CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Officials say at least eight people were taken to hospitals after a fire broke out at an apartment building on the west side of Cedar Rapids. Firetrucks were dispatched around 3:45 a.m. Thursday. The Cedar Rapids Fire Department says firefighters found people hanging from windows of the three-story structure, where flames and smoke could be seen. The department says ladders were quickly employed to help the residents to safety as firefighters attacked the blaze, which was extinguished by 4:50 a.m. The fire cause is being investigated.

The Creston Police Department reports 37-year old Durrell Haynes, of Creston, was arrested just after 6-a.m. today (Thursday), on an Adams County warrant for Contempt of Court – Failure to pay fines. Haynes was being held in the Union County Jail while awaiting transport to Adams County.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials say a 4-year-old boy being taken to day care was found sleeping in a bus after the driver missed a stop in Des Moines. Kelsey Adcock told station KCCI Wednesday that she frantically called Des Moines Public Schools when her son, who has special needs, didn’t show up at day care Tuesday. She says a Des Moines district bus is supposed to take her son, Boston, from Mitchell Elementary to Leaps and Bounds day care.

The district said in a statement that “a driver new to her route missed a stop, and when she checked the bus, she found a preschool student asleep.” The driver quickly reported her discovery.
The school district transportation director apologized to the little boy’s family.

Sheriff’s officials in Union County say a man from LeMars reported Tuesday, that sometime over the past week, someone took the blades off of a windmill he owns off 210th Street, in Union County. The loss was estimated at $500. No arrests have been reported.

Grant Petty with the Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund, recently gave a donation of $200 to Officer Devin Hogue of the Atlantic Police Department, to become a sponsor of this years summer programs.  Each child and department chaperone who attends their zoo trip and camp out will receive a t-shirt. Fund spokesperson, and Trevor’s mom, Melanie Petty, said “This is just another great opportunity for the children in the community to experience the great outdoors or a trip to the zoo.” She thanked the A-PD for organizing the events.

Grant Petty (left) & Atlantic Police Lt. Devin Hogue (Photo provided)

Funds are raised at the annual TFred Memorial Golf Tournament.  For more information follow them on Facebook or through KJAN.  Petty says “We look forward to continuing to give back to our community in Trevor’s name for years to come.”

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education, Wednesday evening, approved Superintendent Steve Barber’s recommendation to accept the 2018 Master Contract Agreement with the Atlantic Education Association, which represents the District’s Certified Staff (teachers, etc.). The agreement calls for a $480 increase on the base, with no step movement. The total package increase is 1.90%, for a total cost to the District of $139,367. In his report to the Board, Superintendent Barber provided an update on the Construction Trades Pre-Apprentice Program at the Achievement Center on the west side of town. He say the bay area of the Center will be where the shop is located, and some of the unoccupied space is available for use as a classroom.

(He said students in the Associated Building Contractors program will be certified in OSHA training and other, potential certifications.)

The goal he said, is to “Create a high level program…that is what we’re going to work on, beginning with the Fall semester on Aug. 23^rd. Barber said in order to free-up time for Middle School/High School Industrial Technology Instructor Mr. Jade Walter to teach the new program, it was necessary to replace his middle school exploratory. The plan, which is part of the STEM Best Grant, is to begin an exploratory gateway to technology project in 8^th grade through the Lead the Way Program called “Robotics and Automation.”

(He said they are also exploring additional, similar programs for the 7^th grade.)

In other business, the Atlantic School Board approved the 2017-18 Amended Certified Budget, which does not call for an increase in taxes paid in the fiscal year ending June 30th, 2018. Instead, the change in estimates of expenditures will be financed from increased receipts and balances not budgeted or considered in the current budget. The Board accepted the resignations of High School Para-educator Brian Thompson, and Middle School ELA Teacher Jennifer Hartwig. They also approved a bid for Milk from Highland Dairy, a bread bid from Bimbo Bakery, for bread, and a trash collection bid from Hepler Sanitation, as well as a 70/30 Sharing Agreement with the CAM School District for Atlantic’s Business Manager.

The agreement stipulates the CAM School District will receive the services of Atlantic School District Business Manager Sarah Sheeder 30% of the time. In return, CAM will provide 30% of the cost associated with the shared position. Since the business manager position is one that fits under the Operational Sharing legislation, each district will receive additional revenue. Board member Josh McLaren had some concerns about the arrangement, despite the financial gains to both districts, but Sheeder assured him it wouldn’t be placing a burden on her.

ELDORA, Iowa (AP) — A state official says another state worker has been severely beaten by a resident of the Eldora Boys State Training School. The Des Moines Register reports that the unidentified staff member had numerous teeth smashed out and suffered broken bones in his face. Department of Human Services Director Jerry Foxhoven told his department’s advisory board at a Des Moines meeting Wednesday that the assault occurred Saturday. The school is for boys whom courts have found to be delinquent because they committed crimes. Officials say that about six weeks ago four residents beat up another staff member during an escape attempt.

In November the group Disability Rights Iowa sued Foxhoven and other administrators, saying school residents were unjustly locked in isolation rooms, strapped down in restraints and denied mental health care.