Gowrie Man Charged in Homicide of 17-Year-Old Girl in Farnhamville 2024-09-24

A Gowrie man, 21-year-old Nathaniel Bevers-McGivney, is charged with abuse of a corpse - failure to disclose known location in connection to the homicide of a 17-year-old girl in Farnhamville, Iowa. The criminal complaint states that the woman reported her daughter missing, and she and her other daughter found Bevers-McGivney covered in apparent blood and in possession of the missing girl's personal effects. The missing girl's body was later found, and the complaint alleges that Bevers-McGivney intentionally hid the body to conceal a crime. The small town of Farnhamville is in shock over the incident, as this type of violence is not common there.

Sexual Abuse

Berwick Man Charged with Sexually Abusing 14-Year-Old 2024-09-23

A 22-year-old Berwick man, Scott Palermo, has been charged with sexually abusing a 14-year-old. Court records show that Palermo had inappropriate relations with the teenager and sexually abused them multiple times between March and August. Police say the teen ran away from home this month so the two could 'be together.' Palermo was arrested by Polk County sheriff's deputies and charged with sex abuse and harboring a runaway. He is set to be in court at the end of the month.

Education

Five Iowa Schools Named National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2024 2024-09-23

Decorah High School and four other Iowa schools have been named National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2024. The Iowa Department of Education says the National Blue Ribbon Schools program honors some of the nation's best schools based on excellent student academic achievement and growth. The other Iowa schools recognized are Alta-Aurelia Middle School, Nodaway Valley Middle School, Rock Run Elementary, and Rock Valley Elementary. The state's five awardees were honored as Exemplary High-Performing Schools, which are measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.