OTTUMWA — Registered voters in Indian Hills Community College’s 10-county district will go to the polls next Tuesday, Dec. 6, to decide the fate of a bond referendum.  The college is asking its constituents to approve spending up to $36 million to make needed improvements to facilities, technology and equipment, all of which will enhance the student experience, according to IHCC President Dr. Marlene Sprouse.

“The fact that we were careful in our facilities planning process we hoped would create a situation in which the projects that are to be supported by the bond funds make sense to people,” said Dr. Sprouse, who has been criss-crossing the IHCC district to provide information to various community and civic organizations.  “During the process we asked students, faculty and industry advisors what facility and infrastructure changes would meet their education needs.  Science labs, learning centers, tech labs and fine arts practice spaces are some of the most attractive elements of the projects.”

Dr. Sprouse says the message she has been delivering on behalf of the college has been well-received.  “Indian Hills has proudly served the citizens, businesses and communities in our 10-county area for 50 years,” she says, “and the many projects that would be supported by this bond issue would lay a strong foundation to prepare our students to achieve success well into the next 50 years.”

The polls will be open from noon to 8 p.m. on Dec. 6.  The polling locations in Mahaska County are the Oskaloosa Ag Extension Building and the New Sharon City Park Building.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A judge is expected to rule in about a month on the case against a former substitute teacher accused of having sexual contact with a Cedar Rapids student.

Twenty-four-year-old Mary Haglin agreed during a nonjury trial hearing Monday that Judge Kevin McKeever would try the case solely on a summary of the evidence prosecutors would have used at trial but will not include evidence based on national and local TV show interviews. The charge against her was reduced to a misdemeanor.

Haglin has pleaded not guilty to sexual exploitation by a school employee. Authorities say she had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old boy who attended Washington High School.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Relatives say an 18-year-old died after falling under a car he was holding onto while it was traveling down a gravel road on the southwest side of Burlington.

Clayton Connelly was injured around 1 a.m. Thursday. He was taken by private vehicle to a West Burlington hospital and then transferred to an Iowa City hospital. The Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office says he died there. He’d lived in Burlington.

The Hawk Eye reports (http://bit.ly/2gBKYyx ) that Connelly’s family said he’d been “gravel surfing” with friends. Gravel surfers hold onto vehicles and slide along the surface as the vehicles move down gravel roads. The Sheriff’s Office says Connelly exited the vehicle while it was moving.