(Radio Iowa) – State officials are asking the legislature to correct for an error in the formula that determines some property tax rates. Each year, the Iowa Department of Revenue makes a statewide calculation that affects property tax rates and the error is connected to what’s called multi-residential property. A 2013 law said apartment buildings, nursing homes and mobile home parks were no longer to be taxed as commercial property, but as multi-residential property.

Then, a 2021 law called for taxing those multi-residential properties at the same rate as single-family homes and condominiums. However, the law failed to adjust the statewide formula used to determine how much cities, counties and schools can collect in property taxes. The error means local governments would get less than expected from residential property taxes.

(Massena, Iowa) – While firefighters from Atlantic were battling a house fire this (Monday) morning, crews from the Anita, Cumberland and Massena Fire Departments were dispatched at around 11:38-a.m. to a reported machine shed fire at 73122 Oxford Road, north of Massena.

Additional information is currently not available.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports two separate accidents occurred January 26th, neither of which resulted in injuries. At around 12:20-a.m., a 2016 Volvo driven by 52-year-old Ahmad Ayyash, of Festus, MO, was traveling south on I-29, when the trailer began to fishtail and go into the ditch. The driver attempted to correct the skid, but his actions caused the semi to flip onto its side and slide across the road. The trailer ended-up in the ditch. The contents of the trailer spilled out, causing damage to a field fence.

And, at around 7-a.m. on Jan. 26th, a 2013 Fiat driven by 48-year-old Ann Biermann, of Chicago, IL, was found in a ditch at 56995 240th Street. No one was around the vehicle. A Sheriff’s Deputy determined through an investigation that the vehicle left the road and rolled once before coming to rest upright. While the deputy was on the scene, a man arrived and said his sister was driving the vehicle. He said she walked home, uninjured. The driver later reported the accident to the Sheriff’s Office and stated it had occurred at around midnight. She said also the car did not completely roll over, but did flip onto its passenger side before landing back upright.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests occurred over the past few days. There were two arrests last Friday (Jan. 27): 34-year-old Brendan Ryan Clark, of Carter Lake, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Perjury – False Affidavit/affirmation or Statement, and Falsh application for License or ID card. His bond was set at $6,000. And, 22-year-old De’Sean Maurice McVay, of Glenwood, was arrested on the 27th, at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office. He was taken into custody on a warrant for Failure to Appear on an original Violation of Probation charge, and OWI. Bond was set at $1,000.

On Jan. 26th, 43-year-old Marc Dale Farrell,of Pacific Junction, was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree, Obstruction of Prosecution or Defense, and Assault. His bond was set at $7,300. And, on Jan. 25th, 27-year-old Jayme Ilene Rowe, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Page County Sheriff’s Office, on a Mills County warrant for Violation of Probation. (Bond $15,000)

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports two arrests from the past week. 28-year-old Sebastian D. Borrowski, of Glenview, IL, was arrested following a traffic stop at around 4:47-a.m. on Jan. 25th, by Police in Stuart. His arrest for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense. A K9 search of his vehicle resulted in the recovery of multiple items of drug paraphernalia, and several THC wax containers containing THX wax. He was transported to the Adair County Jail and released later that same day on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

And, at around 1-p.m. on Jan. 26th, Police in Adair arrested 36-year-old Enemecio Escobar-Vargas, of Adair, for Domestic Abuse Assault w/bodily injury or mental illness/1st offense. The arrest was the result of a DHS investigation that determined the assault of a woman allegedly took place Jan. 24th in front of children in the residence. Escobar-Vargas was transported to the Adair County Jail and released the next day on a $1,000 cash/surety bond.

Sheriff Vandewater said also, 75-year-old Gary Francis Beaman, of Fontanelle, was cited by Greenfield Police, for PCS-Marijuana/3rd offense, and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia. He received his citation following a traffic stop on a vehicle with no functional rear lights. A subsequent, probable cause search resulted in the discovery of a marijuana pipe, residue, and two baggies with the odor of marijuana. Beaman was released from the scene with his citation.

