DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad has signed a bill into law that is expected to reduce prison time for inmates convicted of certain drug offenses. Branstad signed the bill Thursday. It was passed in the House and Senate this legislative session. The legislation will allow certain non-violent drug offenders in Iowa to be eligible for parole after they serve at least half of their mandatory minimum sentence. It will also give judges more discretion in sentencing for crimes like robbery.

The law also adds a mandatory minimum sentence for a person convicted of child endangerment resulting in death. Previously, such a person was automatically eligible for parole. The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency says the law is expected to reduce the disproportionate number of minorities in Iowa’s criminal justice system.

ISU Extension and Outreach Montgomery County and the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital are partnering to host a Babysitter Workshop on June 1^st from 9 AM to 3 PM at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital.

Youth attending the workshop will engage in hands-on activities and learn about what it takes to be a responsible, caring, trustworthy, competent and safe babysitter. Participants will be trained in child development, safety and first aid, food and nutrition, functional play and teaching toys. Training will also include the business of babysitting and help teens develop the confidence needed to handle situations that can occur while caring for children.

Participants will receive a babysitting manual prepared by 4-H and Army Child and Youth Services. The Babysitter Workshop gives youth researched-based information presented by qualified professionals in the area of child development, safety and health care. Presenters representing Iowa State University Extension and Montgomery County Memorial Hospital share their knowledge through presentations, hands-on activities and role-plays.

The workshop is open to all youth who have completed 5^th grade and above. Pre-registration is required. The class is limited to 30 participants. Registration fee is $10 and includes lunch and supplies. Register forms are available online at www.extension.iastate.edu/montgomery or at the Extension office. Deadline to register is Friday, May 27^th.  Financial assistance is available upon request. Please contact the Extension office to obtain an application. Returned checks will be charged $20 plus banking fees, in addition to the amount of the check.

For more information, contact Chelsea Cousins, County Youth Coordinator, at 712-623-2592 or ccousins@iastate.edu.

A relatively rare disease that only afflicts about 250 Iowans was the subject of an extremely popular global fundraising phenomenon in 2014 called the Ice Bucket Challenge. John Nuss, executive director of the Iowa chapter of the A-L-S Association, says the campaign raised awareness and it raised millions of much-needed dollars for research, which is still underway.

Nuss says, “It’s going to take years and years to find a cure for ALS but right now, we want to look at a treatment and how can we make this a manageable disease so that folks are living longer while we’re able to find that cure so that we’re eventually rid of this disease.” As part of the 2014 challenge, thousands of Iowans dumped buckets of ice water on their heads while challenging others to do the same thing in addition to making a donation.

Videos of the acts went viral and even Governor Branstad got drenched while making a pledge. Thanks to social media, the challenge raised $350,000 in Iowa that year and more than $115 million globally. While last year’s totals fell off, Nuss says the Ice Bucket Challenge will be renewed this August and every August until there’s a cure.

“We know it’s not going to be what it was in 2014 but we know we need to try,” Nuss says. “ALS is a very lonely disease so if for one month we can see folks dumping water on their heads for a good cause, it really does mean a lot to the people we serve, just to hear the conversation about ALS going on.”

Also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, A-L-S stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. It’s a motor neuron disease which usually attacks both upper and lower motor neurons and causes degeneration throughout the brain and spinal cord. Once diagnosed, life expectancy is usually only two-to-five years. Learn more at www.alsaiowa.org.

(Radio Iowa)

The Griswold School Board, Wednesday evening, unanimously voted to enter into a Superintendent Sharing Agreement with the Lenox Community School District, contingent upon both districts agreeing on the terms and conditions. The next step is for the Lenox School District to hold a similar meeting. That will take place 6-p.m. Monday at the Lenox Junior-Senior High School gymnasium. The purpose is to update the patrons and allow them to ask question before the Board takes a vote.

Lenox Superintendent David Henrichs told KJAN News prior to his meeting with the public Wednesday, he spent the day talking to the Griswold teaching staff. He says he shared personal and professional information about himself, and answered their questions. Henrichs asked the teachers if they had to decide today on whether or not they were in favor of sharing a Superintendent, 95-percent raised their hands in approval. The other 5-percent didn’t raise their hands for any of the options. Overall, he says it was a “very positive” meet-and-greet.

He also spent time with the district’s Principals, the Business Manager and Superintendent’s Secretary, to learn about the Operational aspects of the school. Lenox is about an hour’s drive from Griswold. During the Community meeting later in the evening, Henrichs said patrons were understandably concerned about how splitting his time between the two districts would affect his health and well-being.

He said they worried about him being “burned-out,” by taking on the huge responsibility, and that he would still be able to spend time with his family. Henrichs has three daughters, two of whom are still in school. He said he greatly appreciated the communities’ concerns. Henrichs said some of the specific questions asked by those attending the meeting, are difficult to answer right now, because the details have yet to be worked out between the two school boards.

For example, who make decisions on snow days, if he’s not there. Henrichs said while those details need to be worked out, the “Foundation is there for a good working relationship.” He says overall, he’s excited about the opportunity, if it does come to fruition. He acknowledged there are always challenges, and “bumps in the road,” when it comes to change and transition, but both Boards will do the best they can to head those off early, and he’s confident the staff in both districts will be able to overcome those challenges and make it work very well.”

Officials with the Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund, Wednesday night, presented two $750 scholarships to graduating Atlantic High School Seniors.  Clayton Saeugling and Emily McDermott were the recipients chosen by the scholarship committee.

Pictured: Tyler Drvol (committee member), Emily McDermott (recipient), Josh Fellows (committee member) , Clayton Saeugling (recipient), Steven Petersen (committee member)

The scholarship committee said they had some quality applications this year and were finally able to narrow it down to Saeugling and McDermott.  Asked on the scholarship application if you could choose one charity to donate to who would it be, Emily stated UNICEF and Clayton stated Wounded Warriors in Action.  Each of those charities will receive $200 from the Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund in their name.  The Foundation says it hopes that by continuing this extra giving, they can instill the importance of giving back in these young adults.

This is the 7th year for the annual scholarships to be handed out.  Applicants are asked to fill out a short narrative, supply their college acceptance letter, supply two letters of reference, have a 2.5gpa or better and supply an official 7 semester transcript.  The Foundation’s goal is to have the scholarships will be available for years to come.  Officials say with the continued support of the T-Fred annual golf outing,  that goal is becoming a true reality.