Area students now have the opportunity to earn an engineering degree from the University of Iowa by starting at SCC. Officials from SCC and the University of Iowa College of Engineering signed an agreement on Monday to offer a transfer degree program that prepares SCC students to enter into one of the university’s engineering programs.

SCC Vice President of Academics Dr. Janet Shepherd said that the College identified in its strategic plan a number of areas for program development, including a pathway for engineering.

“This program allows our students interested in an engineering degree to complete two years right here at SCC while also taking classes through the University of Iowa as they work toward their baccalaureate degree.”

Students enrolled in the program will take advanced courses in math, physics, and chemistry along with other general education requirements as part of their two-year SCC transfer degree. They will also take core engineering courses taught by UI instructors each summer. In addition to the UI classes, students will have access to select support services through the UI College of Engineering along the way.

SCC President Dr. Michael Ash said the program has been a long time coming. SCC leadership first reached out to UI leadership to explore a partnership about ten years ago.

Students who successfully transfer to UI will be able to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in one of eight focuses of study including biomedical, chemical, computer science, and mechanical engineering.

For more information about the SCC-UI Engineering transfer degree, visit scciowa.edu or contact SCC Admissions Office at (319) 208-5155, or visit engineering.uiowa.edu/transfer.

The Campus of Iowa Wesleyan will once again host Community Days, to give the public an opportunity to get free items.

The library will be open again, yet this time, only books are up for grabs. A wide variety of books awaits the community, including instructional, research, fiction, and non-fiction. Once again, this is a first come, first serve event and there is no “holding” books. Small wagons are permitted to help carry books. These may be taken at no charge.

The library will be open November 3rd, from 4-8pm, and November 4th 9am-5pm.

The President of the United States has ordered all flags throughout the country to be flown at half-mast from now until sunset on October 30^th, 2023. This is meant to be a mark of respect for the victims of the acts of violence perpetrated in Lewiston, Maine, on October 25^th.

Flags will be flown at half-staff at the White House, all public buildings and grounds, military posts, naval stations, and all naval vessels.

President Biden also directs that the flag be flown at half-staff at all US foreign facilities.

An arrest has been made in an Ottumwa murder that occurred earlier this month.

On October 16^th, 2023, Ottumwa Police Department Officers were dispatched to 301 S Ward Street at approximately 10:46pm on a report of a stabbing. Upon arrival, they found an injured male outside the home, who was identified as Samuel Gallegos-Ramirez, 34, of Ottumwa. He was transported to the Ottumwa Regional Health Center and pronounced deceased.

No charges had been filed at that time, but the police were able to reassure the public that there was no ongoing threat to the community. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Ottumwa Police Department began an investigation at that time to find the suspect.

Gary Lewis Scott, 60, of Ottumwa, was arrested on October 26^th, at approximately 11:12am and charged with multiple crimes. Murder in the 1^st Degree, a Class “A” felony, Willful Injury, Class “C”, Assault While Participating in a Felony, a Class “C” Felony, and Going Armed with Intent, a Class “D” Felony.

Preliminary information at the scene of the incident was not enough to immediately identify all of the circumstances that led to the death of the victim. Eventually, after a thorough investigation, it was found that an altercation had broken out between the victim and the suspect, which resulted in the filing of criminal charges.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The Henry County Supervisors met on Thursday, October 26^th. Sarah Berndt with the CDS provided a monthly update.

They have received 2 general assistance requests this month, one for rental assistance and one for direct cremation, which is a service that is offered to Henry County residents. 19 different contacts have reached out, yet 16 were deemed ineligible immediately. Many of these requests are to cover past due utilities, which is not a service they are able to provide.

Also brought up in the meeting was the Elevate Mobile Crisis Response Service which is offered 24/7 365 days a year. This team offers on-site and in person assistance to individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis. This is a free service and funded by the Mental Health Agency of Southeast Iowa Region. They service 8 counties in Southeast Iowa, and you can reach them at 988.