(Griswold, Iowa) – The Griswold School Board met Monday evening and discussed matters pertaining to finances, and the teacher shortage. Superintendent Dave Henrichs says Dan Rold, School Business Official reviewed the ending Fiscal Year financial information, which was very positive and opens the door to increased pay to retain teachers/staff.

There was no formal action taken, but discussions will continue to attract, retain and reward staff members. The Board also discussed the possibility of offering soccer to students.

The Griswold School Board approved an application to the Iowa Local Government Risk Pool for Natural Gas for six-months, January through June, with a review and possible renewal of the agreement from July 2022 through June 2023.

The Board also acted on personnel matters, including resignations…

The also approved several new hires…

During the November 2nd School Elections, there were four seats open. All four Griswold School Board members were unopposed. Dave Henrichs said the Board welcomed back Rob Peterson and Aaron Houser as Directors At-Large, Scott Peterson was re-elected as Director of District 3, and Don Smith was re-elected as Director of District 4. As part of the re-organization meeting, the Board elected to retain Rob Peterson as President and Don Smith as Vice-President. In addition, the Board voted to leave their regular Board meeting dates and times unchanged, which means they will continue to meet on the third Monday of each month at 5:30-p.m.

And finally, the Griswold School Board discussed their baseball field maintenance options. Superintendent Henrichs said there are several upgrades they’d like to see, but there are rules that will require more steps in the process.

Des Moines, Iowa — An Iowa man previously charged in connection with his participation in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, was arraigned Tuesday on a new federal indictment that includes a felony count that could carry up to 20 years in prison. KCCI reports 36-year-old Leo Christopher Kelly, of Cedar Rapids, who has been free on pretrial release, appeared via video for his arraignment. His attorney, Kira West, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

The most serious of the seven charges Kelly faces is obstruction of an official proceeding. Two other charges of entering a restricted building and disorderly conduct in a restricted building carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. The remaining charges are misdemeanors carrying up to six months in prison.

A plea agreement apparently is no longer under consideration, according to the information that prosecutor Michael Gordon James provided Judge Royce Lamberth during the hearing. James said “The parties have discussed a negotiated plea but that will not occur in this case so this matter should be set for trial.” Lamberth said he will set at trial date later. He scheduled a status update hearing for Feb. 25.

Kelly was arrested in Iowa on Jan. 18 after participating in an internet interview with members of an anti-abortion organization. Kelly said he followed the Jan. 6 crowd into the U.S. Senate chamber, where he said he remained for 30 minutes to an hour. Kelly said he was caught up in the moment, but that he wasn’t armed and didn’t vandalize anything.

He was released Jan. 19 by a federal magistrate who noted his extremely limited criminal history. Federal prosecutors issued a new indictment on Dec. 3rd.

(Bartlett, Iowa) – The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports the Fremont County K9 Unit, Tuesday, stopped a vehicle at the intersection of Waubonsie Ave and Bluff Road, near Bartlett. The driver, 29-year-old Ambriea Chandler, of Sidney, had an active Fremont County warrant for Theft 4th Degree. The warrant was in connection to a stolen cell phone at a business in Sidney on December 9th.

During the arrest, the Fremont County K9 “Roby” was deployed for a narcotics sniff. A subsequent search uncovered methamphetamine. Chandler was being held at the Fremont County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

Ambriea Chandler

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak arrested a man for OWI, Tuesday night. Authorities say at around 10:36-p.m., 49-year-old Vincent Matthew Kesterson, of Red Oak, was arrested in the 2300 block of N. Broadway Street, for OWI/1st offense. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

(Maquoketa, Iowa) – A single-vehicle accident early this (Wednesday) morning in eastern Iowa resulted in a death. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2006 Ford 500 was northbound in the 7700 block of 435th Avenue in Jackson County, when the vehicle went out of control and entered the west ditch. The accident happened at around 12:40-a.m., north of Preston.

The person was not wearing a seat belt and died at the scene. Their name was withheld, pending notification of family.  The crash remains under investigation.

(Cromwell, Iowa) – The Union County Sheriff’s Office says no injuries were reported after an SUV struck a deer Tuesday evening, west of Cromwell. The 2021 Jeep Gladiator Mojave driven by 51-year-old Timothy Alan Weeks, of Prescott, was westbound on 180th Street at around 5:37-p.m., when a deer ran out of a ditch and onto the road. Weeks dragged the deer off of the road after it was struck, and was able to drive his vehicle away from the scene.

The SUV sustained an estimated $8,000 damage.