(Radio Iowa) – The Internal Revenue Service is looking for several people in Iowa — to pay them — not take money from them. Spokesman Chris Miller explains: “The I-R-S hopes to hire up to 150 new seasonal employees to work at our call center in West Des Moines,” Miller says. He says they are taking applications right now. “Both the seasonal and permanent employees at the call center will earn just under 17 dollars an hour. And seasonal employees generally will work the tax season from around March through September. And many return year-after-year to work these seasonal jobs,” according to Miller.

Miller says only one other tax center is hiring as many employees as the one in Iowa. “The call center employees will be reaching out to taxpayers across the country — not just in Iowa — to help them resolve unpaid tax bills,” Miller says, “by giving them the help and the tools to meet their responsibilities.” Miller says you don’t have to be an accountant to get one of these jobs. “Certainly we will train employees so they understand how to do the call center job. You do not have to have a financial background,” Miller says. “We base hiring on relevant work experience and education or a combination thereof. And so people should not think that they have to have special qualifications to apply for these jobs.”

He says you can apply on-line.”Anyone interested in working at the West Des Moines call center can go to U-S-A jobs-dot-gov, and search for open positions in the Des Moines area,” Miller says. The jobs will be open for applications until February 28th.

A woman from Adams County was arrested at around 5:30 this (Monday) morning, in Red Oak. 41-year old Joleen Mary Most, of Nodaway, was arrested in the area of Circle Drive and Summit Street, for Driving While Barred, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Most was transported to the Montgomery County Jail, and held on a $2,000 bond.

Firefighters from Anita responded at around 12:40-a.m. today (Monday), to a car fire. The blaze was reported just north of 207 Rose Hill Avenue. When firefighters arrived, the vehicle was already engulfed in flames. The fire was extinguished within 10-minutes. No injuries were reported. Additional information was not immediately available.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier) — Several people have been rescued after breaking through ice on Big Woods Lake in Cedar Falls. Authorities say rescue crews responded three times Sunday. In the first incident, other people in the area had already helped to safety three who’d broken through into the water while ice fishing. Rescue workers later returned to the lake after another person broke through, but he was able to get himself to safety.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that around 6:15 p.m., rescue workers were sent to help two teenagers. Rescuers donned buoyant suits and then used a sled to get the teens back to shore.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two people were arrested Sunday, following the execution of a search warrant at a residence north of Red Oak, in the 1600 block of Highway 59. Authorities say 59-year old Terry Joe Halvin, of Red Oak, was arrested on a Montgomery County felony warrant for Delivery of Methamphetamine. His bond was set at $100,000. And, 27-year old Johnathan Tyler McAlpin, of Red Oak, was arrested on a warrant for Violation of Parole. He was being held without bond, in the Montgomery County Jail.