DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds rejected calls Friday for a broader investigation into problems at a state agency where the director allegedly sexually harassed female employees for years without consequence. In a brief interview with reporters at the state Capitol, Reynolds said the culture of inappropriate behavior at the Iowa Finance Authority was caused by “one individual and I fired him,” referring to former director Dave Jamison. She acknowledged other employees witnessed or experienced some of Jamison’s problematic behavior but indicated she had no plans to hold them accountable for failing to report it.

Reynolds also dismissed criticism that the current sexual harassment training in state government — which Jamison took — doesn’t work if someone commits misconduct. She said it’s about making sure employees know there’s a process for reporting abuse. “We’ll continue to look at any situation and if we can improve it, then fine,” she said about existing policies. “I can’t, you can’t dictate behavior. You can’t dictate treating people with respect. But you can lead, and you can lead by example.”

Reynolds fired Jamison last month, a day after two employees told the governor’s office that he had been sexually harassing them. Reynolds released a complaint from one of the women Thursday that alleged Jamison made unwanted sexual advances, comments about her breasts and constant crude sexual remarks and gestures.

The woman wrote that a male agency lawyer often told Jamison “that he needs to stop it or be quiet,” and that a male agency administrator had reprimanded Jamison for inappropriate comments. Reynolds said she understood that they may have feared retaliation if they stepped forward to complain, but said she hopes other state employees who witness improper behavior will do so in the future through several available avenues.

The woman said she reported the behavior to the governor because she worried Jamison would be cleared or she would be fired if she contacted a separate, existing state agency that reviews human resources issues for state employees. Democratic lawmakers have called for an independent investigation, saying it’s important to know the details of any prior complaints against Jamison and how they were handled.

Interim IFA Director Carolann Jensen said Thursday that there is no pending investigation at the agency and that the governor’s office hasn’t reached out about launching one.

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa said Friday, a southwest Iowa couple were sentenced Wednesday in Council Bluffs, to prison, for their role in the distribution of methamphetamine. 30-year old Christopher Leroy Jordan and his spouse, 26-year old Randi Marie Jordan, both from Sidney, Iowa, were sentenced by United States District Court Senior Judge James E. Gritzner.

Christopher Jordan was sentenced to 168 months of imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release to follow his prison term. Randi Jordan was sentenced to 42 months of imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release.

In early November 2016, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation of Christopher and Randi Jordan for the distribution of methamphetamine. A search warrant was executed on January 31, 2017, at the Jordan’s house, resulting in the seizure of methamphetamine, marijuana plants, and related evidence, as well as the arrests of both defendants.

The investigation was conducted by Fremont County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – United States District Court Senior Judge James E. Gritzner. Wednesday, sentenced 32-year old Ivan Antonio Cervantes to 18 months in prison,   for possession of contraband by a federal prisoner. Cervantes was also ordered to serve two years of supervised release to follow his prison term. The sentence is to be served consecutively to a prior 70 month sentence for a felony drug offense prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Cervantes and others distributed a synthetic cannabinoid while incarcerated at the Pottawattamie County Jail. On May 17, 2017, jail staff seized a substance from Cervantes’ cell with the use of a drug-detecting dog. Lab reports confirmed the substance found hidden in Cervantes’ cell tested positive for a synthetic cannabinoid. Further investigation revealed another individual brought the substance to the jail, then distributed the substance to other inmates.

The case was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports 34-year old Reese Chatterton, of Sidney, was arrested Friday (Today), following a traffic stop near the intersection of Highway 275 and 200th Street, in Sidney. Chatterton was taken into custody in connection with a disturbance that had occurred at a residence in Sidney.

Chatterton faces charges that include Driving Under Suspension and Domestic Abuse 1st Offense, causing bodily injury. He was being held in the Fremont County Jail, pending initial appearance with a Magistrate.

Chatterton

The AHSTW School Board of Directors announced on Friday afternoon that Mr. Darin Jones has been hired to serve as the new Superintendent of Schools for the AHSTW Community School District. Jones will begin his duties officially on July 1, 2018.

