(DES MOINES) – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced Tuesday, 49 Iowa school districts and schools will receive money from a new $1 million fund to build their computer science teacher workforce. The funding is part of a broader effort to expand computer science education in schools across the state. This effort is in line with the Future Ready Iowa initiative, which is about preparing more Iowans for rewarding, high-demand jobs and getting employers the skilled workers they need.

Among the school districts (locally), was: Hamburg; Nodaway Valley; and West Central Valley. Schools will use the incentive fund to pay for professional learning or university coursework for teaching endorsements in computer science.

The new computer science professional development incentive fund, along with new voluntary statewide computer science standards, were established as part of a 2017 bill that encourages high-quality computer science instruction in every elementary, middle and high school.

The incentive fund, announced in June, drew 29 applications representing 49 public school districts and nonpublic schools in urban, rural and suburban parts of the state. One application represented a team of rural elementary, middle and high schools within Keystone Area Education Agency in northeast Iowa.

All 49 schools and districts will receive funding to pay for a range of teacher preparation, including courses for teaching endorsements, intensive training, conferences and professional learning programs that prepare educators to provide high-quality instruction in computer science. Award recipients will report on their progress by the end of the 2018-19 school year.

Iowa legislators set aside $500,000 for the incentive fund. The rest of the money will come from a 2007 settlement of an Iowa class-action anti-trust lawsuit filed against Microsoft Corp. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Iowans who had bought the company’s programs at allegedly inflated prices, and the settlement agreement included setting aside a portion of unclaimed money for technology in Iowa schools.

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education met in a brief Special Session, Tuesday evening, at the High School Media Center. During the meeting, the Board approved a Sharing Agreement with the Harlan Community School District for Girls Swimming. Atlantic already shares Girls Swimming with Audubon and Clarinda.

The Board also approved two Open Enrollment’s into- and One Open Enrollment out of- the District. A family from Griswold is in the process of moving to Atlantic with their two sons who had wished to open enroll, while the other family is planning to move to Griswold. The Griswold School Board approved both Open Enrollment applications during their meeting Monday night.

Prior to the vote, Board member Jenny Williams asked “What is the purpose of the deadline…because school hasn’t started yet?” Superintendent Steve Barber said “The deadline for Kindergarten students is September 1^st. But it’s March 1^st of the previous year for the next year.” Those deadlines are set by State Code. Barber said it’s more of a responsibility on the parent to say “I want my child to go to this school next school year.”

Board member Doctor Keith Swanson said “What we’re here for is to help the kids get an education. I see no reason we can’t transfer those [students].” Board Vice President Kristy Pellett said the only other concern she had was keeping track of where kids are, so kids aren’t lost in the shuffle. Enrollment by the March deadline, it was noted, helps to determine class size.

In other business, the Board contract recommendations for:

• Natalie Ritter – Interim Food Service Director
• Melanie McDermott – Schuler Elem. Head Cook
• Ann Hinton and Pamela Klar – as School Bus Drivers. (Klar was a late addition to the agenda)

Officials with the Harlan Police Department released a report Tuesday, on arrests dating back to Aug. 10th. On Monday (8/20), 19-year old Noah Ethan Stout, of Harlan, was arrested on an active Shelby County warrant.  Stout was transported to the Shelby County Jail. Stout was previously arrested Aug. 16th following a call for a disturbance in the 3000 block of 12^th St.  Stout was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and prohibited acts penalties.

Last Saturday, 56-year old Melanie Marie Mogensen, of Harlan, was arrested following a call for service in the 1400 block of 6^th St.  Mogensen was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with public intoxication.

On Friday, 23-year old William Neil Damon, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop in the 500 block of Stowe Court.  Damn was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with operating while intoxicated 1^st offense, open container, disorderly conduct, interference with official acts, speed, violation of financial liability and failure to display license plates.

On Thursday, 53-year old Randall Brett Hess, of Harlan, was arrested following a call for a disturbance in the 700 block of Court St.  Hess was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with robbery 2^nd degree, public intoxication, and disorderly conduct.

On August 14th, 33-year old Aaron Robert McCutcheon, of Harlan, was arrested on an active Shelby County warrant.  McCutcheon was transported to the Shelby County Jail. And, on Aug. 10th, 58-year old Cynthia Lea Carpenter was arrested following a call regarding a disturbance in the 500 block of 12^th St.  Carpenter was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with harassment and disorderly conduct.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports a woman from Red Oak was injured during a single-vehicle accident Monday afternoon. 21-year old Priscilla Marie Cline complained of pain and was transported by Clarinda Ambulance to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital to be treated for unknown injuries.

