A U-S District Court Judge has sentenced a woman from Page County to nearly one and one-half years in prison for Mortgage Fraud. 34-year old Mandy Lea Whipple (formerly Mandy Lea Johnson), received her 18 month sentence last Friday, from Judge Stephanie Rose. The Judge also ordered Whipple to serve five years of Supervised Release.

On June 9th, Whipple entered a guilty plea to the charge of Mortgage Fraud, for falsifying mortgage loan papers to purchase a house in Fremont County. The investigation began with a report of delinquent payments on the purchased Fremont County residence, leading to the discovery that Whipple had falsely obtained a Veteran Administration’s loan to purchase the home, using the name and identifiers of a military veteran that employed her.

As part of the sentence, the Court ordered Whipple to make restitution to the Veteran’s Administration in the amount of $41,675, to J.G. Wentworth Mortgage Home Lending, LLC, in the amount of $28,904.27, and to Discover Financial Services in the amount of $5,780.04.

The investigation was conducted by the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Fremont County Attorney’s Office, Department of Veteran Affairs-Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Sheriff’s Officials in Taylor County report an investigation has resulted in two people being arrested on three felony counts each of Sexual Abuse in the 3rd Degree. 34-year old Ben Reece and 28-year old Joanna Marie Gray, both of New Market, were arrested Friday. Their cash bonds were set at $75,000 each. No other information was provided concerning the circumstances of their alleged activity.

Ben Reece

Joanna Gray

The Iowa Governor’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Advisory Council, in partnership with NewBoCo in Cedar Rapids, set the stage today (Monday) for Computer Science Education Week by bringing coding to thousands of young Iowans.

The opportunity, referred to as “Code Iowa,” localizes Code.org’s “Hour of Code,” an international effort to introduce millions of students around the world to at least one hour of computer coding. In Iowa, more than 500 schools and organizations, amounting to thousands of students, will take part in coding beginning today (Monday) through December 11th. Among the students participating, are those at the Tri-Center Middle School, in Neola. Their opportunity to code comes Wednesday, from 1-to 1:43-p.m.

Dr. Jeff Weld, executive director of the STEM Council, says “Every aspect of young people’s lives involve computing—how they communicate, learn, entertain, travel, indeed how they stay healthy with fitness trackers and food apps and more. Code Iowa’ takes them behind the screen to produce rather than to merely consume technology, launching lifelong interest we hope in the great IT careers that await across our state.”

Many of Iowa’s participating schools and organizations competed for technology awards as part of “Code Iowa.” Thanks to the generous support of Google and Verizon, one $3,500 award in each of the six STEM regions will be presented across Iowa this week. Awards were based on how applicants plan to implement an hour of computer coding into this week’s curriculum or activities.

All schools and organizations in Iowa that registered for the “Hour of Code” are recognized as Certified Code Iowa Partners through the STEM Council and will receive information about free Computer Science educator workshops in 2017. For more information on Code Iowa, visit www.IowaSTEM.gov/CodeIowa.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Transportation report U.S. Highway 20 traffic will be shifted off the detour to the existing lanes in Ida and Sac counties between Galva and Early at noon Friday, Dec. 9th, weather permitting. Traffic will remain on the existing lanes through the winter with the detour reactivated in spring 2017.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

The latest traveler information is available anytime through our 511 system. Visit www.511ia.org; call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide); stay connected with 511 on Facebook or Twitter (find links at www.iowadot.gov/511/socialmedia.html); or download the free app to your mobile device.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The FBI has seized computer data that may be connected to a federal investigation into Sioux City’s emitting improperly treated sewage with high levels of harmful bacteria into the Missouri River. The Sioux City Journal reports   agents served a warrant Thursday at the city-county Information Technology Department.

Tony Morfitt is a spokesman for the U.S. attorney in northern Iowa, and he said Monday he couldn’t comment on what the agents were seeking. Attorney Guy Cook represents the city in the wastewater matter, and he told the Journal the city is cooperating with the U.S. attorney’s office and the FBI.

The wastewater treatment practices have been under state and federal scrutiny since Iowa officials learned last year that two plant supervisors were manipulating chemical levels used to treat sewage.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad will meet with President-elect Donald Trump this week amid speculation the Iowa governor could become the next U.S. ambassador to China. Branstad told reporters Monday he has a tentative appointment to meet with Trump while the Republican governor is in New York for an economic development trip scheduled between Tuesday and Thursday.

At a rally in Sioux City before the election, Trump had praised Branstad’s knowledge of trade and called him a “prime candidate to take care of China.” Branstad said Monday that Trump hasn’t been offered a position. Although Branstad didn’t directly reference becoming U.S. ambassador to China, he told reporters he’s had discussions recently with his family about possibly moving to China.

Trump won Iowa and will hold a rally Thursday in Des Moines.

The Atlantic Police Department reports five people were arrested on separate charges recently. Last Friday, Officers with the A-PD arrested 20-year old Douglas Cline, of Atlantic, on Cass County warrants for Violation of Probation. On Saturday, 55-year old Phillip Fraser, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Simple Assault. On Nov. 29th, 32-year old Adam Morris, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault and Simple Assault causing bodily injury. On Nov. 25th, 26-year old Devin Register, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County Sheriff’s warrant for Delivery of a Controlled Substance. And, on Nov. 22nd, 32-year old Daniel Long, of Atlantic, was arrested on Cass County warrants for Theft in the 3rd Degree, and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. All subjects were transported to the Cass County Jail and booked-in.

And, no injuries were reported following accidents that occurred Dec. 1st and 2nd. Officials say Patrice Hanson, of Forest City, was given a warning for Failure to Yield upon entering a through street, after she stopped at the intersection of 10th and Olive Streets on Dec. 1st, before proceeding westbound into the intersection, where her vehicle collided with a vehicle driven by Jordan Edgington, of Atlantic. Edgington was making a left-hand turn from northbound Olive onto 10th Street at the time. The accident, which happened at around 6-p.m. Thursday, resulted in $2,500 damage.

The second accident happened at around 5:10-p.m. Friday at the intersection of 7th and Olive Streets, when a vehicle driven by April Lummus, of Atlantic, struck the rear of a vehicle driven by Pamela Rodriguez, of Atlantic. The accident occurred as Rodriguez was slowing for a red light as she was traveling east on 7th Street. Damage from the collision amounted to $3,200. Police cited Lummus for Failure to Stop in an assured, clear distance.