A teenager from Red Oak was arrested late Monday night on a charge of Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. The arrest of 17-year old Bryan Nathan Gross took place at around 11:30-p.m. at the corner of Center and West Coolbaugh Streets, and was the result of an investigation into an earlier incident. Gross was released to his parents after receiving a citation to appear in Juvenile Court.

A group of area school administrators is coordinating their efforts in an attempt to meet the standards necessary to obtain a grant that could range anywhere from $4-million to $10-million. Atlantic School District Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein  announced during Monday evening’s School Board meeting, that he’s been working with Superintendents at the Harlan, CAM, Exira-EHK and Griswold School Districts, to apply for a “Race to the Top” (R2T) grant, which had previously only been available to States.

He said the Dept. of Education has shifted the focus of the race to school districts or consortiums, instead of states. Amstein said the districts are applying for an R2T grant that focuses on Career Tech Education (CTE). He said the hope is that the districts can use the grant monies to build-in some programs not currently offered, and expand on those that are being offered. The districts would apply for a Tier 1 grant.

In order to qualify for a Tier 1 grant, the consortium of districts must have anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 students. Working with the other districts, Amstein says, will enable the group to meet the requirement. He says the Superintendents plan to meet by conference call and/or in-person this Friday afternoon, to file a “Letter of Intent,” to apply for the grant, which he says would be a “Great shot in the arm” for rural Iowa, if the grant is received.

He says they’ll be working hard over the next few months to prepare the grant for consideration. Amstein says he’s excited about the prospects of working with the other school administrators to obtain the funding and focus on CTE programs, which he says is in “Dire need of expansion.”

“Race to the Top” was created in 2009 and designed to spur innovation and reforms in state and local district K-12 education. It was funded by the Economic Development Recovery Act as part of the 2009 ARRA (The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act), or economic stimulus package. States were awarded points for satisfying certain educational policies, such as performance-based standards. In May 2012, the Department of Education proposed draft criteria for a district-level Race to the Top program.

Authorities in Montgomery County say no citations were issued following an incident where a dog broke free of its tie out, and attacked a neighboring dog, in Elliott. The incident happened at 411 Linden Street, on Monday. Officials say the dog, owned by Julia Daughtery, broke free of its harness and bit a dog owned by Scott and Beth Peterson. The Peterson’s animal was bitten in several places, causing injury.

The dog returned home and was secured, after Daughtery was notified about the incident. Officials say both parties appeared to have been attempting to comply with the City of Elliott’s dog ordinance, and understanding of liability for injuries to the dog.

No injuries were reported following a minor traffic accident Monday afternoon, in Red Oak. Officials with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office say 84-year old Bruce Burr, of Red Oak, pulled into a residential driveway and had proceeded to back up, in an attempt to turn around, and head the other direction on south 6th Street, when the  SUV he was driving hit a legally parked Chevy Impala. Damage from the mishap, which happened at around 1-p.m., amounted to $2,000. No citations were issued.

Red Oak Police report the arrest this (Tuesday) morning of two individuals. Officials say at around 3:30-a.m., 35-year old Kevin Houchen, of Red Oak, was arrested in the 100 block of West Coolbaugh Street, on a charge of Public Intoxication. Houchin was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond. And, at around 12:50-a.m., officers with the Red Oak P-D arrested 34-year old Doris Ann Ellision, of Red Oak. Ellison was taken into custody in the 700 block of East Washington Street, on a valid Mills County Warrant for Failure to Appear/Contempt of Court. Ellison was turned over to Mills County authorities for transport to the jail in Glenwood.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press …