Did a teacher with the Shenandoah Community School District tell the students in her class to get in line, and spit on another student? That’s the question parents are asking, and the District is being mum on the matter. According to a report by Omaha television station WOWT-TV, parents say the teacher had almost all of the children in one class spit on a boy one by one last week. Accusations against the teacher have been appeared on Facebook recently, as well.

The Omaha World-Herald says the student’s mother, Alexandria Kindopp, posted on Face­book that her son Jaxon was spit upon at the teacher’s direction because he was sticking his tongue out and blowing “raspberries” at another student. She said the incident happened Oct. 8th. Kindopp said that the teacher called her that same afternoon, admitting that it was an error in judgment,  but said she did not apologize.

Shenandoah Schools Superintendent Jeff Hiser said the teacher has been placed on leave, and that an investigation is underway. In a statement released to the media, Hiser said “The district can not discuss this or any particular incident as it is a confidential personnel and/or student matter. I can say that the safety and well being of students is the District’s first priority and it takes all claims of bullying and harassment seriously and investigates all complaints it receives and responds as the investigation warrants.”

It’s not clear if a report or complaint has been filed with the Shenandoah Police Department.

Local residents, business owners and community leaders are invited to share their thoughts about opportunities and challenges in rural Iowa, during a Rural-Issues Roundtable Discussion in Corning, on October 25th. The discussion, featuring USDA Rural Development State Director from Iowa, Bill Menner, will run from 1-to 2:30-p.m. next Thursday, at the Corning Public Library (603 9th St.), in Corning. The meeting is open to the public.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources said Thursday, that the Environmental Protection Commission has approved projects throughout Iowa to reduce waste going to landfills. The action  came during the EPC’s meeting on September 18th. 14 local governments, three private for-profit and two private not-for-profit projects were approved to receive DNR Solid Waste Alternatives Program (SWAP) funding, amounting to just over $606,500.

In southwest Iowa: The West Central Iowa Solid Waste Management Association (which serves Crawford, Carroll and Shelby Counties), received $60,436, to update its residential and commercial outreach programs, to begin recycling incentive programs, provide new opportunities for residential document recycling, and to develop and begin an electronics recycling program. The funds will also help them to expand commercial and institutional cardboard and paper container programs.

And, the City of Shenandoah received $20, 744, to purchase a tandem axle spreader and box scraper, that will allow the city to collect sludge from its wastewater treatment plant facility, and distribute it across surrounding farmland, as fertilizer.

Bridge maintenance work will require restricting westbound Interstate 80 traffic to one lane between exit 1B (South 24th Street) and exit 5 (Madison Avenue) near Council Bluffs from 7-p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, until 6-a.m. Monday, Oct. 22nd, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Council Bluff’s construction office. Westbound I-80 traffic will not be able to use exit 3 (South Expressway Street) during this project. There is a 12-foot-6-inch width lane restriction and 80,000 pound weight restriction in the open lanes. Motorists may wish to take I-680 to southbound I-29 to avoid possible traffic congestion in the area.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey posted speed limits 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.

All four candidates who are running for Iowa’s Third District Congressional seat met in Shenandoah last (Wednesday) night for a four-way debate. One topic was a woman’s reproductive rights. Each candidate was asked whether he’d support a constitutional amendment to ban abortions, except in the cases of rape or incest. Republican incumbent Tom Latham says he has a one-hundred-percent pro-life voting record. Latham says he supports the amendment that provides the exceptions for rape, incest or the life of the mother. “I think where that applies and should apply with the federal government is in the funding areas to make sure that what they call Mexico City Policy, that we’re not funding abortions overseas,” Latham says. “It’s a moral issue and I will always be pro-life.”

Socialist Workers Party candidate David Rosenfeld says he’s one-hundred-percent in favor of a woman’s right to choose. “Without the right to control reproduction, without the right to control her body, women cannot achieve full social equality in this society,” Rosenfeld says. “Since Roe versus Wade legalized abortion in this country, there has been a non-stop attack on that right, eroding it year after year.”

Democrat incumbent Leonard Boswell says he trusts women to make up their own minds. “Women are able to make a decision,” Boswell says. “They share in our society in every respect. We’ve gotta’ have some trust. I trust my daughters. I trust my wife. I trust women and I think having some elected official decide what a woman is going to do with her life is just uncalled-for and unnecessary.”

While saying he’s pro-life, independent candidate Scott Batcher says he believes federal funding for Planned Parenthood should continue, because of the educational services it provides. “When we look at funding Planned Parenthood, are we funding all companies like Planned Parenthood for their increased education?” Batcher says. “The more we educate the public, the less abortions are going to occur. We’re going to reduce that number the more we educate the public. Doing away with that education is not what we need to do.”  Wednesday night’s 90-minute debate took place at the K-M-A studios in Shenandoah.

(Radio Iowa)

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says a Red Oak teen was arrested this (Thursday) morning in Villisca, on a warrant charging her with a curfew violation. 18-year old Kaylie Hudson was taken into custody at around 9-a.m. in Villisca, and brought by Montgomery County deputies to the Pottawattamie County line, where she was turned over to Pott. County deputies for transport to the jail in Council Bluffs.

