(Radio Iowa) – A legislator who’s worked to pass state laws to crack down on the sexual exploitation of students by school employees is proposing more protections. Educators are “mandatory reporters” that are to let law enforcement know when they suspect an adult in a school is abusing a student, but Representative Megan Jones of Sioux Rapids says if a student is over the age of 12, reporting of such cases is discretionary — meaning it’s not required.) “That just mind-boggling, I think, to a lot of people because if this student has experienced sexual abuse, sexual exploitation in a school district one would only assume their age is irrelevant,” Jones says. “This is inappropriate behavior.”

Jones says state law should require educators to report suspected sexual exploitation of students of any age, including all of the students in high school. “I mean, it’s a black eye on the school district when you have to make these reports, but at the same time I think one problem we have is this ‘dance of the lemons,’ where a teacher or school employee becomes disassociated with a school district and then they just go on to a different school district and then we have the same problems happening again, so let’s clean this up,” Jones says. “Let’s get rid of the lemons and move on.”

Jones says two House committees have been working on legislation to address the issue.

(Radio Iowa) – Des Moines police say a brother and sister are now jailed in a fatal shooting from last summer. Twenty-year-old Jasmin Bautista and her 18-year-old brother, Jonathan, are charged in the murder of 43-year-old Javier Wilson-Moncada. His body was found along the banks of the Des Moines River back in August. Police are still seeking a third unidentified suspect. The siblings were identified as persons of interest in the case in September, but were picked up by West Des Moines police over the weekend during a traffic stop.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Monsignor Kane Knights of Columbus Council have earned a prestigious award. The organization received its 6th consecutive Star Council Achievement Award. Only 5% of all 242 Knights of Columbus councils in Iowa earned this award for the past year.

District Deputy, Dan Fowler, left, presented the Star Council award to Grand Knight, Gary Richter, right. (Photo submitted)

Leader say “Congratulations to all Knights of Columbus members that made this award possible!”

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Board of Supervisors are set to meet 9-a.m.  Tuesday, Feb. 1st, in their Boardroom at the courthouse, in  Harlan. The board is expected to discuss/act on:

• Wage Publication for Calendar 2021
• Discuss/Approve/change the Compensation Board recommendation(s).
• Act on a Resolution appointing a new Sheriff’s Deputy
• Act on a Resolution Adopting and Approving Tax Compliance Procedures relating to Tax-Exempt Bonds.

Their final order of business is possibly move into a Closed/Exempt Session for contract negotiations.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council will act on approving a number of matters during their meeting 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2nd. at City Hall. The first is an Order to Approve [a] Sub-recipient Agreement for [a] Federally Funded Project related to the Food Pantry’s CDBG-CV (Covid relief) grant application. The agreement secures the City’s role as a “fiscal agent,” (pass-through funding agency) for the federal grant dollars, as well as the responsibility for filing the required reports, etc.

The Council will then act on approving an Order to Approve [an] Administrative Agreement for the aforementioned project, and on a Resolution approving the adoption of IEDA (Iowa Economic Development Authority) “duplication of benefits, policies and procedures,” which are designed to ensure the City and Food Pantry are not “Double-dipping” into multiple programs for the same project. SWIPCO will be the oversight agency to ensure procedures are followed correctly.

In other business, the City Council is expected to approve the job description and FY 2022 compensation, along with authorizing the posting for, the Sunnyside Pool Manager’s position. The proposed compensation is $14 per hour ($4,200 per year). The City’s Personnel & Finance Committee met on Jan. 20th and have recommended the job description & compensation proposal be adopted and the position posted.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports a man and a woman from Clearfield were arrested on drug charges Friday evening. Authorities say 31-year-old Tonya Elizabeth Tindle and 36-year-old Michael Scott Walton, were arrested at Highway 34 and Cromwell Road at around 6:30-p.m., in Creston. Both were charged with Possession of Controlled Substance/3rd Offense-Marijuana and Possession of Controlled Substance/3rd Offense-Methamphetamine. Creston Police K-9 Baxo assisted in the arrests.

Tindle and Walton were taken to the Union County Jail. Each was later released on a $10,000 cash or Surety bond.

And, Sunday afternoon, 69-year-old James Fred Goodman, of Diagonal, was arrested in the 200 block of N. Sycamore, in Creston. Goodman was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault/1st Offense. He was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on his own recognizance.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say a 69-year-old Sharpsburg man appeared to be confused and was apparently unable to answer questions, following a minor property damage accident Sunday morning. Authorities say Bradley Wayne Riley was driving a 2018 Chevy Silverado pickup a little after 10-a.m., when his vehicle turned and struck a pole. The incident happened while he was traveling north through the Creston Wal-Mart parking lot. Riley was not injured. Damage to the pole was estimated at $30. The damage to Riley’s pickup was estimated at $3,000. No citations were issued.

(Shenandoah, Iowa) – Police in Shenandoah report a man was arrested early Sunday afternoon, after authorities received a complaint at around 1:30-p.m., about allegedly threatening messages. Following an investigation, officers arrested 33-year-old Coy Wylie Adams, of Essex, on a charge of Harassment (by communication) in the 1st Degree – an aggravated misdemeanor.

Adams was transported to the Page County Jail and held on a $2,000 bond.