DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa is shifting to a new high school equivalency diploma test. The state Department of Education announced Thursday it would replace the GED with a test developed by the nonprofit ETS. The agency says the nonprofit’s test, called HiSET, will be aligned with statewide standards for Iowa students and will be cheaper.

Iowa officials begin considering moving to a new test after GED Testing Service shifted from a nonprofit to a for-profit organization in 2012. That move prompted other assessment vendors to being offering services. A selection committee comprised of officials at community colleges and the Iowa Department of Education chose the new test. The new test will cost $50 and can be taken in a paper or online format.

Authorities in Montgomery County are investigating the theft of solar-powered yard lights. A resident in Villisca called the Sheriff’s Office this (Thursday) morning to report 11 solar yard lights valued at $50 were stolen from a residence in the 600 block of east 4th Street. The theft occurred sometime between the hours of 10-p.m. Wednesday and 7-a.m. today (Thursday). Anyone having information about the crime is asked to call Crimestoppers at 1-800-423-1001.

Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Public Health report the agency has received an increase in the number of cases of Cryptosporidiosis, or ‘Crypto.’ Of the 358 cases of Crypto reported to IDPH so far this year, 272 cases have occurred since June 1st. An additional 138 cases are currently under investigation. Cases have been reported in nearly half of Iowa’s 99 counties. In 2012, a total of 328 Crypto cases were reported for the entire year.

In western Iowa, the following counties reported cases of “Crytpo occuring from June 1st through August 7th: Adair (3), Guthrie (1), Madison (2),  Monona (1),  Pottawattamie (2), Sac (2), Woodbury (3).

Crypto is a disease caused by a parasite that results in watery diarrhea, sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and low grade fever. Crypto can cause disease in both humans and animals. People get Crypto by coming in contact with persons or animals shedding the parasite, or by drinking water contaminated with the parasite.

Many of the people who have become ill with Crypto reported swimming in pools, and some in lakes or rivers. IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk says “The most effective way to keep swimming waters healthy is by keeping unhealthy people out of them.” Quinlisk adds, “If you or your child is or has recently been sick with diarrhea, don’t go swimming.”

A small number of people also reported being around animals. To protect against illness, be sure to wash hands after any contact with animals or their living areas, and after handling animal waste.

To keep swimming safe, remember:

• Protect others by not swimming if you are experiencing diarrhea (this is essential for children in diapers). If diagnosed with Crypto, do not swim for at least two weeks after diarrhea stops.
• Do not swallow water in your mouth.
• Thoroughly wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.
• Shower yourself and your child before swimming.
• Change diapers in a bathroom, not at the poolside.
• Take your kids on bathroom breaks and check swim diapers often.

It is also important to:

• Wash hands before preparing or eating food; after using the toilet; after changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet; and before and after caring for someone who is ill with diarrhea.
• To reduce the risk of disease transmission, children with diarrhea should be excluded from child care settings until the diarrhea has stopped.

For more information on Crypto, visit www.idph.state.ia.us/IDPHChannelsService/file.ashx?file=66C275B0-3645-435E-AE6E-BBC18EE585AF.

A school leader in southwest Iowa says he made a “poor mistake” over the weekend when he was ticketed for having an open container of alcohol in the car he was driving. Lenox School Superintendent David Henrichs says he’s sorry for embarrassing the school district and his family and he takes full responsibility for the incident. “I did receive an open container ticket,” Henrichs says. “I informed the board as soon as I got back from being issued that ticket. I did not get arrested and there was no OWI. We will have a discussion about the situation in full detail at the August 19th board meeting.”

The incident happened Saturday night as there was a flurry of police activity in the Taylor County town, which included a serious domestic abuse situation, a drug bust and the discovery of a body in a corn field. There were rumors a school staff member might have been involved in the incidents, which was evidently not the case. Still, Henrichs says he agreed to drive that employee to the area where the body was found.

