CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa woman has been given seven years in prison for stealing more than $192,000 from her now-dead fiance and his elderly mother. Robin Ann Bertelli, of Cedar Rapids, was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids. She pleaded guilty to fraud and identity theft. Prosecutors say the 61-year-old Bertelli stole checks from July 2013 through September 2016 that belonged to former Navy SEAL Ken Martin Jr. and Martin’s mother and wrote them payable to herself, forging their signatures.

Prosecutors say Bertelli started a relationship with Martin around 2013 and moved in with him and his mother. Martin died in February 2016 while on vacation with Bertelli in Puerto Rico from what Bertelli said was an accidental drowning after hitting his head on a rock.

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening, paid tribute to the 2018 All-State Music students, along with the Speech and Debate team. Three Atlantic High School Vocal and One Instrumental student were selected for the All State Music Festival held on Nov. 17th. (Click on the images below to enlarge. Click on the left side of the audio bars below to listen)

Troy Roach & Sarah Schorle (Speech/Debate students)

Avery Andersen, Genevieve Martinez & Sarah Schorle (All-State Vocalists)

All-State Music students attending the Council meeting included Vocalists Sarah Schorle, Avery Andersen, and Genevieve Martinez. Schorle explained they had practiced from August all the way through October before they auditioned on October 20^th against 62 competing schools, and more than 2,000 students.

Lex Somers was also chosen for instrumental. Erin Barrick was recalled for instrumental and Chris Krogh was recalled for vocal. Schorle and Troy Roach appeared before the Council on behalf of the Speech and Debate team, which had been practicing for the week-long competition since the beginning of the year.

Troy Roach explained he was nominated for the position.

Schorle explained in more detail how the selection process worked.

Mayor Dave Jones said many times young people get a “Bad rep” (reputation), but they rarely get recognized when they make an effort and succeed in their activities. He thanked the students in attendance Wednesday night, and the many other students recognized by the Council over the past few months, for their hard work and for being an excellent representative for the City of Atlantic at various events.

In other business, the Mayor wished citizens a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. He also recognized those who quickly responded to repair the building at 5^th and Chestnut Street, after a partial brick exterior wall collapsed Sunday night. Jones said 5^th Street will be open east of Chestnut, at the latest, Monday morning, but possibly as early as tomorrow (Friday) afternoon. When the work is finished, parking and the sidewalk on the north side of the building will be prohibited until Spring, when the weather will make additional work feasible.

(Radio Iowa) — New federal data shows Iowa’s population is growing but not as fast as most other states. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates Iowa’s population now stands at 3.156 million people. That’s up 3.6 percent from 2010. The state’s growth rate is 28th in the country and trails the national growth rate of 6 percent. Iowa is now ranked 31st in the nation for its population, falling from 30th.

Utah leap-frogged Iowa into the number-30 position. Only three states in the U.S. have lost population since 2010; Illinois, West Virginia and Connecticut.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Before they arrested a farmhand in the death of Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts, investigators scrutinized four other potential suspects during their five-week search. Newly unsealed search warrant documents show that those who drew police interest included a neighbor seen washing his SUV hours after Tibbetts vanished, a Nebraska man who ditched his vehicle in Iowa days later and an acquaintance who had recently erased his cellphone data. All have been ruled out as suspects.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Cedar Rapids police say they have charged a man with murder, 39 years to the day after the killing of a high school student. Police announced the arrest Wednesday night in the Dec. 19, 1979, stabbing death of 18-year-old Michelle Martinko. Police arrested 64-year-old Jerry Lynn Burns on Wednesday morning in Manchester and charged him with first-degree murder. Martinko’s body was found just after 4 a.m. Dec. 20 inside her family’s car parked at a shopping mall.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Missouri farmer is accused of marketing $140 million worth of non-organic corn, soybeans and wheat as organic over 7½ years. The U.S. attorney’s office in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, charged Randy Constant with fraud on Wednesday. The Chillicothe, Missouri, man is expected to appear in court Thursday. Prosecutors say more than 90 percent of his product was non-organic grain purchased from others. Three Nebraska farmers have pleaded guilty in the alleged scheme.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The latest Census estimates show that Nebraska’s and Iowa’s populations continued growing at a slow, steady pace over the past year. The U.S. Census Bureau released the latest state population figures as of July 1 on Wednesday.

An official swearing-in ceremony was held Wednesday evening in Atlantic, for a new police officer. And, while that happens in communities all over the State, the event held here was extra special, because the “Officer” is a six and one-half year old boy Massena, who was presented with a certificate, an official badge and the title of Honorary Police Officer for the City of Atlantic.  Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones conducted the swearing-in ceremony, with Police Chief Dave Erickson kneeling next to Myles Jones.

Mayor Dave Jones swears-in the City’s Honorary Police Officer (click on the pictures to enlarge)

Chief Erickson was beaming as he pinned a badge on the young boy. He said “Good job officer. We’re proud of you.” Myles is the son of Erick and Sara Beth Jones, of Massena. His parents, brother Hayden and baby sister Caroline attended the ceremony. Myles was asked later why he wanted to become a police officer.  He said “Because it’s really cool and I like the outfit.” He said also that he likes to run after the bad guys.

Chief Erickson pins a badge on “Officer Myles”

“Officer Myles” was Honored for his efforts to raise money for the Atlantic Police Department’s children and families Christmas and other programs. Myles challenged the community to give towards those programs, and singlehandidly raised $3,725. The funds were presented Dec. 7th to the Police Chief and Reserve Officer Jeff Hackwell. Last Sunday (Dec. 16th), Myles helped the Department with their annual “Shop-with-a-Cop” program at the Atlantic Wal-Mart. When asked why he raised the funds, he said “It’s just my duty.”

His mom said the response from the community toward his efforts was unexpected, and provided her son with a invaluable lesson on helping others, which is what police officers do. She said she hasn’t told her son how big of a star he has become in the town, as evidenced by the response on social media, on the street and in school. Sara Beth Jones said she wants her son to remain humble, remember what he did it for, and not “get a big head.”  The young man may undertake a similar fundraising endeavor next year, too.

“Officer” Myles Jones.