NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — An April sentencing has been scheduled for a former secretary at a central Iowa soil and water conservation district accused of embezzlement. Jasper County District Court records say 39-year-old Jessica Rutter, of Newton, pleaded guilty to a theft charge. Her sentencing is set for April 15. Her arrest followed a state audit in which auditors said Rutter acknowledged writing checks to herself that would typically double her pay from the Jasper County Soil and Water Conservation District. Auditors found 23 unauthorized checks were issued between 2015 and 2017 that amounted to nearly $20,000.

Most area roads are  partially covered with ice. Ramp conditions could vary from the main roadway. Look out for icy bridges. Expect blowing snow. (See more at 511ia.org, or call 5-1-1)

Highway 83 Between US 59 (Avoca) and IA 173 (Marne). A lane is closed intermittently because of road maintenance activities. Until today at about 3:30PM CST.

Highway 6 Between US 59 (Oakland) and IA 48 (near Lewis). A lane is closed intermittently because of road maintenance activities. Until today at about 3:30PM CST.

I-80 westbound (west of Dexter) Between Exit 104: County Road P57 and Exit 100: County Roads P53 and F60 (Dexter). The right lane is blocked due to a crash.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Roman Catholic diocese in Iowa says it will release a list of 28 priests who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing minors over the last century. The Diocese of Sioux City scheduled a news conference Monday afternoon to announce the list, which will then be posted on its website. For years, advocates for abuse victims have been urging the diocese to take that step.

The diocese publicly promised in November that it would finalize the list and make it public. The vow came in response to an investigation by The Associated Press that exposed a 32-year cover-up of a priest who had allegedly confessed to abusing more than 50 boys.

Diocese officials have met multiple times since then to review files and allegations dating back to its beginning in 1902.

Officials with the Trevor Frederickson Foundation report applications are now being accepted for the 10th Annual Trevor Frederickson Memorial Scholarship. Applications may be obtained from the Atlantic High School guidance office at 1201 E. 14th Street or the Atlantic High School website: www.atlanticiaschools.org. Up to two $750 scholarships are available to those graduating from Atlantic High School in the spring of 2019. Applicants must plan to attend a college or vocational school, show involvement in school and/or community activities, supply a copy of their college acceptance letter, provide two letters of reference along with their 7 semester transcripts, and maintain academic achievement of 2.5 or better. The scholarships will be awarded at the Atlantic High School Class Night held in May.

Trevor Frederickson

Trevor Frederickson graduated from Atlantic High School in 2006. He went on to further his education at Southwestern Community College in Creston where he studied automotive mechanics and played baseball for the Southwestern Spartans. Two additional $750 scholarships will be available for Southwestern Community College students this fall. Trevor, who passed away in 2009, had plans of pursuing a career in law enforcement and returning to his hometown of Atlantic. Trevor’s mom, Melanie Petty, said “Anyone who knew Trevor, knew he valued family, life and community. Trevor continues to live on in our hearts and minds. To this day, Trevor is still giving back to the community he loved to be a part of.”

Funds for the scholarships are raised at an annual golf tournament. Plans are already in the works for the 11th Annual TFred Memorial Golf Tournament to be held on Saturday, August 10th, 2019. Organizers look forward to another successful tournament so they can continue to grant scholarships for many years to come.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a traffic stop Friday night on a pickup truck with an equipment violation, resulted in the arrest of a man on a warrant for Failure to Appear on a court ordered mittimus.  49-year old Todd James Buck was arrested on the warrant pertaining to an original, Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine – 1st offense, charge. He was turned over to Pott. County corrections. Also on Friday, Pott. County Deputies picked up an inmate from the Douglas County, NE. Youth Detention Center. The 16-year old male was wanted on a Pott. County warrant for Robbery in the 1st Degree – Inflict or Attempt Serious Injury & Theft in the 1st Degree. The teen was being held in the Pott. County Juvenile Detention Center.

And, two people being held in the Pott. County Jail were served with additional warrants, Friday. 30-year old Jarrod Leslie Voss was presented with two Violation of Probation warrants. 39-year old Chad Adam Good was presented with a single warrant for Probation Violation. Both men were read their warrants and returned to the custody of Corrections Staff.

(Radio Iowa) — The mounting number of snow days for the state’s school district’s has some asking if technology could be used to make up the time. Iowa Department of Education Ryan Wise says that question has come up a lot lately. “The way code is currently written, it does not allow e-learning days to count toward instructional days or instructional hours,” Wise says. State law requires districts to either have 180-days of school or one-thousand-80 hours. “Iowa code does define a school day as a day when the schools are in session and teachers are providing instruction,” according to Wise. “So, we are not let at a point in Iowa where we can count electronic learning days toward days or hours of instruction.”

Wise says the question has come up a lot with the number of cancelled days this year — and because schools have been trying out e-learning. “A lot of districts are starting to consider this, and actually even starting to pilot e-learning. Not counting toward those days or hours, but really trying to learn lessons and seeing can instruction continue,” Wise says. Obviously there are lot of things to wrestle with — like how do we meet the needs of students who might have disabilities or special needs, or students who might not have a computer.”

