Specialists with Iowa Workforce Development have been helping the workers at the Ferrara Candy Company in Creston after the announcement last week that the plant would close later this year. I-W-D’s Elizabeth Waigand says the good news is they have some time before the more than 200 workers are out of a job.

She says Ferrara won’t be closing until December and that makes it easier than if the company would have closed immediately. “Even though it is an unfortunate situation — it does give us and our community leaders time to plan.” Waigand says another positive factor is the state unemployment rate is low and many companies have been looking for workers to fill jobs. She says Workforce Development got calls soon after the Ferrara announcement from some 40 businesses who are interested in the company’s workers.

“We know that they have skill sets that other business are eager to take these employees on. But there will be people that may want to change their careers at this time of life,” Waigand says. She says workers who want to move in a different direction can get help with training to learn new skills. Waigand says she did a quick online search and found some 664 jobs available in the eight-county area, which means there are many opportunities available.

She says that number is actually higher than the listings as one company many be looking for five positions with the one listing. While the prospect of finding a new job looks good for the Ferrara workers, she says they will still be dealing with the emotional loss of a job they may’ve had for many years.

“If I lose my job, it’s not just losing some of my income. It’s also losing friends that I worked with for 10-plus years, you’re losing the routine of getting up every day and going to my job. It’s losing what you know how to do best — so that takes time,” according to Waigand. She says Workforce Development also helps the workers cope with they psychological impact of losing their job. Waigand says it’s something they talk about in the community and remind everyone about.

“Don’t expect people just to be on their top of spirits — because it takes time,” Waigand says. “We know that we are going to support these employees and find the next career that is right for them. But, it’s going to take time to cope with this.” Waigand says they have been meeting with the employees and will continue meeting with them and others in the community to prepare them for the plant closing.

(Radio Iowa)

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) — A new study says appearances can be deceptive — clear lakes can be among the most polluted. Scientists have long known fertilizer runoff from farm fields can fuel excessive algae growth, turning lakes the color of pea soup.

But a study of 139 Iowa lakes by the University of Minnesota Duluth and Minnesota Sea Grant finds that when lakes reach extremely high concentrations of nutrients, the water can be surprisingly clear. They found high levels of phosphorous and even higher levels of nitrogen in some.

They concluded that extreme nutrient levels killed the algae in the lakes, similar to how too much fertilizer applied on land can kill plants. Lead author Chris Filstrup tells Minnesota Public Radio it shows the need to measure nitrogen and phosphorous, not just water clarity.

Police in Council Bluffs, today (Tuesday), released images of a vehicle whose occupant or occupants is believed to have been involved in shooting incidents Sunday morning. The still-frame images are from surveillance video. They show a white GMC or Chevy Z71 extended cab truck. If you have seen a vehicle matching the images shown below, please contact Crime Stoppers at (712) 328-STOP (7867). Police warn you should not approach the truck or the occupants, who are considered to be armed and dangerous. (A summary of the original story about the incident follows…)

Council Bluffs Police are investigating a shots fired incident. Authorities say that at around 8-a.m. Sunday, officers responded to several 911 calls of shots being fired in the 600 block of Stutsman. A white, possibly Chevy, pickup truck was seen leaving the area at a high rate of speed. Upon arrival officers located several vehicles and a residence that had sustained damage. No injuries were reported. The area was closed off to traffic while Council Bluffs Crime Lab processed the scene and collected evidence.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports 36-year old Tanya Lynn Snyder, of Audubon, was arrested at around 11-p.m. Saturday, for Assault on a Peace Officer, and Interference with Official Acts. Snyder was arrested following an incident at the Audubon County Jail, after she was arrested by Audubon Police. Snyder was released from custody after appearing before a magistrate.

And, two people were arrested Monday night in Audubon County. 61-year old Douglas Duane Morgan, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at around 9-p.m. on a charge of Driving While Barred, following an incident that occurred near Leroy Street and South Park Place, in Audubon. Morgan was being held in the Audubon County Jail on $2,000 bond.

A passenger in the vehicle, 54-year old Virginia Katherine Raysbrook, also of Council Bluffs, was arrested on two Audubon County warrants. She was charged with Possession of Cocaine, following an investigation into an incident that happened in March, 2017, at a residence in Brayton. The incident remains under investigation. ‘

Raysbrook was also charged with 13 counts of Violation of a No Contact Order, stemming from an investigation into a violation that happened with an inmate at the Audubon County Jail. She was being held in the Audubon County Jail on $1,300 bond.

