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Griswold School Board meeting set for Feb. 15th

News

February 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Members of the Griswold School District’s Board of Education will meet Monday evening (Feb. 15th), during a regularly scheduled session in the Central Office Board Room. During their 5:30-p.m. session, the Board will receive follow-up information on the Security project, as well as discuss and act on the second reading of various Board Policies.

New business for the Griswold School Board includes: Setting the specifications for Mowing and Liability Insurance; Approval of Early Retirement applications; Reviewing bids for lawn chemical application; Board Self-Assessment, and Discussion on Sharing with other districts. They’ll also hold the first-reading of numerous Board Policies.

Gov. Branstad orders flags at half-staff to honor Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia

News

February 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Terry Branstad has ordered all flags in Iowa be flown at half-staff from sunrise Monday, Feb. 15, 2016 until sunset, on the day of internment, to honor former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Justice Scalia passed away on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016.

The governor’s directive applies to all U.S. and state flags under the control of the state. Flags will be at half-staff on the state Capitol building and on flag displays in the Capitol complex, and upon all public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout the state.

Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

Some Iowa teacher misconduct not reported to national group

News

February 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — At least 103 cases of teacher misconduct in Iowa were omitted from a national database since 1990. The Des Moines Register’s investigation  revealed errors in Iowa’s information, so state officials have ordered a full audit of the system.

Duane Magee leads the Iowa agency that licenses teachers. He says the state wants to make sure that all of the teachers sanctioned in the state are reported to the national database. State law also limits the amount of information the state Board of Educational Examiners can share about teachers, which could make it hard for school districts to ensure they’re not hiring someone with a criminal record.

2 arrested on felony charges Saturday evening in Adams County

News

February 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Dimmler

Sydney Dimmler

Welcher

Gregory Welcher

Sheriff’s Deputies in Adams County arrested two people Saturday evening on felony charges. 19-year old Gregory Welcher, of Thayer, and 18-year old Sydney Dimmler, of Corning, were arrested at around 6:25-p.m.

Welcher faces a Class-B felony charge of Distribution to a Person Under 18 on Certain Real Property. His bond was set at $25,000. Dimmler faces a Class-D felony charge of Conspiracy to Distribute to a Minor. Dimmler posted a $5,000 bond and was released from custody.

The case remains under investigation.

IL man arrested on drug charges Sun. morning in Montgomery Co.

News

February 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

A traffic stop early this (Sunday) morning in Montgomery County, resulted in the arrest of one person on drug charges. Deputies stopped 37-year old Mark Anthony Stowe, of Atkinson, IL., at around 3:05-a.m. at the intersection of Highway 34 and M Avenue.

Stowe was subsequently charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.

Dubious distinction: Page County #1 in IA teen pregnancies

News

February 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Page County has a top ranking in Iowa it isn’t proud of: teen pregnancies. On top of that, the southwest Iowa county is in the top 15 in the state for sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) among those under age 21. The Daily NonPareil reports, as a result of those dire statistics, a teen pregnancy prevention initiative has been started in conjunction with Mills County, which is in the top five for teen pregnancies and also highly ranked for STIs.

Shanae Adams, a teen pregnancy prevention educator with Planned Parenthood, says a federally funded grant worth $5 million over the next five years will allow education and advocacy to be brought to the two counties. Adams says while the rate for teen pregnancy in Page County is lower than the national average, it is high in relation to the number of teens in the county, and the state-wide average.

After five years, Adams said the hope is for the program to remain sustainable so it can continue. The first two years will be spent organizing community and youth advisory boards to help get the initiative’s curriculum into Page and Mills county classrooms. Adams said she will ask the school boards for Page and Mills county schools to bring the curriculum into those schools.

Planned Parenthood is hoping to launch a pilot program at the beginning of the 2016-17 school year for its new sex education curriculum for Page and Mills County schools. Adams is also trained to present on topics such as bullying, online safety and confidence, providing other options for schools as they look to supplement their existing educational programs.

