(Radio Iowa) — The top Republican in the legislature says Iowa schools struggling with the accumulation of “snow days” have the option of extending the hours of future school days to make up for lost time. A recent law change set the number of HOURS Iowa students are to spend in the classroom for an entire school year, not the number of DAYS. House Speaker Linda Upmeyer, a Republican from Clear Lake, says at the beginning of the school year, many districts included extra hours to plan for EXPECTED snow days. “At least initially they were not too concerned because they had plenty of time built in,” Upmeyer syas. “I think now we’ve had weather experiences that perhaps have gone beyond that, but they can add some time to the day to get that work in. They could do a Saturday or something to accommodate.”

Extending the school year later into June is not a popular option, according to Upmeyer.  “It’s really hard to keep kids’ attentions out far beyond Memorial Day,” Upmeyer says. “…I think schools will hear from families and they will make a decision that’s right for their school.” Upmeyer says she’s intrigued by districts that are experimenting with “digital snow days.”

However, state regulations do NOT let schools count the hours students spend doing that kind of online homework as regular school hours.

The Atlantic Police Department reports four arrests occurred over the past two-weeks. On Feb. 15th, 35-year old William Mendez, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for a Sex Offender Registry violation. And, 46-year old Dwayne Rollins, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Assault Causing Bodily Injury.

On Tuesday (Feb. 26th), Atlantic Police arrested 63-year old Mark Eoff, of Atlantic, for OWI. And, 19-year old Colin Peterson, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Page County warrant for Theft in the 5th degree (A bad check).

All four subjects were transported to the Cass County Jail and booked-in.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports 54-year old Alan Leo Peacock, of Winterset, was arrested Tuesday night. Peacock was taken into custody on a Union County warrant for failure to appear. He was being held in the Union County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman says the accounting firm of Gronewold, Bell, Kyhnn & Co. P.C. CPA’s, have released an audit report on Cass County, Iowa. The report said the County had local tax revenue of $31,821,810 ($31.8-million) for the year ended June 30, 2018, which included $3,115,699 ($3.1-million) in tax credits from the state. The County forwarded $23,399,305 ($23.3-million) of the local tax revenue to the townships, school districts, cities and other taxing bodies in the County.

The County retained $8,422,505 ($8.4-million) of the local tax revenue to finance County operations, a percent increase from the prior year. Other revenues included $5,404,559 ($5.4-million) from the state, including indirect federal funding of $159,957, charges for service of $374,718, and $255,281 the use of money and property. Expenditures for County operations totaled $16,055,995, ($16-million). a 17.3 percent increase from the prior year. Expenses included $5,498,607 ($5.4-million) for roads and transportation, $317,227 for mental health, $2,790,288 ($2.7-million) for public safety and legal services, $4,211,694 ($4.2-million) for capital projects, and $1,410,669 ($1.4-million) for administrative services.

A copy of the audit report is available for review in the office of the Auditor of State and the County Auditor’s office.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowans are being warned about scams which authorities say have cost a few people in northwest Iowa several thousand dollars. Tricia Driessen, director of the Center for Financial Education in Sioux Center, says con artists may call or send a letter or email claiming you’re overdue on a bill or you’ve been picked for a “secret shopper” program and in either case, you need to act right away. “They’re sent out to buy these gift cards and are told to send pictures of the numbers,” Driessen says. “The cards are almost immediately drained. There’s very little recourse and the money is essentially gone.”

The scammers are good at what they do, Driessen says, and they can be very convincing. “These people are very crafty in how they ask you to get this money for them,” Driessen says. “They play on your emotions. They make it sound like it’s going to be a tremendous opportunity. You’re best off to hang up.”  Cody Huizenga, with the Better Business Bureau, says the Secret Shopper scam can take different forms and you need to be wary. “Either you get something in the mail and it’s a legitimate-looking check and they want you to go out and buy some stuff and then send a portion of the money back,” Huizenga says. “Ultimately, this check, if you deposit it, after a couple of days, it will bounce.”

The B-B-B tracks scams that are reported in Iowa and gives other information regarding the various cons. Huizenga says the best advice to consumers is to be vigilant. “Even just clicking on a link, if you get an email, we tell people to be very cautious in clicking on it,” Huizenga says. “Do some research. Check it out on BBB.org and check out other sites, too. See if there’s any reviews.” If in doubt, Huizenga says to call the nearest chapter of the B-B-B, and report scams to the appropriate government agency.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s cold and snowy winter has been especially difficult on livestock producers, who have often struggled just to reach their animals. State Climatologist Justin Glisan tells The Des Moines Register that Iowa so far has seen a February snowfall average of 21 inches. That’s just short of a record 22.2 inches set in 1962. Rancher Trent Thiele says he had to ride a snowmobile 50 miles Sunday to check on his pigs. He says blowing snow made the trip treacherous.

He says the heavy snow is causing an overwhelming amount of maintenance issues as farmers work to ensure machines in animal facilities are providing fresh air, food and water. Iowa has a $13.6 billion livestock industry and leads the nation in pig and egg production.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office has issued its latest report on arrests/activities. On Tuesday, Feb. 26th:

• 30-year old Andrew Dean West appeared at the Sheriff’s Office to turn himself-in on a warrant for Violation of Probation. He was transported to the Pott. County Jail.
• 21-year old Peter Douglas Hobart, who was already in the Pott. County Jail, was presented with a Bench Warrant charging him with felony, Escape from Custody. Hobart was being held until a Residential Correctional Facility is available.

Today (Wednesday):

• 23-year old Rosmedi Lozano Sanchez was transported to the Pott. County Jail from the jail in Douglas County, NE. Sanchez was wanted on a Pott. County warrant for  Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender, the bond for which was set at $2,000. She was also being held for officials with ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement).
• 24-year old Elizabeth Carrie Lynn Heinrich was transported from the Douglas County, NE. jail to the Pott. County Jail, where she was wanted on a warrant for Operating a Vehicle without the owner’s consent, and held for another agency.
• And, 50-year old Bryan Ashley Santee was transported from the Sarpy County, NE. jail to the Pott. County Jail today (Wed.), where he was wanted on a felony warrant for Child Endangerment with bodily injury. Bond was set at $5,000.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Officials with the Creston Police Department report two women were arrested on separate warrants, Tuesday. Brianna Lynn Pace, of Creston, was arrested on a warrant for violation of a No Contact order. She was being held without bond, pending an appearance before the magistrate. And, Alicia Leann McLandborough, of Creston, was arrested on a warrant for failure to appear on a Debtors Exam. Her cash-only bond was set at $5,000.

And Police received two reports of Theft, Monday, in Creston. A man at Homestead Assisted Living, in Creston, reported a wallet with $255 was stolen. And, the Nishna Valley Credit Union in Creston reported a theft in the amount of slightly more than $4,818.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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