Sioux City Fire Chief Tom Everett says he’s concerned about the impact on smaller departments in the wake of charges against the former state fire training manager for allegedly issuing improper certifications to thousands of firefighters. He says it could be a big problem for smaller rural departments, many who depend on volunteers. “Unfortunately I think it does give the fire service in Iowa a black eye,” Everett says. “I do think there are a lot of departments that depend on those certifications and depend on the training that they receive through the bureau. And unfortunately they are going to have to wait through how to fix what’s happened.”

He says Sioux City provides its own training, testing, and evaluation to all firefighters. He says they do have some firefighters who get certified through the state, but says the number of hours they train on the required subjects far exceeds the state standards for certification. He says each member of the Sioux City Department has hundreds of hours of local training. Everett says they train 31-thousand-455 hours, which gives each firefighter 289 hours of individual training each year.

Former State Fire Services Training Bureau certification manager John McPhee was arrested Tuesday on charges of misconduct in office and tampering with records. The Iowa Department of Public Safety revealed that the state bureau issued nearly 23-hundred improper certifications to one-thousand-706 firefighters and emergency personnel between 2012 and 2016.

(Radio Iowa)

Members of the Exira-Elk Horn Kimballton School Board will gather during a Special Meeting this evening at the Elk Horn Building Conference Room. The meeting begins at 5:30-p.m. and includes discussion and/or consideration of Financing Proposals that have been opened and reviewed by Superintendent Trevor Miller and other administrative officials, along with the Placement Agent.

The Board will also discuss and likely take action on, approving a Resolution Directing the Sale of $1-million, 5-thousand dollars in School Infrastructure Sales/Services and Use of Tax Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2017.

Their final discussion and action item is with regard to approving a Bond Counsel Engagement Agreement with Ahlers and Cooney, P.C.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:30 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican lawmakers have proposed legislation that would add about $40 million to Iowa’s K-12 education spending, an amount that Democrats say is inadequate. The GOP plan proposes increasing the amount spent per student in Iowa by about 1.1 percent for the budget year that goes into effect in July. The state uses roughly $3 billion from its general fund on K-12 education.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State University has agreed to rescind the 2015 firing of its student counseling director, who alleged he was let go after warning about potentially dangerous shortages in mental health services. An agreement signed by President Steven Leath settles allegations of retaliation, defamation and age discrimination that Terry Mason had made. The deal avoids a lawsuit by changing Mason’s dismissal to a retirement, which makes him eligible for health benefits and a payout for sick leave.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican lawmakers are expected to approve legislation to patch a shortfall in the state’s $7.2 billion budget. The GOP-controlled House is scheduled Monday evening to vote on a bill that would cut about $117 million. The reductions require Iowa departments to cut about $88 million from the budget that began last July. An additional $25 million would be taken from various funds and about $4 million would be saved from unused tax credits.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State University says a graduate student, a postdoctoral researcher and a visiting scholar have been blocked from entering the country due to President Donald Trump’s restrictions on travel. ISU President Steven Leath says the university has been in touch with all three and hopes that “they will be able to continue their work and studies with Iowa State in the near future.”

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) -” An invasive weed that can grow up to 7 feet tall has been found in nearly half of Iowa’s counties, and experts say farmers need to act quickly if the plant is found in their fields.

Bob Hartzler is a professor of weed science at Iowa State University. He tells the Telegraph Herald that the species known as Palmer amaranth shouldn’t be ignored and has the potential to drive farmers out of business. The weed prominently appeared in the region’s cotton fields in the 2000s. It was categorized as a “super weed” because of its ability to quickly grow and its resistance to many herbicides.

In 2013, the weed was spotted in five Iowa counties. As of October, it had been seen in nearly half of Iowa’s 99 counties.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two people were arrested on assault charges over the past few days. On Friday, 29-year old Jacob William Earl Dofner, of Griswold, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. Dofner was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance. And, on Saturday, 32-year old Nathan Patrick Kinzie, of Atlantic, was charged with felony Assault Causing Serious Bodily Injury, with regarding an incident that occurred at the Cass County Jail. Kinzie remains in custody on $15,000 bond.

On Sunday, Cass County Deputies arrested 28-year old Jairo Cervantes, of Omaha, for felony Theft in the 2^nd Degree (Motor Vehicle theft). Cervantes, who was being held at the Cass County Jail, remains held there on $10,000 bond. Also arrested Sunday, was 32-year old Tiffany Kay Bouchard, of Lewis. She was charged with OWI 1^st Offense. Bouchard was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on her own recognizance.

