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.

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.

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.

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.

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.