(Anita, Iowa) – A regular monthly meeting of the CAM School District’s Board of Education will be held beginning at 6:30-p.m. Monday (May 8, 2023), in the CAM High School Superintendent’s Office. The session begins with a Public Hearing on the proposed 2022-23 Budget Amendment, as previously published.

Once the hearing adjourns, the CAM School Board will hold their regular meeting, the agenda for which follows with special highlights added in bold:

1 Call to Order
2 Welcome Visitors
3 Agenda Changes
4 Approval of Agenda
5 Consent Agenda
5.1 Approval of Minutes, Bills, Financial Statements
5.2 Open Enrollment
5.3 Resignations
5.4 Contracts
5.5 Fundraisers
5.6 Volunteers
6 Communications
6.1 Public input on non-agenda items
6.2 Correspondence
7 Administrative Reports
8 Discussion/Action items:
8.1 Discuss the Recommendation from the Facilities Committee and
Approve the Resolution of the Closure of an Attendance Center
8.2 Approval of Board Policies 300 Series
8.3 Approval of FY22/23 Budget Amendment
8.4 Approval of Master Social Worker and E-rate Agreements with
Green Hills AEA
8.5 Approval of the District Career & Academic Planning plan
8.6 Approval of the replacement bid for walk-in cooler and freezer
8.7 Approval of the bid for storm drain repair.
9 Board Reports
10 Adjournment

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Board of Education for the Atlantic Community School District, will hold an Exempt Session (Closed meeting) beginning at 8-a.m. on Monday, May 8, 2023. The meeting takes place at the District Office, located in the Achievement Center.

The exempt session is being held for the purpose of discussing strategy matters relating to employment conditions of employees not covered by the Collective Bargaining Law, as allowed under the Code of Iowa.

No Board action will be taken during the meeting.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – A nurse practitioner charged with sexually abusing a teen is now connected to two more schools. Both Grand View University and Iowa Falls Alden Schools say Carl Markley performed sports physicals for their students. In an e-mail Friday to current and past Grand View students, President Rachelle Keck said…

“It has recently come to our attention that Carl Markley, a GV alumnus and nurse practitioner, has been arrested in Ames on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor, among other charges. Over the last few years, he has performed physicals at Grand View and a number of other schools. This is the first we have heard of these allegations and wanted to share what we know so far.

We have been in communication with the Ames Police Department and the Story County prosecutor’s office. Details are still emerging, but we want to bring this to your attention. If you are aware of any relevant information about this individual, or were affected, we encourage you to contact the Ames Police Department at 515-239-5533. You can also submit anonymous information via Central Iowa Crimestoppers. ”

Ames police have arrested Carl Markley twice in the last week. Officers now say more than 70 tips have come in about him. They don’t know how many of them are potential victims. Markley faces charges of sexual exploitation, human trafficking, pimping and prostitution.

Since his first arrest, Ames and Gilbert school districts told parents that Markley performed athletic physicals for some students.

(Elk Horn, Iowa) – A head-on crash at around 2:25-a.m. Saturday (today), south of Elk Horn, resulted in serious injuries to both drivers. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 1999 Chevy C2500 pickup driven by 48-year-old Jesse Lee Archibald, of Elk Horn, was traveling south of Highway 173, when the vehicle crossed the center line of the road and collided with a northbound 2011 Ford Fusion, driven by 22-year-old Gracee Dora Rose Deakins, of Kimballton.

Both drivers were transported by Elk Horn Rescue to Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan. The Patrol says both drivers were wearing their seat belts.

The crash remains under investigation. Shelby and Audubon County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted at the scene.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office conducted a welfare check at 12:08 a.m. Saturday morning in Elliott. After investigation Deputies arrested 35-year-old Rachel Marie Flathers of Elliott for 3 counts of Child Endangerment- aggravated misdemeanors, and Interference with Official Acts – a simple misdemeanor. Flathers was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,000 bond.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Friday night at 10:30 p.m. of 28-year-old Seancody Anderson of Corning. Anderson was arrested in the 300 block of U Avenue in Villisca on an active Red Oak Police Department warrant for Harassment 1st Degree. He was booked in to the Montgomery County Jail on no bond.

(Coralville, Iowa)  – The Iowa Department of Corrections (IDOC) reported Friday afternoon, that Ali Abdelkarim Ali, convicted of Robbery 2nd Degree in Johnson County, failed to report to the Hope House Residential Center as required, Thursday.

