Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says price gouging rules are now in effect for all counties designated disaster areas by the governor, and anyone who finds big increases in the prices of materials used in the recovery from storms and flooding should report them. Miller says you also need to protect yourself from those who look to take advantage of you by promising to make repairs. “Scammers, often from out-of-state or certainly from a distance, come in and just happen to be in the neighborhood and knock on your door. I think you have to be particularily careful of those,” Miller says. Miller says take some simple precautions, no matter where the person doing the work is from.

“Get price comparisons or even bids. Get some references where work has been done. When you do decide on an agreement, get it in writing and sign the contract. But before you sign the contract, read it through and make sure that it makes sense,” according to Miller. And he says you should never pay the entire amount of the contract up front, as that’s usually when the contractor takes the money and never completes the work. Miller says you can pay some money ahead of time and the rest once the work has been completed. Over half the counties in the state are now under a state disaster declaration, but Miller hasn’t yet heard of any problems.

“We haven’t had any initial reports, it’s still early in the reconstruction and rehab world. We always try to get out early and warn people,” he says. Miller says the price gouging law is a good one, but he says you have to help by talking precautions.  He says the downside is that it is sometimes hard to find scammers who are out of state and they sometimes spend the money before they are caught. “So it’s really important to follow the guidelines of protection and common sense that I’ve outlined so they don’t get the money in the first place,” Miller says.

You can go to the Attorney General’s website at www.IowaAttorneyGeneral.gov to get more information on preventing scams.

(Radio Iowa)

Sheriff’s officials in Adams County report an investigation into an accident Thursday evening on the south side of Nodaway resulted in the driver being arrested on a charge of OWI/2nd offense. Authorities say deputies were dispatched to the single-vehicle accident near Birch and 260th Streets at around 7-p.m.  Their investigation determined 30-year old Caiti Bradley, of Nodaway, lost control of her car, which ended-up in the ditch. Bradley was arrested on the OWI charge and brought to the Adams County Jail, where she was being held on $2,000 bond.

Prosecutors, defense attorneys and others have finally agreed on the date a sexual abuse trial for a former Council Bluffs pediatrician will be held. The Daily NonPareil report trial for 69-year old Dennis Seaborn Jones is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19th. Jones, is accused of second-degree sexual abuse for the alleged abuse of a 5-year-old girl. Jones has agreed to waive his right to a jury trial.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

WALFORD, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a Wisconsin woman was struck and killed after walking in the middle of a highway in eastern Iowa. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office says 44-year-old Rochelle Ihander was walking in the center of a lane of Highway 151 near Walford yesterday morning when she was hit by an SUV. The vehicle’s driver was not injured.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City man accused of leaving the scene of a deadly car crash faces a felony charge in the case. Twenty-two-year-old Mark Beltran was charged Tuesday in connection with the death of 70-year-old Robert Ibsgaard. Authorities say Ibsgaard was on a crosswalk in May when he was struck by a car driven by Beltran.

RICEVILLE, Iowa (AP) — A northeast Iowa woman has pleaded not guilty to sexual abuse charges involving a 15-year-old boy. Twenty-two-year-old Mindy Jo Fetters of Riceville entered the plea earlier this week. Fetters is accused of being involved in an incident in April allegedly involving the teenage boy.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in Council Bluffs say someone is drilling holes into cars to take gasoline from inside the vehicles. Police say a person or group may be linked to at least 18 cases since April. Both old and new cars have been targeted.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Monday, received certifications from county officers for base salaries of their deputies and certified the base salaries of deputies to the county auditor. The Board also determined the compensation of ‘other employees’ [other than those under bargaining unit or other employment contracts], and reviewed FY2014 budget expense appropriations and made amendments as necessary.

A motion to make a county budget appropriation adjustment was approved (change in spending authority for budgeting purposes) for Fiscal Year 2014. The adjustment to the General Basic Fund was for a decrease in the Non-departmental line item by $30,000; and increasing Data Processing by $30,000.

In accordance with Iowa Code, Sheriff Darby McLaren certified the annual base salaries of the exempt deputy sheriff. It was determined that the maximum limitation of 85% of the sheriff’s salary was not exceeded, therefore 1st Deputy John Westering salary of $58, 172 per year was approved by the Board. And, the Supervisors certified to the Auditor annual departmental deputies’ base salaries for Fiscal Year 2015.

For FY-2013 and FY-2014 the position of jail administrator was given to the first deputy sheriff. Rather than hire a jail administrator, the sheriff and Board of Supervisors determined it was most practical for Westering to perform jail administration duties and authorized supplement pay to the first deputy. The amount paid was an annual total of $5,000, including social security and IPERS. Sheriff McLaren has requested,  and the Board approved, FY-2015 supplemental pay for Westering amounting to $4,254 for performing jail administration duties.

And, in accordance with Iowa Code the Board agreed to set a compensation schedule for FY-2014-15. Detailed information about the compensation schedule and deputies’ base salary information is available at the Cass County Auditor’s Office, and will be posted in the minutes of the Board of Supervisors meeting on the Cass County website at http://www.casscountyiowa.us