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DCI Warns of Scam

News

February 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and Iowa State Patrol are warning of a scam targeting Iowans by misrepresenting the staff of the Department. The Iowa State Patrol has received reports from citizens, that scammers were posing to be employees of the Department.  The callers would claim that they were investigating a lawsuit and were Special Agents with the DCI.  If you receive a similar phone call, you are asked to contact your local law enforcement and the Iowa Attorney General’s Office Hotline at (515) 281-5926 or (888) 777-4590.

Here are some helpful tips to prevent being targeted by fraudulent calls:.

  • If you get a call from someone who claims they are collecting money on behalf of the DPS—even if a caller ID device shows the DPS—hang up.
  • The DPS does not demand immediate payment via prepaid debit cards.
  • Do not provide or confirm personal information or financial information to anyone who calls.

You do not need to report the scam if you receive a call. However, if you lost money through the scam, report it to your local police department or sheriff’s office.

Former store employee pleads guilty to fraud, identity theft

News

February 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) — A woman accused of stealing from a Storm Lake store is scheduled to be sentenced March 26. Court records say 19-year-old Abigail Clark, of Early, pleaded guilty Monday in Buena Vista County District Court to fraudulent practice and identity theft, after prosecutors dropped other charges. The agreement says she’ll receive a deferred judgment and three years of probation. Under a deferred judgment, the convictions can be wiped from Clark’s record if she successfully completes the terms of her probation. The judge is not obligated to follow the agreement, however.

Storm Lake police say Clark forged customer names and completed fraudulent returns worth more than $7,000 within the Bomgaars store where she worked, and then kept the money.

Atlantic School Board approves ISL extension

News

February 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Following a brief Public Hearing Wednesday evening at the high school in Atlantic (during which there were no comments from the public), the Atlantic School Board voted 4-0 (With Board member Jenny Williams absent), to approve a Resolution for five-year extension of the Instructional Support Levy (ISL) for the Atlantic Community School District. The move took place as part of a regular meeting of the Board of Education. Board President Ali Bruckner said the ISL is a continuation of the current ISL until FY 2024, and is unchanged from the past five-years with regard to the property and income surtax. Moneys received by the District for the [ISL] may be used for any general fund purpose, but will not be subject to collective bargaining [pursuant to Iowa Code], and will not be used for employee pay or benefits.

In his report to the Board, Superintendent Steve Barber said Travis Squires with Piper-Jaffray has created a financial document with valuable information designed to help the District with the Certified Budget Process, different scenarios for Capital Project Financing and other pertinent data. Barber said also, with the CAM School District’s Business Manager of 30-years taking an early retirement incentive, created a need that may be filled by a sharing opportunity. Barber said Atlantic can provide support to the CAM School District through Operational Sharing, which would be beneficial two both Districts, especially with regard to a financial director. He said talks are underway to make the transition and what the responsibilities would be the shared person would have and the support staff in both schools, yet still maintain the same level of effective and efficient quality. In an Operational Sharing agreement, the minimum cost split is 80-20, as the Atlantic Community School District needs more than 50% for a financial director

In other business, the Atlantic School Board approved the resignations of Ginger Bechtold, 6-12 Media Specialist/Teacher; Whitney Hoegh, 4th Grade Teacher; Virginia Jordan, 5th Grade Teacher, and Ben Winford, District Maintenance. He said Bechtold and Jordan have been with the District for many years. The Board also discussed Summer 2018 Capital Projects, and acted on approving a Resolution pertaining to improvements of the District’s Athletic Facilities, which calls for the current athletic fields at the Middle School to remain intact, with improvement being made to the current sites without the need to relocate. It also specifies the goals and commitments toward the project, the establishment of a timeline and deadlines within the timeline.

Vehicle reported stolen from Red Oak

News

February 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Red Oak Police are asking for your help in locating a vehicle that was reported stolen this (Thursday) morning. At around 5:30-a.m., Officers with the Red Oak P-D responded to 105 W. Prospect Street, for a reported stolen SUV. The vehicle was described as being a red, 2002 Ford Escape, bearing Iowa license plate 213 WNI. It’s believed the vehicle was stolen at around 8-p.m., Wednesday.

Anyone with information with regard to the incident, or who may have seen the vehicle, is asked to call the Red Oak Police Department at 712-623-6500.

