who’s going to do what. That all should be part of our decision and we never did.”

Chairman Bud Dunham differed in opinion by stating the board had talked about merging the jobs several times and no one mentioned other solutions. Trisha Roberts, a concerned citizen told the board she would like to see the board rescind their vote from last month. “I personally would like to see more exhaustive research done. And if it ends up being the same decision, fine. But I don’t feel like all the plans and different options were completely exhausted for such a major decision be made. I would like to see the board reconsider their vote from last month and do that research and come up with a plan and then comeback and say yes this is the plan and this is the way to go.”

Dunham mentioned 51 other schools in the state of Iowa have a shared position of Superintendent/HS Principal at the moment. Later in the meeting, the board did move forward with the plans to find a new Superintendent/MSHS Principal by hiring long time Harlan Community Superintendent Bob Broomfield as a consultant to help the school district hire the shared position. The fee for Broomfield is $7,000.

In other business, the Boyer Valley School board heard from head football coach Jay Peterson on the topic of the school’s baseball program. Last year, the district shared baseball with Woodbine. Coach Peterson said the original plan a week ago was to disband baseball from the district altogether but now believed that was not a good idea. “I think we will have enough kids here to maintain a baseball program successfully without scraping by and keep that in house without sharing equipment. It is something I would be interested in doing with that job were available.”

Peterson went on to say he had spoken to kids informally and had a rough estimate of 16 to 19 kids who would go out for baseball if it were offered in the summer. Last season with Woodbine, only 5 to 7 kids went out according to Athletic Director Ernie Klein. The board agreed and a formal motion will be brought to the board at their February meeting.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

Officials with the Cass County Memorial Hospital Foundation say they are offering $10,000 in scholarships to students who are enrolled and have been accepted into a nursing or medical doctor training program.  The scholarships were established by a bequest from Louis and Elsie Hansen.  John Molgaard, CCMH Foundation board member, says “The Hansens believed strongly in the importance of education, and the need for well-trained healthcare professionals,” explained .  We are very proud to provide this scholarship in their memory.”

The Louis and Elsie Hansen Memorial Scholarship was established to benefit Cass County high school graduates who are enrolled in a college of nursing or medicine, leading to an LPN, RN or MD degree.  Two $5000 awards will be presented.

Consideration will be given to applicants’ scholarship, citizenship and leadership abilities.  Applications are available at area high school guidance offices and the Foundation office at Cass County Memorial Hospital.  Applications are also available to download through a link on the hospital website, www.casshealth.org.

2013 recipients of the Elsie and Louie Hansen Scholarship were Ben Kopp of Anita who is attending the University of Iowa College of Medicine and Alisha Ponsar who is attending Creighton University for a Registered Nurse with Bachelor of Science degree.

Applications for the scholarship are due April 1, 2014.  For further information, contact Dawn Marnin, CCMH Foundation Director, at 712-243-7409 or mardd@casshealth.org.

The Harlan Community School District’s Board of Education has approved the final plans for the Merrill Field Project. In a meeting held Monday, the board made their comments and gathered the final information from Superintendent Justin Wagner before making the motion. Wagner said there are five pieces to take away with the project. “There are really five major parts of this: field turf, resurfacing of the track, the bleachers, lighting and the entrance. If you look at that the cyclone logo will be in the middle, new bleachers on the visitor side and the home side.”

Wagner told the board the figures for bleachers came in slightly lower then originally thought so the plans now include all new bleachers including the elementary bleachers on the north end which was not in the previous plans. The district will be receiving a donation from FMCTC to provide all the boring and trenching for the electrical contractor too which is said to be a huge savings in the project.

With the board’s approval, the next step is  FEH Associates to solicit bids for the project. The Harlan School Board also set the date of February 10^th at 4:30-pm for a public hearing on the gym air conditioning system for the high school gymnasium.

Board president Bruce Goeser said the system has been discussed for nearly 7 years and is on its last legs. Wagner said the money is there and the energy audit recently done showed the school could save over $20,000 on energy savings with a new system. He said a new system will cost approximately $370,000 and the school district has set $384,000 aside for the project. Once the public hearing is held and bids are approved, the school expects the system to be installed after graduation with a completion date of August 1^st.

The board also discussed at length about the drugs and alcohol issue at the school district. In light of recent news, the Harlan Community School District is discussing ways to make a tougher stand on drugs and alcohol use in the district. One topic discussed was the potential to perform random drug testing in the junior high and high school. High School Principal John Connell said it would certainly help. “It is not a thing where we are looking to catch people especially if the first positive is confidential and maybe it let’s the kids get counseling. But the other thing it does is give the kids a chance to say no. If they know they could be tested and they are in that situation, it is easier for them to say no because I could be tested. Where someone is not in extra curricular activities or any other activities, they are not going to get tested and they don’t have a reason to say no.”

The State of Iowa does not allow drug testing on high school students but Wagner said there are some gray areas. No motion was made by the school district and the topic will be discussed further.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

w/ Ric Hanson

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