The Clarinda Community School District has hired a search firm to help find a replacement for departing Superintendent Paul Honnold. Honnold announced Feb. 8th he would be resigning at the end of June. He’s worked in Clarinda for 35 years, including the past 21 years as superintendent. The Daily NonPareil says the Clarinda School Board hired an Ankeny firm to conduct the search. The cost of their services was pegged at $5,750.

In addition, a superintendent search is underway in Riverside, which serves Oakland and Carson. Woodbine resolved its superintendent questions by entering into an agreement with Boyer Valley, while Tri-Center acted quickly to find a replacement for its outgoing school chief.

In other school district news, after nearly a month of opposing continuing to share a superintendent, Boyer Valley had a change of heart the day after Valentine’s Day. The school board for the Boyer Valley Community School District reversed its early decision and approved a sharing agreement that includes a 50-50 split of Superintendent Doug Gee’s time with the Woodbine Community School District. At the Feb. 15 meeting, Boyer Valley also decided to share a principal on a 50-50 basis with Woodbine.

Woodbine’s school board met Feb. 16, its first full meeting since the sharing issue surfaced, and agreed to Boyer Valley’s proposal from the previous evening. The two districts haven’t decided if sharing will be at the elementary or secondary level yet.
By moving to a 50-50 share, the sharing agreement approved by Boyer Valley and Woodbine moves away from the current 60-40 split, where Woodbine only pays for 30 percent of Gee’s salary.

By having a sharing agreement, both districts will receive about $51,500 from the state in incentive payments, easing finances in both districts. Prior to this school year, Woodbine had its own interim superintendent who resigned, followed by an emergency interim sharing agreement with Harlan. Boyer Valley and Woodbine used to share Tom Vint, who left in 2014, when Boyer Valley opted to hire Gee as a combination principal and superintendent. Woodbine and Boyer Valley have moved closer as sharing partners beyond administration, too.

The boards have talked about sharing teachers and classes next year as they operate under a joint grant for the state’s Teacher Leadership and Compensation system for professional development.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The nearly 1,600 people who were overpaid a total of nearly $434,000 in unemployment benefits won’t have to return the money. The Iowa Workforce Development Board voted Friday to let the recipients keep the money, which was paid in 2014 as a result of a faulty phone system.

The Des Moines Register reports that state officials said Friday that several of the Iowans were told to keep the money, under the advice of the agency’s former director. The current director, Beth Townsend, says the state didn’t keep a list of people who tried to return the money, so, theoretically, anyone could argue the state waived its collection rights.

An audit shows the overpayments were part of more than $909,000 the state lost to scams and errors over three years.

(updated 6-a.m.)

Two female passengers in a vehicle being pursued by Council Bluffs Police suffered minor injuries this (Monday) morning. The driver of the vehicle, Justin Fowler, of Papillion, NE, was arrested on numerous charges.

Authorities say at around 1:25-a.m., Bluffs Police Officers saw a vehicle driving in a reckless manner. When they attempted a traffic stop, the driver refused to pull over. . Officers pursued the vehicle until it turned onto a dead end street where the vehicle struck a fence causing the vehicle to roll onto its side. As the driver – later identified as Fowler – got out of the vehicle and attempted to flee from Officers on foot. He also allegedly resisted arrest.

Authorities determined the license plates that were on the vehicle were fraudulent and that the vehicle had been stolen out of Omaha. Fowler had a valid warrant for his arrest out of Douglas County Nebraska. When officers searched Fowler they found him to be in possession of Methamphetamine. The man was charged with Possession with intent to deliver Methamphetamine, theft 2nd, felony eluding, reckless driving, speeding, unlawful possession of prescription medication, possession of drug paraphernalia, interference with official acts, and fugitive from justice.

The two female passengers in the vehicle were transported by ambulance to the Hospital for observation. Their names were not released.

A man from Pottawattamie County was arrested Sunday night on numerous charges in Council Bluffs, following a reported burglary in progress. Officers were sent to 2545 Avenue I at around 8:30-p.m., and when they arrived on scene found 29-year old Adam Souza, of Council Bluffs, had allegedly broken a window and was attempting to gain access to the residence.

Officers ordered Souza to place his hands behind his back, but he started to run. The officers deployed a Taser, but it was not effective, and Souza continued to flee. He was located soon afterward, and taken into custody.

Adam Souza

The woman who was in the residence at the time of the Attempted Burglary had a protection order against Souza through Colorado.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Nearly four months after Johnson County became the first in Iowa to gradually increase its minimum wage above the federal standard, workers are welcoming the change. But some business owners say they’re unsure how to handle the extra expense. Workers like Ghada Jameel, a 38-year-old daycare employee, say the first 95 cent increase that took effect November 1st has already made life easier for her and her husband. She’s looking forward to two more raises that will bring her pay to $9.15 in May and to $10.10 an hour on January 1st, 2017.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police officers in Iowa are finding ways to use social media tools to share information and connect better with the people they are trying to protect. The Press-Citizen reports police in Iowa City, Coralville and at the University of Iowa all post regularly on Facebook, Twitter and Periscope.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A hearing will be held this spring to determine whether a Dubuque man is competent to stand trial on sexual assault and murder charges. The Telegraph Herald reports a judge decided a competency hearing will be held for 20-year-old Helmon Betwell on April 4th.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Marc Loving scored 25 points, including both ends of a 1-and-1 with less than 2 seconds to go, and Ohio State rallied from a late deficit to stun Number 8 Iowa 68-64 Sunday. Iowa led by as many as six points in the second half.