Parents of Iowa septuplets, now 20, selling big home

News

February 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

CARLISLE, Iowa (AP) — The parents of the world’s first surviving septuplets are selling their central Iowa home, now that their 20-year-old children have emptied the nest. The Des Moines Register reports that Kenny and Bobbi McCaughey have signed an agreement to sell the seven-bedroom, five-bathroom house in Carlisle to Ruth Harbor, a Des Moines nonprofit that helps girls and young women with unplanned pregnancies.

Siblings Alexis, Brandon, Joel, Kelsey, Kenny, Natalie and Nathan McCaughey graduated high school in May 2016 and went on to college or the military. They were born Nov. 19, 1997. Their mother had taken a fertility drug. The Ruth Harbor purchase price hasn’t disclosed. Kenny and Bobbi McCaughey say they intend to move from the Des Moines suburb of Carlisle east to a home in the Runnells area.

Red Oak man arrested Valentine’s Day on a felony Theft warrant

News

February 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Red Oak Police, Wednesday, arrested a man wanted on a felony warrant for Theft in the 2nd Degree. 45-year old Darold Eugene Bredberg, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 6:30-p.m. and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held on a $5,000 cash only bond.

Tyson plans to give employees a bonus from tax savings

News

February 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Tyson employees in Iowa could be getting a bonus in their paychecks. The president of the Arkansas-based company, Tom Hayes, announced Wednesday, that the federal tax reform will lead to 300 million dollars in savings for the company and they plan to provide a one-time bonus to some 100-thousand employees. Tyson has meat processing facilities in Council Bluffs, Waterloo, Storm Lake, Perry and Columbus Junction.

The company says it will pay eligible full-time employees a one-time one-thousand dollar bonus and part-time employees will get a 500 dollar bonus. The company says it will also spend some of the money on enhanced training, education and development opportunities for employees.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa early News Headlines: Thursday, Feb. 15th 2018

News

February 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

IOWA CTY, Iowa (AP) — Latinos in Iowa City, Iowa, faced the nation’s most significant inequality when applying for conventional home loans in 2016, with an analysis showing they were nearly four times more likely to be denied than whites. The disparity appeared to be driven by a high rate of rejections for prospective Latino borrowers reported by a single financial institution, Hills Bank. That’s according to the analysis by Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting.

STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in northwestern Iowa say seven students in the Storm Lake School District have been arrested on criminal charges for sharing nude photos on their phones. Assistant Storm Lake Police Chief Chris Cole tells the Sioux City Journal that the investigation began Feb. 6, when police were called to Storm Lake High School about multiple students sending nude photographs via text messages to other students.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for making a bomb threat against a Davenport community college. Federal prosecutors say 39-year-old America Yegile Haileselassie, of Bettendorf, was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty to interstate communication of a bomb threat. Investigators say that on Nov. 4, 2015, papers found on a Scott Community College printer with the threat were traced back to Haileselassie’s email address.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A new trial date has been set for a Dubuque man accused of killing a woman who police say he met just hours earlier. Court records say Michael Piantieri had pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder and his trial was scheduled to begin next Tuesday. The records say the new starting date is Aug. 7. Police say he killed 42-year-old Beverly Puccio, who was found dead inside her home late Dec. 3.

Gas Station/Convenience store robbed in Council Bluffs

News

February 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs responded at around 9:15-p.m., Wednesday, to an armed robbery at the Nomi Petro Mart, located at 3609 9th Avenue. Upon officers arrival, they determined an unknown white male came into the business with a black handgun and demanded money. The man was dressed in all black, wearing a mask, and there was a red design on the back of the jacket.

The suspect left on foot with an undetermined amount of cash. The case is being investigated by the Criminal Investigations Division. Anyone with information about the suspect is encourage d to call Crime Stoppers at 712-328-STOP.

Police: 7 northwest Iowa teens arrested in sexting case

News

February 14th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in northwestern Iowa say seven students in the Storm Lake School District have been arrested on criminal charges for sharing nude photos on their phones. Police have not named the juveniles, and The Associated Press doesn’t typically name juveniles charged with crimes.

Assistant Storm Lake Police Chief Chris Cole tells the Sioux City Journal that the investigation began Feb. 6, when police were called to Storm Lake High School about multiple students sending nude photographs via text messages to other students.

Authorities say six Storm Lake High School students and one Storm Lake Middle School student were arrested on suspicion of charges ranging from felony exploitation of a minor to misdemeanor dissemination of obscene material to a minor.

Police say several cellphones were seized in the investigation.