Firefighters from Massena were called out early this (Wed.) morning, to a machine shed fire. The incident at a site just east of 77224 Newport Road was reported at around 2:50-a.m. Massena Fire Chief Drew Williams…

Firefighters were on the scene for a little more than 90-minutes. The approximately 30–by 40-foot open front shed was a complete loss, with a value, contents included, estimated at $10,000 to $15,000. Chief Williams said the cause of the fire was not immediately known, but they have their suspicions.

There were no injuries reported.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

GRINNELL, Iowa (AP) — Young voters, many of whom reside in delegate-rich areas of the state and can be powerful multiplying forces if they’re engaged enough to convince friends and family members to show up and support their candidates, could be a major force in this cycle’s Iowa caucuses. So the Democratic presidential candidates are already making an early effort to court this voting bloc and get students to turn out to caucus this fall.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines woman faces up to 35 years in prison when she’s sentenced in May for hitting and killing a pedestrian while she was driving drunk. The Des Moines Register reports that 23-year-old Oleaf Teoh was found guilty Friday of vehicular homicide by operating while intoxicated and vehicular homicide by reckless driving in the February 2018 death of 33-year-old Matthew Otto, of Des Moines.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Plains and Midwest states are bracing for another massive winter storm and the prospect of renewed flooding. The National Weather Service says the storm moving east out of the northern Rockies Wednesday and Thursday will pack heavy snow and strong winds. It brings the specter of renewed flooding to a part of the country where massive flooding over the past month has caused billions of dollars in damage, though rivers aren’t likely to rise as much as they did last month.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa social worker has been charged with perjury for giving false testimony in a court proceeding in which a judge removed four children from their parents. Criminal complaints allege that former Department of Human Services case manager Chelsie Gray lied repeatedly during a 2017 hearing in which she recommended a judge terminate the parental rights of a mother and father and be placed in foster care. Gray was arrested and released from jail on bond.

The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office reports multiple suspects from Bedford were arrested Tuesday, in an ongoing narcotics distribution investigation. All suspects were being held without bond in the Taylor County Jail, pending an appearance before the magistrate. The suspects were identified as:

The Atlantic School Board will meet 7:00-p.m. Wednesday, in the Middle School Media Center. At that time, a Public Hearing will be held on the 2019-2020 Certified Budget. During their regular session to follow, the Board will act on resignations, including: Cory Bartz – Middle School Math Teacher; Ashley Bollinger – Schuler Elem. Special Ed Paraeducator; Jessica Mendez – Food Service Assistant; Michele Lane – HE Special Ed. Para, and Jan Imhoff Bus driver.

They’ll also act on contract recommendations for: Amber Ayala – SE Spec. Ed Para; Liz Reid – Homebound Instructor; Mallory Kirchhoff – Prom & Junior Class Sponsor; Matt Smith – Asst. Boys Soccer Coach, and Terry Hinzmann – HS Summer School.

The Board will discuss naming a Construction Manager, and Facility Naming Rights. Board Policy states that if a property (building, athletic fields, gymnasiums, etc.) is to be named or re-named for an individual, there are criteria that must be met in order for that to take place. (View the policy here – https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1NjE-pk6oLYWEkT1IEOYqxkvC4YSKafzttOpEC-Ef_8A)

Action items on their agenda include: Approval of the 2019-20 School Calendar (A public hearing on which was held prior to the March, 2018 regular meeting); and approval of the 2019-20 Certified Budget (which was published for public review & comment). The budget calls for a proposed levy of $14.72/$1,000 property valuation.

The Atlantic School Board will also act on approving: a tentative 2019-2020 Master Contract with the Atlantic Employee Association, which includes step movement for those employees who are eligible, as well as a .35-cent/hour increase for all classified staff, for a total package increase of 2.23%, and a cost to the district of $68,826.05; and they are expected to approve Activities Director Andy Mitchell’s recommendation for renewed sharing agreements with area school districts for swimming (Girls – Audubon, Clarinda Harlan [Atlantic Host School) (Boys – Audubon, Clarinda and Red Oak [Atlantic Host School]), and wrestling with CAM (Atlantic to act as the Host School).

One of their final action items, is to approve a Resolution directing the County Auditors in Cass, Audubon and Pottawattamie Counties, to collect property taxes in the amount of $1.638-million beginning July 1st, 2019, for FY 2020, to pay the principal and interest on General Obligation Bonds.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska State Patrol says troopers have seized more than 900 vape cartridges containing the psychoactive substance found in marijuana.

The patrol said in a news release Tuesday that 947 of the cartridges containing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, were found in a sport utility vehicle stopped Monday on Interstate 80 near North Platte. Trooper say the SUV was initially stopped on suspicion of speeding, but was searched after the trooper became aware of drug activity in the vehicle.

