COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A Council Bluffs group working to update and expand the Dream Playground at Lake Manawa State Park intends to use fence pickets to help fund the project. The Daily Nonpareil reports that plans call for a picket fence to surround the playground. The Dream Playground Re-imagined group intends to let individuals, community groups and businesses pay $100 each for the nearly 1,400 pickets, which can be engraved with a maximum of 22 characters.

The playground was built in 1993 and was named the Dream Playground because its features were conceptualized by elementary students. The same design process was repeated last March, when students were asked to redesign the playground as they think it should be.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — The Western Historic Trails Center in Council Bluffs was created to tell the story of this area’s importance to the many westward trails of the 1800s. The center is displaying some history of its own in celebration of 20 years of providing insight into early American travel. Now through next spring, visitors will be able to read the center’s history in a large collection of scrap books containing preserved newspaper articles and other written accounts, photographs of special events and people, and other mementos. Included in the collection is a proclamation by then-Gov. Chet Culver that proclaimed the center in Council Bluffs as the capital of Iowa for a day. People can write favorite memories of the center on nearby cards.

The center was formed through a partnership of government entities and the private sector, according to Teressa Sward, museum technician. “They were looking to place an interpretive center to tell the history of the pioneers who went west from here,” Sward told The Daily Nonpareil . The chosen site, which had long been Missouri River bottom land, was ideal because the numerous westward trails obviously had to cross the river, sometimes taking apart covered wagons so that the pieces can be placed on log ferries and reassembling them again on the other side, according to Sward. The center officially opened on Oct. 4, 1997, and over the years tens of thousands of people have toured the center to learn more about the Lewis and Clark, Oregon, California and Mormon trails. “We were a major jumping off point for the trails,” Sward said.

On average, between 50,000 and 60,000 visitors tour the museum annually, Sward said. During the Lewis and Clark Trail bicentennial, about 80,000 walked through the doors, she added. Many have come from far-away places as India, Pakistan, Norway, Vietnam, Sudan, Argentina and Greenland, Sward said. The center is situated on 423 acres with acres and acres of tall native prairie grasses, as well as a pond behind the center and a bicycle-walking trail through river bottom woodlands.

Besides its historical displays, the center hosts many family-friendly educational and social events. There are also musical jams on Thursdays and Saturdays. What’s more, it’s all free, Sward said.

The 2017 “Teacher of the Year” in Iowa says veteran teachers serving as “instructional coaches” are helping keep rookie teachers from leaving the profession. “Mentor leaders are providing support and encouragement to our new teachers in those critical first years. These leaders are crucial in helping us retain quality teachers in classroom.”

That’s Norwalk fifth-grade teacher Shelly Vroegh. As Iowa’s 2017 “Teacher of the Year” Vroegh received a stipend so she could temporarily leave her job and visit schools around the state. Vroegh has been teaching for two decades and she touts the NEW state program providing bonuses to about nine-thousand Iowa teachers serving as “instructional coaches” in their local school. “Teacher leadership compensation has been the best initiative our state has provided teachers during the course of my teaching career and we need to encourage and motivate teachers to take on leadership opportunities within their schools.” she says. “We need to continue to work collaboratively to use data as the driving force for our decisions as well as reflect on our current practices in order to improve and grow as educators.”

In June, 85 percent of Iowa school administrators said the program had helped retain teachers and attract new ones to their districts. Keeping teachers in the profession is crucial, as there’s a national teaching shortage and fewer college students are choosing to become teachers.

(Radio Iowa)

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa plans to demolish part of a building erected in 1899. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that a portion of Seashore Hall will come down in early to mid-December. It’s been the home of the Psychological and Brain Sciences Department and was the site of the University Hospital from 1899 until 1929. It’s making way for a $33.5 million building that’s expected to open in 2020. The demolition at the Iowa City campus is expected to take about five weeks.

Authorities in Missouri Valley have confirmed two people died during a fire there Thanksgiving morning. According to a report in the Missouri Valley Times-News, the bodies of two people were removed Thursday afternoon from the scene of a fire in downtown Missouri Valley that destroyed a computer and electronics business.

In a press conference held at the scene on Thursday afternoon, Nov. 23, Missouri Valley Police Chief Ed Murray confirmed social media posts about the deaths, but could not release additional information, other than to say the bodies were burned beyond recognition and were transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office, in Ankeny to confirm identities.

The bodies were found at around 7:45-a.m., Thursday, after the flames were extinguished. Earlier in the day during the fire, CTI Electronics business owner Tracy Scott expressed concern for his overnight security man, Chad Stevens, who was unaccounted for at that time. Friends of Stevens on the scene said that calls to his cell phone were getting a message that the number being called was not accepting messages at the time. Other reports seemed to confirm the 42-year old Stevens was one of the victims.

The cause of the blaze was under investigation.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:45 a.m. CST

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Northwest Iowa authorities say they arrested a Colorado man with 77 pounds (35 kilograms) of marijuana in his vehicle. Court records say Darrel Wait, of Thornton, Colorado, is charged with two counts of possession of a controlled drug and with other crimes. His attorney didn’t immediately return a call Thursday from The Associated Press.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A city official says Mason City’s fire chief has quit his post. Interim City Administrator Kevin Jacobson confirmed Wednesday that Chief Al Dyer Jr.’s resignation letter had been submitted to the city. Jacobson and Mayor Eric Bookmeyer declined to say why Dyer had stepped down. Dyer had been put on administrative leave Nov. 2 for reasons that have not been disclosed either. He’s declined to comment.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A northwest Iowa man has pleaded guilty to illegally manufacturing anabolic steroids. Prosecutors say 23-year-old James Nhan, of Orange City, entered the plea Monday in U.S. District Court in Sioux City. Experts say anabolic steroids are considered controlled substances that are related to testosterone and promote the growth of skeletal muscle and the development of male sexual characteristics. Nhan’s sentencing date has not yet been set.

KEOKUK, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa judge has awarded a default judgment to parents and former students who sued a southeast Iowa boarding school, alleging that it used isolation boxes and allowed sexual harassment and abuse. Lee County documents say the owner of Midwest Academy, Ben Trane, and the other entities never responded to the lawsuit filed against them in March 2016. The judge granted the complainants’ judgment motion last week.