COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A Council Bluffs historical structure that’s stood vacant for years will soon undergo renovation. City parks director Larry Foster tells the Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil of plans to create an open-air pavilion at a local building formerly used as a trolley equipment repair shop. The project will be funded by both public and private grants.

Foster says the Council Bluffs Public School District initially developed the idea for the space as the district’s summer lunch program needed a shelter in order to continue. Renovation includes removing three brick panels on two sides of the structure to open the building up and installing windows and the other two sides. Foster says the pavilion will be open to the public.

Foster says he’s unsure when construction will begin.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Sioux City teacher has been arrested on charges he had sex with a 16-year-old student. Court records say 29-year-old Erick DeLeon, a Sioux City Community School District teacher and coach, was charged Monday with felony exploitation by a school employee. He was released on bail Tuesday. The Sioux City Journal reports DeLeon is accused of sending sexually related text messages and engaging in sexual acts with the one of his female students at least twice from September through December.

DeLeon is set to appear in court Jan. 30.

Two people, a man and a woman, were arrested this morning in Tabor, after they returned to the scene of a crime. According to the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, 44-year old Jennifer Elizabeth Younts, of Tabor, and 26-year old Zachary Clay Younts, of Council Bluffs, were taken into custody at around 4:30-a.m. (Tuesday), after the Tabor Police Chief observed two suspects park behind a business in the 700 block of Main Street in Tabor, and allegedly load stolen items into a vehicle.

The investigation began when the Tabor P-D received a report of a theft from a business in Tabor that occurred early Monday morning. Evidence at the scene led authorities to believe the suspect or suspects may return to the area.

Zachary Younts was charged with Theft in the 4th degree and Burglary in the 3rd degree. His bond was set at $6,000. Jennifer Younts was arrested for 4th degree theft and later released on $1,000 bond. The Fremont County Sheriffs’ Department assisted Tabor Police in conducting the arrests.

A Cass County woman convicted in November on numerous charges associated with faking her 5-year old daughter’s cancer received 5-years of probation Tuesday, instead of a minimum of two-years probation or a maximum of 21-years in prison. In November, 30-year old Leatha Kaye Slauson, of Atlantic, plead guilty to two counts of child endangerment, one of administering harmful substances, one of theft and one of unlawful possession of a prescription drug. Slauson admitted to giving her daughter Riley Cannabis Oil and Neupogen without a prescription. She also admitted she raised money for her daughter’s supposed cancer treatment, under false pretenses.

Leatha Slauson reads a statement to the court.

District Court Judge Kathleen Kilnoski issued the order against Slauson. Because of the nature of the offenses, counts one and two were ordered to be served consecutively, with remaining sentences to be served concurrently. She also must continue mental health treatment and not contact her five children unless requested by her therapist.

The decision came down after nearly an hour of testimony from a mental health professional, Slauson’s uncle and Leatha Slauson herself, during which she apologized for her actions, but admitted she “Still needs work,” in the area of mental health, to deal with the “voices” in her head, and the “Shadow figures” she used to see before she was placed on medication.

As part of her probation agreement, Slauson was ordered to make restitution, with a hearing to take place later to determine the means and method for which that is accomplished. There is still a little more than half of the $30,000 donated in a special bank account that can be used toward restitution. Slauson will not have to reside at a Residential Correctional Facility. The judge decided the 90-days the woman had served and progress she’s made through mental health counseling and medications was sufficient.

Leatha Slauson enters the courtroom prior to hear sentencing hearing. Judge Kathleen Kilnoski is behind her.

Slauson’s attorney Jay Mez had asked for a deferred judgement of conviction, meaning the woman would have no criminal record, but the judge disagreed. Kilnoski said “I think you need to have a criminal record that will alert the public to your behavior, so that others can be en guard, so that no other child potentially could be hurt, no other vulnerable adult could potentially be hurt by your actions.”