Two legislative leaders say lawmakers can quickly make a decision on how much general state aid will be forwarded to Iowa’s public schools for the next academic year, but neither is suggesting exactly what the compromise number might be. By law, legislators should have made this school funding decision last year, and House Democratic Leader Mark Smith of Marshalltown says school administrators are struggling to make budget decisions.

“Unfortunately, we’ve put them in a horrible position. We have Davenport schools looking at breaking the law so they can go into reserves,” Smith says. “We have 76 percent of the school districts in Iowa raising property taxes which is a regressive tax and one that the legislature is forcing them to rely on.” Senate Republican Leader Bill Dix of Shell Rock says the two parties are “close to the same page” on school funding.

“We should get this resolved as quick as possible,” Dix says. “I do not see any reason why it cannot and just make sure that we put a number in place that schools can count on and know that the dollars will be there.” Dix and Smith made their comments during a weekend appearance on Iowa Public Television. House Republicans have proposed a two percent boost in general state support of schools. Republican Governor Terry Branstad has proposed a two-point-45 percent increase. Democrats in the Iowa Senate have proposes a four percent increase.

(Radio Iowa)

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports a Guthrie County man was arrested during the early morning hours of Feb. 14th, for OWI/1st offense. 19-year old Zachary Jerome Schreck, of Guthrie Center, was taken into custody after he was pulled over for speeding near the intersection of Henry A. Wallace Road and Highway 92. During an interview with the deputy, the deputy noticed Schreck showed signs of intoxication. He was given, and failed a Field Sobriety Test. Shreck was booked into the Adair County Jail and later released on $1,000 bond.

Friday afternoon, 33-year old Heather Marie Fritz, of Omaha, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail on an Adair County warrant associated with OWI/1st offense. Fritz was being held without bond in the Adair County Jail, pending a court appearance.

And, 31-year old James Wyshaun Riddle, Jr., of Creston, was arrested on drug charges Friday evening, following a traffic stop on Interstate 80 eastbound. A deputy noticed the distinct smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle and received consent to conduct a search. He found a bag of pot under the passenger seat. Riddle admitted the weed was his and was placed under arrest for Possession of a Controlled Substance. He was released later that evening on $1,000 bond.

(In an update to our earlier post) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports one person was arrested on numerous charges following a chase and shots-fired incident Saturday night. 31 year old Cole John Daughenbaugh, of Greenfield, faces felony charges that include: Eluding; Possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) with the intent to distribute; Failure to Affix drug tax stamp, and Interference with official acts involving a firearm. He also faces lesser charges of Possession of drug paraphernalia, and failure to obey a stop sign. Daughenbaugh was released from custody Sunday morning after posting $5,000 bond.

Cole Daughenbaugh (booking photo Courtesy Adair County Sheriff’s Office)

His arrest followed an attempt at around 7:10-p.m. Saturday by Greenfield Police Chief Jesse Lund to stop a pickup truck for a traffic violation that nearly resulted in a collision, on the north side of Greenfield. After the Chief activated his emergency warning lights, the pickup sped-away and fled northbound out of Greenfield.

Chief Lund followed the pickup for a little less than two miles before it stopped near the residence located at 2257 220th Street, in Adair County. The driver, later identified as Daughenbaugh, and adult female passenger fled from the pickup. While speaking with a juvenile female who remained inside of the pickup, more than 10 shots were fired from a handgun some distance away.

The Chief backed away from the immediate scene and requested further assistance. Peace Officers from the Iowa State Patrol, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Stuart Police Department, Adair County Sheriff’s Office and the Greenfield Police Department arrived to assist in the investigation and in the apprehension of the suspect.

Communication was established with the suspect and after a short length of time, Daughenbaugh walked out of the residence and was taken into custody. A search warrant was later executed at the home. Vandewater says more than a dozen firearms and more than two pounds of a substance believed to be marijuana were seized.

The case remains under investigation.

Deputies in Page County, Sunday evening, arrested a man wanted on a Page County warrant associated with 5th Degree Theft. 28-year old Kyle Jacob Campbell, of Shenandoah, was taken into custody at around 5:20-p.m.  and brought to the Page County Jail, where he was being held pending further court proceedings. Campbell was unable to post bond.

The resignation of a City Council member in Oakland on Dec. 15th established the need for a special election to fill that seat. Voters will head to the polls Tuesday from Noon until 8-p.m. to determine which of three candidates will fill the position left vacant by the resignation of Jason Smith. The candidates include Joe Wede, Gayle Strickland and Doug Reed.

The polling place for Tuesday’s vote is at the Oakland City Hall.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest early Saturday morning, of a Bellevue, NE., man.  21-year old Bernardo Figueroa Murillo was taken into custody at around 1:40-a.m., and charged with Assault while displaying a weapon, as well as Public Intoxication. His bond at the Mills County Jail, was set at $2,300.

The sheriff’s office says also, no injuries were reported following an accident Friday afternoon at the intersection of Highways 34 & 59. Officials say a 2015 Chevy driven by Ronald Stephens, of Emerson, was stopped at the controlled intersection and signaling to turn right onto Highway 34 eastbound. A 2014 Ford, driven by Gerald Riecks, of Johnston, was behind the Chevy.

Riecks told deputies he looked for oncoming traffic from the west and started to pull out onto Highway 34, when his vehicle hit Stephens’ Chevy. He told authorities he didn’t see the other vehicle, and thought it had already pulled away from the stop sign. A dollar amount of the damage was not listed in the report. No citations were issued.