IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The University of Iowa wants its students stressed about final exams to relax. To that end, the school is offering them free breakfast, yoga classes, massages and other tension-relieving perks. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that the stress-buster activities at the Iowa Memorial Union began over the weekend and continued Monday morning with a pancake breakfast. Throughout the week, students will find quiet study spots, free snacks and coffee in addition to yoga and massages.

Angie Reams is the University of Iowa’s assistant to the dean for student care initiatives. She says there is also help for those students feeling more than just stressed. For students feeling overwhelmed, there is University Counseling Services and other programs.

A new federal report ranks Iowa 7th in the country for the percentage of residents who spend time volunteering. Wendy Spencer is CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency in charge of volunteering and service. She notes the most popular volunteer activity in Iowa involves donating food or preparing meals for the needy. That’s also the case for most other states.  “In Iowa, it’s 32-percent, so that’s very high and that’s one of the top ways people can help,” Spencer says. “I think, in general, Americans don’t like the idea of anyone going hungry.”

Utah is once again ranked as the top state for volunteerism. Idaho, Minnesota, Kansas, Wisconsin and Nebraska round out the top six, followed by Iowa. Spencer says there are a number of reasons why states with a lot rural communities tend to have higher volunteer rates. “For example, low commute times…so, it’s easier to get around. There are higher densities of nonprofits, higher education levels, and high levels of home ownership — that could indicate to us that people are settled in to their community and they really care. They want to make sure their community is strong and vibrant and they want to help,” Spencer says.

The report states slightly more than 1 in 3 Iowans (34.7%) volunteered in 2013. The study also calculated the economic value of those volunteers.  “Of the nearly 800,000 volunteers serving statewide, the value of that is $1.5 billion in economic value to the charities, nonprofits and faith organizations,” Spencer said.

Nationally, one in four Americans volunteered last year. The report found those between the ages of 35-44 had the highest volunteer rate, while those over the age of 65 spent the most time volunteering.

(Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public about a recently reported scam. Officials say a person received a letter that claimed to be from Cigna Dental/Health & Life Insurance. The letter said the woman had won a sweepstakes, and included a check, along with a request for the recipient to put the check in her bank account, and send funds back to the sweepstakes to cover the cost of fees.

The Sheriff’s Office says while Cigna is the name of a valid company, the letter is a scam. They remind you that when a company asks YOU to send THEM money in order to receive money, it’s always a scam.

Sheriff’s officials in Cass County report the arrest of two Atlantic men. 42-year old Michael Chad Barnes was arrested Sunday, on a charge of OWI/1st Offense. And last Thursday, 31-year old Jeffery Leroy Carpenter was arrested on a District Court warrant for Failure to Serve Jail Time. Carpenter was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held until sentence is served. Barnes was released from the jail later in the day, Sunday, on his own recognizance.

Two separate accidents in Union County Monday resulted in one person being transported to the hospital in Creston. Authorities say at around 4:45-p.m., a 2005 Pontiac driven by 45-year old Rodney Taylor, of Corning, was traveling westbound on Highway 34 in Creston, when Taylor apparently blacked out, due to coughing and choking.

His car left the road and went over a curb and grassy area into a parking lot, where it continued at a high rate of speed, and hit another curb on the west side of the parking lot. The vehicle launched into the air and landed on the side of a ditch. Taylor suffered from chest pain and was transported to Greater Regional Hospital in Creston. His vehicle sustained $10,000 damage, and was considered a total loss.

The second accident happened at around 7-p.m., when a vehicle driven by 19-year old Jess Haryle, of Creston, ran into a legally parked 2002 Ford Ranger pickup truck. The accident occurred as Haryle was traveling south on Division Street, in Creston. The man told authorities he didn’t see the pickup before running into the back of the vehicle. Damage from the accident amounted to $3,000. Authorities cited Haryle for Striking an unattended vehicle.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will meet 8-a.m. Wednesday, in Greenfield. During their regular session, the Board will act on easement contracts for a bridge project, and approve a new hire for the Sheriff’s Department. Earlier this month, Sheriff Jeff Vandewater was sworn into office, and the Board approved the hiring of Ron Hrubtez as Chief Deputy Sheriff. His first day on the job will be December 31st.

In Cass County, the Board of Supervisors will meet at 8:30-a.m., Wednesday. On their agenda is an annual report from Weed Commissioner Larry Randel, who was unable to make it to last week’s meeting.

(Update 11:50-a.m.)

Fire fighters from Adair, Exira and Anita responded to the scene of a structure fire northwest of Adair, this (Tuesday) morning. Adair Fire Chief Jordan Smith told KJAN News a female in the residence at 3025 Union Avenue (about 5-miles northwest of Adair) was awakened by the smell of smoke at around 8-a.m., and saw the garage on fire. There were no smoke detectors in the home. The woman called 9-1-1 and escaped without injury along with two dogs.

When the first fire crews arrived on the scene, the garage, which was connected to the home by a breezeway, was fully engulfed in flames. The garage was a total loss, while the home sustained some flame and smoke damage. Law enforcement was called to control traffic at the scene because the thick, dense smoke was crossing the road.

Smith said a wood burning stove in the garage, or an electric fan circulating air in the garage, or a combination of the two, may have caused the blaze, but the incident remains under investigation. No injuries were reported.

He said Mother Nature helped keep the flames from destroying the house, by blowing the wind away from the structure. Crews were on the scene for about three hours.