(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Officials with the U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, report 32-year-old Robert Sherman Kerber, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced on January 25, 2023, to 60 months in prison following his plea of guilty to Receipt of Child Pornography. Kerber will be required to register as a sex offender and serve five years of supervised release following his release from prison. Kerber was also ordered to pay restitution.

In May 2020, a social media application sent a cybertip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding an account that uploaded images of child pornography. The cybertip was referred to Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children and the Council Bluffs Police Department started an investigation. The investigation led to a search warrant at Kerber’s residence. A forensic analysis identified that Kerber received and possessed numerous images and videos of child pornography.

The investigation was conducted by the Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Council Bluffs Police Department, the United States Secret Service National Computer Forensics Institute who provided training and equipment and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nationwide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – State Auditor Rob Sand today (Monday) urged community school districts (CSDs) and employees to put their attention on the collection, handling, and disbursement of student activity funds. These funds are collected through student-related activities such as admissions, fundraising events, or other co-curricular or extracurricular activities. “We are issuing this advisory because we have seen a substantial amount of misuse of student activity funds, as well as a general misunderstanding of how these funds should be collected and disbursed in accordance with Iowa law,” said Auditor of State Rob Sand. “This serves to remind school district boards of directors, faculty, and staff that student activity funds are public funds, are the property of the school district, and must be used to benefit the public.”

Student activity funds are governed by Iowa Administrative Code, chapters 281 and 282. In addition, the Iowa Department of Education (DOE) updated its guidance on student activity funds in a Student Activity Fund Handbook of Frequently Asked Questions released on March 21, 2022. The DOE guidance was reviewed by the Auditor of State Office and the Iowa Attorney General’s Office.

In the last decade, the Iowa Auditor of State Office has conducted special investigations on the use of student activity funds in 15 CSDs. The special investigations identified $268,539.16 of student activity funds that were not deposited, or were improperly deposited, collected, or disbursed. The special investigations also identified improper use of CSD property, and in some instances, the organizations supported by student activity funds were not affiliated with the CSD (Table 1).
Table 1
Misused Student Activity Funds
Improper Disbursements
$ 65,041.74
Unsupported Disbursements
22,470.83
Undeposited Collections
68,649.95
Estimated Undeposited Collections
2,831.00
Uncollected Facility Usage Fees
50,400.00
Improper Deposits
48,541.78
Improperly Handled
496.00
Other Losses
10,107.86
Total Misused Funds
$ 268,539.16

The investigations also identified bank accounts held outside of the CSD which were administered by employees for student activities such as wrestling, basketball, and other sports. In some instances, the account was operated as a separate entity to provide camps not associated with the CSD. The CSD should ensure it has policies and procedures in place which protect the CSD from any liability if the CSD allows these organizations to use CSD facilities. The policies should also include fee schedules for the use of CSD facilities and equipment if deemed appropriate by the Board.

The Auditor of State Office recommends CSD boards of directors review the DOE guidance with their faculty and staff on an annual basis. The Auditor of State Office is also sharing the guidance with the associations and agencies that represent or routinely advise school boards and educators in Iowa.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports two recent arrests. Just before 1-p.m. Friday, 25-year-old Cassandra Dawn Allen, of Tingley, was arrested at the Creston Wal-Mart store, for Theft in the 5th Degree, Concealing/destroying security property under $300. Allen was released on a Promise to Appear in court.

And, at around 2:52-a.m. Sunday, 33-year-old Andrew Wayne Long, of Creston, was arrested at the Creston/Union County Law Enforcement Center. He was charged with OWI/2nd offense and transported to the Union County Jail, where Long was being held on a $2,000 cash or surety bond.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council will meet in a regular session beginning at 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, in their Chambers at City Hall. The Council is expected to act on an Order to appoint former Fire Chief Mark McNees to the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission, as a replacement for Roger Herring. The Commission serves as an advisory board to the City Council. Its seven members meet as needed, on the second Tuesday of the month at 5:30-p.m., in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall.