The Shelby County Supervisors Thursday, approved by a 2-to-1 vote, a motion to support a merge of Shelby County DevelopSource and Shelby County Chamber of Commerce. The same motion had been approved by the Harlan City Council Tuesday evening. The Supervisors also approved a motion to request an accounting of the hotel/motel tax revenues/disbursements handled since its inception.

The Supervisors Chamber in the basement of the Shelby County Courthouse was filled with members of the Shelby County Chamber, Tourism Committee and Hotel/Motel Tax Task Force. Supervisor James Burmeister said he would have rather seen the two boards come up with a plan before the Board of Supervisors voted on the motion. Chamber Board Member Marty Burchett spoke to the board about the two groups joining forces. She said “We have no structure laid out. This is just conversations going on more so from DevelopSource then the Chamber. We have miles to go before this will ever happen.”

Randy Ouren, former President of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, says he had received an e-mail, as had several other members of the Chamber and City Council, from Mayor Gettys and read it to the Supervisors. Part of the e-mail was about the Hotel/Motel Tax. He said “The Hotel/Motel tax would continue in the new organization as well as current funding in support. This was the last disturbing sentence: The City Council will vote on other avenues if this does not proceed. What I am interpreting what is going on here as an extension to forcing that maybe going into incremental steps over time. That’s my only concern.”

Harlan City Administrator Terry Cox says if the Chamber and DevelopSource merged, the tourism committee would continue. Cox said“If they did merge, this tourism committee would not go away. It’s the best interest of the county. No one is taking the money. The law states what you can do with it.” After further discussion Cox said it is all about finding the best solution. The motions were then passed by the Supervisors.

In other business, Cox asked for a motion in support of the City to look into moving the Harlan City Hall and the Harlan Police Department to the College Park building. Cox said the County gave $100,000 for the building. The planning is in the early stages as Cox brought the idea to every contributor that had invested in the College Park building. The banks approved the idea and liked the possibility of the current City Hall being used as an incubator for start up businesses. As Cox said, this is a possibility and all avenues are being looked at. The motion was approved.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

Two Iowa State Troopers who died when their plane crashed into a field near Atlantic a little over 23-years ago, were honored this (Thursday) morning, at ISP State Radio, near Lewis. The bridges located along Highway Six in Cass County, were named for Trooper Pilot Lance Dietsch and Trooper Stanley Gerling.

Maj. Tim Leinen, IA State Patrol, talks about the crash that took the lives of two Troopers in Cass County.

Major Tim Leinen with the State Patrol said prior to today, six Troopers were recognized who lost their lives in the line of duty. The remaining two Troopers will be honored over the next few weeks. In all, 10-State Troopers have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving the citizens of Iowa.

Major Leinen was on duty the fatal day Troopers Dietsch and Gerling died. He was working in the Council Bluffs area following the pursuit of a stolen vehicle. Trooper Pilot Dietch was also part of the pursuit. He was one of the Troopers to transport the suspects to jail. Dietsch then drove to Atlantic to take the airplane up during the July 4^th weekend patrol. Leinen says it wasn’t until later he found out what happened.

Leinen says Dietsch and Gerling were killed in an airplane accident on June 30th, 1989, southwest of Atlantic. The pair had been searching for an elderly man who had wandered off, and were about to call off the search when they troopers located him in a soybean field. They began to circle the area when the plane made a sudden turn and crashed vertically into the ground.

Troopers Dietsch and Gerling were the first aircraft fatalities since the addition of the Patrol Airwing in 1956. Dietsch, of Council Bluffs, was 30-years old, and a six-year veteran of the Iowa State Patrol. He was survived by his fiancé.’ Gerling was 34-years old, and in his first year of service to the Patrol. He is survived by his wife and two sons. Leinen recalled the mood of his fellow Troopers when he heard the news about the crash.

Members of Trooper Stanley Gerling’s family pose in front of a sign in his honor at State Radio near Lewis.

He said he heard about an accident on the communications channels. When he came to the Post, he met other Troopers who had come away from a briefing, and they were very somber. He says he still thinks about the crash to this day, and gets very emotional about it, especially when he drives by the location of the crash near Highway Six. The bridges with the men’s names in memoriam, are located west and northeast of Lewis along Highway 6, as it traverses Indian Creek, and Turkey Creek.

(click on the images to enlarge)

The Atlantic Police Department reports the arrest Wednesday, of 18-year old Tyler Doll. Doll, who’s from Atlantic, was taken into custody on a charge of OWI/1st Offense. He was booked into the Cass County Jail and held, pending an appearance before the magistrate.

(9-a.m. News)

The State Fire Marshals Office and Iowa Department of Public Safety report Burn Bans which had been in place for Carroll and Madison Counties, were lifted this week. The bans on open burning due to the extremely dry summer conditions, were enacted in late July. Recent rains and current climate conditions prompted officials in Carroll and Madison Counties to ask for their burn bans to be rescinded. The ban was lifted in Madison County this (Thursday) morning, while the Carroll County burn ban was lifted Tuesday afternoon. And, as mentioned earlier, a burn ban in Pottawattamie County, was also rescinded, on Wednesday.