A trio of area school board plan to hold their regular monthly meetings this evening. The Griswold School Board meeting takes place in the High School Conference Room, beginning at 5:15-p.m. The Exira-EHK Board meets at 6-p.m., in the Conference Room at the Elk Horn Building, and the Audubon School Board will gather in the High School Board Room at 7-p.m. for their session.

New Business on the agenda for the Griswold School Board includes discussion/action on: Approving a copy machine lease; approving a social worker agreement; Establishing Activity Pass Fees for the 2022-23 school year; approval of fuel and technology bid specifications; and approval of a Spanish III/IV Waiver for 2022-23. The Board will also hold the first reading of the 500-series Board Policies.

In Elk Horn, the Exira-EHK School Board will begin with a Public Hearing on an Amended Budget. Discussion will follow later on in their meeting, on youth practices using facilities on Wednesday evenings. Action items include approval of: the FY 22 School Budget Amendment; District Developed Service Delivery Plan; 2022-23 Fees; Concrete work bid for the front of the Exira Building; Copier/Printer update bid; and approval of resignations, hires, and transfers (See the list below).

Resignation: Sarah Marshall – Cheer Coach; Hires: Maria Hughes – Asst. JH/HS Track Coach; Waylon Salinas – 4th Grade Teacher; Brandon Baggett – HS English Teacher; Amanda Warnaca – MS Special Ed Teacher; Carme Prunera – Spanish Teacher; Erika Van Cleave – MS/HS Principal; and Paula Yates – Food Service.

And the Audubon School Board tonight, will act on approving: Budget Amendments; ISFIS Membership; Surplus Property; Freshman VB Coach; Purchase of Kitchen Equipment; Transfer of funds from Core Curriculum to Flex Fund ($19,933.14); and approving the canceling of SU (Breakdown) Insurance. In his report to the Board, Audubon Superintendent Eric Trager will discuss last week’s student walkout, building and grounds, and the preliminary audit report. He’ll also provide a legislative update.

The Audubon School Board may hold a closed session prior to adjourning. The session, as allowed by Iowa Code, is with regard to the performance of an individual in the District.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Rec Board will meet this evening at the Rotary Shelter in the Schildberg Rec Area (by the dog park). Their meeting begins at 5:15-p.m.  Action Items and/or New Business, includes:

• A Bull Creek Update
• Sunnyside Pool matters
• Sunnyside Lifeguards
• Parks & Rec Summer Programs
• and the Schildberg Recreation Area Campground.

Parks Director Bryant Rasmussen will update the Board on:

• Mollett Park
• Sunnyside Tennis Court
• Wildlife Refuge areas
• Multiple meetings
• Upcoming Summer Programs
• the Migratory Bird Day.

The next regular meeting is 5:15-p.m. June 20th, at Mollett Park.

(Radio Iowa) –  A group of “Scraposaurs” has been posted outside Sioux City’s Lewis and Clark Center. Dale Lewis — a sculptor who works with scrap metal — created the traveling display of 14 prehistoric creatures, including a sculpture that looks like one of the most famous of all dinosaurs.

“I titled him ‘T-Tex Evolved’ because he  kind of looks like he’s mechanically evolved,” Lewis says. “One of the coolest things I think about this T-Rex — there’s a lot going on there, a lot of pieces — but his little stubby arm claws are kind of a mass of stainless steel, interesting hooks. They’re part of a 747 cargo bay door latch.” Lewis finds the raw materials for his sculptures from a variety of sources and most of the beasts he built for the outdoor exhibit in Sioux City came together in two to three months. 

“Eight months is the most involved piece I’ve ever done,” Lewis says. “It’s getting where pretty much everything I do is involved enough that it’s a bit of a celebration when I finish it.”The 14 sculptures Lewis created will be on display at the center in Sioux City, near the Missouri River, until April of next year. One of his sculptures has been on display for several years at the Lewis and Clark Center. It’s a pelican and it is the mascot for the center’s kids’ club.

