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Atlantic Police report 4 arrests from Dec. 2nd through the 12th

News

December 21st, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Police Department says four people were arrested between December 2nd and the 12th. Several others cited into court and released.  Most recently:

33-year-old Tyler Mills, of Atlantic, was arrested December 12th for Stalking/3rd & subsequent offense, Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree; Providing False Information, and Interference with Official Acts. Officers cited and then released 42-year-old Heather Ott, on December 12th. Her citation was for Compulsory Education Violation/1st offense.

There were two arrests in Atlantic on Dec. 11th: 26-year-old Sergio Ramos, of Atlantic, was arrested for Violation of Probation; and, 23-year-old Fietko Ranu, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication.

Atlantic Police report also, 19-year-old Brianna Loving, and 18-year-old Zoey Hansen, both of Atlantic, were cited into court Dec. 10th, for Possession of Controlled Substance (marijuana)/1st Offense. The woman were released from the scene with their citations.

On December 9th, the A-PD arrested 18-year-old Efrain Sandiego, of Atlantic, for Public Intoxication.

On the 7th, 46-year-old Robert Loving, of Atlantic, was cited for Theft in the 5th Degree, and released. On the 3rd, 41-year-old Chad Wilcox, of Atlantic, was cited for two-counts of Theft in the 5th Degree. And, on the 2nd, 20-year-old Kayden Good, of Atlantic, was cited for Theft in the 4th Degree.

Iowa unemployment rate rises to 3.3% in November

News

December 21st, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s unemployment rate increased to three-point-three percent in November. That’s six-tenths of a percent higher than it was in July and the fourth consecutive month it has inched up. Beth Townsend, director of the Iowa Workforce Development agency, says there were about a thousand job losses in Iowa’s professional and business services sector in November — including a reduction in administrative support staff. “We also saw a number of people drop out of the workforce — about 6700 people between October and November. That was mostly due to retirements and students who willingly left the workforce,” Townsend says. “While we don’t like to see a reduction in our labor force, that number’s not overly concerning at this point.”

Just over 68 percent of Iowans who are 16 or older and actively seeking employment were working in November — that’s about five points higher than the national average. “Before the pandemic, we were at about almost 69% labor particiption rate and we’ve been over 68% for 2023,” Townsend says, “so we’re inching up and moving closer to pre-pandemic labor rate participation numbers.” There were about 100 layoffs in Iowa’s manufacturing sector in November, but Townsend says compared to the beginning of the year, there were about three-thousand more people employed in Iowa manufacturing by the end of November.

The most job GROWTH in November came in Iowa’s construction industry, which added 18-hundred jobs. “The good weather has certainly helped us out in that,” Townsend says, “and the hiring was primarily in commercial construction, so that was a good sign.” About a thousand jobs were added in the financial services sector in November. “Insurance and the financial industry are very key to the Iowa economy,” Townsend says, “and one of our bigger industries.” Townsend says 11-hundred people were hired in November to work in Iowa hospitals, nursing homes and other health care settings.

“Which is really good news for the health care industry because as you know they’ve had a difficult time hiring since the pandemic,” she says, “and they are up over 8500 jobs over the past 12 months.” The state’s IowaWORKS website lists 62-thousand job openings today. According to government data, more than one-point-six million people are working in Iowa. The national unemployment rate dropped to three-point-seven percent in November.

LARRY DEVIN, 73, of Atlantic [formerly of Lewis] (Memorial Svcs. 12/29/23)

Obituaries

December 21st, 2023 by Ric Hanson

LARRY DEVIN, 73, of Atlantic [formerly of Lewis], died Thursday, December 21, 2023, at Atlantic Specialty Care. Memorial services for LARRY DEVIN will be held 11-a.m. Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, at Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic. Roland Funeral Service in Atlantic has the arrangements.

Visitation with the family present is on Dec. 29th, from 9:30-a.m. until the time of service.

The family welcomes attendees to the church fellowship hall for a luncheon, following the service.

Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation.

LARRY DEVIN is survived by:

His wife – Sharon Mathias, of Atlantic.

Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

Former Iowa star T.J. Hockenson previews Vikings versus Lions

Sports

December 21st, 2023 by Asa Lucas

Former Iowa star T.J. Hockenson will go up against his former team on Sunday when the Minnesota Vikings host the Detroit Lions. The tight end spent his first three and a half years in the NFL with the Lions before being traded to Minnesota. He knows Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson well.

At 7-7 the Vikings are in the thick of the NFC playoff race.

Hockenson says the Vikings need a strong finish.

Because of a season ending injury to Kirk Cousins the Vikings have used four different starting quarterbacks this season.

