The average cost of attending a four year college in the United States, including room and board, is estimated to be $25,000-30,000 a year. It is next to impossible for many highschool seniors to attend the college of their dreams because they can’t afford it. If you’re a Cyclone fan, however, there is good news.

The Christina Hixson Opportunity Award provides awards to high school seniors from each of Iowa’s counties.

These awards are designed to demonstrate Iowa State University’s commitment to the student potential that exists in various ways beyond the measures of class rank or standardized test scores.

The Christina Hixson program provides each recipient with a half-tuition grant (estimated value of more than $20,000 over eight semesters) to be used at Iowa State University.

This scholarship is currently available to high school seniors graduating in 2023 who will be entering as a first-year student at Iowa State University in Fall 2023. This program will provide 100 undergraduates with half-tuition scholarships (estimated value of more than $18,000 over eight semesters). Selection is based on the student’s county, eligibility and potential as demonstrated through the application, letter of recommendation, and financial need analysis. Students may major in any curriculum and must maintain a 2.00 cumulative grade point average for renewal.

*Recipients will be notified by May 1^st*

Hixson Opportunity Awards grants one award per county. The county corresponds to the student’s residence at the time of high school completion, which may be different from the county in which the high school is located. If a county has no suitable applicants, an award will not be made for that county.

Applications can be found and submitted online at  https://hixson.dso.iastate.edu/ Applications must be submitted online for the Christina Hixson Opportunity Award by February 1 with acceptance to ISU by February 1 and completion of the FAFSA as well.

Mission Statement: The mission of the Hixson Opportunity Awards program at Iowa State University is to foster excellence and ensure the success of all participants. The Hixson program provides various academic, financial, and personal supports to recipients of this private scholarship program, named for Iowa native Christina Hixson. Our dedication to serving all students, aligns with the mission of the University and Division of Student Affairs, and underscores our commitment to their overall success and well-being.

Mount Pleasant High School is proud to announce the October 2023 Students of Character, Tulip Lien and Peyton Hainline. These students have demonstrated Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship. Students are nominated by the MPCHS faculty each month. If you see these students at school or in the community, please tell them to keep up the good work! We are Panther Proud of you all!

#GoPanthers #PantherProud

Additional nominees:

Henry Adams

Ka’Kiyah Sanders

Jacie Campbell

Jayden Ullrich

Keegan Birdsell

Madeline Watson

Matthew Del Valle Quinones

Ramzy Davis

Rylie Copeman

Tucker French

Zatori Williams

With cold temperatures soon invading our towns and snow and ice as products, you don’t want to be surprised when it comes. One way you can protect yourself is by learning the secrets of the sky. The National Weather Service is offering 3 virtual Winter Skywarn Spotter sessions this month.

This is supplemental training that is not required to be a volunteer spotter. This 90-minute presentation will focus on the cool season with additional education for “all season spotters” as well.

During this training, you will be equipped with the essentials in order to spot a storm. Included in this session include basics of thunderstorm development, fundamentals of storm structure, identifying potential severe weather features, information to report/how to report, and basic severe weather safety.

This training is free and open to the public via registration links.

November 16 – 6:30-8:00 pm
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3739112926038092633

November 21 – 1:00-2:30 pm
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3647763300979686233

November 29 – 6:30-8:00 pm
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6501920664337412190

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

NWS encourages anyone with an interest in public service to join the SKYWARN® program. Volunteers include police and fire personnel, dispatchers, EMS workers, public utility workers and other concerned private citizens. Individuals affiliated with hospitals, schools, churches and nursing homes or who have a responsibility for protecting others are encouraged to become a spotter.

AGENDA

Monday, November 6, 2023

Order of business, regular session

Danville City Council, Danville City Hall

Citizen comments:  Comments must be directed to the subject under consideration.  The presiding officer shall rule on the relevance of the citizen comments.  Citizens making personal, impertinent, or slanderous remarks may be barred by the presiding officer from further comment before the Council during the meeting.

1. Call to order 5:15 p.m..

2. Action to go into closed session per Iowa Code 21.5 (1)(j) “to discuss the purchase or sale of particular real estate only where premature disclosure could be reasonably expected to increase the price the governmental body would have to pay for that property or reduce the price the governmental body would receive for that property.”

3. Action to come out of closed session.

4. Statement regarding the closed session. No action will be taken by council at this time.

5. Action to temporarily adjourn until the start of the regular council meeting.

1. Regular session call to order 6:00 p.m.

2. Accept or amend the agenda.

3. Open forum: A time set aside to receive comments from the public regarding city business.  The Mayor and City Council welcome comments from the public on any subject pertaining to City business, including items on this agenda.  You are asked to state your name and address for the record and to limit your remarks to five minutes in order that others may be given the opportunity to speak.  The Order of Business is at the discretion of the Chair.  No action will be taken.

4. Discussion with George and Jill Bowers via zoom. Action by council if needed.

5. Presentation on the Plat of Survey as prepared by Lance Surveying Services, dated October 18, 2023.
6. Discussion and action on Resolution 2023-18, approving the parcel boundaries of Auditor’s Parcel “?” as shown on the plat of survey dated October 18, 2023.

6. Fire Chief/Building Inspector report.
7. Approval, if needed, of building permits and/or report as presented.

7. City Electrician report.
8. Approval of report if needed.

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate and state and federal partners are reassuring voters of the many steps taken to provide a secure election. The State of Iowa has received national awards for its election cybersecurity efforts and was named one of the top three states in the nation for election administration.

“In Iowa, we take a holistic approach to election integrity and security – pre-election testing, paper ballots, post-election audits, enhancing cybersecurity measures, and partnerships with our Election Security A Team make that possible,” said Secretary Pate. “The public should be reassured that we are protecting the integrity of their vote in all 99 counties.”

Secretary Pate also reassured Iowans that their votes are cast safely and if anyone tries to impede that process in any way, election officials have local law enforcement on speed dial.

“Intelligence and law enforcement communities at all levels of government have been tasked with ensuring our elections are safe and secure,” Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens said. “Iowans respect and actively exercise their right to vote and do so with civility and integrity. We take our responsibility to protect this right seriously and will be aggressive in deterring any criminal effort to compromise our system of government.”

Secretary Pate also partners with fellow state agencies to ensure top level cybersecurity protections.

“In support of this year’s election, the Department of Management, Division of Information Technology, formerly the Office of the Chief Information Officer, will be monitoring cyberthreats. The State of Iowa Security Operations Center will provide 24-hour-a-day cyberthreat monitoring and heightened support during this year’s elections,” said Shane Dwyer, State of Iowa Chief Information Security Officer.

Secretary Pate and other speakers also urged Iowans to be leery of election misinformation and disinformation. Instead, turn to trusted sources for election information, which are the Secretary of State and county election officials.