Southwest Iowa residents who have an opinion about the current state of education in Iowa, and Governor Terry Branstad’s latest education initiative, may want to attend one of several town hall meetings being held around the area today (Tuesday) and tomorrow (Wednesday). Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds will hold town hall meetings focusing on their education blueprint today in Mount Ayr, Bedford, Clarinda and Red Oak, and on Wednesday in Creston and Greenfield.

The Governor has proposed the boosting of beginning teacher pay and holding entry-level teachers to higher academic standards. In his initiative, which was unveiled October 3^rd, the Governor set a goal of Iowa becoming the top-performing state in education, over the course of the next decade. To do that, he’s proposed: linking aspects of teacher pay to classroom performance; treating beginning teachers as “at-will” employees, who would have their contracts renewed annually by their local boards of education; requiring a minimum 3.0 college G.P.A to enter teacher prep programs; and, requiring 3^rd graders to demonstrate their reading ability before being promoted to the 4^th grade.

You can hear about his initiative and offer your input at these meeting places and times…
Tuesday, October 25th, 2011
11 a.m. In the auditorium at the Mt. Ayr High School
1:30 p.m. In the Bedford Community High School
3 p.m. In the Commons area at the Clarinda High School
5:30 p.m. At The Wilson Performing Arts Center in Red Oak.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011
9 a.m. At the Creston High School
11 a.m. In the Auditorium at the Nodaway Valley High School in Greenfield.
For more information, visit www.governor.iowa.gov

w/ Ric Hanson

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The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will hold a work session this evening in the ICN room at the High School. During the 7:30 meeting, the Board will hear from District Technology Coordinator Roger Warne, about the new ICN classroom and the future of district technology. In addition, Warne will preview the new district webpage and discuss technology purchases for the 2011-2012 school year.

Other discussion will center on activities associated with the Iowa Association of School Boards. No action is expected on those matters, during tonight’s work session.

A single-vehicle accident Sunday in Cass County created another accident moments later. Sheriff’s officials say 20-year old Alicyn Dalene Kuhns, of Atlantic, was traveling south on Buck Creek Road, when she lost control of the  2003 Pontiac Grand Prix she was driving . The car slammed into a bridge railing near the intersection with Glacier Road, and when then hit from behind by a 1995 Buick Lesabre.  The driver of the second car, 17-year old Anthony Scott Lucas, of Atlantic,  had been following Kuhn’s car, and was unable to stop following her accident. 

No injuries were reported.  Authorities estimated the damage to Kuhns’ vehicle at $4,000, while  Lucas’s car sustained about $1,000 damage.  Damage to the bridge was estimated at $5000.

Sheriff’s officials in Adams County said Monday, a traffic interdiction program conducted on Highway 34 Sunday afternoon, led to the arrest of a Corning man.  Officials say as a vehicle driven by Denise Carder, of Nodaway, was stopped and  searched by a Ringgold County k-9 unit,  information was received indicating a controlled substance could be found at the residence of Carder and 40-year old Martin Lee Grace, who authorities say lives in Corning. 

Carder gave authorities permission to search her residence, during which a controlled substance was in fact, located. Martin Grace, who was already being detained in Adams County while an OWI investigation was underway, was placed under arrest for Possession of a Controlled Substance. He faces charges of Possession of Controlled Substance on Certain Real Property, and two-counts of Child Endangerment.

The case remains under investigation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa farmers are making good progress on the harvest as well as fall field work as the dry weather continues. The weekly crop report on Monday says the dry spell is affecting soil moisture, with topsoil moisture levels at 35 percent very short and 37 percent short.

The report shows 71 percent of the corn crop has been harvested, which is about two weeks ahead of the five-year average. Fifty-nine percent of the corn is in good to excellent condition. The soybean harvest is 95 percent complete, more than two weeks ahead of the average pace.

Rain totals for the week ranged from none over much of the northeast two-thirds of Iowa to .22 inches at Underwood in Pottawattamie County in western Iowa.

Another southwest Iowa roadway that was reduced to rubble by this summer’s flooding of the Missouri River has reopened. State Highway 2 between Interstate 29 and Nebraska City opened to traffic over the weekend. Dena Gray-Fisher, with Iowa DOT, says it means the end to another pesky detour for many residents and commuters in Iowa and Nebraska.  “Everybody’s just so relieved,” Gray-Fisher says. “It’s been a long time, over four months now, and everybody’s trying to get back to normal after the Missouri River flooding.” Gray-Fisher says DOT crews are still hard at work rebuilding Interstate-680 from the Mormon Bridge to I-29 north of Council Bluffs.

“I-680 is making excellent progress,” she says. “The main line roadway, the traffic lanes, are paved now. Now, the work needs to be done as far as getting the median in shape, the shoulders, paving the ramps. There’s still quite a bit of work left but some major progress has been accomplished.” Months of churning water tore up miles of Iowa highways, crumbling the concrete. When the flood waters finally receded, some roads were left looking more like someone had dumped out a bag of gray potato chips.

(Radio Iowa)

Surveillance video captures image of robbery suspects

(updated w/image 10/25) In an update to a story we first told you about at Noon Monday,  on KJAN,  the Harlan Police Department that afternoon released more details about the subjects involved in an armed robbery that took place Monday morning. Officials say at approximately 11:30-a.m., a white male and female entered  the Fast Stop Convenience  Store at 2401 12th Street, in Harlan.  The couple brandished a handgun, demanded money, and left the store with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The male was about 6-feet to 6- feet 4- inches tall, with dark hair. He wore blue jeans and a dark hoodie.  The female had long dark hair, a hot pink hoodie and blue denim capris.  Both subjects were in their mid-20’s.  The pair left the area possibly driving a black, or dark colored four door sedan. 

Both are considered armed and dangerous. Police caution the public not to approach them.  If you have any information on the crime,  call 911 or the Harlan PD at 712-755-5151.

(updated 3:45-pm.)….

Authorities in Harlan this afternoon released more details about a robbery that occurred late this morning.  Police in Harlan say the incident took place at the Fast Stop convenience store at around 11:30-a.m., when two unidentified subjects entered the store at 2401 12th Street, brandishing a handgun.  The robbers demanded money and left the store with an undetermined amount of cash.

The first suspect was described as being a white male in his mid 20s, between 6′ and 6’4″ in height, wearing a pair of blue jeans and a dark hoodie. The second suspect is a white female, also in her mid 20s, with long dark hair and wearing a pink hoodie and blue denim capris. They left the scene in a dark-colored 4-door sedan.

The suspects are considered armed and dangerous, and the public is advised not to approach them. If you have any information, contact the Harlan Police Department at 712-755-5151.

Police in Atlantic report a Griswold man was arrested Friday, on a theft charge. Officials say 32-year old Andrew Michael Hansen faces a charge of 5^th degree theft. He was being held in the Cass County Jail pending a court appearance.