For the past 11 years Darin Jones has served as the Elementary Principal for the Montezuma Community School District and prior to that he was K-12 Dean of Students in that district for 3 years. Jones also had teaching stints at Montezuma and Deep River-Millersburg.  He received his undergraduate degree at Buena Vista University in Elementary Education and went on to earn a Masters in Administration-Principal from the University of Northern Iowa and a Superintendent Endorsement Certificate from UNI.

AHSTW Schools said the interview process involved approximately 60 members of the school district including students, support staff, teaching staff, administrators, community members, parents, and the Board of Education.  ASHTW Board of Education President Bryan Simonsen said, “With an understanding of rural school challenges Mr. Jones demonstrated with passion during the day-long interview process a sincere desire to listen and involve students, staff, and community to move the AHSTW School District to the next level. His focus on students first and his instructional leadership knowledge will ensure success for AHSTW students in school and life. We are thrilled Mr. Jones has agreed to serve as our next Superintendent. I know everyone shares my excitement in bringing Mr. Jones into the AHSTW family. We all look forward to working with him to make AHSTW the number one school district in the state of Iowa.”

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports, that on Wednesday, April 25th, 23-year old Alan Calderon Reyes, of Sioux City, Iowa, appeared before United States District Court Senior Judge James E. Gritzner, and was sentenced to 151 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On April 10, 2017, following a high-speed car chase with law enforcement in Washington County, Nebraska, Reyes crossed the Iowa state line into Pottawattamie County, where Pottawattamie County deputies continued to pursue Reyes. Reyes lost control of his vehicle, drove into a ditch, and attempted to flee from deputies on foot.

Reyes was eventually apprehended and a large quantity of methamphetamine was seized from his vehicle. The case was investigated by Washington County, Nebraska Sheriff’s Office, Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, and Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a medic working for a Dubuque ambulance service died after a crash on a Mississippi River bridge connecting Dubuque with East Dubuque, Illinois. Officers were dispatched to the Julien Dubuque Bridge around 2:10 a.m. Friday. Police say the ambulance ran into the back of a semitrailer that had stopped for construction in the westbound lanes. The ambulance driver, 19-year-old Jack Dillman, was taken to UnityPoint Health-Finley Hospital for treatment. The 34-year-old medic with him was pronounced dead at the scene. His name hasn’t been released. The truck driver wasn’t injured.

The crash shut down bridge traffic for more than five hours. Paramount Ambulance Service says the ambulance was returning to Dubuque after taking a patient to a medical facility in Chicago

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1111 AM CDT Fri Apr 27 2018

…Very High Fire Danger Today…

Gusty wind and dry conditions will lead to a very high fire danger today, particularly during the afternoon hours. West winds will turn toward northwest and gradually increase as a cool front drops across Iowa. Winds will increase to 20 to 25 mph with gusts to near 35 mph at times before diminishing toward sunset. In addition, relative humidity will be very low this afternoon, in the 25 to 35 percent range, and most surface grasses are dry. This will allow any fires that ignite to spread rapidly, and burning is discouraged.

A warning today from the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency. Operations Officer Jason Wickizer says “We are continuing in the HIGH category however we will be approaching Red Flag Criteria, which are Relative Humidity below 20%, and winds greater than 15MPH. Our current Fire Behavior prediction is 7 foot flame length or greater, Probability of ignition greater than 60%, and Rates of Spread at or greater than 100 yards per minute.  We will also be experiencing a wind shift that could cause control issues.”

Wickizer said “Today and tomorrow will not be good days to burn due to Control, and spread issues.  Please keep this in mind if people call in asking to burn.  The greatest risk today is Spread Potential due to receptive fuels being cured and in line with winds.” Conditions he said, should begin to Moderate Saturday evening.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — The Dubuque public library plans to approve a fine-free test period but will eventually return to charging patrons for overdue books because of a lack of funding. The Telegraph Herald reports that Carnegie-Stout Public Library’s amnesty period would begin July 1. The library currently has a daily fee of 20 to 50 cents per overdue item. The proposed plan says that during a six-month period, library patrons wouldn’t be fined for overdue items, but would still be charged for lost or damaged materials. Board members hope waiving fines will incentivize patrons to return materials.

Library Director Susan Henricks says she plans to give board members an outline with details about the plan on May 24. Henricks says the fines would return in January because the library lacks the funds.