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• Thursday Night In The Park
Clarke County Old Iron tractors will host Thursday Night In The Park this evening on the courthouse lawn in Osceola.
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154 YEARS • NO. 49
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014
OSCEOLA, IOWA 50213
SINGLE COPY PRICE: 75¢
School board reverses decision in open enrollment after harassing letter is found By AMY HANSEN
OST news editor ahansen@osceolaiowa.com
Editors note: Osceola SentinelTribune is not naming the mother or daughter in the article. A Clarke student who had originally been denied a late filed open enrollment request, citing racism as a just cause, has had the decision overturned by Clarke Com-
munity School Board. During an Aug. 25 Clarke School Board meeting, the mother spoke during the public comment section. She said her family received a harassing letter in their family’s mailbox. The school board had a copy of the letter made available to them. “The letter pretty much details what will happen if my daughter is
allowed to go to this school,” the mother said. The Osceola Sentinel-Tribune is not going to detail what was said in the letter at the meeting, but it did involve harassment and racism. “This was left at our house telling us exactly what would happen if I let her walk through those doors,” the mother said. She said law enforcement was doing a handwriting analysis on
the letter and called the harassment a hate crime. “In light of this new evidence, I see no reason why the original resolution to deny her open enrollment cannot be rescinded,” the mother said. The letter had been addressed with administration before the meeting. The mother said she still wanted to do her original plan of teach-
ing her daughter at home through K-12 public school open enrollment, also known as CAM. “There’s no way that anybody can tell me she will be safe 100 percent of the time in the school, unless there’s actually somebody walking around with her,” she said. Please see OPEN ENROLLMENT, Page 4
Stewart makes bike tour stop in Osceola during U.S. Senate campaign By AMY HANSEN
OST news editor • ahansen@osceolaiowa.com
“I am not for sale.” This is one of the slogans for Rick Stewart’s political campaign. He is an independent candidate for U.S. Senate and will be on the ballot with Republican candidate Joni Ernst and Democratic candidate Bruce Braley.
Stewart, 63, is biking through the 99 counties of Iowa and was in Clarke County Tuesday, Aug. 26. Stewart, on purpose, doesn’t accept campaign contributions because he believes that leads to negative advertising and being beholden to the political views Please see STEWART, Page 4
OST photo by AMY HANSEN
Clarke’s softball team shows off its 3A championship trophy during a Clarke Community School Board meeting Monday, Aug. 25.
Championship win brings long-term school spirit By AMY HANSEN
OST news editor ahansen@osceolaiowa.com
OST photo by AMY HANSEN
Rick Stewart, an Independent candidate for U.S. Senate, makes a campaign stop at Osceola Sentinel-Tribune during his 99-county bicycle tour of Iowa.
Winning a state championship is something that can be celebrated for an entire year. Clarke’s softball team made an appearance at Clarke’s School Board meeting Monday, Aug. 25. Their class 3A championship trophy was with them. “It’s not just the state championship,” said Gerard Linskens, school board president. “It’s the success of the whole program, and each of you ladies, as well, you’re an inspiration for all the younger kids, as well. It’s just unbelievable, and I see that in my own daughter.”
Coach Lindsay Diehl addressed the board and said how the team has been helping with the training of the younger students in the district. “I’ve always been proud to be from Clarke, but it just keeps growing more and more every year,” she said. Trophy case Diehl said she has been talking to Ryan Sweeney, Clarke’s activities director, and one of the school’s trophy cases is going to be cleared out “because all of the softball stuff is kind of getting bunched up and scattered.” The plan is for Clarke’s softball trophies and accolades to have one designated area. As for the championship trophy, Diehl said the softball players each got to take the trophy home one at a
time this summer. “Everybody got to have a slumber party with her,” she said. “I’d run into it at the Mexican restaurant or here or there. I think somebody even took it into the courthouse and showed it around. It’s awesome to share it with the community.” Diehl said the next step is to buy softball championship rings and start wearing them. Joe Deutsch, Clarke School Board member, said the team brought a lot of good feelings to the community. “I just sense the excitement in our students this year coming to school. And, you guys have set that attitude and that tone,” he said. “Congratulations again, you guys have earned every bit of that this year.”
OST photo by AMY HANSEN
Healthy habits: Gina Sickels, Clarke fourth grade teacher, Spencer Smith and his grandfa-
Jose Castro, 10, rides his bicycle through a safety course Thursday, Aug. 28, on the square in Osceola. Clarke’s drill team and FFA hosted the first-ever Bike Safety Community Event. Children had the opportunity to speak with medical professionals about how helmets can prevent brain injury. The drill team gave away free helmets for anyone present who needed one on a first come, first serve basis.
ther Bernie Schade go over Smith’s work during a special evening session Tuesday, Aug. 26, at Clarke Community Elementary School. The elementary school was hosting sessions that showed work being done in the school with The Leader In Me program and its seven healthy habits initiative for children. Sessions were held at Clarke for teachers to share habits, routines, expectations and leadership opportunities for children. SINGLE COPY PRICE: 75¢
Copyright 2014
Index Obituary .......................3 Editorial ........................4 Church Directory .........6 Classifieds .................11
Neighbors ....................5 Record .........................2 Sports....................... 7-9
OST photo by AMY HANSEN
Bicycle safety:
Don’t Forget
Weather Your Local Weather Thu
9/4
88/66
Sunny. Highs in the up-
Fri
9/5
70/53
Rain in the morning.
Sat
9/6
72/50
More sun than clouds.
Farmers’ Market
The Farmers’ Market will be held 8 a.m. to noon Saturday on the courthouse lawn in Osceola.
per 80s and lows in the Highs in the low 70s and Highs in the low 70s and CHECK OUT OSCEOLAIOWA.COM FOR DAILY NEWS, DEATH mid UPDATED 60s. lows in the low 50s. lows in the low 50s. NOTICES AND SPORTS.