The Council will receive a report Wednesday, from Code Enforcement Officer Kris Erickson, and a request for funding from SHIFT ATL, for housing redevelopment. City Administrator John Lund says the non-profit organization is in the process of buying another house to “flip,” and the funds they have requested, if approved, would be used for rehabilitating the home. A similar agreement was reached with SHIFT ATL previously, and according to Lund, “went smoothly.” The withdrawal and repayment would all occur within FY Transfer 2024, and as such, would not negatively impact the City’s fund balances. After SHIFT’s presentation, the Council has the option to approve the request, or refer it to the Personnel & Finance Committee for recommendation.

The Council will also act on approving an Order for a Professional Services Agreement with the “Retail Coach.” The extension of the current agreement which is set to expire in August, is $22,500. That’s $10,000 less than the original contract price. During their last meeting, the City Council heard an update from Retail Coach President/Consultant Austin Farmer, and concluded that the extension is worth the additional expense, but also that results need to be made in 2023. To date,John Lund said the City has been provided with extensive cellular data in our trade area, and the company has executed the terms of the original contract to the City’s satisfaction.

In other business, of note, the Atlantic City Council will act to pass a Resolution “Creating the Position of Public Works Director,” approving the job description and setting of the salary. City Administrator John Lund says the Personnel & Finance Committee met last Fall to review a proposal to revamp the Street Superintendent position and create a position for Director of Public Works. That person would have authority over departments that the City Administrator oversees, and still report to John Lund. The individual would oversee/Supervise the Street Dept. (Which will become the Public Works Dept.), Parks and Rec Dept., and Code Enforcement/Animal Shelter.

Kirk Knudsen, who began working with the City of Atlantic’s Street Dept. on Dec. 19, 1985, is recommend for the promotion, which would pay an annual salary of $92,500, and would be effective the next payroll period. John Lund notes Knudsen has the experience, and has served as a critical asset to the City, controlling costs, boosting revenues, and is loved for his attention to details. Lund said “This promotion has been earned many times over,” and is recommending the Council approve the change in title and salary. In his report to the Council, John Lund will provide an update on a Wastewater Utility Rate proposal.

(Radio Iowa) – A coalition of Iowa health care providers, researchers, cancer survivors and others is releasing its five-year Iowa Cancer Plan. Rachel Schramm, program manager of the Iowa Cancer Consortium, says behind heart disease, cancer is the number-two cause of death in Iowa, so people need to take an active role in their health, and get regular screenings to stay healthy. “Whether that’s just an individual who’s scheduling that colonoscopy, or someone that hears this report and is like, ‘Oh, I should really ask my parents about our family’s health history,’ we really want just the everyday Iowan to take those steps to reduce the burden of cancer in their community,” Schramm says.

It’s projected 22-thousand Iowans will be diagnosed with cancer this year, while 63-hundred Iowans will die from it. The report says the pandemic continues to disrupt the diagnosis and treatment of cancer by closing health care facilities, disrupting employment and health insurance, and the fear of COVID-19 exposure. “Our health care systems are doing everything that they can to keep their environment safe,” Schramm says. “We know that cancer is most treatable when it is found and diagnosed early, so we really want to make sure that if people have put off a mammogram or a colonoscopy or a lung cancer screening, that they call their provider and make arrangements to do it.”

It’s estimated more than nine-million people missed cancer screenings nationwide because of the pandemic. Colonoscopies had traditionally been done starting at age 50, but in recent years, it was pushed back to age 45 — or younger if there’s a family history of colon cancer. Schramm says early detection and screening helps to ensure an early diagnosis and much greater odds of survival. “Lung cancer screening is kind of new for people,” Schramm says, “so definitely, if folks have a history of tobacco use, they should talk to their doctor about the screening that’s available for them.”

She says one goal of the Iowa Cancer Plan is to address the unique needs of communities including providing education, funding, and support for local cancer control projects. See the full report at: www.canceriowa.org.