A northwest Iowa man is under arrest in Lincoln, Nebraska, charged with child enticement using an electronic communication device. Authorities say 63-year-old Dennis Ray Ragan of Moville responded to an online ad he thought was posted by a 15-year-old girl. The “girl” was really an undercover investigator in the Nebraska Attorney General’s office.

Last month Ragan exchanged 170 emails with the person he thought was a teenager, and on the final day of August he drove to Lincoln, Nebraska, to have sex with her. That’s when he was arrested.

(Radio Iowa)

In the 2015-2016 academic year, more than 250 Iowa high schools adopted EverFi, a free, online financial literacy program. First Whitney Bank and Trust has partnered with leading education technology company EverFi, Inc., to bring this interactive, web-based financial management program to over 200 students since the program’s inception in 2013.

“First Whitney Bank and Trust is very proud to have reached so many students with critical financial education. It’s a testament to our deep commitment to the Atlantic community,” Chip Hansen said. “It is critical that students understand important aspects of personal finance like what a credit score means and how to save for college, and this program is empowering them with the skills that will put them on a path to financial success.”

The 78 students reached through EverFi High School Financial Literacy course completed 340 individual modules of learning during the 2015-16 school year. Students’ knowledge of key financial topics rose by an average 22 percent based on pre- and post-assessment scores. Among the valuable topics covered were saving, banking, investing, renting versus owning, credit scores, taxes and insurance, and consumer fraud.

First Whitney Bank and Trust has partnered with EverFi, Inc. to bring the program to local students at no cost to the schools or the taxpayer. The eight-hour web-based program uses the latest in new media technology to bring complex financial concepts to life for today’s digital generation. The platform uniquely tracks the progress and performance of every student and provides students who successfully complete the course with certification in financial literacy, a valuable mark of distinction on college applications and resumes. In 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) highlighted EverFi’s schools-based financial education programs in a new report on Advancing K-12 Financial Education: A Guide for Policymakers.

“EverFi strives to help today’s generation prepare for a lifetime of challenging financial decisions”, said EverFi CEO and Founder, Tom Davidson. “We are grateful for our partnership with First Whitney Bank and Trust, which provides students with the critical skills they need to be savvy, responsible consumers.”

(Press Release)

Montgomery County Auditor Stephanie Burke has released the final list of candidates whose names will appear on the ballot for the November 8th General Election in Montgomery County.

The candidates are as follows (Rep=Republican)

County Auditor: (Rep) Stephanie Burke

County Sheriff: (Rep) Joseph Sampson

Board of Supervisors/District 2: (Rep) Mike Olson

Board of Supervisors/District 3: (Rep) Bryant Amos

Board of Supervisors/District 5: (Rep) Donna Robinson

Montgomery Co. Ag. Extension Council (elect 4): Mike Thomas; Karen Klocke; Kelli Bucy. No other candidate has filed.

Montgomery Co. Hospital Trustees (elect 2) – 6 year term: Roger J. Ehmke; James A. Robinson.

Montgomery Co. Soil & Water Commissioner (elect 3) – 4 year term: David Carbaugh; Gary Querry; Fred Hossle.

Frankfort Township Trustee (elect 2): Rodney Hart; Don Gohlinghorst.

Garfield Township Trustee (elect 2): Gary Querry; John Willms.

Grant Township Trustee (elect 2): John Sunberg; Dennis Carlson.

Lincoln Township Trustee (elect 2): Bryan Jenkins; None filed.

Pilot Grove Township Trustee (elect 2): Ron Adams; David W. Olson.

Red Oak Township Trustee (elect 2): Howard O. Olson; None filed.

Sherman Township Trustee (elect 2): Daniel L. Phelps; James E. Good.

Washington Township Trustee (elect 2): None filed; None filed.

West Township Trustee (elect 2): David L. Gohlinghorst; Larry Heuer.

Red Oak School Special Election (elect 1): Bret Blackman.

Sheriff’s officials in Guthrie County say a 15-year old male suffered non-life threatening injuries during a single-vehicle accident late Wednesday evening, north of Panora. The crash happened as the unidentified teen was traveling north on Highway 4, just past 180^th Street. The vehicle went out of control and rolled into a ditch. The teen was transported by ambulance to the Guthrie County Hospital. According to reports, he was on his way home from football practice when the crash occurred.

No other details are currently available.

A Glenwood man was being treated for a gunshot wound following an incident that happened Wednesday evening. Authorities say Glenwood Police responded at around 5:20-p.m. to 310 N. Vine Street, for a report a man was suffering from a gunshot wound. The unidentified subject was transported to the University of Nebraska Hospital in Omaha by LifeFlight, for treatment. The incident remains under investigation by the Iowa Dept. of Criminal Investigation and Glenwood Police.

The Creston Police Department reports 43-year old Jamie Foote, of Creston, was arrested Wednesday evening in the 500 block of N. Cherry Street, on a charge of Disorderly Conduct. Foote was being held in the Union County Jail on a $300
bond.

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will hold a Special Meeting Friday (Sept. 2nd) in the Atlantic High School ICN Classroom. According to the agenda for the 8:30-a.m. meeting, the Board will move into a Closed Session per Iowa Code, to “Discuss the purchase or sale of particular real estate only where premature disclosure could be reasonably be expected to increase the price the governmental body would have to pay for that property, or reduce the price the governmental body would receive for that property.”

Afterward, the Board will resume their open session, and discuss the School District’s Facility Needs, and related funding sources.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office says a call early this (Thursday) morning about a suspicious vehicle in the vicinity of Highway 92 and Canoe Lane, resulted in the arrest of a Cass County woman. 43-year old Kimberly Denise Ward, of Griswold, was taken into custody at around 4:55-a.m. for Driving While Revoked. Her SUV was impounded.