Officials with the CAM Community School District and the Iowa Connections Academy have announced a new, virtual public school will be available for students statewide, in grades K-12.  As an Iowa public school, there is no tuition or fees to attend, however there is an important open enrollment deadline of March 1st, 2012.  Enrollment in the Iowa Connections Academy (IACA)  will begin immediately, as part of the state’s open enrollment period for the 2012-2013 academic year, and will offer informational meetings for interested families in February across Iowa.

The virtual school is said to offer a high-quality, highly accountable, tuition-free, public education option. IACA’s teaching and attendance center will be based in the greater Anita area. It will combine Iowa-licensed teachers, an Iowa Core standards-aligned curriculum, unique technology tools, an extensive selection of electives and clubs, and community experiences to create an individualized alternative to the bricks-and-mortar classroom.

All IACA students will participate in the nationally accredited Connections Academy program that combines resources from leading publishers with cutting-edge, yet easy-to-use, technology and hands-on materials. Learning from home, students will work closely with a licensed Iowa teacher using detailed daily lesson plans that can be personalized to meet individual student needs. A parent or another adult “Learning Coach” monitors progress in the home. Students enrolled will receive learning materials such as textbooks, science kits, and more.

CAM Community School District Superintendent said “The CAM Community School District is committed to providing our students with a 21^st Century education. We have been utilizing technology to creatively support and enhance our teaching for some time and developing a virtual school is a natural extension and expansion of our efforts and ideas. This is about offering the best educational options for CAM students and students throughout Iowa – about meeting, exceeding, student needs and successfully preparing them for their future.”

Pelzer says “Through technology, students will gain access to programs they may not have had access to before – an expanded Talented and Gifted program, additional Advanced Placement courses, foreign languages such as Mandarin Chinese, an option for credit recovery for high school students.”

Iowa families seeking more information about IACA and its approach to personalized public education can visit http://www.ConnectionsAcademy.com or call 800-382-6010. Informational meetings will take place throughout the state in February.

In an update to a story we first posted on KJAN.com early this (Friday) morning, and told you about during our newscasts, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office says an Exira man died in a crash Thursday night, in Irwin. Officials say 21-year old Gary Davis, of Exira died, after the car he was driving went out of control on a curve and traveled into a ditch before coming to rest on its top.

The accident happened at around 11:50-p.m., as Davis was traveling north on Shelby County Road M-47 in the City of Irwin. Crews from Irwin Fire and Rescue responded to the scene and extricated Davis from his 2008 Pontiac G-6. The Shelby County Medical Examiner was called to the scene as well, and determined the man was deceased. The accident remains under investigation.

Officials with the Iowa West Foundation…headquartered in Council Bluffs…have announced $4 million in grants for the fourth quarter of 2011.  The grants will be used to assist 44 non-profit organizations and governmental entities with funding for area projects. The current round of foundation grants includes $1.25 million to support the Pottawattamie County Community Foundation (PCCF) to promote local philanthropy and help meet emerging needs in communities.  It is the fourth installment of Iowa West’s six-year pledge.

Other sizable grants this quarter included: 

• A $487,500 grant to the Nature Conservancy of Iowa for the preservation of a scenic and native Loess Hills area in Mills County (IA); 
• A $400,000 grant for the implementation of an economic development related strategic plan in rural Pottawattamie County; 
• A $350,000 grant was awarded to the United Way of the Midlands – headquartered in Omaha – to complete its 2011 campaign in meeting the needs of southwest Iowans and eastern Nebraskans.  

In addition, many “small but important” grants in the round, including the smallest of $2,000, which went to a Best Buddies program at Harlan (IA) High School to support students with developmental disabilities. 

Iowa West has provided $280 million in grants to non-profits and governmental entities since the inception of its grants program in 1996. Requests for Iowa West grant applications for the second quarter of 2012 will begin March 1, 2012 and will be accepted through April 2, 2012.  Completed applications will be due April 16, 2012.  The deadline to request applications for the first quarter has passed.  

For more information including deadlines, interested organizations may visit the foundation’s website at www.iowawestfoundation.org or contact Deb Debbaut, Grants Manager, at 712-309-3003.  The foundation has recently updated its funding guidelines and procedures, which can be viewed at the website.  Applicants can apply on-line through the website.

A Harlan man was arrested Thursday on burglary and other charges. According to the Harlan Police Department, 29-year old Bruce Spray faces a 2nd degree burglary charge, along with charges of criminal mischief in the 3rd degree and violation of a protective order. Spray was taken into custody after authorities investigated a report a man was kicking in a door in the 800 block of Market Street.

