DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Iowa-made craft beers are continuing to surge in popularity even as general beer sales decline, according to a new report from state alcohol regulators. The amount of such beer sold in Iowa increased 11 percent from fiscal year 2017 to 2018, to nearly 685,000 gallons, according to the Dubuque Telegraph Herald . The new numbers were released this week by the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division. The market has seen strong growth for the second consecutive year. Iowa breweries enjoyed a 9.7 percent increase from fiscal year 2016 to 2017.

The report notes that the craft beer growth happened despite a 2 percent decrease in overall beer sold in the state from fiscal year 2017 to 2018. About 71 million gallons were sold in Iowa in the past fiscal year, which ended June 30.

According to the report, total liquor sales totaled about $320 million in fiscal 2018 — up about 4.7 percent from the prior fiscal year and continuing a growth trend since at least fiscal 2013. State data show that the most-sold liquor last year was Black Velvet Canadian whiskey, with nearly 142,000 cases sold in the state. It marked at least the seventh consecutive year that it had been the top seller. Fireball cinnamon whiskey was a close second, with more than 134,000 cases.

DENISON, Iowa (AP) — A western Iowa town has hired a Des Moines law firm for an investigation related to three top city employees who were put on administrative leave.

The Sioux City Journal reports that the Denison City Council voted 4-1 on Friday to approve the contract. Mayor Jared Beymer has declined to disclose the reasons for placing City Manager Terry Crawford, City Clerk Lisa Koch and Fire Chief Cory Snowgren on leave Tuesday.

He also declined to say what the law firm will be investigating. In a statement, the city described it as a “personnel investigation.” The hiring came over the vociferous objections of Councilman John Granzen Sr., who said he was outraged at being kept in the dark about the investigation.

A red, white and blue drop box for unwanted U-S flags at the American Legion Memorial Building (The Armory at 201 Poplar Street), in Atlantic, has collected nearly 10,000 flags since it was installed in June, 2004 by the Atlantic Rotary Club. Rotary member Dolly Bergmann explained why the Rotary got involved in the process. She said Kevin Allen was a member of the Club when he noticed a similar box while traveling, on vacation. The boxes allowed people to drop-off flags for proper disposal. Allen brought the idea home and the Rotary determined it was a project they could undertake. Once they obtained a mailbox, it was painted.

Bob Boots spearheaded the effort to repair any flags that could be repaired and put back into service. The remainder were disposed of in the proper manner. Bergmann said the first year, more than 860 flags were dropped into the box. Boots not only took care of the flags as they came in, he kept meticulous records about them. She said without the information he’s kept track of, they would never have known how many flags there were.

Old Glory (The American flag), represents most of what are submitted for repair or disposal, but there are occasionally foreign and POW/MIA flags. Not all of them can be repaired and turned-over to local groups or organizations, though. About five-percent are repairable. And, if you’ve ever seen the Boys Scouts walking in an Atlantic parade with a huge flag, you can thank Bob Boots for making that possible. He spliced two large flags together to make the one giant flag.

If you have a flag that is tattered or torn, or even want to dispose of a good, gently used flag, head on down to the American Legion Memorial Building in Atlantic, and place it inside the outside mailbox specifically marked for flag drop-offs.

(Corrects victim’s name to Christian Carter. Apologies for the confusion) — A collision between a car and an SUV this (Friday) morning, in Page County, has resulted in a fatality. The Iowa State Patrol reports the crash happened at around 8:20-a.m. on Highway 2, as a 1993 BMW 500 driven by 22-year old Christian Carter, of Shenandoah, was traveling westbound, and passing in a No Passing Zone. The car collided head-on in the eastbound lane with a 2017 Ford Expedition driven by 55-year old Kelly Johnson, of Shenandoah. Both vehicles came to rest on the eastbound lane of Highway 2.

Carter, who was not wearing a seat belt, died from his injuries at the Shenandoah Medical Center. Johnson was injured in the crash and also transported to the Shenandoah Medical Center. Authorities say he was wearing his seat belt. The accident remains under investigation.

(12-p.m. News)

Some of the “Lucky 13” survivors of a flood that impacted Exira in July, 1958, returned to the area earlier this week, to recount their experience. Kenn Shepherd was just six and one-half years old, when his parents, Don and Janette Shepherd, and his two younger brothers, Keith and Steve were traveling along Highway 71 on their way to Minnesota, July 2^nd, 1958. Kenn said Tuesday, that a heavy thunderstorm erupted on that date, and the road ahead became difficult to see. Their vehicle soon became caught up in rapidly rising flood waters. Firefighters were evacuating the City of Exira at the time. The brothers and their parents along with eight others, spent the night hanging onto a gravel truck as their own vehicle became engulfed in the flood. He said the firefighters were their heroes.

The firefighters came up with a way to keep the family and others safe. They had them up on the side of a gravel truck at a gas station. Another, similar truck was parked next to it, but it was overturned by the floodwaters and swept away. The truck Kenn and the others were on was watched over by firefighters, who made sure it wasn’t hit by debris. Even though it was a scary experience, Kenn Shepherd says the adults around him did everything possible to keep him and his brothers safe.

