CALMAR, Iowa (KCRG) – The Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Board of Trustees has fired its president, Dr. Herbert Riedel, following a unanimous vote. Dr. Riedel started in the role in the summer of 2022, but was placed on paid administrative leave without a public explanation on October 8, 2023. On October 30, Riedel wrote a letter to the Driftless Journal publication saying the Board of Trustees put him on leave as retaliation for complaints he made about Trustee member, Jim Anderson. He says Anderson micro-managed the college and interfered with his day-to-day management, even claiming Anderson potentially violated Iowa’s campaign ethics and open meetings laws. Riedel says when he alerted NICC’s attorney about his concerns, the board put him on leave. KCRG-TV9 reached out to NICC at the time for comment on Riedel’s claim. They said they had not received any formal complaints regarding violations of campaign ethics or open meeting laws, and that he was placed on paid administrative leave for issues raised during his initial evaluation, complaints regarding hiring practices, and complaints regarding treatment of administrative staff. On November 20, the College’s Board of Trustees held a closed session to discuss the possible termination of Dr. Riedel. Following a unanimous vote, Dr. Reidel’s contract was terminated. NICC vice president David Dhams has been serving as acting president since Dr. Riedel was placed on leave.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – On Monday, the seven board members of the Cedar Rapids Community School District voted unanimously to elect Cindy Garlock as the new board president. Garlock has served on the board for the last four years as vice president. She is one of three incumbents elected in school board elections earlier this month. Garlock will replace outgoing board president David Tominsky. The board elected him as vice president of the board. He’s served on the board for four years and was just elected for another term.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – At approximately 2:27 p.m. Monday, officers attempted to stop a vehicle in the 800 block of 1st St. SW. Investigators say that the vehicle, which was driven by 22-year-old Katilyn Whiting, briefly eluded officers and crossed the 8th Avenue bridge. The vehicle collided with an uninvolved vehicle, stopping near the intersection of 8th Ave and 6th St. SE. Officials say the uninvolved vehicle was occupied at the time, and a person in that vehicle suffered minor injuries as a result. After the suspect’s vehicle stopped, 21-year-old Martavius Northern attempted to flee on foot. He was quickly caught by officers. Following the incident, Whiting was charged with Eluding and other traffic-related crimes. Northern was arrested for outstanding warrants for Robbery in the First Degree and Carrying Weapons. The investigation is ongoing.
AMES, Iowa (KCRG) – An Iowa State frat member has pled guilty to a lesser charge in relation to a criminal case occurring during the previous school year. Three members of an Iowa State University fraternity, including the Vice President of the fraternity, were charged back in May with forcing a member to perform a sex act. According to the criminal complaint, Colton Moore, Grant Kuehnast, and Tyler Ekstrom all entered a Farmhouse Fraternity member’s room and ordered them to perform a sex act on one of them “or else be shot in the groin and face with an air-soft gun.” The victim initially refused before being shot multiple times. Ekstrom, Moore, and Kuehnast were all charged with Assault, Extortion, and Harassment in the 2nd Degree. On November 16th, Kuehnast accepted a plea deal to first-degree harassment. KCCI is reporting that prosecutors are recommending 2 years of probation for Kuehnast and 100 hours of community service, as well as a letter of apology to the victim. Kuehnast’s sentencing date is scheduled for December 6, 2023.
