The Griswold School Board met in a special session Monday evening to consider approving an offer to purchase the Elliott School Building. The building became available in August 2018, when new additions were constructed on the Griswold High School/Middle School campus.

Rayna Blay (right) explains to the Griswold School Board what her and Jacque Howell’s (left) plans are for the Elliott School Building.

During Monday’s meeting, Rayna Blay explained how she and Jacque Howell the see the facility being used by their businesses. Blay and her fiancé’ Jeremy Putnam run a trucking company based in Elliott. She also helps Howell part time at Howell’s current daycare business.

Howell, she said wants a bigger, better more situated daycare for more kids. Blay, who runs a bakery business for 15 years and is working out of her home. She wants to have the kitchen in the Elliott building to have her own bakery business which would also include a small coffee shop, donut, muffin and decorative cakes.

She said they’ve also come up with plans for future entrepreneurs. That includes: renting the kitchen for special events in Elliott, party rooms for special events, a community Thrift Store 100% profitable for the Community of Elliott; storage a before/after school program; a farmers market/community garden; an exercise room, and in the future a burger bar, as well as more space for the Elliott City Clerk.

There’s also room for sporting events, auctions, large events, and fundraisers. The offer stipulates any kitchen equipment not needed by the school, would remain with the building. The Board accepted Blay and Howell’s offer of $4,000 for the building, by a vote of 6-to-0, with Heather Pelzer abstaining since she was the real estate agent who helped to broker the deal.

Rayna Blay expressed tears of joy upon hearing the sale was approved. Superintendent Dave Henrichs said there’s several things that need to be done before the building officially changes hands. That includes getting the legal paperwork back from the school attorney. The entire process will take about three months, meaning the earliest the women could occupy the building is in August, the latest sometime in October.

Blay said she was looking to open around sometime in September, or whenever the keys are in her hands, so the proposed timeline should work for both women. Howell said she will be in the process of changing her business to a 501-c 3 non-profit organization and she would like to be taking in new kids by the time school starts.

In other business, the Board discussed, but took no action on hiring an Assistant High School Softball Coach.

The CAM School Board has two Special Meetings scheduled for Tuesday evening. The first, at 6-p.m., is at the CAM Middle School in Massena. On the agenda is discussion and possible action on: Approval of an agreement with CAMEA for 2019-20; Approval of changes to the CAM Employee Handbook; and, Consider the cost associated with a Superintendent Search.

And, at 7-p.m., the CAM and Nodaway Valley School Boards will hold a joint Special Session in the Nodaway Valley Middle School Media Center. On the agenda is discussion and possible action on the Superintendent search process and timelines, as well as the selection of a superintendent search firm.

Both meetings are being held following the announcement April 18th that Dr. Casey Berlau had been selected as the next Superintendent for the Carroll Community School District.

The Atlantic Police Department today (Monday) released more information about a car verses motorcycle accident that occurred Friday afternoon. Authorities say Zachary Watkins, of Atlantic, was driving a motorcycle southbound on Walnut Street. A vehicle, driven by Melisa Rush, of Atlantic, was westbound at the corner of 8^th Street and Walnut Street at the stop sign, when she proceeded into the intersection.

Watkins laid his motorcycle down and slid down the street, coming to rest at the intersection. He was transported to Cass County Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Rush was cited for Failure to Yield from a Stop Sign. The damage to Watkins’ motorcycle was estimated at $5,000.

Medivac Ambulance and Atlantic Fire and Rescue were called to eastbound Interstate 80 at mile marker 56 this afternoon, for a two-vehicle accident. According to dispatch reports, the accident happened at around 12:56-p.m., when an elderly male suffered from a seizure. The man was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital. One of the vehicles involved in the accident was a mid-size U-Haul truck, which was seen deep in the south ditch.

No other details are currently available.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque woman has been given probation for stealing from the same relative her mother is accused of victimizing. Dubuque County court records say 18-year-old Anna Billmeyer was sentenced last week to two to five years of probation and ordered to pay restitution. She’d pleaded guilty to theft. She also was given a deferred judgment, which allows Billmeyer’s conviction to be removed from court records if she fulfills her probation terms.

Her mother, 54-year-old Kathryn Billmeyer, pleaded guilty April 15 to theft and dependent adult abuse. Her sentencing is scheduled for June 24.
Prosecutors say Kathryn Billmeyer used her aunt’s money to make more than $48,000 in purchases from November 2016 to May 2018. Kathryn Billmeyer held a power of attorney and had control of her aunt’s accounts.

Prosecutors say Anna Billmeyer used the aunt’s credit card to buy nearly $1,600 worth of items.

Former Texas Congressman and current Presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke will bring his campaign tour to southwest Iowa and Atlantic this weekend. O’Rourke is expected to arrive at Sunnyside Park’s Camblin Addition Shelter at 1:30-p.m. Sunday, May 5th, for a “Town Hall with Beto O’Rourke in Atlantic”. The event venue will be open at 1-p.m.

Former TX Congressman Beto O’Rourke

O’Rourke began his political career volunteering for several campaigns in Texas, before serving as a city councilman in his home town of El Paso, from 2005 to 2011. He then served three terms in the US House of Representatives until 2017, when he decided to run for the US Senate. He gained national attention during that election, when he set a record for most votes cast for a Democrat in Texas history.

O’Rourke is also a businessman and entrepreneur, having started his own internet services and software company, still run by his family in El Paso. His campaign has four main themes: immigration reform, health care, climate change, and fixing the political system.

O’Rourke and his wife Amy have three children, and reside in his home town of El Paso, TX.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports deputies responded at around 10:40-p.m. Friday, to a complaint of suspicious activity at a Page County Park known as Pierce Creek in the west camping area.  During an investigation, a 17-year old male juvenile was cited for Possession of Alcohol by persons under legal age (under 18 years old). The male was later released to his mother. 19-year old Gavin Allen Sickler, of Clarinda, was arrested and charged with Possession of a controlled substance, Possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of Alcohol by persons under legal age (18, 19, & 20 years old). Sickler was transported to the Page County Jail and later released on $1,300 bond, pending future court proceedings.

Authorities say two people were injured in a motorcycle vs. deer accident late Friday evening, about two-miles east of Harlan. The Harley Davidson motorcycle being driven by 51-year old Chad Petersen of rural Harlan, was westbound on Highway 44 when Petersen pulled out to pass a vehicle that was also westbound. His cycle struck a deer in the eastbound lane. Both occupants of the motorcycle were ejected from the vehicle. Petersen was transported to Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan for treatment of numerous serious injuries. His female passenger, 47-year old Jill Wensel, of Logan, was flown to an Omaha hospital by medical helicopter. The motorcycle was considered a total loss.