And, one person was injured during a single-vehicle accident in Anita this (Monday) afternoon. Officials say a 2000 Chrysler Town & Country driven by 24-year old Tiffany Marie Hansen, of Atlantic, was westbound on Roosevelt Drive when the vehicle went out of control and entered the north ditch before landing on its side. One passenger was transported via private vehicle to CCMH. The accident happened at around 1:42-p.m. Hansen was cited for Failure to Maintain Control. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $3,000.

It’s not a Verizon commercial: If you receive a phone call from someone asking “can you hear me,” hang up. You’re a potential victim in the latest scam circulating around the U.S. This new “can you hear me” con is actually a variation on earlier scams – primarily directed towards businesses. It is aimed at getting the victim to say the word “yes” in a phone conversation. That affirmative response is recorded by the fraudster and used to authorize unwanted charges.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Nebraska, South Dakota, The Kansas Plains and Southwest Iowa is warning that hundreds of consumers are now reporting the phone scam via BBB Scam Tracker.

How the scam works:
You receive a recorded call from someone who provides an introduction and identifies the business or agency they supposedly represent. Recent scam reports identify the caller as being from a home security agency, a cruise line or associated with Social Security. After the introduction, the recording will ask if you can hear the caller clearly. If you answer “yes,” there’s a possibility that the scam artist behind the phone call has recorded you and will use your agreement to sign you up for a product or service and then demand payment. If you refuse, the caller may produce your recorded “yes” response to confirm your purchase agreement.

But how can you get charged if you don’t provide a payment method?  BBB President and CEO Jim Hegarty explains, “The con artist already has your phone number and many phone providers pass through third-party charges. In addition, the criminal may have already collected some of your personal information – a credit card number or cable bill – perhaps as the result of a data breach. When the victim disputes the charge, the scammer can then counter that they have your consent on a recorded line.”

BBB advises:

• If you receive an unsolicited call from an organization or business, just hang up. If you are on the Do Not Call List and a company calls out of the blue to ask questions, it’s likely a scam. Avoid responding with “yes, sure or ok.”
• If you are asked a similar question in a phone call or are asked to press a button to be placed on the Do Not Call Registry, just hang up the phone. Saying anything or pressing buttons when prompted may help the scam artist identify that you have an active phone number. Remember that no government agency will ever solicit for the Do Not Call Registry.
• Write down the phone number of those callers violating the Do Not Call Registry and file a scam report with BBB Scam Tracker and the FTC’s Do Not Call List at donotcall.gov.
• Check your credit card, phone and cable statements carefully for any unfamiliar charges. If you suspect you have already been victimized, call the billing company – wheather your credit card company or your phone provider – and dispute anything that you didn’t authorize on purpose. If they say you have been recorded approving the charge and you have no recollection of that, ask for proof. The earlier you identify unauthorized charges on your accounts, the easier it will be to recover any lost money. For more tips on identifying scams and past scam alerts, visit bbb.org.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office says a Missouri man was arrested Sunday morning on a Public Intoxication charge, in connection with an incident in the 100 block of N. Main Street, in Kimballton. 24-year old Cole Payten Williamson, of Marshfield, MO., was arrested at around 3-a.m, Sunday and brought to the Audubon County Jail. He was later released after appearing before the magistrate.

The Atlantic City Council has what’s expected to be a longer than normal session scheduled for Wednesday evening. That’s because they have discussion on their agenda pertaining to several matters, the biggest of which is the preliminary Fiscal Year 2018 Budget. City Administrator John Lund says the proposed budget amounts to slightly more than $12.493-million, which is a decrease over the FY 2017 budget of 14.78%, or more than $1.847-million.

In his budget summary, Lund says “Overall, Atlantic is in a strong financial position.” He added that this year’s budget was more of a challenge, though, due to action by the State Legislature, which negatively impacted cities through Commercial/Industrial Property Tax Reform and the Multi-residential property classification. As a result, the City will see notable losses in collections from tax revenue, amounting to a combined $126,718 to the General, Employee Benefit and Debt Service Funds. To make up for those losses, Lund proposes a tax levy of $16.98 per $100,000 taxable property valuation, an increase of 1.48% over the last Fiscal Year.

On the bright side, the City’s Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) Fund posted 2.33% growth in FY 2017 over 2016, and Lund predicts an even more robust growth in FY 2018. And, the City expects to resume minimal debt in FY 2018. In other business, the Atlantic City Council will discuss an easement between the City and the Whitney Group, which would allow for the installation of an electrical box  across the alley from the business. Since the City cannot grant an easement for free, according to State law, the fair market value of the easement would be $250.

