The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday), approved a Fiscal Year 2014 Rural Transit System Joint Participation Agreement with SWIPCO (the Southwest Iowa Planning Council). The annual agreement counties pay remains unchanged from the last fiscal year, at $6,000. The Board however tables action on the abatement of taxes on a property owned by the City ofAnita. Cass County Treasurer Tracey J. Marshall requested the matter be taken up again next week, because the legal process is not finished. She said the Supervisors should not agree to an abatement unless they are “Signed-off on by the Treasurer.”Marshallsaid she was not ready to do so because she needs to conduct an investigation because the City ofAnitafiled a 657A.10A petition with the court to claim title to an abandoned property. The matter went through the court, and there was a tax sale, so she needs to do some checking. 

The Supervisors approved a County budget appropriations adjustment (changes in spending authority) for a decrease in the General Basic Fund, Capital Project department, by $7,000, and a related increase in the Conservation Capital Improvement Fund by $7,000. Conservation Director Micah Lee explained the move allows his department to expend funds it received in the current fiscal year in the form of a grant, for some new equipment designed to clear the trails and other areas. He said they applied and received a grant they hadn’t budget for, therefore there were not enough funds in the budget to cover the purchase of a Utility Terrain Vehicle – UTV and rotary broom. The grant check has already been received and deposited, so the simple transfer of funds would allow the Conservation Dept. to pay for the machines. The budget would then be amended at the end of the fiscal year. 

And, Cass County Engineer Charles Marker reported to the Board the Secondary Roads Department is in the process of hauling contract rock to various locations in the County from the outlying quarries, for use on long sections of roadways. Contract rock is not intended for filling smaller holes, or projects.

The 2013 graduating class at the Harlan Community High School raised the bar for future graduating classes Sunday, when it comes to doing something notable on graduation day.  The class had been encouraged to do something special while walking up to the podium to get their diploma. Harlan Community School District Superintendent Justin Wagner said it was a challenge from him and High School Principal John Connell to do something special.

He says they didn’t really know what to expect following the practice ceremony as they trusted to the students since it was a special class. Wagner said the first student came up and shook his hand and then gave him money and it kept going for the whole 128 students. He said a few of them told him the money was for the Wounded Warrior Project. (http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/)

Wagner said he was really proud of the kids who stepped up. He called it special since it was the entire class and not just one student. The class raised a total $359 and has their efforts had a ripple effect, with Wagner saying he would match the dollars raised by the students. In addition, an anonymous donor from Sioux City has promised to match the combined donations of the students and Wagner.

Wagner said the moment certainly made a lasting impression as the class made their mark. He said he saw the video of the standing ovation which went on for about 38 seconds. Adults were crying and students were emotional. He said it was a special time.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The search for a missing 15-year-old Iowa girl abducted Monday after getting off her school bus was continuing this (Wednesday) morning near Dayton in northern Iowa.  A news release from the Iowa Department of Public Safety says the search is focusing on four areas, all within 20 miles of Dayton.
 
Searchers will focus on the area around the bus stop where Kathlynn Shepard and a 12-year-old girl were abducted, the area in rural Pilot Mound, Iowa, where the 12-year-old girl escaped and an area near Dayton where the body of 42-year-old suspect Michael Klunder was found Monday night. Searchers will also search the area near Klunder’s Stratford, Iowa, home.
 
More than 300 people searched for Shepard on Tuesday. Authorities say more volunteers are not needed today, but could be later.

Legislators in Iowa have hammered out a tentative deal on education reform, one that creates a commission to study teacher evaluation methods and grants new independence for home schoolers. Representative Ron Jorgensen, a Republican from Sioux City is chairman of the House Education Committee and one of 10 legislators who’ve been trying to resolve the differences between Republicans and Democrats. “I’m very, very optimistic we’ll get something done today,” Jorgensen says. Under the proposal, home schooling parents would be able to teach their kids driver’s ed and would be able to teach four unrelated students in the home. The plan also removes the state requirement that parents who home school their children file regular progress reports with the school district in which they live. Jorgensen says some kids just don’t do well in the “larger settings” of a public school classroom.

“We just want to provide parents with options that we feel they should have a right to on who educates their kids, how their kids are educated and stuff and not a one-size-fits-all type scenario,” Jorgensen says. The package sets a new, minimum Iowa teacher salary of 33-thousand-500 dollars and offers stipends to talented teachers chosen mentor or coach others. The governor has said the ultimate goals are to improve the teaching profession and improve student achievement. Jorgensen says the deal meets those goals. “This will do it,” Jorgensen says. “I’m very pleased with where we’re at right now.” Public school districts that implement teacher mentoring programs would get about 310 dollars per student to finance the effort, but it would be optional, something Jorgensen and other Republicans insisted upon.

“We’re wanting to put in some safety valves for school districts that get into the program,” Jorgensen says. “We don’t want any unfunded mandates.” Weeks ago legislators agreed this plan would include the equivalent of a four percent in general state support for schools in the 2013/2014 school year and a four percent increase the following year. Legislative leaders suggest today (Wednesday) could be the last day of the 2013 legislative session, but there are a host of issues to resolve before midnight, as House rules prevent votes from occurring in the wee morning hours.

(Radio Iowa)

U-S Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, today (Wednesday) announced loan and grant funds will be provided to applicants in 11 states, to support businesses, improve the quality of medical care, and create or save hundreds of jobs. Funding is provided through the USDA’s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program. In the KJAN listening area, the Central Iowa Power Cooperative received a $1-million loan to construct a dormitory for Southwestern Community College, in Creston.

Vilsack says the USDA’s action is one part of the Department’s efforts to strengthen the rural economy. Funding of each recipient of the grants and loans is contingent upon the recipient meeting the conditions for the grant or loan.