Prosecutors in Nebraska have charged a Pottawattamie County man with three counts of first-degree murder in connection with the drug-related deaths of an Omaha man and his two sons. The Omaha World-Herald reports 34-year old Anthony D. Davis, of Council Bluffs, also faces three counts of use of a weapon to commit a felony. Davis is the second person to be arrested in connection with the fatal shootings on July 9th, of a man and two teenagers inside their Omaha home.

A Council Bluffs woman, 27-year old Tiaotta S. Clairday, was also arrested on suspicion of being an accessory to a felony, in connection with the shootings of 44-year old Miguel Avalos, 16-year old Jose Avalos, and 18-year old Miguel Avalos Jr. The Douglas County Attorney told the paper he might ask for the death penalty against Davis, due to aggravated circumstances. He said the shootings appeared to be drug-related, but did not release any details of what happened in the home. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Davis had previously served 10-years in prison for an incident that took place when he was just 16-years old, where he’d been charged with attempted murder for the shooting of an 18-year old Council Bluffs man outside the man’s home. He was also sentenced in 2002 two-years in prison for witness or juror tampering.

While Shelby County is currently not included in a ban on open burning, Emergency Management Officials have set the County’s Fire Danger Index “High” category.  Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert says conditions are deteriorating, and the environment is conducive to the rapid spread of fire of any type.

Burning of any kind is restricted unless approval is received from your local Fire Chief.  Controlled burns which are not reported will result in Fire Department being dispatched, and Fires extinguished if determined to be unsafe.  Please call 712-755-2124 with questions.

The Iowa Fire Marshal’s office said today another southwest Iowa County has been included in a ban on open burning. The latest addition is Taylor County. The ban went into effect at 2-p.m. today (Tuesday). Taylor County joins the neighboring Counties, of Page and Montgomery Counties in the ban. Also covered under the ban on open burning is Fremont, Mills, Pottawattamie, Cass, and Audubon Counties.

Currently 58 out of Iowa’s 99 Counties are under a burn ban, which prohibits open burning during extended periods of elevated fire danger due to wide spread amounts of dry natural vegetation compounded by contributing weather conditions and/or outdoor activities.

During the extremely dry conditions, citizens are reminded to:

1. Not throw out cigarettes from moving vehicles.
2. Avoid the use of fireworks and celebration items that produce flames or sparks.
3. Discontinue burning yard waste, piled tree debris or other items during the ban.

Small recreational camp fires are permitted only if they are conducted in a fire place of brick,  metal or heavy one-inch wire mesh. Any camp fire not in an outdoor fire place is prohibited. Violation of a burn ban can subject a person to citation or arrest for reckless use of fire or disobeying a burn ban. For more information on burn bans and the law contact the State Fire Marshal Office at 515-725-6145 or go to www.dps.state.ia.us.

A Harlan Community School teacher is taking a leave of absence to pursue the NFL. Dan Hoch, who was recently hired by the School District for High School Social Studies, requested the leave of absence after being contacted for a tryout with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The leave of absence is until September 1st, 2012. Hoch spoke with High School Principal John Connell and said he has about a 10 percent chance of making the team.During the school board meeting Monday, the board approved the leave of absence and placed Brian James as the substitute teacher for Hoch. The leave of absence had to be approved by the union, administration and board.

In other business, the school board approved the AEA School based Interventionist Contract. The contract is for a $29,750 grant from the AEA and is matched by the school district for the Interventionist. Superintendent Justin Wagner spoke with the board about the Iowa Association School Board Membership. Wagner said the administration agreed to stay with the IASB as they continue to provide much needed updates in an ever changing educational landscape. The membership costs $4,653.

In the final act of board approval, the school board approved the handbooks for the 2012-2013 school year. Normally this is an easy item on the agenda, however with the implement of the new 1 to 1 earlier this year, the handbooks had several policy changes. Lisa Swanson, technology director for the Harlan Community School District, gave a report on the new Mobile Computing Handbook. The handbook was written largely due to the new 1 to 1 so all the policies, procedures and agreements could be in place for students, parents and the district. Students and parents will need to sign an accountability agreement in order for their student to receive their laptop.

The handbook is rather long with several policies focusing on lost or stolen equipment, website usage and more. The Harlan Community School District is uploading a video for parents and students to watch for mobile computing. The first chance parents have of watching the video is August 3rd. The entire Mobile Computing Handbook will be given to parents and students before the school year starts.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)