In other news out of Harlan, the H-P.D. says 28-year old Michael Stewart, of Harlan, was arrested last week after officers were called to the 16-hundred block of 16th Street. Stewart was taken into custody on charges of domestic abuse assault, and obstruction of emergency communications. Also arrested last week in Harlan, were two juveniles…14-year old Christopher Buttry, and 15-year old Andrew Nippert, both of whom are from Harlan. Officials say the teens were charged with 4th degree theft, after allegedly taking cigarettes, sunglasses and $300 cash from a locker at the Petersen Wellness Center. The teen were cited, and released to their parents.

Earlier this month, Harlan Police officers arrested 15-year old Stephaun Lancer, of Harlan. Lancer was cited for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was later released to his parents. And, 17-year old Cassidy Coenen, of Earling, was arrested after police received a tip about a possible party where minors were present. Coenen was cited for being a minor in possession of alcohol, while 28-year old Sean Gifford was arrested on a charge of supplying alcohol to persons under legal age. Gifford was cited and released. Coenen was released to the custody of her mother, after receiving her citation.

w/ Ric Hanson

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The City Council has scheduled a vote on whether to pay nearly $479,000 to a man who filed a lawsuit over a sledding accident in Sioux City.  The Sioux City Journal reports the council is set to vote Monday on its part of the nearly $2.75 million going to 38-year-old David Rosalez, his wife and their two children.
 
Rosalez sued after injuring his spinal cord in January 2008 while sledding at Sertoma Park. He slid backward into a parking sign.  The city’s insurance carrier will pay $1.97 million. A third party will pay $300,000.  The Rosalez family filed the lawsuit in January 2010.
 
The city has filed third-party petitions against Aqua Leisure Industries, the maker of the snow tube Rosalez was riding, and Wal-Mart, which sold the tube.

A judge in Hall County, NE has ordered a western Iowa woman to appear in Grand Island by no later than 5-p.m. next Wednesday, to serve 120 days in jail for violating the terms of her probation after having been convicted on felony charges of animal neglect. 49-year old Denise Withee, of Mapleton (IA), was convicted in July 2009 for her role in the dumping of 20 dead and three dying dogs in a cornfield near Grand Island during the summer of 2008.

During her trial, Withee claimed she was taking the dogs to someone in Nebraska, when she became sick. She said she pulled over and passed out. When she awoke, Withee says most of the dogs were dead from the heat.

After her conviction in 2009, Withee was sentenced to four-years of probation and ordered not to possess or reside with any animal for five-years. But last week, Sheriff’s deputies in Monona County (IA) who were checking-up on Withee, found 13 dogs at the home she shares with her mother. Both women were cited for suspicion of animal cruelty. The presence of those animals in her home violated the terms of Withee’s Nebraska probation.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Some residents in western and southwest Iowa and parts of Nebraska will be able to indulge in donuts and coffee offered by a popular national chain, in the coming years. According to a development corporation headed-up by three former Huskers football players, Dunkin’ Donuts will open restaurants in Council Bluffs, Red Oak, Sioux City and Shenandoah. The chain will also offer stores in Omaha, Columbus, Norfolk and South Sioux City, NE. The first restaurant will open in 2013, with the remaining stores set to open by 2020.

Dunkin’ Donuts serves coffee, frozen and iced beverages, an assortment of pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and an all-day menu. The company has more than 10,000 restaurants in 32 countries worldwide, and racked-up more than $6-billion in global sales in 2010.

Officials with the Iowa Lottery say a review of their records for the past year shows there were winners of large lottery prizes in every Iowa county. In Cass County, ThelmaJean Venteicher, of Massena, was the latest big instant/scratch game winner during calendar year 2011, winning$30,000 in the “Crossword” game, with a ticket purchased at the 21st Century Co-Op C-Store, in Massena.

Players in Iowa have up to 365 days from the date of the drawing to claim prizes in Powerball, Mega Millions and Hot Lotto. Players have up to 90 days from the date of the drawing to claim prizes in Iowa’s $100,000 Cash Game and the Iowa Lottery’s Pick 3 and Pick 4 games. If the expiration date falls on a weekend or holiday when the lottery’s offices are closed, the winner has until the close of business on the next business day to turn in the ticket.

Prizes in instant-scratch and pull-tab games must be claimed within 90 days of the end of the game. Scratch-game prizes can be claimed at any Iowa Lottery retailer where the games are sold, while prizes in pull-tab games must be claimed at the location where the tickets were purchased.

Prize money left unclaimed after redemption deadlines is invested in future prize pools. Players may visit an Iowa Lottery retailer or go to one of the lottery’s offices in Des Moines, Council Bluffs, Storm Lake, Mason City or Cedar Rapids to claim prizes. Winning lotto numbers may be checked by visiting the lottery Web site at www.ialottery.com or calling the winning numbers hotline at (515) 323-4633. They may also be checked by visiting a lottery retail outlet or calling the lottery at (515) 725-7900 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.