IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A social worker has left the Iowa Department of Human Services months after a judge found she repeatedly gave false testimony against a mother and father who were unfairly stripped of their parental rights. Department spokesman Matt Highland says Chelsie Gray left the agency Sept. 23, two weeks after The Associated Press inquired about her status.

Highland said that Gray wasn’t fired or forced to resign, and the agency cannot disclose any information about her departure under Iowa law. The agency refused to release the findings from a review conducted of Gray’s cases after her false testimony came to light last spring.

A judge ruled in June that Gray delivered fabricated reports and trial testimony that helped convince a court to terminate the legal rights of a mother and father of four children in northern Iowa.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a Waterloo brother and sister set up a sham marriage so he wouldn’t have to leave the United States. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that Selmir Salkanovic and his sister, Salena Dedic, were arrested Thursday and pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit marriage fraud. Salkanovic also pleaded not guilty to marriage fraud.

Court records say Salkanovic is a Bosnian who overstayed his tourist visa. He’d promised to leave the country in June last year but instead, with his sister’s help, married a U.S. citizen after making a $5,000 deal with her. Federal law lets immigrants who marry U.S. citizens to receive conditional residency status, which can be upgraded to permanent residency after two years and then citizenship five years after that.

The records say Salkanovic and the woman never consummated the marriage and never lived together. It’s unclear whether the woman’s been charged.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports a Union County man was arrested Friday evening on an Adair County warrant. 36-year old Chad William Johnson, of Creston, was arrested on a warrant for Probation Violation. Johnson was released from custody a few hours later, on a $2,000 cash bond. Two other people were arrested in Adair County, and later released on citations to appear in court. 31-year old Curtis Clayton Roe, of Davenport, was arrested at around 11:17-p.m. Oct. 3rd on Interstate 80, for OWI/1st offense, after he was pulled over for excessive speed. He was released to his wife less than an hour later.

And, at around 4-p.m. Oct. 5th, 38-year old Brad Lee Lemon, of Creston, was arrested for Carrying Weapons (a pistol), following a traffic stop on Highway 25. Lemon said the gun was in his door before the traffic stop, but he moved it to between the front seats while pulling over. The pistol was loaded, with a round in the chamber. Authorities say Lemon does not have a permit to carry. He was released with a citation at the scene.

Flood Warning National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska 1043 AM CDT Tue Oct 9 2018 …The National Weather Service in Omaha has issued a flood warning for the following rivers in Iowa…

• East Nishnabotna River At Red Oak affecting Montgomery County.
• Nishnabotna River Above Hamburg affecting Fremont County.
• Nodaway River At Clarinda affecting Page County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… Do not drive cars through areas where water covers the road. The water depth may be too great to allow your vehicle to pass safely. Turn around…don`t drown! Additional information is available at: http://www.water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=oax The National Weather Service in Omaha has issued a

* Flood Warning for The East Nishnabotna River At Red Oak. from this afternoon to Friday morning…or until the warning is cancelled.

* At 9:00 AM Tuesday the stage was 15.4 feet…or 2.6 feet below flood stage.

* Flood stage is 18.0 feet.

* Moderate flooding is forecast.

* Forecast…rise above flood stage by late this afternoon and continue to rise to near 24.3 feet by early Thursday morning. The river will fall below flood stage by Thursday afternoon.

The Iowa Department of Transportation has clarified an earlier press release pertaining to the temporary closing of Interstate 80 at Exit 51. Scott Suhr, DOT District 4 Planning Coordinator, told KJAN News the earlier announcement should have specified Exit 51 is in Council Bluffs along I-80/29, not the Marne Exit, as we had earlier reported.
The westbound interstate will be closed overnight Wednesday and Thursday at Exit 51 in Council Bluffs from 10-p.m. Until 6-a.m. Each day, so that crews may change overhead signs along the interstate.
Again, this does NOT affect I-80 westbound at the Marne interchange.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Warnings and watches for mostly minor flooding have been issued for several Iowa rivers. The National Weather Service posted or continued warnings Tuesday for the Cedar, Iowa, Maquoketa, Mississippi, North Raccoon, Rock and Wapsipinicon rivers. More rain is expected to fall on already saturated ground and eventually flow into already swollen streams and rivers.

Cedar Rapids is preparing its Cedar River flood defenses for a Sunday crest of more than 6 feet (2 meters) of above flood stage. Davenport is closing a street to install flood protection along the rising Mississippi River.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has been awarded $3.5 million over five years to implement the “Zero Suicide” model across Iowa. The state will partner with Foundation2, IDPH’s contractor for the Your Life Iowa helpline, and with treatment programs across the state to ensure all 99 counties are represented. Foundation2 answers Your Life Iowa calls, texts and chats for the state.

