A Harlan man was being held in the Pottawattamie County Jail this (Wednesday) morning on numerous charges, following the theft of vehicle from Harlan late Tuesday night. Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker told KJAN News 32-year old Patrick Schmitz was arrested after he gave himself up to authorities at an Interstate 80 rest stop southwest of Neola.

Danker says Schmitz allegedly stole a 1992 Mercury Sable from Harlan and was being followed by another motorist into the Avoca area, where the vehicle disappeared. Authorities were soon informed the vehicle was possibly northbound on 360^th Street and Tamarac Road. The informant lost sight of the vehicle again, but it was later observed by a Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputy near Minden.

When the deputy attempted to stop the car near the edge of town, Schmitz refused to stop and ran several stop signs. He continued northbound toward westbound I-80, where he was pursued by troopers with the Iowa State Patrol. The patrol deployed stop sticks at about the 23-mile marker, and two semi’s attempted to assist their efforts by boxing the car in. Danker says the car rammed both semi’s as he attempted to drive between them about three-miles north of the Underwood exit. The car finally pulled over at the rest area between Underwood and Neola, where Schmitz surrendered to the Patrol.

Schmitz was being held in the Pott. County Jail on $5,000 bond on charges that include 3^rd offense OWI, 2^nd degree theft, driving while barred, 2^nd degree criminal mischief, eluding and speeding.

Members of the Atlantic Middle School’s Building Leadership Team (BLT) appeared before the Atlantic Board of Education Tuesday night, to report on their progress and concerns. Cam Smith, Middle School Principal said the team has discussed the Iowa Assessment tests, goals and “True Trojan Traits,” which is part of the PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports) System. He says it’s a “paradigm” shift on how discipline is looked at, student expectations, behavior in the classroom, hallways, etc. The team helped to establish those guidelines. 

Cam says part of the PBIS process involves figuring out how it will be implemented, how to get the community involved, possible reward systems and what professional development the teachers will need to make the system successful. He says the school looks to implement PBIS beginning with the 2012-2013 school year. He says the team hopes to limit instructional distractions in the classrooms, increasing the amount of time taught teaching, and decreasing the amount of time they use to “manage” students’ disciplinary issues. He says kids who are doing well will be rewarded with positive affirmations, and a culture that’s in unison with expectations of them. 

Smith says also the Atlantic Middle School remodeling and classroom moving process went fairly smoothly, as classrooms and teachers were shuffled around to accommodate construction crews and their work. He said the BLT discussed teacher and class scheduling issues also, over the past year. Teachers he said are concerned about being understaffed, technology-related issues, and other matters pertaining to the remodeling and changeover to the upgraded facilities. Smith says the staffing concerns teachers mentioned to members of the Building Leadership Team included how to address a feeling the Middle School is understaffed with core teachers and how the needs of students will be met with the current staff. 

Another concern is the lack of technology in the building. Smith says he’s checking with the AEA to see if grants are available to upgrade their computers and related technology.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System has sued a New York-based auditing firm, alleging that the company failed to detect a theft scheme that cost the pension fund millions of dollars.  The Des Moines Register reports the federal lawsuit was filed in New York last week against Deloitte & Touche. The lawsuit says the auditing firm issued unqualified or “clean” audit reports that the fund relied on in purchasing fraudulent securities.

A Deloitte spokesman says the lawsuit has no merit and that its employees didn’t audit the financial statements of the entities at which the fraud allegedly occurred. The lawsuit follows the criminal case against two executives of Westridge Capital Management and a registered broker-dealer, WG Trading Co. 

One of the two awaits sentencing. The other awaits trial.