“Percy the Pelican was a fun piece for me,” Lewis says. “It’s pretty realistic pelican, but it has a pirate hat, with a feather and a diamond on it…That was the sketch they provided me and I just ran with it.” The sculpture was inspired by something Captain Clark wrote in 1804 about a huge flock of pelicans in an area that is present day Sioux City. All of Lewis’ sculptures in Sioux City are named, including one called Stanley to Stegasaurus and another called Thing. Lewis has been making sculptures with salvaged materials since 2010.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston said no injuries were reported after a straight truck struck a railroad underpass Sunday afternoon on S. Cedar Street. A 2022 Freightliner delivery truck driven by 46-year-old Cedrick Lamark Johnson, of Des Moines, was traveling through an underpass at around 12:11-p.m., when the roof of the truck struck the underside of the BNSF/Creston Streets Dept. bridge. Damage to the truck was estimated at $6,000. No damage was reported to the overpass. Driver inexperience was cited as a contributing factor. No citations were issued.

(Radio Iowa) – The three Republican candidates running in the third congressional district primary are raising concerns about sending U.S. aid to Ukraine. During a debate this weekend on -C-C-I television in Des Moines, candidate Nicole Hasso of Johnston said America has always helped its allies, but the money would be better spent on fortifying the U.S.-Mexico border.

Gary Leffler of West Des Moines is also opposed to the 40 billion dollar package that passed the U.S. House last Tuesday.

Zach Nunn of Bondurant says House-passed bill lacks sufficient oversight, but he supports sending aid to Ukraine.

Congresswoman Cindy Axne, the Democrat from West Des Moines who will face one of these Republicans in the General Election, voted for the 40 billion in aid to Ukraine. The three Iowa Republicans who serve in the U.S. House voted for it, too. The U.S. Senate is set to vote on it in the next few days.

(Carroll, Iowa) – Multiple news outlets say Police in Fort Dodge are collaborating with numerous other agencies, on an investigation of a gentleman’s club. A search warrant was executed Thursday night at Ossy’s Show Club, located at 1215 Plaza Drive in Carroll.

Detectives are investigating allegations of possible underage female performers working at the establishment.

The investigation continues to be ongoing and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Fort Dodge Police Department or their local law enforcement agency.

(Pottawattamie County) – A collision between an SUV and a semi Saturday evening south of Missouri Valley, claimed the life of a teenager from Omaha, Nebraska. The Iowa State Patrol reports the accident happened at around 5:50-p.m. in a construction zone on Interstate 29, between mile markers 70-75.

The 17-year-old male driver of a 2014 Subaru Forester died, when the vehicle crossed from the northbound lane into the southbound lane, and collided head-on with a 2016 International semi tractor-trailer. The accident happened while traffic was in a head-to-head area, with no separation between the lanes.

Following the collision, the Subaru became fully engulfed in flames when it came to rest on the traveled portion of the road. The semi left the road to the west and came to rest in the ditch. The driver of the semi, 39-year-old Robert D. Taylor, of Pensacola, FL, was not injured.

The accident remains under investigation.

(Red Oak, Iowa) — An investigation into an incident Saturday evening in Red Oak, resulted in an arrest. Red Oak Police say officers were called to the 2400 block of North 8th Street around 5:10 p.m. Following an investigation, officers arrested 22-year-old Zachary Lee Miller, of Shenandoah, on a charge of domestic abuse assault/1st offense.

Miller was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail, pending an initial appearance before the magistrate.

Sioux City – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports 29-year-old Briar Richard Merrick, who was convicted of Theft 1st Degree and other charges in Woodbury County, failed to report back to the Sioux City Residential Treatment Facility as required, Friday.

Merrick is a Native American male, height 5’9″, and weighs 284 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on February 11, 2022.

Briar Merrick

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

(Mills County, Iowa) – Midwest Regional Dive Team members and other rescue personnel responded at around 10-a.m. today (Saturday) to a report of a body in the Missouri River, about 20-yards from shore, near the Bellevue Toll Bridge on the Mills County side of the river.

The scene is at 16000 Bunge Ave.  No other details are currently available.