And, 34-year-old Matthew Lloyd Stevens, of Lewis, was being temporarily held in the Adair County on behalf of Cass County, on Cass County charges only.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Fire Department personnel were called to the scene of a house fire a little before 10-a.m. today. The first crews arriving a 901 Birch Street reported a “working fire,” and requested additional personnel. Mutual aid was requested from Marne and Lewis Fire, for their equipment and manpower, as well. Thick, gray-black smoke continued to pour from the home, as of the latest observation at 10:40-a.m. (Ric Hanson, Photos)

Heavy flames were still visible as of 11:50-a.m., according to scanner traffic.

The fire is believed to have started in the basement. Additional details are unavailable at this time.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A collision between an SUV and a pickup truck late Saturday morning, in Red Oak, caused a total of $7,000 damage, but no one was injured. According to Red Oak Police, the accident happened at around 11-a.m. In the 500 block of 8th Street.

Authorities say a 2018 Jeep Wrangler traveling northbound on 8th, and driven by 52-year-old James P. Corliss, of Red Oak, was backing out of a driveway, when he failed to see an approaching 2015 Ford pickup, driven by 76-year-old William H. Morris, of Red Oak, Likewise, authorities say, Morris didn’t see the SUV in-time to avoid the collision.

The driver’s side rear corner of the Jeep struck the pickup in the middle of the passenger side. No citations were issued. Both vehicles were driveable, following the collision.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Officials with the U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, report 32-year-old Robert Sherman Kerber, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced on January 25, 2023, to 60 months in prison following his plea of guilty to Receipt of Child Pornography. Kerber will be required to register as a sex offender and serve five years of supervised release following his release from prison. Kerber was also ordered to pay restitution.

In May 2020, a social media application sent a cybertip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding an account that uploaded images of child pornography. The cybertip was referred to Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children and the Council Bluffs Police Department started an investigation. The investigation led to a search warrant at Kerber’s residence. A forensic analysis identified that Kerber received and possessed numerous images and videos of child pornography.

The investigation was conducted by the Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Council Bluffs Police Department, the United States Secret Service National Computer Forensics Institute who provided training and equipment and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nationwide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – State Auditor Rob Sand today (Monday) urged community school districts (CSDs) and employees to put their attention on the collection, handling, and disbursement of student activity funds. These funds are collected through student-related activities such as admissions, fundraising events, or other co-curricular or extracurricular activities. “We are issuing this advisory because we have seen a substantial amount of misuse of student activity funds, as well as a general misunderstanding of how these funds should be collected and disbursed in accordance with Iowa law,” said Auditor of State Rob Sand. “This serves to remind school district boards of directors, faculty, and staff that student activity funds are public funds, are the property of the school district, and must be used to benefit the public.”

Student activity funds are governed by Iowa Administrative Code, chapters 281 and 282. In addition, the Iowa Department of Education (DOE) updated its guidance on student activity funds in a Student Activity Fund Handbook of Frequently Asked Questions released on March 21, 2022. The DOE guidance was reviewed by the Auditor of State Office and the Iowa Attorney General’s Office.

In the last decade, the Iowa Auditor of State Office has conducted special investigations on the use of student activity funds in 15 CSDs. The special investigations identified $268,539.16 of student activity funds that were not deposited, or were improperly deposited, collected, or disbursed. The special investigations also identified improper use of CSD property, and in some instances, the organizations supported by student activity funds were not affiliated with the CSD (Table 1).
Table 1
Misused Student Activity Funds
Improper Disbursements
$ 65,041.74
Unsupported Disbursements
22,470.83
Undeposited Collections
68,649.95
Estimated Undeposited Collections
2,831.00
Uncollected Facility Usage Fees
50,400.00
Improper Deposits
48,541.78
Improperly Handled
496.00
Other Losses
10,107.86
Total Misused Funds
$ 268,539.16

The investigations also identified bank accounts held outside of the CSD which were administered by employees for student activities such as wrestling, basketball, and other sports. In some instances, the account was operated as a separate entity to provide camps not associated with the CSD. The CSD should ensure it has policies and procedures in place which protect the CSD from any liability if the CSD allows these organizations to use CSD facilities. The policies should also include fee schedules for the use of CSD facilities and equipment if deemed appropriate by the Board.

The Auditor of State Office recommends CSD boards of directors review the DOE guidance with their faculty and staff on an annual basis. The Auditor of State Office is also sharing the guidance with the associations and agencies that represent or routinely advise school boards and educators in Iowa.