Deputies were dispatch to the scene at Highway 71, just south of the Montgomery/Page Street around 2:50-p.m., Monday. Their investigation determined Cline was northbound on Highway 71 when she lost control of her vehicle, which entered the east ditch.  The vehicle continued in the ditch for a short distance before coming to rest.  It sustained no apparent damage.

Cline was cited for Failure to maintain control and No proof of insurance accident related. The Page County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Clarinda Ambulance service, Villisca Fire & Rescue, and the Red Oak Fire Department

Cass County Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns, Tuesday, updated the previously mentioned list of candidates whose names will appear on the ballot for the November General Election.

The latest addition is Cheryl Christensen, who is an incumbent running for Union Township Clerk.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha World-Herald is eliminating 23 positions from its staff, including 10 employees who were laid off. The layoffs were announced Tuesday in a memo to the newspaper’s staff. The company will also leave eight jobs unfilled, and five other employees will retire.

Omaha World-Herald President Phil Taylor says in the memo the newspaper’s print  advertising revenue continues to decline in certain categories, including large national retailers.

Sue Violi, the newspaper’s community relations director, says the cuts amount to 3 percent of the World-Herald’s workforce. Violi says the newspaper has seen rapid digital subscription growth but faces a “very difficult” transition.

The Omaha World-Herald is owned by Omaha-based Berkshire Hathaway Inc. The company announced in June it had struck a deal with Iowa-based chain Lee Enterprises to manage its newspapers.

MANCHESTER, Iowa (AP) — A driver whose passenger drowned after the vehicle they were in broke through ice in eastern Iowa has been sentenced to up to 15 years. Television station KCRG reports that 37-year-old Joshua Juengel, of Manchester, was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years on a count of vehicular homicide and five years for leaving the scene of a fatal crash.

Prosecutors say he must serve at least seven years of the sentence before he can be released. Juengel pleaded guilty to the counts last month. In exchange, prosecutors dropped related charges.

A witness spotted Juengel’s vehicle doing doughnuts on the ice before it plunged into the frigid water of Lake Delhi on Jan. 8. The body of 23-year-old Alex Salow was found in the vehicle.

MONTEZUMA, Iowa (AP) — Iowa official says suspect in custody in Mollie Tibbetts’ death being held on federal immigration detainer. 24-year old 24-year-old Cristhian Bahena Rivera was in the country illegally has been charged with 1st degree murder in the death of Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts. If convicted, the charge carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison.

Investigators say they used surveillance video in tracking down Rivera. The video showed Tibbetts jogging in a rural area near her hometown of Brooklyn as well as Rivera’s car.

Police had searched the area but noted her body was found in a field, covered with corn stalks. Earlier Tuesday, investigators announced a body believed to be Tibbetts was found in rural Poweshiek County. Tibbetts, a 20-year-old student at the University of Iowa, has been missing since July 18.

The Exira-Elk Horn/Kimballton School Board met Monday evening, and discussed progress on their various construction projects. Superintendent Trevor Miller told KJAN News “things are coming along,” and will be ready for the first day of school on Thursday. He said the playgrounds are done in Exira, a new foundation was poured that’s soft and designed to absorb falls. His son, Miller said jumped up and down on the foundation and said “Look, I can fall and I won’t get hurt.”

The HVAC system in the Elk Horn Building getting worked on. All the units are in-place, and are in the process of being hooked-up to the new cooling tower. It’ll still be a couple of weeks before that project is finished. The windows are all in, lights are installed for the football field, bleachers are done, and painting is being accomplished.

The Board approved the continuation of sharing their School Business Official (SBO) and Technology Instructor with the Tri-Center School District. And, there were some new hires for the District. Jill Johnson will be their new Speech Coach, the Assistant Softball Coach will be the Head Volleyball Coach, as well, and Courtney Peppers will be the Assistant Volleyball Coach.

Miller reminds parents that there will be an early dismissal this Thursday and Friday at 1:30-p.m., to allow contractors extra time to work on their respective projects.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A western Iowa farmer has been given probation for filing fraudulent tax returns. Prosecutors say 65-year-old Kurt Neldeberg was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court in Sioux City to two years of probation. He also must make full restitution and serve 120 hours of community service. Prosecutors say he failed to report more than $315,000 in farm income from 2009 through 2012 and filed false tax returns. The Whiting resident pleaded guilty.