(Radio Iowa) – A school district in northern Iowa is finding success in recruiting mental health professionals to practice within its school buildings. Darwin Lehmann, Ssuperintendent of the  Forest City Community Schools, says they’ve made adjustments and discovered if students can’t get to the counselors, they’ll bring the counselors to the students.  “We partner with a number of local organizations to bring mental health into our building,” Lehmann says. “We found this out in the recession, that families had to make decisions. If they’re unable to take off work and get kids over to appointments, we allow entities to have space in our schools to provide appointments for kids.”

Lehmann says he encourages teacher involvement, and offers training in how to recognize potential mental health issues.  “We’ve got more guidance counselors than most schools of our size,” Lehmann says. “We have pre-K-2, 3-5, 6-9, and 10-12 guidance counselors, and a couple of them have some specific training in mental health.”

Recent studies find 90-percent Iowa’s counties have a shortage of mental health care professionals, and the state ranks 46th in the nation for psychologists per capita.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School Board, during their work session, Wednesday, discussed the size of educational and extracurricular activity classrooms and programs. Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen said the district’s Kindergarten classrooms have one-or two that are at 25 students per class. Another has 22, and a few more are coming in, meaning those are large classes. Second-grade has a full class with 25 students. Dr. Johnsen said they are hoping to find someone to fill one of the Kindergarten classroom teaching positions.

Johnsen said Middle School Principal Casey Pelzer has some classes that have anywhere from 25-to nearly 30 students, “which are large class sizes, again,” she said. School Board member Laura McLean said not all of the district’s classes and grades are “massively overcrowded.”

Board President Kristy Pellett said it’s not an anomaly to have spikes in classroom sizes, and they’ve come up with ways to handle it in years past. Dr. Johnsen said when more bodies are packed into a classroom, the “style of learning changes.”

While no action was taken on class size during the Atlantic School Board’s work session, Board Policy says the Board is granted “Exclusive authority to decide the size of classes and determine the necessity of class grouping.” It is the superintendent’s responsibility to recommend class sizes to the Board, taking into account the district’s financial status, the qualifications and number of licensed employees, and other, relevant factors for the Board’s consideration.

With regard to extracurricular/advanced (elective) activities, Dr. Johnsen said asked the Board if a minimum number should be set for class-size, or to sustain a sports program, or should the program be put on hold until the numbers are up? Kristy Pellett responded to Board member Gini Jordan’s question “Doesn’t the sport kind of dictate the number that you need?”

She said “It’s really hard to have a student committed to start a sports season, have other kids drop out, and especially if the have the opportunity for individual competition, to tell that student you’re taking that opportunity away.” Board member Josh McLaren said that scenario a tough pill for him to swallow.

The Board agreed with Superintendent Johnsen, that there needs to be more discussion and a larger assessment and policy review, of academic and athletic programs, to determine what level of participation is best for student learning and enrichment.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak arrested a man on an Assault charge this (Friday) morning. Authorities say 54-year-old Fred Francis Welch, IV, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 6:50-a.m., in the 200 block of E. Corning Street. Welch was charged with Domestic Abuse Serious Assault/2nd offense – an Aggravated Misdemeanor. He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond, pending an initial court appearance.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Police in Council Bluffs report a teenager suffered non-life threatening injuries after being shot Thursday night. No arrests have been reported. Authorities say at around 9:30-p.m., Council Bluffs Police Officers were dispatched to the area of S. 26th St. and 3rd Ave.for a “shots-fired” call. Officers arrived in the area and discovered that a 17-year-old male was shot in the chest and leg. The victim was transported to Mercy Hospital prior to officers arriving on scene.

An initial investigation indicated that a disturbance had occurred in front of 215 S. 26th St. During the disturbance one subject produced a firearm and fired multiple shots.

The investigation is ongoing and more information will be released at a later time. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call the Council Bluffs Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at 712-328-4728. To remain anonymous, they may call CrimeStoppers at 712-328-7867 or submit an on-line crime tip at https://www.councilbluffs-ia.gov/FormCenter/Police-Department-2/Online-CrimeStoppers-Tip-70

DES MOINES, Iowa – For the second consecutive year, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau and Iowa State Patrol collaborated at the Iowa State Fair to survey attendees on cell phone use while driving. The survey, conducted with over 1,300 Iowans from nearly every county, revealed significant concerns about distracted driving. Despite half of respondents admitting to at least sometimes driving with a cell phone in hand, over 90% say the behavior is extremely dangerous.

Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Alex Dinkla says “Law enforcement already know cell phone use behind the wheel is dangerous, it’s affirming to hear Iowa drivers feel the same. It’s frustrating that despite the perceived danger, so many drivers admit to doing it.”

In March, a report by Cambridge Mobile Telematics, “The State of US Road Risk in 2024”, projected a modest 10% reduction in distracted driving in Iowa would prevent 1,263 crashes, 708 injuries, 6 deaths, and save over $50 million in economic damage. Almost 85% of Iowans surveyed support legislation mandating hands-free phone use. Despite repeated attempts since 2019, proposed bills for hands-free driving legislation have failed in the Iowa Legislature.

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau works with city, county, state, and local organizations to develop and implement strategies to reduce death and injury on Iowa roads using federally funded grants.

(Radio Iowa) – The northwest Iowa town of Graettinger claims to have the state’s oldest Labor Day celebration, and another edition starts this (Friday) afternoon and runs through Monday night. Event co-chair Phillip Schmidt says the tradition had humble beginnings 127 years ago as a one-day event in a pasture with a tent and a traveling carnival. Schmidt says it’s grown to three-and-a-half days, now, with events including a golf tournament, a Miss Graettinger pageant, a truck and tractor pull, a large bake sale, and something called Cow Pie Bingo, where you pick a square on a field where a bovine may leave its mark.

See the full rundown of this weekend’s events at the Graettinger Labor Day Facebook page.