News
GOOD YEAR
• Meet Your Merchants
Tonight’s “Thursday Night in the Park” will be the Meet Your Merchants event. It is scheduled 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the courthouse lawn in Osceola.
Successful season ends for Clarke baseball team Page 6
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OSCEOLA, IOWA 50213
OST news editor • ahansen@osceolaiowa.com
Clarke Community School District has a new curriculum director for the 2015-16 school year. During a Monday, July 13, Clarke School Board meeting, the board approved Jean Bahls as the district’s new curriculum director. “I wanted to be the curriculum director for Clarke Schools because I was impressed with Clarke’s commitment to giving students access to technology through the 1:1 initiative,” Bahls said. “I was also drawn to the district Bahls because of the connections they have made with the community through parent and community councils.” The district also took note of Bahls’ experienced resumé. “She has an amazing background,” said Clarke Superintendent Steve Seid. Previous experience Bahls was most recently a curriculum specialist in the Davenport Community School District responsible for career and technical education, STEM, 21st century skills and world languages. Prior to that, she taught computer applications at the middle school level. Bahls said she came to the education field after approximately 15 years working in the business world. Clarke has been looking for a new curriculum director since the end of June. Lance Ridgely, the district’s former curriculum director, accepted the position of East Union (EU) Community School District superintendent Tuesday, June
16. Ridgely had a one-year contract with the Clarke district. His resignation was approved during a Clarke Community School Board meeting Thursday, June 25. Hiring “First, we had a great pool of candidates,” Seid said about the application process. Sixteen people applied for the curriculum director position and five were interviewed. Bahls was hired on a oneyear contract with a pro-rated salary recommendation of $83,000. Her starting date is Aug. 10. “The district has a strong and dedicated leadership team with whom I am very excited to work,” Bahls said. “In addition, I like the district’s focus on incorporating 21st century skills and leadership into the core curriculum.” Set of skills Seid said what stood out well for Bahls was her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, great knowledge base of technology, mentoring and great communication skills. “She has done a significant amount of state reporting, which is a big part of which this position entails,” he said. Seid said the district is looking forward to Bahls taking on the administrative position. “She’s married with a seven-year-old and is excited to have him to come to Clarke Community Schools,” he said. “We’re excited to have her be a part of our team.” Bahls is excited to be in the district, as well. “I’m looking forward to building strong relationships with staff, parents, and the community,” she said. “I will continue to focus on literacy and 21st century skills to best prepare our students for success in the future.”
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STATE SOFTBALL
Bahls named Clarke’s new curriculum director By AMY HANSEN
THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015
OST photo by LARRY PETERSON
I35: Interstate 35 first baseman Josie Wickett throws to first base for an out after fielding a bunt, while pitcher Carlyn Stanley (right) looks on. The Roadrunners fell to top-ranked Fort Dodge St. Edmond 3-0 in the Class 2A quarterfinals Tuesday afternoon, after committing five errors in the game. For more on the game, visit www.osceolaiowa.com.
OST photo by SCOTT VICKER
Clarke:
Clarke softball players gather around head coach Lindsay Diehl as Diehl delivers an emotional postgame speech following Clarke’s 18-0 loss in three innings to top-ranked Solon Tuesday in a Class 3A quarterfinal. The Spartans exploded for 13 runs in the second inning to derail Clarke’s bid for a repeat state championship. For more on the game, visit www. osceolaiowa.com.
OST photo by AMY HANSEN
Royalty:
Clarke County Fair royalty pose for a photo after a coronation ceremony Tuesday, July 14, at Clarke County Fairgrounds. Pictured, from left, are Ryan Reed, junior prince, Carter Cooley, fair queen, Kaitlyn Boyer, runner-up fair princess, and Morgan Keller, junior princess.
Democratic chairwoman shares thoughts on historic legislation, Iowa caucuses By AMY HANSEN
OST news editor ahansen@osceolaiowa.com
It was a historic week in legislation when Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Dr. Andy McGuire stopped by the Osceola Sentinel-Tribune. On June 25, the Supreme Court in a 6-3 decision stated the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) with its federal tax credits was legal, thus saving the entire law from demise. On June 26, the Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision stated gay marriage was legal in all of the nation’s 50 states. Dr. McGuire said fight over SINGLE COPY PRICE: 75¢
Copyright 2015
health care should be done, because it’s a law. “I think it’s big, almost in the ‘I don’t know what would have happened, had there been another outcome,’” she said. “I think they were very thoughtful and I really thank the Supreme Court for being that thoughtful, and understanding that this is a really good law, and it’s helping millions of people to get really good access to quality, affordable health care.” She said there’s still work to be done with the Affordable Care Act. It’s not about repealing it, but enhancing it to make it better for everyone. Party’s message Dr. McGuire was elected for a
two-year term in January as chairwoman of the Iowa Democratic Party. Part of her mission is to get across the state to solidify the party’s message, McGuire especially with the Iowa caucuses and national presidential election next year. Dr. McGuire said the Democratic party stands for inclusion, equality, an economy that works for everyone, having a living wage, education, health care and pay equity for women. “We want quality, affordable health care and access for every-
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body. Certainly, (the ruling) helps us with that,” she said. She also stressed income inequality as something that needs to be reformed. “The economy has been doing much, much better under President Obama, but not everyone is shared in that improvement, and we would need to have everybody sharing in that improvement,” she said. “I think that’s coming, but I think this group of candidates will really help that.” Dr. McGuire’s priorities are to get across the state and build up a grassroots following to have a helpful, robust party. Part of building a Democratic grassroots following is to support local candidates, such as
Weather Your Local Weather Thu
7/23
83/68
Partly cloudy with a stray thunderstorm.
Fri
7/24
90/71
Plenty of sun. Highs in the low 90s and lows in the low 70s.
Sat
7/25
86/66
Afternoon showers and thunderstorms.
city councils, supervisors, school boards and state representatives and senators. Caucus goals She said a goal for the Democratic party was to make an “expansive” caucus for Iowans outside the borders of the state, including those in the military, who can’t physically get to their caucus precinct. The caucus date for Iowa Democrats is Feb. 1, 2016. “If you’re outside the borders of Iowa, we’re working with the Pentagon to try to work on taking active duty military outside the Please see MCGUIRE, Page 4
Don’t Forget Farmers’ market
Clarke County Farmers’ Market is planned 8 a.m. to noon Saturday on the courthouse lawn.
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