As the teen pregnancy prevention initiative continues to get underway in Page County, volunteers are needed to serve and provide input into the planning process. A community advisory board meets 7 to 8 p.m. the last Thursday of each month in the meeting room of the Shenandoah Public Library, 201 S. Elm St. The meetings are open to anyone in the community.

In the hour before the community group, a youth advisory board will meet from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Shenandoah Public Library. The meetings are open to any teenager in Page County.

High School Basketball Scores from Sat., 2/13/16

Sports

February 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

BOYS BASKETBALL
Atlantic 56, Treynor 50
Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton 61, Boyer Valley, Dunlap 53
Iowa Christian Academy 76, Orient-Macksburg 38
Lewis Central 56, Ralston, Neb. 47
Weeping Water, Neb. 50, Sidney 47

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Bishop Heelan Catholic, Sioux City 58, Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln 50
Glenwood 55, Creston 50

Class 2A Region 6
Regional First Round
IKM-Manning 59, Woodward-Granger 30

Class 2A Region 7
Regional First Round
Southwest Valley 82, Clarinda Academy 22

Class 2A Region 8
Regional First Round
Logan-Magnolia 62, A-H-S-T-W, Avoca 28
Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto 52, OA-BCIG 45
Underwood 51, Tri-Center, Neola 47
West Monona, Onawa 62, Missouri Valley 40

Class 3A Region 8
Regional Quarterfinal
Atlantic 59, Clarinda 31
Kuemper Catholic, Carroll 59, Southeast Valley, Gowrie 44
Shenandoah 44, Red Oak 16

No. 14 Iowa State beats No. 24 Texas 85-75

Sports

February 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Georges Niang and Monte Morris each scored 24 points as Number 14 Iowa State beat 24th-ranked Texas 85-75 Saturday night in Jameel McKay’s return from a two-game suspension. Matt Thomas added 13 for the Cyclones (18-7, 7-5 Big 12), who allowed just one point in the final 2:29 to hold off the Longhorns.

Morris’ step-back jumper with 1:17 left made it 81-74, and Niang’s layup 35 seconds later sealed the win for Iowa State. Javan Felix had 13 of his 18 points in the second half to lead Texas (16-9, 7-5), which has dropped two straight. McKay, who had been suspended for violating team rules, finished with eight points, seven rebounds and four blocks.

Beane scores 31 points, leads S. Illinois over Drake 75-60

Sports

February 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) — Anthony Beane scored 31 points and Southern Illinois pulled away midway through the first half and cruised to a 75-60 victory over Drake Saturday. Beane made three 3-pointers, was 12 of 20 from the floor, and surpassed the 30-point mark for the sixth time this season. Bola Olaniyan added 12 points for Southern Illinois (20-7, 9-5 Missouri Valley), which shot 51 percent from the field and has won back-to-back games since snapping a four-game skid.

Kale Abrahamson had 15 points to lead Drake (6-20, 1-13). Armon Fletcher made a 3-pointer to spark a 15-2 run, and Southern Illinois led 23-14 midway through the first half and built a 37-27 halftime lead. Beane scored 12 of the Salukis’ 19 points to open the second half, and Southern Illinois led 56-45 with 10 minutes left and led by double-digits the rest of the way.

NWS forecast for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area, Sun., 2/14/16

Weather

February 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Today: Cloudy with a 50% chance of snow, mainly before 9am. High near 35. South winds @ 10-15 this morning becoming westerly this afternoon. Wind chill values as low as 5New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Tonight: A slight chance of snow, otherwise mostly cloudy. Low around 23. Winds becoming light and variable overnight. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Monday (Washington’s Birthday): Partly sunny. High near 38. W/SW winds 5-10
Monday Night: A 50% chance of snow. Low around 30. S/SW @ 5-15mph, with gusts as high as 20. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Tuesday: Mostly Cloudy & breezy, w/a 20% chance of snow before noon. High near 37.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 38.