(Akron) — The Akron-Westfield school board and the West Sioux school board held a joint meeting this past week to discuss the feasibility of sharing a school superintendent. The school districts are exploring the possibility, due to continued declining enrollment. Larry Williams serves as the interim school superintendent for the Akron-Westfield district. He says such a move can be both positive and negative for the two communities.
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At this point in the discussion, both districts have concentrated only on the sharing of a superintendent’s position. Williams gave reassurance the talks have not included any athletic sharing, grade sharing or consolidation of the school districts.
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Williams says there are 29 shared agreements within Iowa. He points to West Sioux and Maurice-Orange City as an example of two districts that are in a shared superintendent agreement. Williams says the two school boards had good questions of each other’s districts.
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Akron-Westfield has scheduled a public hearing on the matter during their next regularly scheduled school board meeting set for Monday, November 14th, and the West Sioux district will hold its public hearing the following Monday.
(Hinton) — The Hinton and the Merrill Fire Departments were called this afternoon to battle a hay stack that was on fire. The fire was reported to be at Kestrel Aveune. Meanwhile, the Akron Fire Department was called to fight two separate grass fires on Friday afternoon.
(Orange City) — The Sioux County Sheriff’s department is investigating an early Thursday morning accident that involved two semi-trucks on Highway 60 south of Alton. Bryan Reynolds, age 54, of Sioux City was driving a semi truck pulling an empty liquid tank trailer. Scott Hoenke, age 31, of Sidney, Montana was driving a semi truck loaded with cattle. The two trucks collided at the intersection of Highway 60 and 490th Street. Reynolds was taken to the Orange City Area Hospital by the Alton ambulance and treated for injuries. Highway 60 was blocked for three hours because of the accident. The Alton Fire Department, Alton ambulance, and the Sioux County Sheriff’s office responded to that accident.
WORTHINGTON, Minn. (AP) – A grand jury has indicted an Iowa man on a misdemeanor in connection with a fatal boat crash this summer on Lake Okabena.
Twenty-one-year-old Ted Edward Kruger was indicted Wednesday on one count of operation of personal watercraft that endangers life, limb or safety in connection.
Kruger, of Sibley, Iowa, was allegedly operating a jet ski July 18 when it collided with a boat, killing passenger Ashley Ann Engel, of Sioux Falls, S.D., and injuring another woman.
Kruger appeared in Nobles County court Thursday and requested an evidentiary hearing. He was released on the condition he remain in contact with his attorney and appear at future court hearings.
The misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.
JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) – The state Racing and Gaming Commission has unanimously approved a system allowing Iowa gamblers to bet on horse races by phone or online.
On a 5 to 0 vote Thursday at a meeting in Johnston, the commission approved rules that would let Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino begin the new system by January. The casino still would
need to reach an agreement with a private vendor and the Iowa horsemen’s association.
The Gazette of Cedar Rapids reports gamblers would need to establish accounts in advance with the Altoona racetrack-casino.
Commission Administrator Jack Ketterer says the Legislature authorized the system.
It’s a switch from current rules that require people to drive to state-licensed tracks in Altoona, Council Bluffs or Dubuque.