(12-p.m. News)

The Iowa Dept. of Transportation reports placement of an overhead sign truss near Interstate 29 in Sioux City will require closures of the southbound frontage road between Pierce Street and Floyd Boulevard between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, weather permitting. Traffic will be stopped for 20-minute intervals. Motorists approaching this area should drive with caution and be prepared to stop for traffic backups beyond the limits of the work zone.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports an Oct. 11th meeting to discuss a stormwater construction permit for a facility near Monona has been canceled. The DNR will continue to accept public comment through Oct. 20 on a stormwater permit for soil-disturbing activities during construction at the Walz Energy facility.

Written comments should be directed to Storm Water Coordinator, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 502 E. 9th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319; at joe.griffin@dnr.iowa.gov or fax at (515) 725-8202. People may also contact the Storm Water Coordinator at 515-725-8417.

A public hearing on the permit will be held later this fall.

A call about an assault Monday afternoon in Glenwood resulted in the arrest of a juvenile. Glenwood Police say the Mills County Dispatch Center received a call at around 4:15-p.m. Monday about an assault that took place at the Glenwood Lake Park. The victim reported that while exercising at the park, a male juvenile approached her and grabbed her buttocks. When the woman confronted the boy, he ran off and left a bicycle behind. The bike was determined to have been stolen.

Glenwood Police located the teen at around 6:30-p.m. He was taken into custody and later charged with Assault and Theft in he 5th Degree (Possession of Stolen Property). The juvenile’s name was not released because of his age.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Police say a Des Moines mother has been arrested after officers found her three young children alone outside their home, including one covered in feces and another with a full diaper. TV station KCCI reports that a 4-year-old boy was left in charge Monday of his 2-year-old and 1-year-old siblings. He’d taken them outside after their stove made a frightening sound when he tried to make breakfast. County records say Destinee Miller remains jailed Tuesday on child endangerment charges.

Officers say the house was littered with hundreds of mounds of dog feces. Miller later told officers she had left to take one of her dogs to a vet. State authorities have taken custody of the children.

(UPDATE: This service is not yet available in the following counties: Franklin, Hancock, Henry, Jefferson, Johnson, Lee, Marion, Monona, Plymouth, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Scott, Van Buren, Washington, Webster and Winnebago.)

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg today (Tuesday) announced Text-to-911, a new public safety tool, is available to Iowans.  Text-to-911 is a statewide system that allows cell phone users to send text messages to 911 in an emergency. Right now, 94 of Iowa’s 113 emergency call centers are able to accept text messages from at least one cell phone carrier. The remaining call centers are expected to have the capability by the end of the year.

Gov. Reynolds said “Text-to-911 is a prime example of how we’re using technology to make Iowa a safer place for everyone. Iowans are able to send a text to 911 when a voice call would put them in danger or when a medical condition makes it impossible for them to speak.” Lt. Governor Gregg said “For those unable to make a call to 911, the ability to send a text in emergency or life-threatening situations is invaluable.”

Text-to-911 is a nationwide initiative. The Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEMD) oversees Iowa’s 911 program and has worked with local public safety agencies and wireless carriers to build a statewide network and make Text-to-911 technology possible. In some areas of the state, not all cell service carriers have the necessary technology in place to send texts to the 911 call centers that are capable of accepting them. The providers are working to make this service available as soon as possible.

Residents in counties currently accepting texts to 911 can check with their carrier to find out about availability in their area. Six wireless carriers currently, or will in the near future, provide their customers with the ability to text 911. The carriers are: AT&T, iWireless, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon.

For more information on the Text-to-911 program, visit homelandsecurity.iowa.gov.

Police in Shenandoan report a vehicle stolen from Coin was recovered Monday and a suspect in the theft was taken into custody. 28-year-old Jason Lee Myers, of Clarinda, faces charges that include Possession of stolen property, and driving while suspended. Myers allegedly took a red 2001 Pontiac Grand Am from in front of a residence in Coin. The theft was reported late Monday morning.

Officers received information that the stolen vehicle was seen traveling south on Highway 48 from the Montgomery County line. The vehicle entered Essex and pulled into the Casey’s parking lot, where Myers was taken into custody. He was being held in the Page County Jail on $5,000 bond.