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Serve Our Youth celebrates with Family Fun Day
More than 500 people attended the Serve Our Youth Family Fun Day at the Vermeer Global Pavilion Saturday. SOY Executive Director Bernie Van Roekel says activities included a giant inflatable slide and bouncing cage, treasure chest, skeet-ball, balloon animals and more. The area mentoring organization headquartered in Pella is celebrating their 10th anniversary this year.

Board to consider budget proposal
The Knoxville Board of Education will consider a proposed $1.13 million budget cut for next year at their meeting this evening at 6:30 in the Knoxville High School Library. Residents can join KNIA KRLS for a Special Edition News Magazine on the eventlive, streaming on the internet. Go to KNIAKRLS.com, and click on Radio Plus for the live stream, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Pella School Board to meet
The Pella School Board will consider approval of an official agreement between the school district and the non-profit group Project Lead the Way at their meeting today. Project Lead the Way is a program that promotes engineering and technical learning through partnerships between school districts and the private sector. The board is also scheduled to consider approval of the Summer Academy classes and receive an update on construction of the high school addition. The Pella School Board meets at 4:30 p.m. at the Administration Office.

Senate Republicans drafting job-creation package
Senate Republicans are in the process of drafting a market-driven job creation package with a focus on small and mid-sized business growth. That's according to State Senator and Republican Minority leader Paul McKinley. He says they're working on smaller pieces of legislation which would help create long lasting jobs. He says the legislation could be introduced by the end of this month.

Legislators debate prevailing wage
A local state representative had offered an amendment to the prevailing wage bill that was the focus of much debate at the state house. Republican Jim Van Engelenhoven says this bill would've allowed the labor commissioner to set the minimum wage for public sector construction projects. Van Engelenhoven says his amendment would've required the labor commissioner to work with the state auditor and the attorney general's office on setting this policy.

County Board to discuss care facility
The Marion County Board of Supervisors will continue discussion on the county care facility roof at a special session meeting Monday at 1 p.m. at the Marion County Courthouse. The board will also discuss creating a countywide departmental credit card usage policy, among other issues.

DNR seeks to increase non-resident license allotment
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources continues to push for an increase in the number of non-resident deer licenses. Current law sets the limit at 6,000 and the DNR would like to double that number. Marion County Conservation Officer John Mertz says many dollars are lost each year in turning down non-residents from deer hunting in Iowa. He says the legislation would give the DNR the authority to set the license limit.

Senator to visit with Pleasantville students
Senator Chuck Grassley is visiting the Pleasantville 8th grade class via a teleconference Monday at 12 p.m. in the ICN room. That's according to 8th grade teacher Dennis Oliver, who tells KNIA/KRLS News that this is an uncanny opportunity for the students to ask direct questions to Senator Grassley.