Nebraska man arrested in Red Oak on warrant for Felony Assault & Felony Attempted Murder of a Peace Officer

News

December 21st, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Red Oak Police have arrested a man from Nebraska on felony warrants. 53-year-old Joshua Norman Fuller, of Lincoln, NE, was arrested a little after 8:30-a.m. today (Thursday), on a valid DCI (Dept. of Criminal Investigations) warrant for Class-D Felony two-counts of Assault on persons in certain occupations, and a Class-B Felony charge of Attempted Murder of a Peace Officer.

Fuller was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond.

Drought conditions continue during record streak

News, Weather

December 21st, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the current drought is the longest in Iowa since the 1950s, with abnormally dry and drought conditions extending into the 188th week in a row, according to the latest data available.Following the 16th driest November on record, precipitation for December is currently about 60 percent of average, which is normally 1.37 inches. Portions of southeast Iowa recorded above normal rainfall for the month, leaving most of the state with below average precipitation.

Depending on potential rainfall during the coming weekend, December could finish with average levels This would help stabilize, but not improve, drought conditions. Tim Hall, the Hydrology Resources Coordinator for the Iowa DNR, says “At this point, any moisture we get in the state will be helpful. With conditions as dry as they are coming out of 2023 there is a real concern for hydrologic conditions moving into 2024. Low stream flows and dry soil conditions could lead to water supply challenges in the coming year.”

However, the dry winter months will make drought recovery challenging. January is normally the driest month of the year in the state, with an average of less than one inch of moisture. Iowa State Climatologist, Dr. Justin Glisan says “Strong El Niño conditions are projected to persist through winter. In an El Niño winter, precipitation can be highly variable. Warmer than normal temperatures could result in more rain than snow during the winter months.” 

The Iowa Drought Team, made up of staff from the Departments of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and Natural Resources will continue to meet over the winter months to prepare for potential continuation and worsening of drought conditions. The next Water Summary Update, which will include a review of the 2023 conditions, will be published in January.

Farm Bureau Scholarship applications accepted now through Jan. 31, 2024

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 21st, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(West Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) will award 27 graduating high school seniors from Iowa (three from each of IFBF’s nine districts) a $2,500 scholarship each, renewable for four years (up to $10,000 per recipient). College and graduate students are not eligible to apply. IFBF President Brent Johnson says offering scholarships has been a long-standing program for the organization.

He says agriculture hinges on the passion and ingenuity of the next generation.

The scholarships give students interested in agriculture, but not sure which aspect they want to specialize in, the opportunity to explore the options.

Johnson says the scholarships aren’t just for farm kids.

Each of IFBF’s 100 county Farm Bureaus will select one application from their county to be considered for IFBF’s state scholarship.

To qualify for the IFBF scholarship renewal, the recipient must continue to meet the scholarship requirements annually. To learn more about IFBF eligibility requirements and guidelines, click here.

LARRY ALLEN, 79, of Logan (12-27-2023)

Obituaries

December 21st, 2023 by Jim Field

LARRY ALLEN, 79, of Logan died on December 19th at his home in Logan.   Funeral services for LARRY ALLEN will be held on Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Fouts Funeral Home in Woodbine.

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Visitation will be on Tuesday, December 26th from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Fouts Funeral Home in Woodbine.

Committal service will be at Wednesday, December 27th at 2:30 p.m. at the Union Cemetery, outside of Murray.

LARRY ALLEN is survived by:

Wife: Joelle Allen of Logan, Iowa

Children: Kimberly and Sean McIntyre of North Liberty; Krista Smith of Pleasant Hill; Kari Woodring of Independence, Kansas; Matthew and Anna Allen of Winterset

Sister: Patricia and Dan Burkey of Monroe, Washington

Sisters-in-law: Janet Harms of Wall Lake; Julie Huntley of Cheyenne, Wyoming

Hit-and-run in Glenwood causes $2,500 damage to an SUV

News

December 21st, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Police in Glenwood are investigating a hit-and-run property damage accident that took place sometime between 8-and 9-a.m., Wednesday (12/20/23). The owner of a 2013 Toyota RAV4 notified the police department about the incident, which took place in the parking lot the Glenwood McDonald’s restaurant. The SUV was parked in the lot earlier in the morning, Wednesday. When the owner came back, he noticed damage to the passenger side quarter panel of the vehicle, which – according to restaurant employees – was by a white truck that was pulling a horse trailer. The damage was estimated at $2,500.

Restaurant staff were contacted by Glenwood Police, who were expected to review surveillance images of the suspect vehicle.

3 arrested in Glenwood

News

December 21st, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Three people were recently arrested on separate charges. Today (Thursday, 12/221), 59-year-old Raymond Price, of Missouri Valley, was arrested for Possession of a controlled substance, and poss. of drug paraphernalia. His cash or surety bond was set at $1,300. There were two arrests Wednesday, in Glenwood: 42-year-old Crystal Rowland, of Glenwood, was arrested on a Mills County warrant for Failure to Appear. Her cash-only bond was set at $2,000. And, 35-year-old Brittany Baker, of Glenwood, was arrested for driving under suspension. She posted a $300 bond and was released.