PETERSBURG, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa man’s wedding ring missing since 1974 has been returned after turning up in an old car engine. Dubuque resident Will Frye told station KCRG that he bought the 1972 Oldsmobile for its engine because the one in his ’69 Olds had died. He says the diamond-studded ring fell into a pile of grease under the 1972 engine as he worked on it Dec. 30. He called the family he’d bought the old junker from, and the former owner’s daughter confirmed it was her dad’s.

Petersburg resident Ray Schmuecker says he’d bought the car to give his wife, Virgee, a smooth ride to and from her cancer chemotherapy appointments. Schmuecker says he thought he lost the ring in 1974 while helping a friend having car trouble along a roadway. Schmuecker’s wife went out and bought a replacement the next day. She died not long afterward. He can’t explain how the ring turned up in the engine of his old car, but he’s glad to have both rings and the memories the old car invoke.

(Radio Iowa) — The Mason City School Board last (Monday) night discussed the release of a special investigation by the state auditor showing more than two-point-two million dollars in improper spending over eight years. Board president Jodi Draper says with the report now public, it’s up to the county attorney to decide whether criminal charges should be filed.  “We are turning the corner. We do understand the anger. We can empathize with that anger. We understand,” Draper says. “We have turned it over to the authorities and it’s their job now to decide if it was criminal or non-criminal.”

Draper says the special investigation shows the business of the school district under the new superintendent is moving in the right direction. “You can put your trust in this board,” Draper says. “We worked hard, regardless of what was said in media and not understanding what was going on, we had to do what we had to do because we took our oath very seriously and we wanted to make sure this school district was operated in the best manner and the most transparent manner and doing what we could do for our students, for our teachers, and for the taxpayers.” Board member Brent Seaton says some comments made about the school board are out of line and people need to remember it was the school board that asked for the special investigation.”We’ve been referred to in the community as crooks. Some of us have had people come say that to our faces. It’s hurtful,” Seaton says. “It’s defamatory to refer to us as crooks and it is hurtful. It’s hard to respond to that in an unemotional way, especially when we’re doing the best job we can.”

The investigation found funds were not properly disbursed between July of 2009 and August of 2017 while Anita Micich was the district’s superintendent. The special investigation was requested by Draper after an August 2017 report showed the district improperly disbursed just over $109,000 between July 2014 and June 2015. The new report released on December 28th showed that $1.3 million was improperly disbursed as contract salary to 66 employees, which the report says exceeded the authorized salary calculated using the percentage increases approved by the board. The remaining amount was from various improper benefits disbursed. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is conducting a criminal investigation at the request of the Cerro Gordo County Attorney’s office to see if any charges should be filed.

The Iowa Insurance Division reports a Nebraska man, 34-year old Peere Shackelford, of Omaha, was faces Felony charges that include Conspiracy to Commit Insurance Fraud, Arson in the 2nd Degree, and Conspiracy to Commit a Non-Forcible Felony. The charges were filed following an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau and the Council Bluffs Fire Department. The charges against Shackelford stem from an investigation that began in October of 2017.  It is alleged that Shackelford provided false information to his insurance carrier in support of an insurance claim following a vehicle fire.

Shackelford

On November 16, 2018, a State of Iowa warrant was issued for the arrest of Shackelford. On December 5, 2018, Shackelford was arrested by the Omaha Police Department and booked into the Douglas County Department of Corrections.  Shackelford was extradited to Iowa where he was released after posting bond on December 27th, 2018.

Iowans with information about insurance fraud are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau at 515-242-5304.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Police say a head-on collision in northeast Lincoln, NE., killed a central Iowa man, and injured two Nebraska residents. The crash occurred around 7:40 p.m. Monday. Police say a northbound car driven by 28-year-old Jacob Stewart, of Altoona, IA, veered into a southbound lane, striking an oncoming vehicle being driven by 27-year-old Jessica Arias, of Omaha.
Police say Stewart died at the scene. Police also say Arias and her passenger, 35-year-old Lincoln resident Angel Meza, were taken to a Lincoln hospital.

The American Red Cross encourages you to help meet the urgent need for blood and platelets by resolving to give blood this January – National Blood Donor Month. Donating blood or platelets is a way to make a lifesaving impact in the new year for patients such as those with end-stage autoimmune liver disease.  The critical role of blood and platelet donors has been celebrated each January for nearly 50 years during National Blood Donor Month, which coincides with one of the most difficult times to maintain a sufficient blood supply for patients. Busy holiday schedules, extreme winter weather and seasonal illnesses often impact donor turnout this time of year.

The Red Cross encourages eligible donors to resolve to give blood or platelets regularly this month. Make an appointment to donate blood or platelets by downloading the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Locally, some upcoming blood donation opportunities include:

• Orient 1/9/2019: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Orient-Macksburg High School, 201 School Street
• Atlantic 1/10/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Atlantic YMCA, 1100 Maple Street
• Griswold 1/11/2019: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Griswold High School, 20 Madison
• Exira 1/28/2019: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Exira Recreational Center, 106 N Jefferson
• Lewis 1/31/2019: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Lewis Community Center, 400 West MainStreet
• Red Oak: 1/19/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Red Oak YMCA, 101 E Cherry St; 1/28/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1101 East Summit
• Clarinda 1/15/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Westminster Presbyterian Church, 322 N 16th; 1/17/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Clarinda Academy, 1820 North 16th Street
• Avoca 1/25/2019: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., AHSTW High School, 768 So. Maple
• Elk Horn 1/15/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Elk Horn Lutheran Church, 4313 Main Street
• Harlan 1/22/2019: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Veteran’s Memorial Building, 1104 Morningview

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports a rural Clarinda man, 45-year old Jess Scott Larson, was arrested Monday morning, on a warrant. Larson was taken into custody at the Page County Courthouse, on the warrant for Theft in the 3rd Degree. He was transported to the Page County Jail and was unable to post a $2,000 cash-only bond.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — Work is expected to begin next month to remove two dams spanning the Des Moines River in Fort Dodge after officials approved contracts worth more than $1.4 million. The Messenger reports the City Council announced Monday that it hired Minnesota-based construction company Rachel Contracting Inc. to remove the Hydroelectric Dam and a second structure often referred to as the little dam.

Nicole Church is an environmental specialist with Snyder & Associates, an engineering, planning and design firm. She says the dams need to be removed for safety and environmental reasons. The project is moving forward after the city resolved concerns brought up last month by the State Historic Preservation Office. City Engineer Tony Trotter says the city has agreed to preserve the framework of one gate of the Hydroelectric Dam.