EXIRA, Iowa (AP) — Officials in Exira plan to burn down the western Iowa city’s old elementary school. The Exira Community School Board agreed to the plan earlier this week, resolving a question that has remained unresolved since the building was closed three years ago.

According to published reports burning the school would save the district up to $60,000 in demolition costs, even including the cost to haul away the charred remains. It also will give area fire departments a rare chance to train on a multi-floor building. Superintendent Dean Schnoes notes the three-story building has seven different floor levels.

The fire is planned for April 27th. Officials will use wood pallets to start the fire and are seeking pallet donations.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A bill originally drafted to make it illegal for landowners to allow drinking on their property by anyone under 21 has been changed. The House Public Safety Committee approved an amended version of the bill Thursday that now limits offenses to those who permit people younger than 18 to drink on their property. The bill exempts property managers who aren’t aware of minors drinking The panel approved the bill 15-to-5. It now goes to the House floor.

First violations would carry a simple misdemeanor charge and a $200 fine. Subsequent offenses carry $500 fines. Rep. Deborah Berry, a Democrat from Waterloo, says she’s worried about how the measure would be enforced. Republican Rep. Jarad Klein, of Keota, says the amended bill was an improvement over the earlier version.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports two accidents occurred recently. An accident this (Thursday) morning at 250th and Vine Avenue southeast of Clarinda, caused $7,000 damage, but no injuries. Sheriff Lyle Palmer says a 2003 Chrysler Concorde driven by 34-year old Tara Hoskins, of Clarinda, was turning left from 250th onto Vine at around 7:45-a.m., when her car collided with a 2002 Ford Focus driven by 23-year old Austin Ascherl, of Clarinda.

The accident happened as the Focus was traveling north on Vine and didn’t come to a complete stop at the intersection. In addition, Hoskins’ vision was obscured due to frost on her driver’s side window, and she was traveling left of center. No citations were issued.

The other accident occurred March 4th at the intersection of 170th Street and E Avenue, south of Essex. Sheriff Palmer said a 2000 Dodge Dakota pickup driven by 18-year old Kaleb Kelly, of Essex, was traveling south on E Avenue at around 3:50-p.m., when he failed to stop at the stop sign. The pickup hit a 2003 Dodge Ram pickup, driven by 62-year old Donavon Lundgren, of Essex, causing both trucks to be totaled. Both drivers and a passenger in the Lundgren pickup, 59-year old Cheryl Lundgren, suffered non-incapacitating injuries, and were transported to the Shenandoah Memorial Hospital by ambulance. Kelly was cited for Failure to Obey a Stop or Yield sign.

DELOIT, Iowa (AP) — Three people face murder charges in connection to the discovery of two bodies inside a burning building in western Iowa. Authorities announced Thursday at a press conference that they have arrested 19-year-old Jayden Chapman, 36-year-old Erika Haberberger-Dains and 26-year-old Michael Schenk. All three are charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree arson.

Erika Haberberger-Dains

Jayden Chapman

Michael Schenk

Authorities say the bodies of 80-year-old Marvin Huesling and 81-year-old Alice Huisenga, both of Carroll County, were found inside the burning structure Monday. Huesling died of multiple gunshot wounds. Huisenga was killed by “homicidal violence,” though additional information was not released.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation says the suspects were likely on the property to steal scrap metal. They are at the Crawford County Jail.