“I absolutely made a poor mistake, I have no excuses,” Henrichs says. “I was very concerned about all these other rumors going around. I have tried to be very proactive by contacting the board immediately, I’ve been telling staff members as soon as I’ve seen them at school. That’s where we are.”

Henrichs has served the Lenox School District, first as principal, then as superintendent, for the past 15 years.

(Chuck Morris/Radio Iowa)

The Iowa State Patrol says a man from Stuart has died from injuries he suffered during a motorcycle crash in Guthrie County. A 1980 Yamaha motorcycle driven by 53-year old Alan Whitecotton, of Stuart, was found this (Thursday) morning in the south ditch along Whitepole Road (Highway 6), just east of 345th Trail. The Guthrie County Medical Examiner pronounced Whitecotten dead at the scene.

Officials say it’s not clear when the accident occurred, but the man was last scene at around 5-p.m. Monday (Aug. 5th). The accident remains under investigation.

A Shelby County resident will be honored at the Iowa State Fair this week. Steve Leinen,  of Panama, has been selected as “Iowan of the Day” at this year’s Iowa State Fair. The Iowan of the Day program is sponsored by the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation and selects 10 lucky Iowa residents who are nominated by others for the award. The Foundation receives hundreds of nominations each year. Every Iowan of the Day gets his/her special day at the State Fair. Leinen’s day at the fair is Friday. Leinen says he was nominated by Lois Kramer.

“She nominated me and I didn’t really know the program existed and called me one night and told me you have been nominated for Iowan of the Day. It has a lot of perks to go with it.” Leinen and three of his guests will get the royal treatment on Friday. He said “We get four free passes to the fair along with a parking pass up close and get in early. We get a golf cart to drive around, cash to spend and four tickets to the concert that night. The highlight of the day is getting on the Bill Riley talent stage to get the award. It is a pretty special deal.”

Leinen will  share the award with his wife, adding “That’s the reason I am today because of her. We work as a team on any volunteering that we do and the award is somewhat based on that so she deserves it just as much as I do.” The Leinens serve on the Harlan Community Booster Club, Panama Athletic Association, the Panama Fire Department and Steve is Secretary on the Shelby County Cattlemen Board. Steve Leinen says on the night he found out he won, he originally thought he was suppose to help the Kramers with redecorating work.

He said “Dave and Lois invited us to their house to supposedly look at some landscaping. It happened on the day they tore down their kitchen wall and I thought I was going to be asked to help as she had a stack of papers in front of her. All of sudden she started telling me about what she did and she showed me a bunch of pictures that she had sent in. So I was surprised.”

As Iowan of the Day, Leinen received a free night stay for this (Thursday) evening at the Marriott before starting his day at the Fair Friday.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

A traffic stop early this (Thursday) morning in Lenox, lead to the arrest of a Central Iowa man. Lenox Police pulled over a vehicle driving erratically on Brooks Avenue, at around 12:30-a.m.  When the officer approached the vehicle, he could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle located drug paraphernalia and marijuana.

Trever John Wiebenga

The driver, 22-year old Trever John Wiebenga, of Dexter, was arrested for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He was transported to the Taylor County Sheriffs office for processing. The vehicle was impounded.

w/ Ric Hanson

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – At least three people in two states will split the $448 million Powerball jackpot. Lottery officials say two winning tickets were sold in New Jersey and one was sold in Minnesota.  Minnesota lottery officials say that state’s winning Powerball jackpot ticket was sold in Anoka County.

New Jersey lottery officials say one of the winning tickets in that state was purchased at a Super Stop & Shop store in South Brunswick. The other one was bought at an Acme Markets store in Little Egg Harbor.  Phil Weber, the director of the Acme store, says he’s just happy that, in his words, “someone’s life is changing for the positive.”

No winners have come forward yet.  The winning numbers drawn Wednesday night were 05, 25, 30, 58, 59 and Powerball 32.

The Iowa State Patrol and deputies with the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Department are on the scene of a motorcycle accident this morning. Details are limited at this time, but we do know the crash occurred on White Pole Road (Highway 6). We’ll have more on this story when information becomes available.