SIDNEY, Iowa (AP) – A former manager of the Fremont County landfill in southwest Iowa has been given probation after pleading guilty in a deal with prosecutors. Court records say 32-year-old Dusty VanRenan pleaded guilty Monday to theft after prosecutors dismissed a charge of ongoing criminal conduct. He was sentenced to two years of probation and given a deferred judgment. Under a deferred judgment, records of his convictions in the case will be expunged if he completes the terms of his probation. A $750 civil penalty against him was suspended.

A state auditor’s investigation says VanRenan used a country truck to haul pallets he sold for recycling in Council Bluffs. The auditors say the nearly $5,500 paid for the pallets wasn’t turned over to the county account.

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

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The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education, Wednesday evening, received updates from Technology Director Roger Warne, and updates with regard to the CCEOC building, as well as bus inspections. In his report, Roger Warne said Mariah Mailander is doing a great job as the new Tech Integrationist. He called her a “Diamond in the rough,” and that she’s learning the new position, and he hopes to keep her around for a long time. The Board had approved her contract during their last meeting in July.

Warne also talked about the One-to-One laptop rollover program for District staff and students, which is in its fourth year. He said all the staff machines being pulled-in will be refurbished as best as possible. Once they are not serviceable, they will be used for other purposes until the die. The central office staff computers will be replaced within the next couple of weeks. The 1-to-1 laptops for Freshmen will be ready today (Thursday) and be available for students by next Thursday’s Freshman orientation. Next year, the laptop’s at the High School will be rolled over.

At that time, a decision will have to be made about which laptops should be purchased new for the future. Superintendent Steve Barber spoke during Wednesday’s meeting about the former Cass, Incorporated building, which was purchased by the District and is being converted into the Cass County Educational Opportunity Center (CCEOC). He said while efforts continue on finishing work, “It’s pretty evident that it’s not going to be done by [the start of school] August 23rd.” Barber said they’re hopeful that after next week’s inspection by the Fire Marshal, he will grant the building occupancy in the non-construction areas.)

The CCEOC staff and students would occupy those areas, while the Link Center staff and students would occupy the multi-purpose room at the High School until the Cass, Inc. building is ready. And, as for the Bus inspection, Mr. Barber said the District’s bus fleet is in good shape, overall. There was one bus with minor issues, but it was previously taken out of service for 30-days until electrical repairs could be completed.

Barber thanked Transportation Director Dave Eckles for “Keeping the fleet afloat,” so to speak. In other business, the Atlantic School Board voted to set  “Standards and Accountability,” “School Funding Policy,” and “SAVE (Secure and Advance Vision for Education)” as their top three IASB Legislative Priorities.

SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa (AP) – A November trial has been scheduled for a northwest Iowa man accused of stabbing a man and punching a woman. Court records say 29-year-old Nicholas Thompson pleaded not guilty Tuesday to attempted murder and related charges. His trial is set to begin Nov. 7.

The records say Thompson repeatedly stabbed the man June 22 at a home in Spirit Lake and punched the woman during the same incident.

Police in Creston report a woman was arrested late Wednesday on a Union County warrant for a Controlled Substance Violation. 28-year old Trisha Mitchell, of Lenox, was transported to the Ringgold County Jail following her arrest at around 8:40-p.m. Mitchell was being held in the jail while awaiting a bond hearing.

And, at around 11-p.m. Wednesday, Creston Police arrested 49-year old Jack Howard Davis, of Orient, for Driving While Revoked. Davis was released from the Union County Jail on a $1000 bond.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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CALUMET, Iowa (AP) – A northwest Iowa woman has been accused of stealing more than $24,000 while working at a trucking company. Court records say 32-year-old Jamie Riedemann, of Calumet, is charged with tampering with records, four counts of theft and three counts of unauthorized use of a credit card.

Prosecutors say Riedemann turned in fraudulent time cards and used company credit cards for personal purchases while working as business office manager for Calumet Carriers between January 2014 and August 2016.

The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an ATV accident that resulted in injuries to a man from Missouri. The accident happened at around 7:20-p.m. Wednesday, in Clearfield. Officials say 43-year old Timothy Webber, of Unionville, MO., was in control of the ATV when it rolled over at the intersection of Broadway and 2nd Streets, in Clearfield. Webber was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Des Moines, for treatment of serious injuries.

AMES, Iowa (AP) – The interim president of Iowa State University is proposing resident undergraduate tuition increases of 7 percent in each of the next five years. President Ben Allen told an Iowa Board of Regents task force Wednesday that the university’s enrollment has risen by 37 percent since 2009, but state appropriations for operations have declined by 30 percent.

Resident undergraduates are scheduled to pay nearly $7,500 in tuition for the upcoming academic year. A 7 percent increase would raise costs by $522 for the 2018-19 academic year, and the tuition total would reach nearly $10,500 for the 2022-23 academic year.

The task force took no action Wednesday. The regents created the task force in response to more than $30 million in state funding cuts.

Deputies in Fremont County responding to a reported reckless and suspicious vehicle late Wednesday night, conducted a traffic stop in Hamburg, and arrested the driver. Sheriff Kevin Aistrope says the vehicle was pulled over on 300th Avenue in Hamburg, During the stop, the driver, 19-year old Dustin Perry, of Hamburg, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct. He was transported to the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center and held on a $300 bond.

Dustin Perry