GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) – Eight drivers are representing the Nebraska trucking industry at the national competition in Orlando, Fla., this week. The drivers all won the chance to represent Nebraska by winning one of the categories at the Nebraska Truck Driving Championships in June. The competition is designed to promote safety while drivers showcase their skills in tests such as an alley dock, side park and right turn. Drivers also have to navigate an obstacle course that designed to represent challenges they face every day.

Tim Dean, of Griswold, Iowa, was named the best professional truck driver in Nebraska after winning the tanker competition. He is one of three drivers for Omaha-based Werner Enterprises who won state categories. Drivers from Crete Carrier Corporation won two of the eight state categories.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – When the Missouri River’s floodwaters recede this fall, piles of debris, silt and some smelly surprises will be revealed. It’s hard to say exactly what’s hiding under the waters, but experts predict this year’s epic flood will leave behind a mammoth mess once the water returns to within the Missouri River’s banks. The Army Corps of Engineers’ John Remus says he doesn’t envy the cleanup crews.

Much of the flooded land in Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri this year was farmland, so the mess is certain to include agricultural debris like crop residue and fuel tanks. Carcasses of small animals swept up by the flood will add to the mess. And the river will leave large piles of sand and woody debris all over the floodplain.

MADRID, Iowa (AP) – Two people have died in a small plane crash near the Des Moines River near Madrid. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the Saturday afternoon crash of a vintage World War II plane. The Dallas County sheriff’s office says the plane went down in a remote area and was only accessible by boat or helicopter. The plane took down some high-power transmission lines when it crashed. Authorities have not yet released the name of the pilot or passenger who died in the crash.

The plane was a rebuilt war plane from the Iowa Aviation Museum in Greenfield. It was flying along the river from Boone to Ankeny when it crashed.

An Elliott woman was arrested Friday afternoon on a felony arson charge. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 47-year old Tammy Sue Davis was taken into custody on a warrant charging her with Arson in the 1^st Degree, a Class “B” Felony.

Davis was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $25,000 bond.

Sheriff’s officials were not able to provide more detailed information on the basis for the warrant, Saturday evening.

A Red Oak teen was arrested on a burglary charge Friday. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says 16-year old Kendall Brian Kuhlman faces a charge of burglary in the 3^rd Degree. He was transported to the Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs, and held until his case appears in court.

A Red Oak man was arrested Friday on a drug charge. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says 18-year old Caleb Robert Renn was taken into custody for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Renn was brought to the Montgomery County jail, and later released on a citation.

AMES, Iowa (AP) – Michele Bachmann is the winner of the Iowa Straw Poll. For the tea party favorite, it was a display of popularity and organizational strength — five months before the Iowa caucuses begin the GOP presidential nominating season. Texas Congressman Ron Paul finished a close second. Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who has sparred with his home-state rival Bachmann in a debate and on the campaign trail, finished a distant third.

Pawlenty made it clear he’s not dropping out, despite a disappointing finish. He said, “We have a lot more work to do” — but that his campaign is “just beginning.” Today’s poll doesn’t necessarily predict who will win the Iowa caucuses. But it shows that Bachmann has some support in the state — as well as the strongest get-out-the-vote operation and widest volunteer base.

In speeches throughout the day, candidates assailed President Barack Obama and offered themselves as the answer to America’s high unemployment, rising debt and stock market swings.

The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Board of Directors will meet Monday evening at City Hall.

Action items on their agenda include: matters pertaining to the Board Secretary’s job; the purchase of a new 72-inch mower with trade-in’s; repair and replacement of the Schildberg Recreation Area fishing dock; and possible solutions to the persistent dock anchoring issues that arise, along with associated costs. The Parks and Rec Board will also address signage in the Schildberg Rec area, and swimming concerns.

Other matters up for discussion include: updates on the Schildberg Trail #1 & Bull Creek Pathway resurfacing projects; City Park sidewalk replacement; replacement of the Parks & Rec maintenance building; Sunnyside tennis courts, and restroom replacement issues.

The meeting will take place in the Council’s Chambers, inside the Atlantic City Hall, beginning at 5:15-p.m., Monday.

A meeting was held Thursday in Villisca with regard to the results of a feasibility study for Whole Grade Sharing between the Villisca and Stanton, and Villisca and Corning Community Schools Districts. To summize, consultants headed by UNI Professor Dr. Bob Decker, concluded a WGS agreement between the Villisca and Corning Districts would be more beneficial to the student bodies both schools, because of the increased classroom opportunities.  An agreement betwee the Stanton and Villisca School Districts would act as a  “band-aid” approach,  that would leave certain issues to be addressed again, in less than six-years, even though Stanton offers more classes and a healthy financial standing.  There were also some logistical concerns with that arrangement, were it to become a reality, such as limited parking, if the combined high school were to be located in Villisca.

To read the results of the Stanton-Villisca study, click on this link:

http://www.villisca.k12.ia.us/Stan%20and%20Vill%20Final%20%20Document.pdf

To read the results of the Corning-Villisca study, click here:

http://www.villisca.k12.ia.us/Cor%20and%20Vill%20Final%20Document.pdf

A trio of school Boards of Education will meet Monday in the immediate KJAN listening area. First up at 3:30-p.m., is the CAM Community School District’s board meeting.

They’ll gather at the CAM Outdoor Classroom in rural Massena. On their agenda is discussion pertaining to Wind Turbine TIF (Tax Increment Financing), and voting sites for the school board election on September 13^th. The CAM Board will also make decisions with regard to a computerized router purchase, resignations, and a contract revision.

At 5:00, the Elk Horn-Kimballton School Board will gather in the Family and Consumer Science room at the high school in Elk Horn. During their session, the board will approve a selection of bank depositories for the 2011-2012 school year, along with a contract for the school nurse. Other discussion and possible action items include, but are not limited to, One-to-One Computer software/filtering, and approval of John Baylor as a test preparation instructor.

And, at 5:30-p.m. Monday, the Griswold School Board will meet in the Central Office Board room. In addition to regular administrative matters, the Board will discuss the funding of short- and long-term facilities projects.