Elected officials and city employees in Harlan say they are “disappointed and embarrassed” auditors found Harlan’s former city administrator was reimbursed for thousands of dollars worth of “improper and unsupported” expenses. Former Harlan City Administrator Terry Cox for the city for nearly 40 years. The special investigation by the state auditor’s office reviewed his last 12 years on the job.

Auditors discovered Cox was faking travel expenses and buying alcohol with city money. “City of Harlan Elected Officials and Employees” released a written statement saying they “are not proud of these actions,” and understand the community is concerned about the report. The statement goes on to say changes in city policies were made even before the auditors’ investigation was complete. There are new rules for expense reports. “Absolutely no alcohol” is to be claimed as an expense either.

The employees and officials in Harlan also hint their former city administrator may face charges at some point. The group said it “will let the legal system take its course.”

(Radio Iowa)

FORT DODGE, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources Park Bureau is investigating a death at an Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) park in north central Iowa.

The crash was reported around 4:30 pm, on Tuesday, June 27, 2017, when a 911 call was made of an unresponsive male at the Gypsum City OHV Park near the intersection of trails 220 and 222. When rescue crews responded they found an unconscious male pinned under an ATV located in a small ravine. Authorities believe the male lost control of the ATV, left the trail and ended up in the small ravine.

The male has been identified as 55-year old Joseph Edward Rouse, of Boone. An autopsy will take place at the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner in Ankeny to determine the exact cause of death.  Rouse was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s officials report “Due to a phone upgrade, the phones at the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office and Jail are temporarily out of service. The upgrade will be complete as soon as possible.” The outage began mid-morning today (Wednesday).

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Police are investigating what officers say is the suspicious death of a cabdriver found in a cab at an Iowa City motel. Officers found the body early Wednesday morning at the Alexis Park Inn. They soon learned that another cabby, checking on his colleague, had found the body before the officers.

The names of the two cabdrivers have not been released. No arrests have been reported.

The third time is a charm for a Tuesday’s vote to merge the Battle Creek-Ida Grove school district with Odebolt-Arthur.  The two school districts had been in a whole grade sharing agreement for eight years. Twice before, voters had voted down the proposed consolidation of the two school districts.

In the two previous votes, the merger of the school districts was approved in the Battle Creek-Ida Grove school district, but failed in the Odebolt-Arthur school district. The school with the whole grade sharing had been referred to as OA-BCIG. This time the vote count was 540 in favor from Battle Creek and Ida Grove with 70 voters opposed to the school district merger.

Odebolt-Arthur voters approved the measure this time around with a vote of 418 yes votes, and 163 no votes.

(Radio Iowa)

A Union County teen was taken to the hospital in Creston to be checked-out, following a single-vehicle accident late Tuesday night. The Union County Sheriff’s Office says 16-year old Taylor Jean Buxton, of Creston, was traveling westbound in the 1100 block of 170th Street at around 11:50-p.m., Tuesday, when she lost control of the SUV she was driving. The 2006 Chevy Equinox came to rest on its passenger side in the south ditch. Authorities say loose gravel on the road played a role in the crash. There were no citations issued.

The damage was estimated at $6,000. Buxton, who was wearing her seat belt, was transported by her parents to the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston.