DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A special state audit for a Shelby County agency has identified more than $59,000 in improper disbursements. The audit report released Wednesday says the audit was requested because of concerns regarding payments for overtime, compensatory time and vacation to county Emergency Management Agency employees. The audit covered July 1, 2013, through Sept. 30, 2017.

The report says more than $41,000 for paid leave was improperly disbursed for four county employees, primarily for compensatory time. More than $13,000 was improperly disbursed for an employee shared with Audubon County. The report also said nearly $1,600 given to three Shelby County employees was not adequately documented to determine whether the money spent was appropriate for county operations.

The report includes recommendations to strengthen the county’s internal controls and overall operations.

Efforts are underway in area counties to prepare for inevitable flooding that’s expected in association with heavy rain and snowmelt/ice jams. Doug Reed, Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Director told KJAN News (at 10-a.m.), that the West Nishnabotna River was officially about one-foot above flood stage as of mid-morning today (Wednesday). He said the river is starting to come the back channels or drainage areas into low-lying areas along the river. Communities potentially impacted by flood waters are preparing, and supplies are being distributed for sandbagging operations. An emergency shelter is being readied in-case it’s needed. He says they’re doing everything the can to help minimize the risk once the crest takes place.

Reed said he could not confirm any sandbagging activities were underway at the AHST-W School, and no roads were underwater as of the last report. Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Alex Londo issued a statement late this morning, with regard to flooding. “Shelby County was placed in a flood warning the morning of March 13th, 2019 until 6:30 PM the same day. Currently we are seeing rising river levels throughout the county. Shelby County Emergency Management is working with local authorities to mitigate the risk. We recommend members of the public to be cautious of low-lying areas and not to drive across flooded roads.”

In Cass County, Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon said all roads are currently open, nut that wasn’t the case earlier this morning. He said Quimby Road off of Highway 48 north of Griswold, was closed due to ice being deposited on the roadway from area waterways. The last reading on the East Nishanbotna was 12.8-feet, which was well below the 19-foot flood stage, where minor flooding takes place. However, rain is imminent. That, and the snow melt is worth keeping an eye on, he said.

Preparations are also underway in Montgomery County.

WASHINGTON – The Drug Enforcement Administration urges its DEA-registered practitioners and members of the public to be cautious of telephone calls from criminals posing as DEA or other law enforcement personnel threatening arrest and prosecution for supposed violations of federal drug laws or involvement in drug-trafficking activities. DEA continues to receive reports from practitioners and the general public, alike, indicating that they have received calls threatening legal action if an exorbitant fine is not paid immediately over the phone. The callers typically identify themselves as DEA personnel and instruct their victims to pay the “fine” via wire transfer to avoid arrest, prosecution and imprisonment.

The reported scam tactics are continually changing, but often share many of the following characteristics:

• Callers use fake names and badge numbers or, alternatively, names of well-known DEA senior officials.
• The tone of calls is urgent and aggressive; callers refuse to speak or leave a message with anyone other than the person for whom they are calling.
• Callers threaten arrest, prosecution and imprisonment, and in the case of medical practitioners, revocation of their DEA numbers.
• Callers demand thousands of dollars via wire transfer or, in some instances, in the form of untraceable gift cards taken over the phone.
• Callers falsify the number on caller ID to appear as a legitimate DEA phone number.
• Callers will often ask for personal information, such as social security number or date of birth.
• When calling a medical practitioner, callers often reference National Provider Identifier numbers and/or state license numbers. They also might claim that patients are making accusations against the practitioner.

It’s important to underscore that DEA personnel will never contact practitioners or members of the public by telephone to demand money or any other form of payment. DEA will not request any personal or sensitive information over the phone. Notification of a legitimate investigation or legal action is made via official letter or in person. Impersonating a federal agent is a violation of federal law.

Anyone receiving a telephone call from a person purporting to be a DEA special agent or other law enforcement official seeking money should refuse the demand and report the threat using the online form or by calling 877-792-2873. Reporting scam calls will greatly assist DEA in investigating and stopping this criminal activity. Any urgent concerns or questions, including inquiring about legitimate investigations, should be directed to the local DEA field division.

To report scam activity online, visit https://apps.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/esor/spring/main?execution=e1s1.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports 29-year old Netosha Stalder, of Corning, was arrested late Tuesday morning, on a drug charge. Stalder was taken into custody after a search warrant was executed at the Adams County Courthouse. Authorities found Stalder had narcotics in the center console of the car she was driving. A needle and a clear baggy with 1 gram of meth was found in the vehicle. Stalder was charged with Possession of Meth/3rd offense. Bond was set at $5,000.

DES MOINES – Due to a systems processing error, unemployment benefits will be delayed one day for many Iowa recipients. Both Iowa Workforce Development and the Office of the Chief Information Officer are working to identify and correct the issue as soon as possible. Iowa Workforce Director Beth Townsend reports “On Tuesday, March 12, 2019, Iowa Workforce Development was informed that weekly unemployment insurance payments that were to be deposited onto debit cards on Thursday, March 14, will be delayed. We want to ensure all benefit payments will be made.”

Townsend says also, “We apologize for any inconvenience, and will provide more information as it becomes available. We understand not receiving an expected payment can be upsetting and we are diligently working to minimize the impact of this error. Any recipient who has questions or concerns should call us at 1-866-239-0843.”

Unemployment Customer Service is available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

(Radio Iowa) — A northeast Iowa man is jailed after an apparent hit-and-run accident in Waterloo that left a teen dead.  Police say 22-year-old Brandon Gordon of Evansdale turned himself in Tuesday afternoon in connection with the death of 16-year-old Tayshaun Jenkins. Gordon is now charged with leaving the scene of a personal injury or fatality accident. Officers found Jenkins lying face down on a sidewalk Sunday morning and called his death suspicious. He was a student at East High School in Waterloo.

(Radio Iowa) — Authorities investigating an attack on a woman at George Wyth State Park in Waterloo more than three years ago say a D-N-A sample links a Colorado man to the crime. Twenty-four-year-old Patrick Burt was arrested Tuesday on a willful injury charge in a Denver, Colorado suburb and is awaiting extradition to Black Hawk County. Investigators say Burt was living in Waterloo in July 2015, when a woman reported being attacked while jogging at George Wyth. She was found semi-conscious — covered in dirt and blood — near a trail by the park’s campground.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A magistrate says critical letters a Sioux City schoolteacher sent to her superintendent and others are free speech, not harassment. The Sioux City Journal reports that Woodbury County Magistrate Jessica Noll dismissed the six counts of misdemeanor harassment filed against West Middle School teacher Julie Fischer. Fischer had been placed on paid leave last summer after she was charged.

Noll said in her ruling Monday that those who received Fischer’s letters “may have interpreted the messages as offensive and insulting. However, criticizing colleagues is a legitimate purpose.” The letters to Superintendent Paul Gausman and other administrators and teachers were critical of their competency and actions. Woodbury County Attorney Patrick Jennings says the ruling is disappointing and says his office is reviewing it to determine whether to appeal.

District spokeswoman Mandie Mayo says the district hasn’t made a final decision on Fischer’s employment.

A Shelby County man wanted on a first-degree, premeditated murder charge in Pottawattamie County, was transported Tuesday morning from the Polk County Jail to the Pott. County Jail. Police in Des Moines last Friday arrested 20-year old Nicholas Haner, of Harlan, on a Pott. County warrant for suspicion of 1^st degree Murder.  Haner was wanted in connection with the death in January, of 38-year old Adam Angeroth, whose body was found in Angeroth’s Council Bluffs apartment. Haner remains in the Pott. County Jail without bond.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports also, 27-year old Samantha Sue Wehrli, of Atlantic, was arrested this (Wednesday) morning on Felony charges in Neola, after a Deputy on patrol at around 2:15-a.m., was dispatched to the Neola Kum-and-Go Store, for a female sitting at the pumps in a dark colored car. Wehrli was later arrested for Theft in the 2nd degree/Possession of a Stolen vehicle, and Possession of a controlled substance inside a correctional facility. Her bond was set at $10,000 altogether.

A Glenwood man was arrested Tuesday afternoon at the Douglas County, NE., Jail, and transported to the Pott. County Jail. 45-year old William Joseph Weis was wanted on a Pott. County felony warrant for Violation of Probation. An Omaha man was also transported from Douglas County to the Pott. County Jail. 54-year old Richard A. Dee was wanted on warrants for Theft in the 1st Degree and ongoing criminal activity.

26-year old Stephanie Ann Maggio, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Tuesday at the Pott. County Courthouse, on warrants for Theft in the 5th Degree.  42-year old Jeremy Todd Casteel, of Carter Lake, was transported Tuesday from the Mt. Pleasant Correctional Facility to the Pottawattamie County Jail, to address a warrant for two counts of Conspiracy to Manufacturer/Deliver False Meth over 5 grams but under 5 kilograms. His bond was set at $100,000. And, 39-year old Jesus A. Jaramillo was transported from the Sarpy County, NE. Jail to Pott. County, on warrants for Conspiracy to Manufacturer/Deliver False Meth over 5 grams but under 5 kilograms, and, Attaching used tax stamp – 42.5-grams or more of medical cannabidoil.

Grant, Ia. – The Grant United Methodist Church recently welcomed a new pastor, Jessica Jacobsen of Atlantic, Ia. Jacobsen, who also serves the Villisca Methodist Church, was officially appointed to serve at Grant on Feb. 1st. With Jacobsen’s appointment, Grant UMC has changed its Sunday morning worship service to 9 a.m. During the school year, children’s Sunday School is offered during the second half of worship service. Additionally, Grant offers a 3-5 p.m. after-school program on Wednesdays.

The Grant United Methodist Church, founded in 1855, is a multi-generational church focusing on concern for its neighbors and providing a center of worship for all ages.  Worship services are celebrated at 9 a.m. each Sunday.