DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Department of Education says it will stop granting automatic waivers to school districts seeking to start classes earlier in the summer. Department director Brad Buck sent a letter Friday to state education leaders saying the change is effective immediately.

The announcement came shortly after Gov. Terry Branstad sent a letter to Buck asking that officials only grant a waiver if a school district demonstrates a “significant negative educational impact” of beginning classes on time, as required by law.

Districts must start school no earlier than the calendar week that includes Sept. 1. But nearly all of them obtain waivers allowing them to begin classes earlier. Branstad’s letter says starting earlier “unnecessarily interferes” with families’ summer plans, seasonal hiring and the Iowa State Fair.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A family-owned chain of automobile dealerships located in Iowa, Montana and South Dakota will pay a $360,000 civil penalty for running deceptive ads. The Federal Trade Commission said Friday that Billion Auto and its advertising company violated a 2012 order that prohibited them from deceptively advertising the cost of buying or leasing a car.

The commission’s complaint says Billion Auto’s ads routinely focus on a few attractive terms but conceal other details that limit who can qualify or that add significant costs. One ad, for instance, promoted a vehicle for lease for $179 a month but hid in the fine print that one must be a military veteran and returning customer to qualify.

An FTC official says its enforcement action shows “there is a financial cost for violating FTC orders.”

In an update to our earlier report about a body found in a car west of Wiota Thursday night. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office said today (Friday), 49-year old David Gatrel, of Wiota, died from self-inflicted injuries.  Deputies responded at around 8:30 p.m., Thursday, to a report of a car in the ditch at 665th & White Pole Rd. Upon arrival, they found Gatrel deceased.

A man from central Iowa was arrested this (Friday) morning on an OWI charge, in Page County. Sheriff’s officials say 42-year old William Ludlo Stephens, of Ankeny, was charged with OWI 1st Offense. His arrest was the result of an investigation into an accident that occurred at approximately 1:40 AM in the 1900 block of C Avenue, east of Shenandoah.

William Stephens (Page Co. S/Of booking photo)

Stephens was operating a 2003 Chevy pickup when he lost control of the vehicle and slid into a ditch. The vehicle came to rest on its side. Stephens was transported to the Shenandoah Memorial Hospital by Ambulance where chemical testing was performed. The specimen was sent to the DCI laboratory in Ankeny for analysis. Test results indicated that Stephens Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)  was above the legal limit at the time of the accident, thus the charge and arrest.

Stephens posted $1000 bond and was released, pending further court hearings. The citation of Failure to Maintain Control had already been issued to Stephens for the accident.

An accident early this (Friday) morning on the south side of Shenandoah resulted in one-person being sent to the hospital for treatment of unknown injuries. The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports the two-vehicle accident happened on Highway 2, between Avenues A and B. An investigation revealed 62-year old Jackie Douglas Kendrick, of New Market,  was driving a 2011 Chevy Equinox SUV eastbound on Highway 2,  when Kenrick fell asleep at the wheel. Kendrick woke up just prior to rear ending a 2006 Buick Rendezvous SUV being operated by 39-year old Daniel Keith Hawkins, of Clarinda. Even though both vehicles sustained minor damage,  Hawkins was injured and transported to Shenandoah Memorial Hospital. Kendrick was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

This Saturday (Dec. 13th), Grant Community Preservationists (GCP) and The Hayloft will host a holiday event featuring Cookies and Caroling. From 4:30-7:30 p.m., GCP will provide music (caroling from 4:30-5:30 p.m.) and homemade holiday treats for sale. The event continues 5:30-7:30 p.m. in conjunction with The Hayloft’s Chicken & Fish Fry, which begins at 5:15 p.m. To top off the meal, GCP will offer homemade desserts for sale in addition to cookies and candy.

Organizers invite you to kick off your Christmas season by sharing some holiday cheer with your friends and neighbors. Share music and good food while picking up some sweet treats to prepare for your upcoming holiday gatherings.

Proceeds support GCP’s community projects, including restoring the Grant Masonic Lodge and maintaining the Grant Park. The Grant Community Preservationists was formed to help maintain Grant and its unique historic character. Designated in October 2003, the Grant Commercial Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places.

SOLDIER, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have suspended the search for a missing western Iowa man who may have fallen through lake ice at Oldham Recreational Area. On Sunday hunters found a pickup owned by Walter Ordway near the recreation area. The Monona County Sheriff’s Office says it’s believed that Ordway took his dog for an outing to the recreation area on Nov. 17 and that the dog fell through the ice into the freezing water. The Sheriff’s Office says Ordway may have fallen into the water while trying to rescue his dog. The dog’s body was found nearby.

The 66-year-old Ordway lives in Soldier.  The search was temporarily suspended because of concerns about the safety of lake ice. The recreation area will be closed through the weekend.

With Ric Hanson.

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Four people have been arrested on unrelated charges, in Creston. According to the police report, 37-year old Justin Dean Miller, of Creston, was arrested this (Friday) morning on a Driving While Revoked charge. Miller was later released from the Union County Jail on $1,000 bond.

Late Thursday night, 20-year old Alan Hall, of Corning, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a warrant for Theft in the 2nd Degree. Hall was later released from the jail on $5,000 bond. Also arrested Thursday evening, was 14-year old Virginia Gilleland, of Creston. The teen was cited for Interference with Official Acts, and subsequently turned over to Juvenile Authorities.

And, Thursday morning, 27-year old Lee Anthony Brown, Jr., of Creston, was arrested for Interference with Officials acts. Brown was being held in the Ringgold County Jail, while awaiting a hearing.

In other news from Creston, authorities say a resident in the 200 block of Myrtle Street reported Thursday that someone had taken his wallet, containing a Social Security card, license, birth certificate and a check. The items were taken from the victims’ truck sometime between 3:30-p.m. Dec. 10th and 9:30-a.m. Dec. 11th, while the vehicle was parked near his residence. The loss was estimated at $30.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – An Iowa dentist has pleaded no contest to stealing precious metals and dental equipment while working at the Omaha Veteran Affairs Medical Center.  Fifty-eight-year-old Randall Toothaker entered the plea on Thursday without a deal from prosecutors. He originally pleaded not guilty after he was arrested in July.

Investigators say he stole more than $16,000 in dental gold and other equipment from a locked cabinet in 2013. An officer stopped Toothaker while he was leaving the property. The Omaha World-Herald reports Toothaker’s attorney says his client wants to put the case behind him. He says Toothaker now practices in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Toothaker faces up to 10 years in federal prison when he is sentenced in March. The newspaper reports neither state dental board has documented disciplinary action against him.