(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Business Council’s second-quarter Economic Outlook Survey shows great optimism among some of the state’s largest businesses. I-B-C executive director, Joe Murphy, says the survey continues a trend. He says it is the fourth straight survey where they have a positive trend. The report measures member expectations for sales, capital spending, and employment for the next six months. The answers are scored on a 100-point scale and the latest overall outlook index is 67.  “When you look at all of our indications, all of our sub-reports, everything is looking very, very strong,” according to Murphy. “Iowans continue to get vaccinated, people are coming back to work, businesses across the entire state are booming –whether that’s the large businesses we represent at the Iowa business council represent — or even small and mid-sized businesses as well. Things are going really well.”

Murphy says one key is that Iowa didn’t take the drastic measures during the pandemic that some other states took. “I think the fact that our state did not issue a mandatory shutdown was extremely positive. We’re seeing the results of that good decision-making being played out right now in the economy,” Murphy says. “The fact again that we projecting such a high-level of optimism in Iowa’s economic output represents that good timing. And I think other states, whether it be our neighbors, or other states across the country — those that did issue those shutdown orders are certainly not bouncing back as quickly as Iowa has.”

The optimism comes with continued concern about finding enough employees. “The workforce situation in Iowa has never been more acute. I think the fact that businesses are opening up and have been open for some time is good news. The fact that people in their personal lives are more engaging in the economy right now is exasperating this situation,” Murphy says. He says they will continue pushing to get more workers. “We need every single body that we possibly can to be employed. Iowa has had a consistent issue with that,” Murphy says. “We have a very low unemployment rate and a very high labor participation rate — which are very good things — but the fact is, we just need more people in this state. And so we need to encourage folks to come into the workplace, and then encourage people to come to Iowa to live and make a career.”

To see more of the Economic Outlook Survey — go to www.iowabusinesscouncil.org.

(Radio Iowa) – The U-S-D-A will spend half a BILLION dollars to help establish smaller-scale meat processing plants to compete with the four major corporations that dominate the industry. U-S Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the announcement in Council Bluffs. “It’s first and foremost going to create an opportunity to reverse what’s happening today out in the countryside where producers are having to sell their cattle at a loss, only to learn that processors end up taking that cattle and generating a profit,” Vilsack said. “It seems to me, in fairness, the profit ought to go both ways.”

Vilsack says spurring development of more meat processing facilities addresses some of the supply chain issues that cropped up as large pork, beef and poultry processing plants shut down early in the pandemic. In addition, Vilsack says smaller plants, closer to where animals are raised, give farmers more options for selling their livestock.  “It’s going to allow us to have greater price discovery because now we’ll have more markets to have information from,” Vilsack said, “so we’ll get a true sense of what the market is.”

The 500 million will be distributed as grants, loans and technical assistance. “We think there’s private investment interest in this. We think there’s philanthropic interest in this. We think there are state economic development resources that can be leveraged. There’s local government commitments that can be made,” Vilsack said, “so we’re not just talking about $500 million. We’re talking about the power of $500 million to stimulate interest.” Vilsack is also committing 100-million dollars in U-S-D-A funds for meat processing facilities with fewer than 500 employees, to reduce the meat inspection fees.

In addition, President Biden has signed an executive order calling for action on consolidation that not only limits where farmers can sell commodities, but has shrunk the number of companies selling things like seed and fertilizer.  “With the president’s executive order, we can move the bureaucracy more quickly because they understand that it’s not just secretarial priority, it’s not just a Cattlemen’s priority,” Vilsack said, “and in Washington, that makes a difference.” Vilsack says the goal is to draw a bright line and define what constitutes unfair competition in the agricultural sector.

“Making the burden of proving a violation a little bit more producer balanced than it is today,” Vilsack says. “When you say to prove a violation, you have to prove that the entire industry has been impacted, well, that’s virtually an impossible standard to meet, ok? So what we’re going to do is say, ‘That’s not the standard, should not be the standard,’ to give producers a fair shake.” Republican Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s glad the Biden Administration is beefing up enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act and he applauds Vilsack’s effort to make markets competitive for all Americans.

Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says while much remains unclear, he’s optimistic about the Biden Administration’s efforts to address anti-competitive practices in agriculture.

The CAM School Board will meet in a regular session Monday evening. The meeting starts at 6:30-p.m. in the CAM High School Superintendent’s Office. Discussion/Action items on their agenda include:

• FY2020 Audit Review (approve clearing inactive Activity accounts).
• Approval of Student Handbooks.
• ISAB Legislative Priorities.
• Approve: Out-of-State Trip – Football Camp; 500 Series Board Policies; Wellness Policy 507.9.
• Approve a request for transfer of funds from Activity Fund to General Fund.
• Approval of: Activity Fund Fundraisers; Disposal of excess vehicles; a School Resource Office (SRO) agreement; athletic Training Service, and approval of Sharing Agreements with Nodaway Valley.
• A Facility Update.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports two men were arrested Saturday. Authorities say 38-year-old Matthew Sherman Olson turned himself into the Page County Sheriff’ s Office. Olson was wanted on an active warrant. His bond cash-only bond was set at $1,000. And, 22-year-old John Edward Hyler was arrested Saturday for Eluding a Peace Officer, and Reckless Driving. His cash or surety bond was set $4,300.

Matthew Olson

John Hyler

A high speed chase of a motorcycle by authorities in Page County Saturday morning resulted the arrest of a man from Nebraska. Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports that around 9:55-a.m., officers with the Clarinda Police Department and deputies from the Page County Sheriff’s Department were involved in a high-speed vehicle pursuit that began at 12th & Washington Streets.

The chase began when a Clarinda Police Officer attempted to stop a 1992 Kawasaki motorcycle for failure to obey a stop sign. The driver of the motorcycle led officers on a high-speed chase through the east and south area of Clarinda.

The cycle was abandoned in the 100 block of N. 12th St., where the operator, 22-year old John Edward Hyler, of Norfolk, NE.,   fled on foot into a residence.  Hyler was apprehended a short time later. He was being held in the Page County Jail on two counts of eluding law enforcement vehicles and numerous traffic violations.

Reports have been forwarded to Page County Attorney’s Office for formal charging decisions.

Storms that spread from southeast into eastern Nebraska and western Iowa Friday night, swept south/south east into southwest and southern Iowa, bringing intense lightning, loud thunder, damaging winds, and heavy rain to some areas. In Atlantic, we received 1.22-inches of rain. There were some tree limbs down and brief, scattered power outages, but no immediate reports of structural damage.

Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Coordinator Doug Reed said on social media, Saturday morning, “We’re out conducting initial damage assessments, and we’d like to know what damage you have from last night. Go to report your storm damages at https://pcema-ia.org.” People in Council Bluffs and throughout the county are asked to report that information as soon as possible.

In Adair, 24-hour rainfall amounted to three-inches. The National Weather Service says 2.9-inches of rain fell 5 miles north of New Market, in Taylor County, and 1 mile south of Anita. At around 10:20-p.m. Friday, 1.5″ diameter hail (Ping-pong ball size) fell in Mount Ayr.

KETV in Omaha reports Omaha Public Power District officials said Saturday the storms which raked across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa early Saturday were among the most severe in recent history. While progress was being made, OPPD warned it may take multiple days for some customers to see service restored.

Wind gusts over 90 m.p.h. felled trees and snapped power poles, interrupting services to as many as 188,000 customers at one point. The storms damaged the electrical infrastructure serving Omaha’s wastewater treatment plan, forcing the city to dump untreated wastewater into the Missouri River for several hours. The plant was back on-line by 9:30 a.m. MidAmerican Energy also reported outages in its service area. 6,200 customers were without service in Council Bluffs early Saturday.

Winds were an issue across the area. At around 11:13-p.m., Friday, thunderstorm wind damage was reported by law enforcement in Harlan, with multiple trees down. Winds in excess of 60 mph were reported at around 12:06-a.m. Saturday, 11 miles north of Elliott. Thunderstorm wind damage was reported at around 1:10-a.m. Saturday two-miles west/southwest of Council Bluffs, where a semi was on its side.

