DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A new report says that a former Iowa elementary school secretary failed to deposit more than $26,000 that was collected from fundraisers into the correct accounts, instead spending some of the money on personal expenses like mortgage payments. The report from Auditor Rob Sand’s office says Danielle Arnold improperly used bank accounts belonging to North Linn Elementary School and the school districts’ Parent Teacher Organizations.

She resigned last year from her position at the school. No charges have been filed.

The Iowa Department of Public Health, today (Tuesday), reports the number of Iowans who have tested positive for COVID-19 stands is 26,343 (10% of those tested). Of that total, 6,715 have a pre-existing condition. Authorities say two people haves died from the virus since Monday, for a total of 688. Officials say 485 of the persons who have died to-date, had a pre-existing medical condition. The number of Iowans who have tested negative is 237,551. Of those who had the virus, 16,398 have recovered. A total of 264,265 tests have been completed, while assessments number 765,153.

COVID-19 outbreaks at Long-Term Care facilities (LTC’s) remains unchanged at 31. Health officials say 909 staff/residents of those facilities have tested positive for the virus, 538 have recovered and 356 have died.  In southwest/western Iowa RMCC Region 4, there are two less patients hospitalized (6) and in an ICU (3). There were no new admissions Monday, and one person remains on a ventilator. Statewide the numbers essentially continue to decline, with 163 hospitalized, 47 in an ICU, and 26 on ventilators. Eight more people were admitted to a hospital over the past 24-hours, for a total at 14 new admissions.

In the immediate KJAN listening area, here is the latest report on COVID-19 positive cases and the number of those persons who have recovered (   ). If there were no changes since the lats update, there is an “N/C” mentioned.

• Cass 16 (15) – N/C
• Adair 12 (11) – N/C
• Adams 7 (5) – N/C
• Audubon 15 (11) – N/C
• Montgomery 10 (6) – N/C
• Pottawattamie 629 (416)
• Shelby 83 (46) (an increase of 4 positive cases from Monday and 5 recovered cases)

The City of Atlantic’s Community Protection Committee (CPC) will meet this (Wednesday) evening at 5:45 in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. On their agenda is a review of changes to the City Code (Ordinance), with regard to: Truck and Large Vehicle Parking; Parking for Personal Vehicles, and, the Zoning Code pertaining to the location of boats, boat trailers, campers and travel trailers.

Currently, the Truck and Large Vehicle parking Ordinance prohibits those vehicles (which include motor homes, RV’s, farm machinery or other motor vehicle with an attached trailer or detached) on any street, alley or public thoroughfare, unless engaged in the delivery or receiving of merchandise or cargo. Additionally, no vehicle exceeding 10-tons is allowed to be stored or parked on any lot or parcel within a residential zone, and, boats/boat trailers, campers, RV’s, or (5th wheel) travel trailers are not to be placed, stored or maintained within the front yard of any zoning district. They must be placed on a hard surface (concrete, asphalt or limestone), and not within view of any corner lot. A front yard may be used for a period not to exceed 48-hours for loading/unloading only, or for temporary storage (Not to exceed 7 days), if the facility is owned by a proven guest of the premises’ occupants.

City Administrator/Zoning Commissioner John Lund says the CPC will have to answer questions that include:

• Should the (aforementioned) Ordinances be re-written, simply change the wording of a few, or repeal one?
• Does the City want vehicles, other wheeled items parked on grass? Vehicles are currently not allowed to be parked on the grass.
• And, does the City want gravel or the appearance of such, to act as an “improved surface,” with regard to parking on private property. As it stands currently, personal vehicles may be parked in a garage, carport or on an all-weather driveway (defined as paved, gravel or stone). Personal vehicle are not to be parked on the grass. Parking may occur in the rear yard or side yard setback, if on an all-weather parking space connected by an all-weather driveway, to a dedicated public right-of-way and/or alley.

Lund cautions the Committee, that if they declare gravel to not qualify as an “Improved surface,” do they “Have the stomach to tell people who claim not to have the money to afford a concrete pad that the must install one, or receive civil fines in court?” The Committee’s recommendations will be passed on to the full Atlantic City Council during their next regular meeting in July.

(Radio Iowa) — The Des Moines City Council has passed a racial profiling ban for city police. The ordinance establishes a committee to review systemic bias in the police system and directs police officers to intervene if another officer uses excessive force. The council is also creating a task force to study ways to make marijuana possession the lowest priority for law enforcement. Council member Josh Mandelbaum co-sponsored that proposal. Mandelbaum says, “Addressing the way we enforce our marijuana laws is one of the small ways that we can move towards racial justice and a community that works better for everyone.”

The ordinance was first introduced nearly two years ago but it took on new urgency in the wake of protests against police brutality. Betty Andrews, president of the Iowa-Nebraska NAACP negotiated changes to the ordinance, including forcing a police officer to interfere when a colleague uses unreasonable force. Andrews says, “Which means that if someone has their knee on the neck of someone gasping for air they should interfere.”

Andrews says the ordinance is a good step but the city must do more. For instance, she says the community should have more authority to hold police accountable for misconduct.

(By Grant Gerlock, Iowa Public Radio)

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a pickup that was stolen June 19th in Creston was located later that same day in a ditch near Lorimor. The 2003 GMC Sierra pickup was taken sometime between 4-and 6-p.m. Friday, and found by a Lorimor man in the ditch just east of Jaguar Road, on 160th Street, at around 6:12-p.m. that day. A dollar amount of  the damage was not immediately available.

The Sheriff’s Office also reports two recent accidents were investigated. At around 1:30-p.m. Sunday, a vehicle driven by 48-year old Steven Dale Lamaak, of Afton, was traveling on Jaguar Avenue, when for some reason, Lamaak passed out at the wheel and, according to his passenger, would not wake up. The 2020 Chevy Cobalt he was driving went into the ditch and through a fence before stopping in a field. A female passenger in the car transported Lamaak to the hospital in Creston, for treatment of unknown/possible injuries. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $2,000.

And, at around 7:15-a.m. Monday, a 2005 John Deere Tractor driven by 53-year old Todd Kinkade, of Creston, was working on maintaining the edge of Cherry Street (a gravel road), when a southbound SUV driven by 42-year old Melissa James, of Creston, struck the rear of the tractor. No injuries were reported. The tractor was not damaged. Damage to the SUV was estimated at $6,500.

Police in Glenwood report the arrest on Sunday, of 25-year-old Zachary Digilio. The Glenwood man was taken into custody for being a Fugitive from Justice. His bond was set at $10,000.  In a separate incident, Glenwood Police arrested 22-year-old Kyle Selmer, of Council Bluffs, for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000.