DES MOINES, Iowa – There are changing trends when it comes to the scourge of methamphetamine in Iowa, but the drug’s dangerous and deadly grip remains tight in communities across the state. Thanks to laws on psuedoephedrine and meth precursor ingredients, there has been a dramatic drop in the number of meth labs in Iowa, but Dale Woolery, associate director with the Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy, says the amount being smuggled in from Mexico is up – and it’s higher in purity.

“At 14.8 percent we’re at an all-time high in terms of the proportion of Iowans in substance abuse treatment saying meth is their number one drug of choice,” says Woolery.

According to Woolery, some 64,000 grams of meth have been seized by law enforcement this year, the most in nearly a decade. There’s also been a shift from traditional meth labs to what’s called the “one pot” method, where the drug can be made in a pop bottle with relatively common ingredients.

Meth’s powerful hook and devastating impact on users and families is especially stark when one looks at the courts and corrections. Woolery says more than half of Iowa’s drug-related prison admissions last year involved meth. There were also more than 1,300 cases of child abuse stemming from what’s called “drug endangerment.”

“Drug endangerment can be a child that’s in the presence of a meth lab,” he says. “You have all sorts of dangers with toxins, not to mention potential violent acts.”

This week marks Meth Awareness Week in Iowa.

(Iowa News Service)

The Atlantic City Council will meet Wednesday evening beginning at 5:30. During their session at City Hall, the Council will act on passing a Resolution approving the Fiscal Year 2015 Budget for the Atlantic Municipal Utilities. The City traditionally passes the AMU budget without issue, since AMU is accountable to the Utility Board of Trustees. The two principal executives of AMU, Steve Tjepkes and Jennifer Saathoff will be present to answer any questions the Council may have.

The Council will also act on approving the first reading of an Ordinance pertaining to the “Mowing of Properties”. Interim City Administrator John Lund has indicated habitual problems with lawn care have been a burden on the city’s financial and human resources, and the process outlined in the Iowa Code, which the City of Atlantic adopted wastes money on certified letters while allowing the problem to become a greater blight.

Mayor Dave Jones contacted officials with the City of Creston, and learned their Ordinance, which is legal, saves taxpayers’ money and aggressively deals with blighted lawns. The proposed Ordinance was reviewed by the Community Protection Committee on November 12th, 2014 and passed unanimously with the recommendation for approval by the City Council. City Attorney David Wiederstein has found everything to be in order and prepared the Ordinance as presented for the Council’s review and approval.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will enter into a Closed Session for the purpose of strategizing over the Collective Bargaining process with regard to the Union representing Road and Wastewater employees.The current collective bargaining agreement for those employees is scheduled to expire on June 30th, 2015. Lund says he’s met with Union representatives who have already presented their proposed contract agreement to the City. He’s prepared the City’s response in a proposal is ready for the Union, but needs the Council’s input before it is submitted. Iowa Code allows for the City Council to convene in closed session for strategizing on collective bargaining agreements.

A new survey of the CEOs of 25 of Iowa’s largest businesses shows most are predicting an increase in sales over the first half of 2015. Elliott Smith, executive director of the Iowa Business Council (IBC), says the survey also shows little movement in terms of capital spending and employment. “That’s been the story for most of this year — just good, solid, positive performance,” Smith said. “We’re hoping that’s what the first five or six months of 2015 have in store.”

The IBC survey finds 35-percent of the state’s largest business leaders expect “no change” in employment levels between January and June, while 15-percent forecast cuts to their workforce. “Maybe that’s a little indicative of some of the uncertainties we’re seeing in the agriculture sector right now, with the impact of commodity prices on farms and how that might be rippling into the non-farm segment of the state’s economy,” Smith said.

Only five-percent of the CEOs surveyed anticipate a decline in sales over the coming six months, while 75-percent predict an increase in sales. “When sales either maintain or move up, as it did this particular quarter, that is promising,” Smith said. “When sales are good and steady for a number of quarters, that gives businesses the confidence to invest in more machinery, build more buildings, expand, and hire more people, hopefully.”

The IBC’s overall economic outlook survey index for the fourth quarter of 2014 is 65 — which is the same as the third quarter and up three points (62) from one year ago.

(Radio Iowa)

A semi struck a bridge on Interstate 80 in Cass County early this (Tuesday) morning, but no injuries were reported. The accident happened on I-80 westbound about two-miles east of the Anita exit, at miler marker 72. According to dispatch reports just before one-a.m.,  the rig had entered the north ditch.

A Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy investigating the scene reported there was some damage to a bridge guardrail and some small pieces of concrete missing off the bridge from where the impact occurred, but there appeared to be no other structural damage.

An Iowa DOT Bridge Inspection Crew was expected to take a look at the structure later today. No other details are currently available.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A man has been rescued from the Des Moines River in central Iowa. The Des Moines Fire Department says emergency personnel responded to a report Monday afternoon about a man in the river near Sixth and Holcomb Avenues. Emergency personnel floated a boat to the man and used it pull him to shore. Authorities say the man did not follow instructions during the rescue, and at one point let go of a rescue device.

KALONA, Iowa (AP) — A man has been charged with vehicular homicide in connection to a car crash in eastern Iowa that killed a teenager. The Iowa State Patrol says 28-year-old Jeffrey Bulechek faces charges of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence and serious injury by vehicle. Court records do not list an attorney. Authorities say Bulechek failed to yield at an intersection before the crash. They say he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad is praising Gov. Chris Christie’s veto of a ban on crates for sows but says the New Jersey Republican’s action wasn’t influenced by the 2016 Iowa caucuses. Branstad called Christie’s veto on Friday of legislation outlawing gestation crates a “good decision.” Branstad says the veto allows farmers to protect young pigs from being crushed by heavy sows. Branstad said, “I give him credit for listening.”

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Dozens of people gathered at the University of Iowa Monday to join nationwide protests over the grand jury decision in the Michael Brown case in Missouri. Organizers say they want to “start a conversation” with authorities about how police officers treat minorities.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce invites you to experience the magic of Christmas at Santa’s Cabin this Thursday, December 4th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm in the Atlantic City Park. Share your holiday wishes with Santa while observing his new chair, hand built by local resident Steve Livengood. Santa’s Cabin will be open every Thursday from 5:30-to 7:30-p.m. through December 18th, sponsored by the Atlantic Rotary Club.

Santa’s cabin will also be open on Saturdays, December 6th from 3-to 5-p.m. and December 13th & 20th, from 1:30- to 3:30-p.m. Enjoy a stroll down Chestnut Street by horse-drawn carriage on Saturdays
in December, sponsored by First Whitney Bank and Wells Fargo. December 6th from 3-to 5-p.m. and Dec. 13th & 20th from 1:30-to 3:30-p.m.

For more information, contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017.