The Audubon City Council Monday evening tabled action on the discussion and consideration of applications for their City Clerk or Interim City Clerk’s position, because they weren’t ready to do so, according to Mayor Sam Kauffman. In addition, the Council directed the Mayor to correct an error on the published notice calling for applications and resubmit the ad, because it left out important legal terminology, according to former city councilperson Linda Weston, who researched the process through the Iowa League of Cities.

Weston said the advertisement left out a statement with regard to EEO – Equal Employment Opportunity – which is required by law. The EEO statement typically says that a company or governmental body “Provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.”

Mayor Kauffman admitted he made an error when drafting the advertisement for publication, and made then a comment that drew laughs of disbelief from the audience and caused numerous eyes to roll.  He suggested City Clerk Lora Hansen – who he admitted is much more knowledgeable about such things – be the person to write the ad. The comment was ironic, because it would have meant Hansen would have been writing an ad seeking her own replacement for a position she did not wish to leave.

She currently serves as the “Hold over” clerk after a series of mis-steps taken by the Council that drew the threat of legal action and several requests for e-mails under the Open Records and Open Meetings law. Hansen has served as City Clerk in Audubon for more than 30-years.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa lawmakers are continuing their efforts to fund an anti-bullying measure that would create an office to coordinate efforts and establish a grant program for schools across the state.  A three-member Senate appropriations subcommittee voted 2-1 on Monday in favor of the legislation, which goes to the full Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday.

The bill calls for a $1 million appropriation to establish an office within the Department of Education, charged with coordinating and implementing bullying prevention and response efforts. The bill also would develop a grant program to help schools carry out new anti-bullying policies.

Adam Gregg, legislative liaison for Gov. Terry Branstad, says such a large appropriation is unnecessary. Sen. Robert Hogg, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says he’s sure an agreement on funding can be reached.

The man who led authorities on a nearly 30-minute, high-speed chase Sunday night from Atlantic to Audubon faces a trio of charges. Cass County Sheriff Darby McLaren told KJAN News 39-year old Richard Randall Eatwell was being held on one felony and two serious misdemeanor charges. They include OWI/Narcotics-related and Reckless Driving…both serious misdemeanors, and Eluding, a Class-D felony. While he was released on his own recognizance on those charges, Eatwell was being held without bond in the Cass County Jail on the Department of Corrections warrant for a parole violation.

This latest incident is part of a recent string of chases that have occurred around southwest and western Iowa, and which have involved multiple law enforcement agencies. Sheriff McLaren expressed his frustration with the way such cases are handled. He said “Were fed up with it. I don’t want to wait for something bad to happen for somebody to really get educated by the court system. The sooner we can show that ‘if you’re in a chase of this magnitude, you’re going to do significant jail time’ is the only thing that I know that we can protect the public.”

On the bright side, McLaren had nothing but good words to say about the citizens of Audubon who helped authorities capture the suspect. He said the 9-1-1 calls they received from residents in Audubon led authorities to find and arrest Eatwell, and McLaren put out a special “Thanks” to them for their help.

A video posted on FaceBook of the last few minutes of the chase, showed the suspect’s vehicle zoom past and turn into a commercial area before he abandoned the car and took off on foot. Moments later, numerous law enforcement vehicles came rushing by. The person who shot the video flagged down a Sheriff’s SUV and pointed out where the car was…others called 9-1-1 and information about the suspect’s location was broadcast over the law enforcement frequencies.

The Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn has welcomed two new interns. Officials say Sofie Krøgh Nielsen and Helle Skovsgaard Christensen have joined the Museum’s team for the spring/summer. Both women say they are looking forward to learning about Danish immigration and experiencing Danish American culture.

Sofie Nielsen & Helle Christensen (photo provided)

Nielsen is from Strandby, Denmark and is studying at Aarhus University working toward her Masters in Experience Economy. She will be working on developing new school resources, installing the exhibition, Nude Vases, Cubist Faces: Modernism at Rookwood Pottery and doing research for future exhibitions. In addition, she will be presenting the April Brown Bag Lunch Program on Daily Life in Denmark in 1864, based on her experiences working in the open-air museum “Den Gamle By” (The Old Town) in Aarhus, Denmark.

Christensen is originally from Silkeborg, Denmark and is studying at the University of Copenhagen and working toward attaining her Masters in Information Science and Cultural Dissemination. Her bachelor’s degree is from Aarhus University in English and Visual Culture. She will be working at the Genealogy Center, processing incoming and Special Collections materials.