IDA GROVE, Iowa (AP) – A former substitute teacher and coach has pleaded guilty to having sexual relationships with students at two northwest Iowa high schools. Online court records say 33-year-old John Tietsort, of Battle Creek, entered the pleas Monday in Ida County District Court to two counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee. His sentencing is scheduled for May 15.

Prosecutors say Tietsort had a sexual relationship October 2015 through June 2016 with an 18-year-old female student at Odebolt-Arthur and Battle Creek-Ida Grove High School, where Tietsort was a substitute teacher and assistant football coach. Prosecutors also say Tietsort had a sexual relationship last year with a 17-year-old female student from Maple Valley-Anthon Oto High School, where Tietsort also was a substitute teacher.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today (Tuesday), U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Gary Peters (D-MI) announced the formation of the first-ever Motorcycle Caucus in the United States Senate. The life-long motorcycle riding senators will serve as co-chairs of the caucus, and will advocate for a multitude of issues on behalf of both motorcycle riders and manufacturers.

“Some of my most cherished memories include motorcycles, from delivering messages as a young girl to my dad while he was working out in the fields, to riding through the rolling hills of Northeast Iowa with family and friends,” said Senator Ernst. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to encourage thoughtful discussion and solutions on behalf of motorcycle riders and manufacturers through my new role as co-chair of the Motorcycle Caucus. Throughout my 99 county tour of Iowa, I have heard from many of these folks about some of their priorities, including improving safety, infrastructure, and energy efficiency. These concerns are shared by folks across our great state and country, and I look forward to working with Senator Peters toward solutions.”

Senator Ernst and her ride

“I’ve loved motorcycles since I was a kid, and I started a newspaper route to buy my first motorcycle at age 11. To this day, I believe there is no better way to see Michigan’s beautiful scenery than by bike, whether I’m riding to meet with constituents and small businesses or taking my bike out on the weekend,” said Senator Peters. “Motorcyclists come from all walks of life, and I can’t think of a better way to bring together a diverse and dedicated group of advocates to discuss everything from safety concerns to manufacturing. I’m looking forward to working with Senator Ernst as co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Motorcycle Caucus to foster these important discussions and find common ground with motorcycle lovers across the country.”

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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This is Donate Life Month in Iowa as people are encouraged to register as organ, eye and tissue donors. It’s also a time to celebrate those who saved lives through the gift of donation. Deb Thielen, with Van Diest Medical Center in Webster City, says a new person is added to the national waiting list for organs every ten minutes.
“An average of 22 people die every day while waiting for organs,” Thielen says. “On average, 81 transplants take place every day in the United States and in the year 2014, the lives of almost 30,000 Americans were saved through organ donation.”

More than one-point-six million Iowans have registered as organ, tissue and eye donors. Thielen says we can all qualify. “Anyone,” she says. “It doesn’t make any difference if they have any existing health conditions at the time of death. There is an extensive screening process that is completed through the Iowa Donor Network and they will determine what organs, tissues, what can be recovered.”

A number of Donate Life events are planned this month statewide, such as flag-raising ceremonies, run and walk events and more. Learn more at: www.iowadonornetwork.org

(Radio Iowa)

CLARION, Iowa (AP) – A northern Iowa woman whose 2-year-old was found wandering a Galt street in bare feet, wearing only pajamas, has been given probation.
Mason City television station KIMT reports 24-year-old Ysabel Ceplecha was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined $1,000 Monday, but both punishments were suspended. She must serve three years of probation.

She’d pleaded guilty to neglect or abandonment of a dependent person. Authorities say Ceplecha’s little girl was found outside in the rain on Nov. 22. Both the 2-year-old and Ceplecha’s 1-year-old child were taken into protective custody.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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NEW VIRGINIA, Iowa (AP) – Officials have removed 14 neglected horses from two properties in south-central Iowa’s Warren County. The Animal Rescue League says 10 malnourished horses were taken from a site in New Virginia and four severely neglected horses from a property in Indianola.

All 14 will be nursed back to health at the league’s Second Chance Ranch in Des Moines. No arrests have been reported.

A public auction of state-owned equipment will be held by the Iowa Department of Transportation on its grounds in Ames, Saturday, April 22, beginning at 9 a.m. The sale will be held in the auction building south of the Iowa DOT’s sign shop on South Fourth Street in Ames.

Laptop computers, equipment for offices and shops, automotive supplies, and many other items are included in the sale. The computers are sold with no operating system or software. There will also be a limited number of vehicles included in this auction.

Office equipment to be sold includes 60 laptop computers, several copiers, tables, chairs, and storage and file cabinets. Shop equipment items include a bench grinder, a chain hoist, jacks, various saws, drill presses, generators, mowers, a pressure washer, and truck boxes. Automotive supplies, radios, and many other items are also included in this sale.

Items for sale may be inspected at the sale site from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, April 21, and from 7 to 9 a.m. Saturday, April 22.

Please bring a driver’s license or state-issued identification card with you to the sale. The information from your driver’s license will be scanned into the system and a bid number will be printed for you to use at the auction. For those without a driver’s license, information will be entered manually.

Final payment for all items is due the day of the sale. Payment for the items must be made in cash, cashier’s check, or certified check. Personal or company checks will be accepted, if accompanied by satisfactory identification. Sales tax will be collected. Dealers must provide tax-exemption numbers to be exempted from the tax. All items must be removed from Iowa DOT property within five business days of the sale.

Lynch Auction Co. of Boone will conduct the auction. Coffee, sandwiches, and cold drinks will be available for purchase at the auction site.

A listing of auction items is also available on the Iowa DOT’s website at www.iowadot.gov/auction/auctlist.htm.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, Monday, commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service. The report is released weekly from April through October. Northey said “The damp weather has mostly kept farmers from starting spring field work. There have been some fertilizer applications that have taken place as the weather allowed. Just 6 percent of oats have been planted, which is nearly a week behind the 5-year average.”

The weekly report is also available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov

Statewide there were just 0.6 days suitable for fieldwork last week, with only northeast, central and southeast Iowa reporting 1.0 or more days suitable. Fertilizer, manure, and anhydrous applications were made as conditions allowed.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 6 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 26 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 2 percent very short, 6 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 20 percent surplus. South central Iowa reported the highest surplus subsoil moisture level at 38 percent although just a week ago, according to the USDA’s U.S. Drought Monitor, portions of the area were still considered to be in a moderate drought along with much of southeast Iowa.

Six percent of oats have been planted, 3 days behind last year’s progress, and almost a week behind the 5-year average. Livestock conditions are generally good although muddy lots are reported to be an issue. Calving is already complete for some cattle operations.

State Climatologist Harry Hillaker said last week was the wettest week in 25 weeks. Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged from eight degrees above normal in far northwest Iowa to one degree below normal over the extreme southeast. Soil temperatures as of Sunday (2nd) were averaging in the mid-forties over nearly all of Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The school board could vote today (Tuesday) to change school starting times at Des Moines public schools. The board is expected to discuss the proposal and could either vote Tuesday or April 18.

Under the proposal, elementary schools would begin at 7:50 a.m., roughly 30 minutes to an hour earlier. Middle schools would start at 8:35 a.m., 50 minutes later, and high schools would start at 8:30 a.m., also 50 minutes later. The proposal would take effect either for the 2017-18 or 2018-19 school years.

Officials say research shows the later starting times would better align with teenagers’ natural sleep schedules. The Des Moines Register reports Ankeny and West Des Moines schools already have later middle and high school start times. Davenport and Iowa City made the change recently.