The Audubon County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a hit-and-run accident that caused $10,000 damage north of Exira, Tuesday night. Officials say a 1992 Toyota pickup was hit from behind at around 11-p.m. on 280th Street, near Highway 71. The vehicle responsible for the damage backed-off and hit the pickup again before accelerating and shoving the pickup into the north ditch, where the vehicle hit a culvert.

The suspect vehicle, light colored, possibly large passenger car, continued westbound on 280th Street. The driver of the pickup was not hurt. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Audubon County Crimestoppers at 712-563-2234, or the Audubon County Sheriff’s Office at 563-2631. A Crimestopper’s reward is being offered leading to the arrest and conviction of the person involved in the incident.

Members of the Atlantic School District’s Board of Education, Tuesday evening, acted on approving the hiring of persons to fill two teaching positions, which completes the process for the 2015-16 school year. Contracts were approved for 8th grade Science teacher Kara Martin, and 5th grade Elementary teacher Chelsea Germer.

The Board also reviewed staff reductions for the upcoming school year. The District has made cuts amounting to nearly $340,000 through certified staff reductions and $150,000 in para-educator salaries, for a total of about $490,000.

About 110 people gathered at the Adair-Casey High School Tuesday evening for a Community Meeting on current enrollment numbers and district finances, and to discuss the results of a recent community survey, along with options for the district’s future and potential Whole Grade Sharing partners.

Adair-Casey Superintendent Steve Smith told KJAN News, he hopes those who attended the meeting and viewed a PowerPoint presentation, came away with a firm sense of what it was the Board intends to do with regard to the future of the district. He said the Board is committed to Whole Grade Sharing.

The District has explored its options with regard to Whole Grade Sharing, reaching out to the CAM, Guthrie Center and West Central Valley School District Board of Education and holding discussions with those entities. Smith said the decision on what course of action they will take is coming soon. He said they plan to narrow down their choice in July or August [late Summer or early Fall]. Smith says the decision will affect not only Adair-Casey, but plans other districts may already have in-place, so it’s not a decision they’ll make lightly.

According to the Iowa Dept. of Education, 17-percent of school districts in Iowa are involved in Whole Grade Sharing. 26 districts didn’t offer high schools, seven new districts merged in 2014-15 and one district dissolved. Since 1984, there are 101 fewer schools districts, in Iowa.

In the PowerPoint presentation to district patrons, the Board explained it’s goals are to: Put children and academics 1st; Provide direction for the future of the district based on data; Maintain a pre-K through 8th grade facility; preserve local control over decision that impact the communities; and listen to all constituents’ views and opinions.

The current data shows next year’s enrollment will not support a balanced budget at Adair-Casey, and that eight out of 13 classes will have less than 20 students, in-all. For 2015-16, the enrollment data shows A-C will be down about 15 students, which means $100,000 less revenue for the district. An additional 15 students will be lost for the 2016-17 school years, creating a $195,000 financial impact, lowering the district’s cash reserve and spending authority.

More information is on the PowerPoint presentation that you can view for yourself on the district’s website at http://www.accs.k12.ia.us/a-c-community-meeting-62315.cfm

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says no injuries were reported following an accident Tuesday afternoon, in Griswold. The mishap happened at around 4-p.m., in the alley between 4th Street and Highway 92, in Griswold. Authorities say a 2013 Chevy Equinox owned and driven by 58-year old Debra Lee Alexander, of Griswold, was backing from a residential drive into the alley when the vehicle struck a westbound 2004 Buick Lesabre owned and driven by 81-year old Virginia Lou Askeland, also of Griswold. Damage from the collision amounted to $4,600.

The Creston Police Department reports four arrests and an incident of theft. Officials say 28-year old Kevin Jungers, of Lenox, was arrested Tuesday night near the intersection of Spruce and Irving, on Possession of Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, charges. And, early this (Wednesday) morning, 26-year old Dusten Thrasher, of Creston, were arrested on similar charges. Both men were being held in the Union County Jail on $1,000 bond, each.

In addition, 37-year old Lindsey Frey, and 34-year old Jeremy Seddon, both of Creston, were arrested Tuesday, on Union County warrants for Probation Violation. Frey was later released on $10,000 bond, while Seddon remains in the Union County Jail awaiting a bond hearing.

And, a Creston resident reported to Police Tuesday afternoon, someone took a cordless DeWalt Hammer Drill from his shop sometime between Noon and 5-p.m. on Monday. The same person said someone smashed out the back window of his truck and took two car batteries from his shop located near his residence. That happened sometime between 5-pm June 19th and 5-pm June 22nd.