STATE FAIR PHOTOS
SPARTAN OPENER
Several locals have performed in the Bill Riley Talent Show at the Iowa State Fair this week. See photos from Steve Pope Photography on page 12A of today’s paper.
Southwestern Spartan harriers open their season Saturday with Region XI Time Trial at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs. More about the team on 8A. >>
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2015
Lorimor city clerk reinstated, mayor resigns By KYLE WILSON
Sue Schmidt is now acting mayor in Lorimor. City council plans to appoint new mayor soon to hold position until November election. ■
CNA managing editor kwilson@crestonnews.com
LORIMOR — The Lorimor mayor — who closed down city hall for nearly two weeks earlier this month, including chaining and padlocking the front door at least once — officially resigned from his post Saturday. George Lange, 75, closed down Lorimor City Hall and Community Center Aug. 3 directly after placing Lorimor City Clerk Doris Loy on two weeks paid leave. Lange
said he closed down city hall that day because Loy refused to turn over her keys to the building. “She wouldn’t give them to me so I changed the locks. I had no other option. I wanted city hall to be secure,” Lange said. He said Loy was placed on paid leave because the city’s insurance company refused to fully insure
her. Allan Landers, writing agent for Lorimor’s city insurance policy through EMC Insurance, verified that to be true Tuesday — stating that when the city’s insurance policy renewed in April that Loy was “not bondable.” “For whatever reason, EMC pulled her bond, meaning the city
of Lorimor had no coverage from April to present if she was convicted of stealing something,” Landers said. Landers said he did make Lorimor city officials aware of this fact upon renewal. Landers said he didn’t know for sure why Loy was turned down by EMC for coverage. KCCI did report Monday that a 2013 auditor’s report states Loy misspent more than $27,000 while managing finances in Grand River. However, no criminal charges have ever been brought against Loy.
Still, Lorimor residents have organized a petition with more than 75 signatures calling on the state to investigate Loy and potential fraud of city taxpayer dollars. Loy is back to work today. She was reinstated as city clerk of Lorimor during a special meeting Saturday. Lorimor City Council voted 5-0 to do so. That action did prompt Lange to resign as mayor. “I will not work with her,” Lange said. Please see LORIMOR, Page 2
creston schools
Progress report leaves school board looking for answers By IAN RICHARDSON
CNA staff reporter CNA photo by KELSEY HAUGEN
Creston Hy-Vee employee Deana Courtney lists a few breakfast options, including biscuits and gravy, for a student customer at Southwestern Community College (SWCC) this morning. Courtney is a new employee, hired to help serve students in SWCC’s cafeteria, for which Hy-Vee now provides food service. Hy-Vee began serving at SWCC Monday morning.
Creston Hy-Vee to offer convenience items at SWCC By KELSEY HAUGEN CNA staff reporter
khaugen@crestonnews.com
As of Monday, Creston Hy-Vee is serving students in the cafeteria at Southwestern Community College (SWCC). Along with a variety of food options available during meal times, Hy-Vee will also offer convenience items for students to purchase. The cafeteria, which is open to the public but geared toward students, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday
through Friday and dinner on Sunday. Food choices include salad bar, pizza, pasta, Chinese, sandwiches and items off the grill, such as grilled chicken. “We’re very excited to see what Kulow students t h i n k about the food service change, but I’m sure they’ll think it’s a positive one,” said Beth Kulow, SWCC
dean of student services. The new contract between SWCC and Hy-Vee began July 1, and Creston Hy-Vee Store Director Chuck Irelan said it is the first time any Hy-Vee has had this type of service at a college. “The college has become such a great part of this community,” Irelan said. “For us to be able to pair up with (SWCC) and serve this area is a great opportunity.” Though a Hy-Vee store in Sheldon is currently serving Northwest Iowa Com-
munity College (NICC), it’s more of an exact meal plan. At SWCC, students choose what to eat, pay for each item, and the money is taken out of their meal plan funds. Meal plans are included for those living in the dorms. “They (NICC) don’t have the restaurant-style setting we have (at SWCC),” Irelan said. “This is a new venture for Hy-Vee as a whole. We’re learning as we go.” To eliminate the need Please see SWCC, Page 2
Subway Jared pleads guilty to sex acts with minors INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Longtime Subway pitchman Jared Fogle has agreed to plead guilty to allegations that he paid for sex acts with minors and received child pornography that he knew had been secretly produced by the former director of his charitable foundation,
federal prosecutors said in court documents released Wednesday. The agreement filed ahead of an expected court appearance by Fogle said he agrees to pay $1.4 million in restitution to 14 minor victims, who will each receive $100,000. Fogle will also be required to register
as a sex offender and undergo treatment for sexual disorders. The government has agreed not to seek a sentence of more than 12½ years in prison, and Fogle has agreed not to ask for less than five years, according to the documents, which say Fogle will plead
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Creston School Board members voiced concern Monday after learning the district has failed to meet several proficiency goals for the fifth consecutive year. According to data collected from last year’s Iowa Assessments, 20 to 25 percent of students in grades 3-8 did not achieve proficiency levels in reading or math during the 20142 0 1 5 school year. “I’ve sat on t h i s Zumbach board for two elections, and I don’t see improvement,” said vice president Galen Zumbach. “We put a lot of money into professional development, we put a lot of time into taking teachers out of the classroom, we have teacher coaches — all kinds
of things. I’m not in the school as an administrator, but that doesn’t look good, and so I’m wondering why? As a teacher, I would not accept that.” Under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, schools like Creston that receive Title I funding from the government must use standardized test scores to measure adequate yearly progress (AYP) in reading and math for the combined grades 3-5 and 6-8, as well as one year from grades 10-12. Schools that continually miss AYP goals must develop plans to increase proficiency. As of 2014, the goal is for 100 percent of students to be proficient in reading and math. Steve McDermott, Creston Schools superintendent, said while Creston has complied with No Child Left Behind, the results still aren’t where he wants them. “We’re right along with you with that dissatisfaction on some of these Please see REPORT, Page 2
Creston’s overall AYP scores 2014-15
guilty to one count of traveling to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and one count of distribution and receipt of child pornography. Federal judges have wide discretion in sentencing.
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