The purpose of this program is to implement suicide prevention and intervention programs that are designed to raise awareness of suicide, establish referral processes, and improve care and outcomes for individuals who are at risk of suicide. In addition, the state will contract with Foundation 2 to provide training and technical assistance in support of Zero Suicide strategic plans, including Suicide Care Management plans and follow-ups.

All award recipients, as well as IDPH staff, will be trained in the Zero Suicide model and additional trainings will be offered through the life of the grant funding. According to IDPH, suicide is the second leading cause of death for Iowans ages 15 through 34, and the ninth leading cause of death overall in Iowa. 433 Iowans died by suicide in 2017. If you are feeling suicidal or are concerned about someone else, please contact Your Life Iowa by calling (855) 581-8111, texting (855) 895-8398 or using the online chat function at https://yourlifeiowa.org/. For more information about Zero Suicide, visit http://zerosuicide.sprc.org/.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors has a full agenda for their meeting 9-a.m. Wednesday at the courthouse, in Greenfield. County Engineer Nick Kauffman will present a Road Agreement between the City of Greenfield and MidAmerican Energy, along with the final vouchers for Gus Construction’ box culvert projects for Board signatures. The Board will also sign a final voucher for Henningsen Construction on a Hot Melt Asphalt project on County Road N-72.

At around 9:20-a.m. Wednesday, Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater will discuss the purchase of a new Sheriff’s vehicle. Afterward, Vandewater and EMA Director Bob Kempf will also present a discussion with regard to a 700 megahertz Radio System.

At around 9:45-a.m., Jenny McIvor, Vice President Environmental Policy and Chief Environmental Counsel, will discuss a Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company Habitat Conservation Plan, and at 10-a.m., VA Commissioner John Schildberg will lead discussion with regard to a Veterans Affairs Lease. And finally, at around 10:15-a.m. Wednesday, the Adair County Supervisors will discuss a Comprehensive Ordinance on Wind Farms. The discussion was tabled during last week’s meeting.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Members of the Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will meet in a regular session 5:30-p.m. Wednesday in the High School Media Center. On their agenda, is information with regard enrollment numbers. The tally through Oct. 3rd reveals District Certified Enrollment is down 26.35 students, with an increase of 8.6 students who have Open Enrolled, for a total loss of 17.75 students.  The largest numbers of students (100+ in each grade), are in: Kindergarten/Jr. Kindergarten; 1st grade; and the third- through eighth-grades. The 6th grade has the most students in the District, at 119. The number of Seniors this year is 95.

With regard to the Retirement Early Incentive Program, based on the current policy of 10-years of service, full-time status, and 55-years of age, school officials say there are a total of 21 staff who would qualify under the current Early Retirement Incentive Plan, which also states that the School Board has the authority to limit that to 10 individuals. The agenda for Wednesday’s meeting does not show any resignations for the Board to approve, but it does include Board approval of Contract Recommendations and/or Letters of Assignment, for Andrea Reilly – STEM Coordinator & Teacher, and Derek Hall – Freshman Boys Basketball Coach.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board will act on a new policy for Assistance Animals, which would allow Miniature Horses as a Service Animal, provided they meet certain criteria, which includes it being house broken, if it is under the owner’s control, and whether or not the facility can accommodate the animal, given its type, size and weight, among other factors. The Superintendent may exclude certain service and assistance animals under the policy, if they pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others, and are uncontrollable.

The Board will also act on a revised Public Participation in Board Meetings policy, which stipulates that while the normal public comment time is limited to three-minutes, the Board President may opt to modify the time limit, if deemed necessary or appropriate. In addition, speakers must notify the Board Secretary (Sarah Sheeder) prior to the meeting, and, any individual who is disruptive, may be asked to leave the meeting. Defamatory comments made during the meeting may be subject to legal action.

The Board will act also, on a new policy detailing how Public Complaints are handled, which includes: Matters being addressed first to the teacher or employee; If those matters remain unsettled, they should be made known to the building principal; Still unsettled matters should be directed to the superintendent, according to the policy, with the final means of settling a question or matter being to bring it to the school board for consideration. If the board elects not to address a complaint, the decision of the superintendent will be final. If the board addresses a complaint, its decision will be final.

And, the Atlantic School Board will take action, Wednesday, on a proposal to construct a steel building walkway from the High School Gym to the Multi-Purpose Room, to provide a safe pathway for wrestlers and other student groups who use the M-P Room. Officials say it would also be a cost savings in electrical use. The project is expected to cost $20-to $35,000, depending on the number of partnership. $15,000 would come from the Little Trojan Wrestlers. Iron Specialties would contribute additional volunteer time to reduce the cost of labor. If Jensen Builders constructs a “Turn-key” walkway (meaning they handle the labor and materials), the cost is estimated at $52,000.