Pending approval next month by the Exira-EHK School District’s “Super Board,” voters in the combined districts will head to the polls on Feb. 4^th, 2014, to act on a Public Measure adopting a Revenue Purpose Statement (RPS). Exira-EHK Superintendent Dean Schnoes told KJAN News the election is required by the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) and Department of Education (DOE).

He says even though both districts say the same thing, it still has to be approved by the voters. The new “Super Board” will meet Dec. 2^nd to approve a resolution to put the measure before the voters, and to continue on with what the RPS says.

The RPS will allow the districts to authorize the expenditure of revenues from the State of Iowa to secure an advanced vision for the education fund received by the Exira-Elk Horn Kimballton Community School District. The RPS specifies how the One-cent Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) can be used, including, but not limited to: Property Tax relief; New buildings or additions to current facilities; the lease or purchase of buildings or equipment, and more.

He says it’s kind of like a combination of the PPEL – Physical Plant and Equipment Levy – and the LOST, but it’s broader in scope as compared to what the PPEL allows, such as technology purchases and upgrades. The RPS is typically in effect for 10-years, which for each district independently is currently in 2020. Schnoes said because it’s a new district, it’s just another one of those things you have to have in-place, like a school starting brand new.” He said “If we’re going to continue on with the education that we have here providing the facilities, the curriculum, the things that we need to provide education…we still need to have [the RPS] in-place.”

If the measure fails to win voter approval on Feb. 4^th, it will not terminate or restrict authority previously granted by the voters to expend receipts from the “secure an advanced vision for education,” fund. If it’s approved, it will remain in effect until replaced or amended by the Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton School District.

You can read details about the Special Election on the Exira-EHK website under “Public Notices,” or click on this link to the PDF: http://swmcdn.com/site_0244/EXIRAEHK_RevenuePurposeStmt_111813.pdf

A Red Oak man was arrested Monday afternoon on a warrant for Revocation of Probation. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says 40-year old Eric Huffstutlear was taken into custody at around 2-p.m.  He appeared before the District Court Judge and is being held in the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on a $5,000 cash bond.

Two people were arrested in Atlantic, Monday. The Police Department says 27-year old Jonathan Nelson, of Atlantic, was arrested on charges of Child Endangerment and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana. And, 43-year old William Garside, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant charging him with 5th Degree Theft. Both men were booked into the Cass County Jail.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Iowans who are curious or concerned about where their food comes from might consider a trip to Ames for tonight’s (Tuesday) event, called a Food Dialogue, or they can participate via the internet. Mindy Williamson is spokeswoman for the Iowa Corn Growers Association, which is teaming up with the U-S Farmers and Ranchers Alliance to sponsor the program. Williamson says, “It’s supposed to be a conversation about food and we are focusing on organic, talking about the definition of local food and also talking about GMOs.”

The issue of genetically-modified organisms continues to be a topic of discussion for many consumers, farmers and activists, and she says it will definitely be a point for conversation at this event.  “We have an evenly-balanced panel of experts and farmers who are going to give consumers, the general public who are in attendance and also those who are live streaming the opportunity to ask questions and get answers straight from the sources.” She says they’ve assembled a panel that is very knowledgeable on an array of ag issues, the G-M-O debate in particular.

Williamson says, “We have some farmers who use conventional farming practices here in Iowa and we also have some farmers who grow organically to talk about what are the issues, what do we need to be concerned about as consumers or what do we not need to worry about as consumers.” Panelists include: Larry Cleverly, an organic farmer, supplier and farmers market vendor; Dr. Wayne Parrott, a professor with the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at the University of Georgia; Wayne Humphreys, a crop and livestock farmer; Dave Murphy, founder and executive director of Food Democracy Now!; Katie Olthoff, a Common Ground volunteer and turkey farmer; and John Schillinger, a crop researcher.

The Food Dialogue begins at 7 P-M at Iowa State University’s Scheman Building. It’s open to the public and it will be streamed live online at www.iowacorn.org.

(Radio Iowa)

The Atlantic Parks and Rec Board Monday, set Dec. 5^th , 2013 as the date for an open house and tour of the new Park Maintenance Building. The event will take place from 4-to 6-pm, which the Board hopes will allow shoppers and those just getting off of work an opportunity to check out the new facility and enjoy some snacks and refreshments. The recently finished metal framed building features a concrete floor, plenty of room for equipment, an office, lobby/reception area, and cabinets purchased from the Cass County Memorial Hospital.

The cabinets were no longer needed at the hospital because of their recent renovation project, which Park and Rec Director Roger Herring said saved thousands of dollars in fabrication costs. The heavy tops for the cabinets and work benches were made from unused skate park high density fiberboard.

In other business, through a cooperative effort with the wellness group Healthy Cass County and through grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Iowa Community Transformation, three different walking paths have been identified throughout the downtown Atlantic area. He says bike racks will be placed in strategic places along the paths as well, in addition to signage indicating which walking path you are on.

The paths are color coded: Green (1-mile route), Red (2-miles) and Orange (1.5-miles). Information about the paths is being circulated throughout the community, with additional details planned for release later.

Police in Red Oak arrested one person early this (Tuesday) morning on a harassment charge. 53-year old Victor Audie Stephens, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 1:05 at 104 E. Walnut Street, for Harassment in the 3rd Degree. Stephens was booked into the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on a $300 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The former CEO of Texas-based Reliant Energy is expected to be the latest Iowa Republican running for U.S. Senate in 2014. Fifty-one-year-old Mark Jacobs plans to announce his intentions Tuesday. Republicans seeking to succeed retiring Democrat Tom Harkin include radio host Sam Clovis, state Sen. Joni Ernst, lawyer Paul Lunde, former car salesman Scott Schaben, former U.S. Attorney Matt Whitaker and former Senate aide David Young. U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley is the only Democrat.

EDDYVILLE, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man was pinned to the wreckage of a car for nearly two days over the weekend. The Wapello County Sheriff’s Office says 60-year-old Patrick Allen Douglas, of Ottumwa, was discovered Sunday afternoon in a car near Highway 63, south of Eddyville. The car entered the median between two bridges, near a creek. Authorities believe the crash happened between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Friday. Douglas told officials he fell asleep while driving.

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) — A northeast Iowa man’s murder conviction won’t be reviewed by the state Supreme Court. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports the court denied a request by 32-year-old James Dean Raymond, of Clarksville, to review his 2006 conviction of first-degree murder in the death of Jesse Patchin, of Charles City. Prosecutors say Patchin died after an argument over a drug deal in a mobile home near Nashua around Oct. 1, 2005.

JEFFERSON, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa elementary school was placed briefly on lockdown after a high-speed police chase was called off near the campus. The chase began in Slater when an Iowa Department of Transportation enforcement officer clocked a car traveling at more than 100 mph in a 55 mph zone. The Des Moines Register reports the vehicle sped into Jefferson toward Jefferson-Scranton Elementary School. Officials soon called off the chase, but a suspect was later taken into custody.

Police in Red Oak report the arrest Monday night of 21-year old Cody Dean Johnson, of Red Oak. Johnson was taken into custody near 3rd and Coolbaugh Streets at around 10:50-p.m., on a charge of Theft in the 5th Degree. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail a $300 cash bond.