He said they could only get a glimpse of how bad the situation was, during flashes of lightning. The rain continued until sunrise that day. Keith Shepherd was only four-years old when the event was unfolding. He doesn’t remember much, and his dad hardly ever talked about the incident, but during their visit to Exira this past week, they heard stories about the event. He says talking with persons who saved newspaper articles about the flood brought a whole new perspective to what he and others went through.

Steve Shepherd was two-years old, so he doesn’t remember or think about. He said he was just thankful for those who were there,” and saved his family. He said he senses most people in the area don’t talk about it much, but will open-up if they’re asked. Kenn recounted too, how, after they were rescued, the Salvation Army and others provided clothing and other needs. Their family stayed at a church parsonage in Atlantic. The family’s 1952 Buick Special was found full of river mud and farm soil, and was a total loss. Kenn said the experience solidified his faith in God and his faith in others. 19 individuals lost their lives that night in 1958.

The Atlantic Police Department reports four arrests. Today (Friday), 36-year old Justin Lawton, of Carson, was arrested on a Cass County Sheriff’s warrant for Theft in the 4th degree. On Thursday, 38-year old Tabitha Clark, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Violation of Probation, and 30-year old Joshua Belt, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Theft in the 3rd degree.

Last Monday (Dec. 17), Atlantic Police arrested 48-year old David Boggs, of Council Bluffs, for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp, and Keeping a premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance. All suspects were booked-into the Cass County Jail.

In an update to an earlier report, officials with the Atlantic Police Department said today (Friday), that a woman from Elk Horn was transported to the hospital following an accident Wednesday afternoon. a vehicle driven by Marjean Pedersen, of Elk Horn, was traveling east on 10th Street at around 3:30-p.m., at the same time a vehicle driven by Debra Nelson, of Atlantic, was traveling west on 10th. When Pedersen attempted to make a left turn onto Walnut Street, her SUV struck the Nelson SUV. Pedersen was taken to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by Medivac Ambulance, for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. She was cited for Failure to Yield making a left turn. Damage from the collision amounted to $12,000.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Davenport’s mayor says the Quad-Cities area needs a juvenile assessment center that offers offenders and their families easy access to the resources they need. Mayor Frank Klipsch told the Quad-City Times that an initial assessment could be made at the center instead of a jail. He says incarceration oftentimes only teaches youth “to be better criminals.” The announcement comes after a months-long plan to reduce youth violence and car thefts. The effort included a community-wide study from juvenile criminal justice experts, law enforcement leaders, social service providers and public officials.

Juvenile justice became a top issue this the summer after a spike in motor vehicle thefts and the high-profile shooting death of Jovantia Jones, a teenager whose killing remains unsolved. City and community leaders held a series of discussions that resulted in the mayor’s report.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Democratic challenger to a northeast Iowa House seat who lost the election by nine votes saying the appropriate challenge should be taken up by the House under Iowa law. Democrat Kayla Koether asked Judge Scott Beattie to order election officials to count 29 mailed absentee ballots that did not have postmarks but did have postal bar code markings that revealed they were mailed on time.

Incumbent Republican Michael Bergan leads Koether by nine votes in the northeast Iowa district and counting the absentee ballots could change the election outcome. Beattie says in a ruling today (Friday), that the appropriate election challenge under the Iowa Constitution and law to a legislative seat is to the lawmakers themselves and not the court. That means Koether may proceed by notifying Bergan and Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate she’s contesting the election. Then, the Iowa House, currently led by Republicans will act as a court to consider evidence and decide whether to count the ballots.

DES MOINES, IOWA – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 2.4 percent in November. The rate tied Hawaii for the nation’s lowest preliminary state jobless rate, and was one-half percentage point lower than one year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate remained at 3.7 percent in November. The number of unemployed Iowans decreased to 40,600 in November from 41,200 in October. The current estimate is 8,600 lower than the year ago level of 49,200. The total number of working Iowans increased to 1,648,900 in November. The figure was 1,900 higher than October and 23,300 higher than one year ago.

Leisure and hospitality pared the most jobs this month (-1,400) with losses being heaviest in food services and drinking places. Accommodations and food services shed jobs in six of the last seven months in Iowa. All other sector losses were small in nature and included construction, which lost jobs for the first time since January (-600). Also declining this month were education and health care (-600) and information services (-500). Alternatively, no sector added more jobs this month than manufacturing (+1,100). Gains were strongest in durable goods factories, specifically agriculture, construction, and mining machinery manufacturing shops. Through 2018, manufacturing has overwhelmingly trended up; losses occurred in only two months of the year and accounted for just 200 jobs lost.

Despite continued weakness in retail, trade, transportation, and utilities gained 500 jobs in November. The advancement was mostly due to stronger than expected hiring in transportation industries. Smaller gains this month included professional and business services (+300) and financial activities (+200). Annually, total nonfarm remains 15,900 jobs beyond last November’s mark. At this point, most all of the annual increase stems from goods-producing sectors. Manufacturing is now 8,600 jobs higher than last November. Construction remains up 6,000 jobs. The professional and business services sector has added 2,100 jobs to lead all service sectors.

Visit www.iowalmi.gov for more information about current and historical data, labor force data, nonfarm employment, hours and earnings, and jobless benefits by county.