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.