OST-06-19-2014

Page 1

News

• Handgun instruction clinic

Home run derby:

NRA-certified instructors will lead a handgun instruction clinic 2 p.m. Sunday, June 29, at the Russell Sportsmen’s Club range. The course is open to all, regardless of experience level. For more information or to register, call Ted at 641340-1022.

Clarke hits four home runs in wins over ranked teams page 1B www.osceolaiowa.com

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Board hires Stephens as new high school principal By AMY HANSEN

OST news editor ahansen@osceolaiowa.com

Clarke Community School Board has hired a new high school principal. During a June 9 school board meeting, the board approved Shane Stephens, 47, for a one-year contract with a salary recommendation of $97,000. Stephens’ starting date is July 1.

“He has served as an assistant principal, as well as a high school principal. He spent several years as an MP in the military,” said Steve Stephens Seid, Clarke’s new superintendent. “You know, when we did the interviews, the interview teams really felt strong

about this individual. He seemed to really have connected with the staff … this felt like it was a very good match with his background, his philosophy, his working with students. He’s very open to talk about his background, military and all those kinds of things. So, we just felt this was a nice match for what we were looking for.” In early April, the school board approved Clarke Community High School Principal Kim Antis-

del’s resignation. She had been a principal for five years. During the June 9 meeting, Clarke Community Middle School Principal Jeff Sogard was asked about his thoughts on Stephens. “He has a lot of different types of experiences that I think will help him here,” Sogard said. “(He) came across very open and honest. I mean, he didn’t withhold anything, I don’t feel. He was very forthcoming.”

Previous experience Stephens’ previous administration experience was also discussed. He was a high school principal for one year at Glenwood, assistant high school principal at Perry for three years and an assistant high school principal at Davenport Assumption for one year. Seid said Stephens had explained Please see NEW PRINCIPAL, Page 4

CCRC moves forward with land acquisition, even with appeal By AMY HANSEN

OST news editor • ahansen@osceolaiowa.com

Is the risk worth the reward? That’s what Clarke County Reservoir Commission (CCRC) is hoping for with unanimously deciding to still move forward in the land acquisition process for the reservoir (lake) project at Squaw Creek Watershed, even though an appeal has been filed in its court case. This decision was made during a June 12 CCRC meeting. The court case In an April 8 ruling, Judge Sherman W. Phipps of the Fifth Judicial District of Iowa ruled in favor of CCRC’s ongoing Squaw Creek Watershed project, confirming it is for a public use, public purpose or public improvement as defined in the Iowa Code. Therefore, CCRC may use the power of declaratory judgment and eminent domain in the reservoir project. Declaratory judgment is a court review for acquiring

land for a public project. It authorizes CCRC to purchase land from voluntary sellers and exercise eminent domain for involuntary sellers within the area of the watershed project. Eminent domain is the government’s power to take private property for public use by a state. An appeal from local landowners was filed May 6 in Clarke County Courthouse on the judge’s ruling in the CCRC court case. Legal advice Attorney Ivan T. Webber, the CCRC’s legal counsel, addressed the situation to the CCRC during its meeting. Webber said the only way to completely stop the land acquisition process was if a supersedeas bond was filed in the case. However, none was, and Webber addressed how to proceed from there. “The problem with that is, if you go forward in the acquisition, you do so at your own risk,” he said. “What Please see MOVING FORWARD, Page 4

Relay for Life of Clarke County OST photos by AMY HANSEN

First lap: Top photo, cancer survivors gather for the

survivor/caregiver lap during Clarke County’s Relay for Life Friday, June 13, at Clarke Community High School’s track. The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life is an organized, overnight community fundraising walk where teams of people camp out around a track. Members of each team take turns walking around the track. There are also food, games and activities to provide entertainment and build camaraderie.

Luminaria: Right photo, a luminaria is placed on the track at Clarke Community High School for Clarke County’s Relay for Life Friday, June 13. The luminarias are lit up at night as a way for people to honor and remember those who have died from cancer. • For more Relay for Life photos, go to pages 6, 8.

The Nadas to bring heartland sound to Lakeside Casino By AMY HANSEN

OST news editor • ahansen@osceolaiowa.com

Contributed photo

Pictured are members of the band The Nadas. SINGLE COPY PRICE: 75¢

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Weather Your Local Weather Thu

6/19

85/64

Scattered thunderstorms.

Fri

6/20

87/67

Mix of sun and clouds.

Sat

6/21

89/67

Partly cloudy with a

The Nadas have unofficially played at Lakeside Casino once before. The band played when the casino’s amphitheatre first opened as a dry run for staff to make sure all of the systems were in place and ready to go. Now, The Nadas will do their first official show at Lakeside 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 26, and band member Mike Butterworth is looking forward to returning to Osceola. “I actually enjoy casino shows,” Butterworth said in a phone interview Friday, June 13. “Theres’s not a whole lot of pressure. People that go to the show are there anyway to enjoy gambling or spend the weekend at the hotel with their family. It’s just kind of a little bonus for them.”

General admission is $10 and tiered seating is $20 for the event. Band background The Nadas are a band from Des Moines and Butterworth said they are now in their 20th year of playing. According to Butterworth, their musical sound is a mix of good songwriting, Midwestern rock and roll, alternative and country. It could be classified as “Heartland” music. “It’s kind of something for everybody,” he said. Butterworth, co-lead singer and guitarist, and his musical partner Jason Walsmith are the band’s two original members. In 1995, The Nadas released its debut album, “Not a Sound.” They now have their 11th release overall with the “Lovejoy Revival” Please see THE NADAS, Page 4

Don’t Forget

Clarke County State Bank ice cream social

The event is planned 6 to 8 p.m. today on the courthouse lawn in Osceola.

in the mid 80s and Highs in the upper 80s stray thunderstorm. CHECK OUT OSCEOLAIOWA.COM FOR DAILYHighs NEWS, DEATH NOTICES AND SPORTS. lowsUPDATED in the mid 60s. and lows in the upper


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