Other wind/damage reports early Saturday, include:

12:06-a.m., 61 mph gust reported 11 miles E/SE of Hancock.

12:33-a.m.  2-miles E/NE of Council Bluffs, 58-mph wind gust (at the MESONET, or automated station)

12:35-a.m. 62 mph gust at the MESONET station 4 miles E. of Council Bluffs.

1:02-a.m. 80 mph wind gust 8 miles W/SW of Sidney (MESONET)

1:40-a.m. Saturday, 70-mph winds were reported one mile NE of Bedford, in Taylor County.

ANAMOSA – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports a correctional officer was assaulted by an inmate at the Anamosa State Penitentiary at approximately 2:27 p.m. on Friday July 9, 2021.  While an officer was supervising inmates, one inmate began assaulting the officer with closed-fist strikes. The officer used pepper spray and defensive techniques. When additional staff arrived, the aggressive inmate complied with directives in being restrained.

The officer  was initially examined by facility medical staff and was sent to the local hospital as a precaution. The officer has been released and has returned to work. The inmate was found to have not suffered any injuries.

The incident remains under investigation.

(Atlantic) – The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Rec Department is planning to hold two recreational days this week, to go along with the National Parks and Recreation Month Calendar they have put out. Parks and Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen says “On Wednesday July 14th, we will be offering a pool day with a lower entrance fee and some games to be played while enjoying the Sunnyside Pool. The other day is Friday July 16th from 9am-11am, we will be opening up our recreation shed with over 30 items for people to choose from and try out.”

If you have any questions, call 712-243-3542.

WOODWARD, Iowa – (July 9, 2021) – A powerful storm that moved through Mitigwa Scout Reservation near Woodward Friday prompted camp staff to declare a weather emergency and, for the first time, Scouts and leaders took shelter in new storm shelters installed following last year’s derecho. As the storm approached, camp staff activated the emergency weather safety plan, directing all on the property to take immediate shelter in one of seven concrete-fortified storm shelters throughout Mitigwa. More than 200 people sought refuge in the emergency shelters. The shelters were completed last month just before Mitigwa began its 99th continuous summer camp program.

“This was a dangerous storm that produced damaging winds and large hail,” Matt Hill, Mid-Iowa Council CEO said. “We’re very thankful for these new shelters and that no one was hurt.” The camp staff are assessing buildings and trees for damage at the 460-acre Scout camp. The August 10, 2020, derecho, which struck eight days after the last group of boys and girls left for the season, caused millions in damage to camp facilities and destroyed countless trees. Since then, Mid-Iowa Council built the seven storm shelters, replaced damaged roofs on dozens of buildings, cleared tons of fallen trees and branches and replaced the camp’s shooting range, which was destroyed.

Mitigwa storm 7.9.2021

Mitigwa Hail, 7/9/21

While the council funded the repairs through its post-derecho “Mitigwa Strong” fundraising campaign, it is still $672,000 dollars short of its fundraising goal, which includes adding more storm shelters, renovating, or replacing many camp facilities and replanting lost trees. “We hoped we wouldn’t have to use these new shelters, much less so quickly,” Hill said. “We can’t thank people enough for supporting us in our efforts to protect Scouts, families and staff who are here to enjoy a summer camp experience. Most importantly, all campers at Mitigwa are safe and sound thanks to these shelters.”

For more information about rebuilding Mitigwa contact Grant Reigelman, Director of Support Service, 515-266-2135 or Grant.Reigelman@scouting.org.  To donate to the Mitigwa Strong fund visit CampIowa.org/MitigwaStrong

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About Mid-Iowa Council, BSA Mid-Iowa Council serves more than 10,000 youth and families in 27 Iowa counties. The council supports programs for youth and Scout units that build character, train in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develop physical and mental fitness. ScoutingIowa.org

About Boy Scouts of America The Boy Scouts of America provides the nation’s foremost youth programs of character development and values-based leadership training, helping young people be “Prepared. For Life.” Scouting.org