The discussion of online learning has been talked about too for rural districts with declining enrollment as a way to beef up their offerings. “Every year I have been here, this is my seventh year at the department, online learning, e-learning, just becomes more and more a part of the conversation. So, how de we ensure that that can that be an option when possible and appropriate. And when it is that it is high quality,” Wise says. “That definitely for rural, and for urban areas as well is a key conversation that is emerging in education in Iowa.”

He says having e-learning count as actual school hours is still in the development stage. “We’re not at the point of that yet being an option or that being built into a bill that is being considered at this point,” Wise says, “but I think it is something that likely will be discussed in the future.” Some school districts have had 10 or more days of classes cancelled this year by the weather.

For many patients facing emergency blood needs, type O blood is what medical teams reach for. But right now, the American Red Cross is facing a severe shortage of this critical blood type and urgently needs type O donors – as well as donors of all blood types – to give now. To encourage donations at this crucial time, the Red Cross has joined forces with Game of Thrones for an epic partnership that includes a sweepstakes and T-shirt promotion.

Type O blood is the most in-demand blood type, helping patients facing life-threatening conditions and emergencies every day. Type O negative blood can be transfused to patients with any blood type and is what emergency room personnel reach for when there’s no time to determine a patient’s blood type. Type O positive blood is also especially needed because it is the most transfused blood type and can be given to Rh-positive patients of any blood type. Right now, the Red Cross has less than a three-day supply of most blood types, and blood products are being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in. Recent snowstorms and severe weather in many parts of the country have forced hundreds of blood drive cancellations, causing more than 20,000 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected. Individuals of all blood types – especially type O – are asked to make an appointment to donate blood or platelets by downloading the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

To celebrate the final season of Game of Thrones, HBO and the Red Cross have partnered to ask fans and blood donors to Bleed #ForTheThrone this March. This is the largest blood donation promotional effort by an entertainment company in Red Cross history – with six days of coordinated giving March 7-12 from fans and blood donors at blood drives in 43 states across the U.S., including an immersive blood drive experience at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. As part of the partnership, fans who come to donate blood or platelets with the Red Cross now through March 17 will automatically be entered for a chance to win one of five trips to the season 8 world premiere of Game of Thrones. The trip includes travel for two, up to two nights hotel accommodations and a $250 gift card for expenses. Terms and conditions apply and are available at RedCrossBlood.org/HBOGameofThrones.*

Additionally, those who come to donate March 7-12 will also receive exclusive Game of Thrones swag including a T-shirt, stickers to unlock a unique Snapchat filter and other items, while supplies last. Some Upcoming blood donation opportunities Feb. 25-March 31:

American Red Cross Blood Donation Center – Loess Hills Blood Donation Center, 705 N. 16th St. Council Bluffs,

Greenfield – 2/25/2019: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Nodaway Valley High School, 410 NW 2nd Street

Orient – 3/6/2019: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Orient-Macksburg High School, 201 School Street

Exira – 3/25/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Exira Recreational Center, 106 N Jefferson

Manning – 3/29/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., IKM Manning High School, 209 10th Street

Atlantic – 2/26/2019: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Cass County Memorial Hospital, 1501 E. 10th Street; 3/5/2019: 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Atlantic High School, 1201 East 14th Street; 3/14/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Atlantic YMCA, 1100 Maple Street

Griswold – 3/8/2019: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Griswold High School, 20 Madison

Glenwood – 3/12/2019: 6:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Glenwood High School, 504 East Sharp Street; 3/15/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Meyer Building, 111 Lacey Meyer Complex

Red Oak – 2/25/2019: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Montgomery County Hospital, 2301 Eastern Ave; 3/25/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1101 East Summit

Stanton – 3/15/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Viking Center, 501 Elliot

Villisca – 3/20/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Community Center, 201 S. 3rd Ave

Clarinda – 3/12/2019: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Regional Health Center, 220 Essie Davison Drive; 3/19/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Westminster Presbyterian Church, 322 N 16th

College Springs – 3/22/2019: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., South Page High School, 600 S Iowa

Shenandoah – 2/25/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Elks Lodge, 701 S. Fremont St., Hwy 59

Neola – 3/28/2019: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Tri-Center High School, 33980 310th St

Oakland – 3/5/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Oakland Riverside High School, 18997 Hwy 59

Underwood – 3/13/2019: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Underwood High School, 629 North Street

Elk Horn – 3/25/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Exira EHK Schools, 4114 Madison

Harlan – 2/25/2019: 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Harlan High School, 2102 Durant Street; 3/19/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Veteran’s Memorial Building, 1104 Morningview

Panama – 2/27/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Mary’s Parish Center, 204 St. Mary Avenue

Westphalia – 3/27/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Boniface Parish Center, 305 Duren St.

Bedford – 3/13/2019: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Bedford High School, 1006 Illinois St.

Creston – 3/13/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Creston High School, 601 W. Townline

Police in Creston, Saturday morning, arrested 22-year old Ryan Jason Parmenter, of Creston. He was taken into custody on an outside agency warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 1st offense. Parmenter was being held in the Union County Jail while awaiting extradition to the Polk County Jail.