Police in Council Bluffs say no injuries were reported following an accident early this (Monday) morning. Authorities say 37-year old Shawn Elliff, of Council Bluffs, was cited for Disobedience to a sign/signal, Failure to Provide proof of Insurance and Operating a vehicle without Registration, following a crash that happened at around 2:30-a.m. at the intersection of N. 17th Street and Avenue L.

Elliff was traveling south on N. 17th when he failed to stop at the intersection.

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His vehicle collided with the front passenger side of another vehicle which was traveling west on Avenue L. After the impact, the other vehicle traveled through a fence of residence located at the southwest corner of the intersection, and came to rest just short of hitting the house.

Elliff’s vehicle also continued southwest and traveled through the same fence before colliding with and coming to rest on, the north side of the residence. The home sustained only minor damage, though. Both vehicles sustained extensive damage,

A handful of area school district Boards of Education are set to hold their separate, regularly scheduled meetings this evening. The Griswold School Board meeting begins at 5:30-p.m. and includes a decision on a recommendation from the District’s Facilities Committee with regard to options for their buildings. Superintendent Dave Henrichs reports the Committee feels they are at a “Crossroad” following their recent meetings, and it’s his opinion the entire Committee believes “Option A,” consolidating all operations into one central campus to be located in Griswold, is the best option. Henrichs said recently “There is some concern however,” that consolidation of operations (combined with 2016-17 and future cuts), “Will create enough general fund savings to allow the district to remain viable.” His concern lies with the possibility the district may pass a multi-million dollar bond, yet still have to consolidate with another district, or dissolve, which would leave the taxpayers with a debt, and no school of their own.

The CAM School Board will meet this evening at 6:30. They’ll consider approval of a building addition plan from Snyder and Associates for the Preschool Building in Massena, and act on adopting a Board Policy with regard to “Parent and Family Engagement.”

The Audubon School Board meets at 7-p.m., and will act on a 3-year Building and Grounds Plan, as well as receive an update on a 21st Century Community Grant.

And, the Exira-EHK School Board meeting gets underway at 7-p.m. Among their discussion items, is the refinancing of a Sales Tax Bond.

Sheriff’s Deputies in Montgomery County arrested a man on an OWI charge Sunday night, following a traffic stop at S. 2nd and E. Ohio Streets, in Red Oak. 59-year old Randall Edward Gibson, of Red Oak, faces a charge of OWI/1st offense. Gibson was arrested at around 10:50-p.m. and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, and held on $1,000 bond.

Much of the election-year attention in Iowa is focused on the presidential race, but the balance of power in the state legislature is at stake in this year’s balloting, too. After failing in each of the past three election cycles, Republicans are aiming to seize control of the Iowa Senate from Democrats. Iowa G-O-P chairman Jeff Kaufmann has been expressing confidence.

“Legislative races are kind of a different beast,” Kaufmann says. “…People that have had a chance of meeting the senate candidates in those six to eight key races have to agree this is an outstanding crop.” According to Kaufmann, the G-O-P candidates in those competitive senate races have knocked on more than one-hundred thousand doors by the end of September. Kaufmann promises his party will spend a “record amount” of money to support key candidates.

Senator Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs is the top Democrat in the legislature. He is up for reelection this year. “Everybody is tired of the spectacle at the national level,” Gronstal says. “But people are actually paying a little more attention down ballot.” And, according to Gronstal, voters are paying attention to state issues, like education spending. There are currently 25 Democrats and 23 Republicans in the Iowa Senate.

The other senator switched this summer from Republican to “no party” to protest Donald Trump. In the past, individual senate races have been decided by fewer than a handful of votes, so party control MAY not be decided on Election Night if recounts are necessary. In addition, one seat won’t be filled until late December. A special election will be held in Davenport to fill the seat that had been held by Senator Joe Seng, who died last month.

Republicans have held a 57-to-43 seat edge in the Iowa House for the past two years. Back in 2012, when President Obama carried the state, Democrats gained seven seats in the Iowa House. A similar result in 2016 would plunge the Iowa House in a 50-50 tie.

(O.Kay Henderson/Radio Iowa)