Ali is a 26-year-old white male, height 5’3″, and weighs 136 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on February 15, 2023.

Ali Abdelkarim Ali

Persons with information on Ali’s whereabouts should contact local police.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests:

On May 1st, 2023, 28-year-old Bill Stockwell, of Atlantic, was on the charges of Driving While Barred, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and a weapons violation.  Stockwell was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

and…

On April 29th, 2023, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 46-year-old Amanda Bashor, of Atlantic, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Bashor was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on her own recognizance.

May 5, 2023 (DES MOINES) – At yesterday’s (Thursday’s) meeting, the Enhance Iowa Board awarded $1.8 million in Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grants to pool projects in Keota and Washington, park improvements in West Okoboji and a clubhouse in Marcus. In addition, the Board awarded two Sports Tourism grants totaling $22,570 to events in Carroll and Des Moines.

Details for the projects receiving CAT grants follow:

Project Name: Keota Pool & Aquatic Project, Keota
Total Project Cost: $1,702,044
Amount Awarded: $500,000
Project Description: This project includes the construction of a heated pool with zero-depth entry, an agricultural-themed splash pad for toddler play, a diving board, four-lane lap swim area, bath house and a meeting place for private parties. Planned amenities include a rock climbing wall, zip line, basketball hoops and a volleyball net.

Project Name: YMCA of Washington County, Washington
Total Project Cost: $8,245,466
Amount Awarded: $500,000
Project Description: This project includes the construction of an indoor aquatic center with a six-lane competition length lap pool, a recreation pool, two saunas, a whirlpool and spectator seating area.

Project Name: Terrace Park Beach & Alex Danbom Memorial Park Project, West Okoboji
Total Project Cost: $ 1,822,137
Amount Awarded: $500,000
Project Description: This project includes improvements to beach access, additional parking, signage, restroom enhancements, a new playground and a pedestrian crosswalk.

Project Name: Marcus Community Golf Clubhouse and Recreation Center
Total Project Cost: $1,200,000
Amount Awarded: $300,000
Project Description: This project includes the construction of a new clubhouse and recreation center that will serve as an event venue, restaurant, and virtual sports facility.

Details for the projects receiving Sports Tourism Marketing grants follow:

The City of Carroll was awarded $2,570 toward marketing the Kick It Up youth soccer tournament on June 10, 2023, for boys and girls U10, U12 and U14. The City plans to expand its existing marketing to Sioux City, Des Moines, Ames, Council Bluffs and Omaha.

Polk County and Downtown Events Group were awarded $20,000 to promote RAGBRAI’s overnight stop in Des Moines on July 26, 2023. Funds will be used for print materials, social media marketing and signage.

The Enhance Iowa Program provides financial incentives to communities for the construction of recreational, cultural, educational or entertainment facilities that enhance the quality of life in Iowa. To date, 127 CAT grants have been awarded by the board, totaling $42,040,023. The next Enhance Iowa Board meeting is scheduled for June 1, 2023.

(Radio Iowa) – A so-called “MEGA” package of state tax incentives — to try to lure a major business development to Iowa — stalled in the House on the final day of the 2023 legislative session. The “Major Economic Growth Attraction” or MEGA program would have been for a project that covers at least 250 acres and involves at least a BILLION dollar investment from a business engaged in research, bioscience or advanced manufacturing. The plan cleared the Senate on a 45-to-two vote Wednesday, but House Speaker Pat Grassley says there were too many unanswered questions.

“I’m not convinced the proper legwork went into selling the program to the House members,” Grassley says, “obviously not even enough that on the last day of session they were comfortable to bring it up.” Under the proposed MEGA program, a business based in a foreign country that’s an ally of the U.S. would be allowed to buy farmland for the project. House Republicans were wary of granting foreign ownership of farmland — and Grassley suggests the size of the tax rebate — nearly 93 million dollars over the next seven years — was a concern.

Grassley says lawmakers might reconsider the package next year. “I think it was a lot of factors at play,” Grassley says, “and if it were to move forward, I think we got some pretty good guidance from the membership what they would want to see as part of it.” Grassley made his comments during taping of this week’s episode of “Iowa Press” which airs on Iowa P-B-S. Lawmakers who led debate of the package in the Senate said it would help Iowa be competitive with other states are offering bigger incentives for large projects.

The MEGA program would have been limited to two projects over the next two years.