(Elk Horn, Iowa) – Members of the Exira-EHK Board Of Education met Thursday evening. According to the meeting minutes provided by Board Secretary/Business Manager Mallory Meyer, during their session, the Board hear from Tom Benton and Travis Nelson, with regard to drawings to renovate and expand the weight room at the Exira Building.  The Board took no action on the plans, and indicated they would like to see additional planning and cost information associated with the project before moving forward with any decisions. Discussions on partnering with the community on the project began about two-years ago.

In other business, the Exira-EHK School Board approved the award of a 2023-24 school year bid for milk, to Anderson-Erickson Dairies, but took no action on bread bids, since no bids were received. They also tabled Fuel bids, due to a lack of bids received. The Board did approve 2023-24 Substitute & Activity Trip Rates. Substitute Teacher pay will increase to $160/day. Non-Certified Staff Substitute pay will increase to $13/hour. Bus Driver Sub. pay will increase to $23/hour, and Activity Trip pay will increase to $19/hour.

The Exira-EHK School Board approved a Design Services proposal with Invision Architecture, with a clarification indicating the “Scope” of the project will mean “renovation,” and not just “Soundproofing.” They tabled the termination of a Non-Certified Employee, but approved the following resignations and new hires:

Resignations
1. Sara Mayes – MS/HS School Counselor
2. Laura White – Associate
Hires
1. Jeremy Blake – Driver’s Education Teacher
2. McKinzie Bricker – MS/HS School Counselor
3. Julie Hansen – .4 Art Teacher
4. Emily Harris – Preschool Teacher
5. Paul McKay – Driver’s Education Teacher
6. Jarrod O’Donnell – Driver’s Education Teacher
7. Pamela Parker – Food Service

The Board also approved the first readings of several Board Policies, including: Policy 213, which will allow each participant three-minutes to speak, and the total time of public participation to be 20-minutes, Anti-Bullying/Anti-Harassment policies; the school calendar, and more.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report a woman was arrested Saturday on a charge of Assault. Authorities say an investigation into an incident that occurred earlier in the day, Saturday, resulted in the arrest of 18-year-old Alynna Gail Zuber, of Red Oak. She was taken into custody on the simple misdemeanor charge at around 2:45-p.m. in the 400 block of E. Valley Street, in Red Oak, and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where bond was set at $300.

(St. Paul, Iowa) – The driver of an SUV died Saturday afternoon in a collision with a Freightliner truck. The Iowa State Patrol reports the accident in Lee County happened at around Noon, at the intersection of Highway 16 and 205th Avenue, north of St. Paul, Iowa.

The Patrol says a 2003 GMC Envoy SUV was traveling north on 205th Avenue when the driver failed to yield to the 2023 semi driven by 21-year-old Levi Allen Whaley, of Mt. Pleasant. The SUV was struck on the passenger side, causing the driver to be ejected.

Both vehicles came to rest in the northwest ditch. The driver of the SUV died at the scene. Their name was being withheld pending notification of family. The Patrol was assisted a the scene by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County EMS, West Point Fire & Rescue, and Air Evac.

(Silver City, Iowa) – A man from South Dakota was injured during a motorcycle accident Friday morning, in Mills County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 48-year-old Cody Murphy, of Arlington, SD, was riding a 2000 Harley Davidson FHX southbound on Interstate 29 near mile marker 38, when the machine went out of control at around 9:42-a.m.

Murphy was tossed from the motorcycle and came to rest in the right-hand lane of travel, on the Interstate. The motorcycle slid into the median before coming to rest. Murphy was transported by Silver City Rescue to Bergan-Mercy Hospital in Omaha.

The crash remains under investigation. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Patrol at the accident scene.

Senator Chuck Grassley will host a Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, June 27th, 2023, from 1:45-2:45 p.m. at the Montgomery County Family YMCA Multi-purpose Room 101 E. Cherry St. Red Oak, IA 51566.

There is a possibility that there will be a quorum of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, but no official county business will be acted upon during that time.

After a week of warm, dry weather for most of Iowa, there’s a chance for showers and thunderstorms Saturday, the first of the summer season. Meteorologist Brad Small, at the National Weather Service, says the rain would bring some welcome relief from the worsening drought that now covers more than 83-percent of the state.

The forecast shows a chance for rain on Sunday, with dry weather returning on Monday.

The Museum of Danish America in the southwest Iowa town of Elk Horn is marking its 40th anniversary this weekend. Museum spokeswoman Amelia Juhl says they’re working with several Norwegian and Swedish organizations to showcase their traditions — and the facility. Saturday’s events include a private tent dinner, followed by a traditional Danish celebration of the summer solstice with a bonfire and a list of activities.

Juhl says visitors are welcome to bring their own seating, beverages, and lawn games to Sankt Hans Aften (sonkt hans OFT-en) or Saint John’s Eve. Events will be underway on the rim of the 30-acre Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park.

In the event of rain, most of the activities will be held indoors. While visiting the Museum of Danish America, you can check out the many detailed exhibits.

The museum has members in 48 states. Only Louisiana and Vermont are not represented. For more information about the museum and upcoming events, visit: www.danishmuseum.org.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the Friday afternoon arrest of 31-year-old Amanda Joy Williams of Red Oak for Theft 5th Degree. Williams was arrested at 1:38 p.m. in the 100 block of West Coolbaugh Street in Red Oak. Williams was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 bond.

(Butler County, Iowa) – A collision Friday afternoon near Allison claimed the life of one man, and resulted in injuries to another. The Iowa State Patrol reports the accident happened at around 3:12-p.m. on Highway 3 at Newell Avenue. Authorities say a 2001 Ford Van driven by 64-year-old Paul Yerkes, of Greene, was westbound on Highway 3 when it entered the eastbound lane and struck a 2016 International semi driven by 41-year-old Timothy Grittmann, of Allison.

Yerkes died at the scene. Grittmann was transported by Allison EMS to the hospital in Waverly. The crash remains under investigation.

(Indianola, Iowa) –  A crash involving three pickup trucks Friday afternoon south of Indianola, resulted in the death of two people and injuries to two others. The Iowa State Patrol says the accident happened at around 4:47-p.m. on southbound Highway 69, just north of 128th Avenue.

According to the report, a 2008 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 47-year-old Darrel Dean Davisson, of Boxholm, crossed the center-line of northbound Highway 69 and traveling into the southbound lane. The pickup sideswiped a 2014 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 67-year-old Wanda Gail Lydon, of Indianola, before striking head-on,  a 2018 Chevy Silverado driven by 38-year-old Shane Caleb Estes, of New Virginia.

Davisson, and a passenger in the Estes pickup died at the scene. Shane Estes suffered serious injuries and was flown by Life Flight helicopter to Methodist Hospital, in Des Moines. Wanda Lydon suffered minor injuries. She was treated and released.

The crash remains under investigation.