Officials with the AHST Community School District have announced AHST and the Walnut Community School District will officially begin Whole Grade Sharing of grades 7-through 12 beginning in the fall of 2014. The Walnut School Board approved the 4-year sharing agreement at their regularly scheduled meeting this past Monday. The AHST Board approved the same agreement during their meeting on Wednesday.

The process of Whole Grade Sharing began in Sept. 2013, when both districts passed a resolution to enter into negotiations for sharing. Following  a a period of public comment, a draft Whole Grade Sharing agreement was presented in Dec. 2013, during separate public hearings to patrons of both districts.

All students in grades 7-through 12 will be served at the AHST secondary school. The name of the secondary for extracurricular activities will be AHSTW. The mascot will be the Vikings and Lady Vikes, with the colors remaining blue, red and white. Walnut will reimburse AHST for 80-percent of the district cost per pupil by the state, to educate their resident students.

AHST also approved the expansion of programs and staff. Next year, the AHSTW secondary will have a full-time Agricultural Education and Industrial Technology program. AHST is also adding a full-time TAG (Talented And Gifted) program teacher, a secondary Language Arts teachers, a Student Services Coordinator, as well as increasing staff in the Special Education and Title 1 departments.

Persons with questions about the Whole Grade Sharing agreement may contact AHST/Walnut Community School District Superintendent Jesse Ulrich.

(8-a.m. News)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Subzero cold and chilling winds have forced many Iowa and Nebraska schools to cancel classes or delay opening by a couple of hours.  The National Weather Service says temperatures across Iowa on Thursday morning were as low as minus 12 in Mason City, with a wind chill of minus 37. In Davenport the wind chill was minus 29. In Sioux City the wind chill was minus 26 around 6 a.m. A wind chill of minus 25 was reported for Des Moines.

You can find a list of school late starts on kjan.com. Under the “Community Hub” on the right side of the home page, click on “Cancellations.”

No serious injuries were reported following a rollover accident near the Cass-Audubon County line early this morning.

Photo courtesy Mike Kennon – Cass County Emergency Management

According to dispatch reports at 4:10-a.m., a Dodge van carrying five people rolled onto its side off of 710th Street, near the “Tree in the Middle of the Road” landmark, a few miles north of Interstate 80.

Two adults and three children, ages 3, 4 & 5 were outside the van and conscious, but cold. Anita Rescue and a Cass County Sheriff’s deputy responded to the scene. One of the adults and the three children were transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital for evaluation.

Authorities say the driver of the van was charged with Driving While Revoked, with additional charges pending. The driver’s name has not yet been released.

346 AM CST THU JAN 23 2014

…WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY…

EARLY THIS MORNING…CLEAR. BITTERLY COLD. NORTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH. WIND CHILL READINGS 20 BELOW TO 30 BELOW ZERO.

TODAY…SUNNY. VERY COLD. HIGH 5 TO 10 ABOVE. NORTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH. LOWEST WIND CHILL READINGS 20 BELOW TO 30 BELOW ZERO IN THE MORNING.

TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. BREEZY. NOT AS COLD. LOW ZERO TO 5 ABOVE. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH INCREASING TO 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT.

FRIDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON THEN BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY. BREEZY. MUCH WARMER. HIGH IN THE LOWER 40S. SOUTHWEST WIND 15 TO 25 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN THROUGH MIDNIGHT. BREEZY. NOT AS COLD. LOW IN THE LOWER 30S. NORTHWEST WIND 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH.

SATURDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE MID 30S. NORTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH.

SUNDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. BREEZY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 30S.