The CAM School Board held its regular monthly meeting Monday evening, in Anita. Superintendent Dr. Casey Berlau told KJAN News they approved salary increases for Classified Staff, including:

• a $2.00/hour increase for bus drivers (from $15.40/hour to $17.40/hour), plus a $500 bonus if the route driver starts the school year and finishes the year.
• A $1.00/hour raise for para-educators and Secretaries, and 45-cents/hour for those in “Other categories” such as custodians and kitchen staff.

The CAM Board also approved a sharing agreement for 2019-20 with the Atlantic School District for School Business Official (SBO) Sarah Sheeder. And, they approved a 3.5% increase for Principals and a 4% increase for two, 12-month employees. Berlau said the Board discussed the Superintendent search process. He said they will hold a joint closed session with the Nodaway Valley School Board this coming Thursday, to review the applicants, with the goal to select the persons for the first round of interviews.

Last month, Dr. Berlau was hired as the Superintendent for the Carroll Community School District, effective July 1st. The 44-year old has served Nodaway Valley for 10-years, and as a shared Superintendent with CAM for the past five-years.

In other business, the CAM School Board approved some facility improvements, such as replacing curtains for the stages at the high school and middle school. They also approved fundraiser requests in advance of the RAGBRAI event that will be coming to Cass County in July. There were also several resignations that were approved:

And, some contracts were approved:

Berlau said there are some positions that remain to be filled, He said also the Board voted to take bids on an old school bus they no longer need.

Police in Red Oak arrested a local woman at around 8:35-a.m. today (Tuesday). 27-year old Joslin Nicole Davies, of Red Oak, was arrested for operating a vehicle on a public roadway while having a revoked Iowa driver’s license for an OWI. Davies was also cited for failure to provide proof of insurance. Authorities say she refused to sign the citation, and was jailed on that charge was well. Her cash bond was set at $1,000.

Sheriff’s deputies in Pottawattamie County made two arrests Monday night. At around 11:10-p.m., a deputy was dispatched to the area of mile marker 65 on I-29 northbound, for a suspicious male subject. Upon further investigation, 34-year old Andrew Bouma, of Des Moines, was arrested for Conspiracy to commit a forcible felony, as well as Criminal Mischief in the 3rd degree (For damage greater than $500 but less than $1,000), involving a 2003 Jaguar X-Type car. Bouma was being held in the Pott. County Jail on a total of $12,000 bond. And, at around 10:50-p.m., 63-year old Michael James Hunter, of Underwood, was arrested following a traffic stop in Underwood. Hunter was taken into custody on a Pott. County felony warrant.

Sheriff’s officials said also, 24-year old Johnathan Lee Jay Behrens, of Avoca, was transported Monday afternoon from the Shelby County Jail to the Pott. County Jail, to address a warrant for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender. His bond was set at $2,000. And, 37-year old Larry Phillips, of Collierville, TN., was transported from the Shelby County Jail to Pott. County, by order of a warrant for Eluding while speeding, Flight to avoid prosecution, No valid driver’s license, and speeding. His bond was set at $7,000.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowans who plan a trip over the upcoming Memorial Day weekend will need to plot their route carefully as many roads across the region are closed either by flooding or by flood damage. Rose White, at Triple-A-Iowa, says the motor club is predicting this will be the second-busiest Memorial Day weekend on record for all forms of travel, which includes air, ship, rail and car. White says, “Memorial Day travel by automobile, however, will be the most on record, topping the previously recorded high set back in 2005 with 37.6 million people taking to the roadways.” That’s up more than three-percent from last year. More than 37-million people will be traveling by car nationwide over the weekend and Iowans might want to get online before getting on the road.

“Before you venture out, visit the 511ia.org site and there you can download a very helpful application that will provide you the latest information on detours, road closures and those that are under construction,” White says. We’ve seen photos in recent weeks of gas stations in southwest Iowa that were inundated by floodwaters, so it’s very possible some of our regular road trip pit stops won’t be open. “Keep a close eye on your fuel tank,” White says. “Many of the outlets may be closed due to the Midwest flooding situation. It’s always advised you keep at least a quarter of a tank as you are traveling about this holiday period.”

Gasoline prices for the first holiday weekend of the summer driving season are down from a year ago. “Fuel prices in Iowa are very favorable,” White says. “Compared to the national average, Iowa’s state average is 20 cents lower, currently at $2.65 a gallon. That’s down about 16 cents compared to the prices that were paid last Memorial holiday.” White says the busiest travel days will be Thursday and Friday, so try to avoid those days entirely or schedule it so you’re not going through big cities during rush hours.

Anita Fire and Rescue Wiota 1st Responders, along with Medivac Ambulance were called to the scene of a semi tractor-trailer accident this (Tuesday) morning off I-80 eastbound, in the median. The call went out at 8:13-a.m. for the incident that took place at the 75 mile marker, or just west of Adair. The driver was said to be conscious and breathing, but possibly suffering from a medical condition. (Update 8:22-a.m.: Anita Fire and Wiota Rescue were told to “disregard” the call).