The Council will also hear a presentation from SWIPCO’s John McCurdy, with regard to a Comprehensive City Plan, which is required by the State, and was last adopted in 2002. The process to undertake and devise a new or updated plan will take about nine months, at a cost to the City of $19,500, the funds for which will come from the LOST Progress Fund for FY 2018. They’ll also act on approving an updated retainer agreement with the Otto, Lorence and Wiederstein law firm, which mentions Mark Bosworth is the Primary Attorney, but the position of City Attorney is still managed by the firm. Compensation will increase from $20,000 to $24,000.

And, Mayor Dave Jones is expected to Swear-in Officer Spencer Walton as Sergeant, during Wednesday’s meeting. Walton is being promoted to fill a vacancy on the Atlantic Police force created by the resignation of Cody Eckles. Walton has been with the A-PD for nearly 9 years.

The man who being labeled as an American hero for stopping a flag-burning in Iowa City says he’s no hero. A video Cedar Rapids Fed Ex driver Mathew Uhrin stopping a group of protesters from burning American flags on the pedestrian mall in Iowa City says has gone viral. He tells K-C-R-G T-V in an interview that he was just acting on instinct. “I don’t feel like I deserve the praise I never wanted it, just it’s humbling you know it just it is,” Uhrin said.

Uhrin served in the Army for eight years and said as a veteran he felt he had to act to stop the flag from being burned. “It really hurts when you see it disgraced and I think that’s why everyone loves it the way that they do and that’s why I love it,” Uhrin said.

The video of him stopping the flag burning last Thursday has been shared thousands of times– and had nearly eight million views on social media. People across the country are now calling Matt an American hero– using the hashtag Fed Ex Guy (#FedExGuy) and posting memes. Matt’s favorite is one where he’s been photo-shopped into a Call of Duty video game poster. Though Matt stood up for the flag in this viral video– He says he isn’t a hero. That title should be reserved for those who died for their country.

“Each person has their own reason why they signed the dotted line and the ones whot are really the heroes are the ones that were injured, maimed, killed, or the ones that never got to see home again — they’re the heroes,” Uhrin said.

He told K-C-R-G his phone hasn’t stopped ringing from people all over the place wanting to thank him, but he wants to make sure people know he’s not asking for any donations. “I want people to realize I don’t have a Twitter I’m not going to be asking people for stuff, if you want to buy me a meal, If you want to buy me a beer if you want to send me gift cards or something I would rather you guys take that money and there’s a plethora list of veteran charities that are so in need of money,” Uhrin said.

Fedex announced in a tweet Saturday morning that Uhrin will be keeping his job at the company. He says he would do the same thing again “in a heartbeat.”

(KCRG via Radio Iowa)

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office says a Greenfield man was arrested Saturday night for knowingly passing a fake $20 bill to purchase two packs of cigarettes from the Greenfield Dollar General Store. 21-year old Zachary Trenton Holder was arrested for Forgery, a Class-D Felony. Holder was being held on $5,000 bond in the Adair County Jail.

And, a Greenfield man was arrested last Wednesday for Possession of Marijuana. 24-year old Joshua Awstin Curry was later released on his Own Recognizance, after marijuana was found on his person and in his bedroom.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office says 37-year old Jason Bruce King, of Stuart, was arrested Jan. 23rd on an Adair County warrant for Probation Violation. King was being held without bond in the Adair County Jail.  25-year old Shelby Lynn Weis, of Creston, was arrested in Bridgewater on Jan. 24th, for Driving Under Suspension. She was cited and then released from custody at the scene.

On Jan. 24th, 25-year old Zaneta Janen Taylor, of Des Moines, was arrested on Interstate 80 in Adair County following a traffic stop for speeding. An Iowa State Patrol Trooper noticed the smell of marijuana as he approached Taylor’s vehicle. After a search warrant was obtained, inside the vehicle, authorities found two plastic bags and a jar containing a green leafy substance. Taylor admitted the weed was hers. She was later released on $1,000 bond.

And, 44-year old Christopher Scott Partlow, of Menlo, was arrested Friday morning by the Iowa State Patrol, following a traffic stop on Highway 25 near 190th Street, in Adair County. Partlow was charged with Driving While License Revoked or OWI test failure. He was later released from the Adair County Jail on $1,000 bond.