OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A survey shows some bankers had a dire view of the rural economy in their 10 Western and Plains states. A report released today (Thursday) says January’s Rural Mainstreet Index plunged to 34.8 from 41.5 in December. It’s the lowest overall index figure since August 2009. Survey officials say any score below 50 on any of the survey’s indexes suggests that factor will decline.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the monthly survey of rural bankers and says it’s the fifth straight month for a decline. He again blames lower prices for agriculture and energy commodities and downturns in manufacturing.

The farmland and ranchland price index dropped to 23.9 in January from December’s 28.8. Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

Officials with the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign have announced actress Jamie Lee Curtis will stump for the Democrat candidate during stops in Iowa, beginning this Sunday. Curtis will discuss what’s at stake for Iowa women in the upcoming election, and highlight Mrs. Clinton’s “Lifelong record of fighting and delivering real results for women and girls, both at home and around the world.”

Curtis will hold a campaign organizing event 1-p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24th, at the Hillary for Iowa Office at 1851 Madison Avenue, in Council Bluffs. A similar event takes place 4-p.m. Sunday at Clinton’s campaign office in Carroll (223 W. 6th St.).

Other events featuring Jamie Lee Curtis are scheduled to occur in Waukee, Ames, Newton and Des Moines. The events are free, but reservations are required. You may do so by going to Mrs. Clinton’s website (https://www.hillaryclinton.com/events/) and selecting the event location you wish to attend.

(This story replaces 2 separate stories containing the same info.)

Two men were sentenced on drug charges in U-S District Court Tuesday, in Council Bluffs. The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports 47-year old Manuel Montejano Pinon, of Des Moines, and 32-year old Michael Arnold Ramirez, of Los Angeles, California, were sentenced by Senior United States District Court Judge James E. Gritzner. Pinon will serve a little more than 13 ½ years in prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and 5-years in prison for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The two prison terms were ordered to be served consecutively. Ramirez received a sentence of slightly more than 12-years in prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and money laundering to conceal drug proceeds.

Acting United States Attorney Kevin E. VanderSchel says Pinon pled guilty to the charges on September 23rd (2015). According to the plea agreement, Pinon was involved in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the Southern District of Iowa. As part of the conspiracy, Pinon delivered money from the sale of methamphetamine to the methamphetamine suppliers. Pinon also possessed a firearm to further his involvement in drug trafficking.

In Ramirez’s plea agreement, he acknowledged he was involved in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the Southern District of Iowa. As part of the conspiracy, in April of 2015, Ramirez traveled from California to Iowa for the purpose of transporting drug proceeds back to California. Ramirez also concealed the drug proceeds in order to disguise the location and source of the proceeds of the drug conspiracy.

Both men were sentenced by Senior U-S District Court Judge James E. Gritzner. Their cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. Both cases were prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

(9-a.m. News)

The Atlantic High School (AHS) Industrial Technology Department is in the process of investigating the possibilities for developing a “hands on” building trades program for high school students. Speaking earlier this week on KJAN’s “Heartbeat Today” show, Derek Bair, Industrial Tech teacher, says the “Project Renovate” program would initially be for juniors and seniors.

A course curriculum has been developed, and students will have the opportunity to register for the class during high school registration in February. Already, 60 students have expressed interest in the high school credit program.  A steering committee consisting of local contractors, carpenters and land developers has been providing program guidance and development. Bair says they will become an integral part in assisting teachers and students.

Bair says he’s currently looking for possible construction projects in Atlantic. The committee has discussed renovating an entire house or working on a new construction project that might include home additions, remodels, and renovations of local residences. He says they’re not looking for small projects like bathroom remodels or closet installation, because those types of projects won’t last an entire year. Anyone having a home construction project that might be qualified for “Project Renovate,” should contact Derek Bair at 712-243-5358, or e-mail dbair@atlanticuaschools.org.

Owners would be responsible for the cost of materials and other fees that might apply. All projects must be within the City Limits of Atlantic. The steering committee will meet in February to discuss possible construction projects.

The Internal Revenue Service has launched its “Free File” service for the 2016 tax season. Christopher Miller, the I-R-S spokesman for Iowa, says there are a few changes to the program this year. “The income level for using the free tax software has increased to $62,000 this year,” Miller says. “That’s a $2,000 increase over last tax season so more families can use the program.” Also new this year, several software providers are offering the easy importation of Form W-2 information, which can help reduce errors.

“So now, your W-2 info can be immediately downloaded into your tax software, making the whole process easier and more attractive,” he says. In addition to being more accurate, Miller says filing taxes electronically increases the speed at which refunds are processed, if you’re due money back.

“Most of us can now go to the IRS website, IRS.gov, and file our taxes for free using brand-name tax software,” Miller says. Free File is available at irs.gov\FreeFile. The federal tax filing season began on Tuesday, when the IRS began accepting returns.

(Radio Iowa)

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A Union County man was arrested Wednesday on an Iowa Department of Corrections warrant for Parole Violation on an original charge of Domestic Abuse Assault/2nd offense. 45-year old Skeet Miller, of Creston, was taken into custody at the Union County Jail, where he was being held without bond.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A July trial has been scheduled for a 30-year-old man accused of killing another man in the northwest Iowa community of Sloan. The trial of Timothy Schroeder had been set to begin Feb. 16, but Judge Jeffrey Neary agreed to give defense attorneys more time to prepare. The trial now is scheduled to begin July 12 in Woodbury County District Court.

Schroeder has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge in the Jan. 9, 2015, shooting death of 29-year-old Dustin Wilder at Wilder’s home in Sloan.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Whole grade sharing between the Adair-Casey and Guthrie Center Community School Districts is one-step closer, after the Adair-Casey School Board Wednesday night approved the agreement, which now must be approved by the Guthrie Center School Board. Action on finalizing the agreement will come during a meeting of the Guthrie Center Board on January 27th.

The agreement stipulates each district would maintain its own kindergarten-6th grade program. 7th and 8th grade students would attend class at Adair-Casey. 9th-12th graders would attend high school in Guthrie Center. In addition, the districts would share all activities in grades 7-12, including athletic programs. All high school competitions will take place in Guthrie Center and the shared school districts will jointly compete in the West Central Activities Conference.

Approval by both districts would mean the agreement becomes effective July 1st, 2016. School officials say assuming the agreement is finalized, they hope to have open house events organized by students, so that students from both districts can check out their future educational facilities and meet their new classmates.