The patrol says the cartridges were in vacuum sealed bags hidden inside a box in the cargo area. The 22-year-old driver from Johnston, Iowa, was arrested on suspicion of possession of THC with intent to deliver and having no drug stamp.

Audubon County Attorney Sarah A. Jennings reports Zackary Scott was sentenced Monday to 15 years in prison, for Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine (a Class C Felony), and Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver Marijuana (a Class D Felony), after having his probation revoked for another drug violation. He received a ten-year sentence on the Class C and a five-year sentence on the Class D, with the two running consecutive to each other for a total prison term not to exceed 15 years.

Zackary Scott

Scott was caught running meth and marijuana in Audubon County in August of 2018. Because he had a drug addiction of his own and only a moderate criminal history, the county attorney allowed him to be placed on probation so he could seek help for his problem. In a quid pro quo, a 15-year suspended prison sentence was hung over his head, to be imposed if he did not comply with the terms of his probation. He pleaded guilty and was placed on probation on November 14, 2018.

Just one day later, Zackary Scott was arrested for possession of marijuana in another county. Because the county attorney believed Scott had abused the generous deal he had received, the State joined with the Department of Probation in recommending that his probation be revoked and his original sentence imposed. Scott had already been given suspended prison sentences in 2015 on two other felony convictions in other counties, so this violation was his “third strike.” Judge Craig Dreismeier revoked Mr. Scott’s probation and imposed the original prison sentence yesterday in court with mittimus to issue immediately. The judge’s order also states that the defendant is to receive drug treatment while incarcerated.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa social worker has been charged with perjury for giving false testimony during a court proceeding in which a judge removed four children from their parents.
Criminal complaints released Tuesday allege that former Department of Human Services case manager Chelsie Gray lied repeatedly during a 2017 hearing in which she recommended a judge terminate the parental rights of a mother and father.

Chelsie Gray

A judge relied on Gray’s testimony in ordering the children be placed in foster care. An assistant Cerro Gordo County attorney later discovered discrepancies in Gray’s testimony and reported them. Judge Adam Sauer found in a ruling last June that Gray’s testimony was riddled with “lies and misrepresentations” and ordered the children not be placed in foster care.

Gray resigned from DHS last September. But the state opened a criminal investigation only after The Associated Press reported on Sauer’s opinion in October. Gray, 30, was arrested Monday and released from jail after posting bond. She’s charged with three felony counts of perjury.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A zoo in Des Moines has announced another birth for a pair of endangered rhinos. Blank Park Zoo says its 9-year-old female eastern black rhino, Ayana, gave birth Friday to a 112-pound (50.8-kilogram) female calf. Ayana and her mate, Kiano, produced their first calf in 2016, Tumani. The African species is considered critically endangered, primarily because of poaching.

The newborn isn’t on display while still bonding with her mother. Zoo spokesman Ryan Bickel says people can check on her through the zoo’s social media and live webcams. The zoo will name her through a fundraising contest: $50 per name or three suggestions for $100. The zoo says the names should be in an African language. A public vote will be held on the finalists.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have arrested another suspect in the slaying of a young woman found lying in a West Des Moines road. Dallas County court records say 20-year-old Johndarius Lewis and 17-year-old Eliazar Montoya Gama weres charged with robbery and first-degree murder. Lewis was said to be an accomplice to the crime. KCCI says court documents indicated Gama picked up 18-year old Sakira Bonner in his vehicle from the Holiday Inn at 6075 Mills Civic Parkway, because she wanted to buy marijuana. Once inside the vehicle, Bonner was beaten, robbed and then shot numerous times.

Police found the woman in the road late Friday night in an area west of Interstate 35. She was pronounced dead later at a hospital. Authorities say Bonner was from Chicago, but attended high school in Des Moines.

The CAM School Board, Monday evening, adopted their Budget Guarantee Resolution and approved the 2019-2020 Certified Budget, following a Public Hearing. Superintendent Casey Berlau said they certified their budget at $10 per thousand dollars valuation. He said also, the Board approved the continuation of sharing agreements with the Griswold and Nodaway Valley School District. It was the fifth year of sharing positions with Nodaway Valley.The Board also approved the purchase of two vehicles for the District. They decided to purchase two Chevy Suburbans from Deter Motor Company in Atlantic, to replace one vehicle that was wrecked, the other with high mileage and ongoing issues.

Berlau said the CAM School Board approved several resignations.

Contracts were also approved.

And, the 2019 graduating seniors list at the CAM High School and Connections Academy was approved during Monday’s Board meeting.