DES MOINES, Iowa – With the warmer weather that comes along with summer, so do the door-to-door solicitors. While many operate fairly and honestly, there are ways to spot those who are simply looking for a quick buck.

One red flag is the company that claims to have “extra” materials left over from another job nearby and can do the work right away at minimal cost. Don’t fall for it, said Dan Hendrickson, a communications coordinator for the Better Business Bureau, adding that professional contractors estimate the materials they’ll need for a project with great accuracy.

“If a company comes to your door and says, ‘Hey, we’ve got a bunch of leftover asphalt,’ chances are it’s a company that’s kind of flying by the seat of their pants, or maybe really doesn’t know what they’re doing,” Hendrickson said. “In many cases like this, we hear from customers who agree to work with them and then come back and say, ‘Well, the work is horrible. They charged me way more than they said they would – and now, I don’t know how to find them.’ ”

When dealing with a door-to-door solicitor, Hendrickson said, people always should ask for identification, verify the company and that the individual works for it, and inquire about his or her licensing.

He also cautioned people to be wary of high-pressure sales tactics, particularly in the wake of a storm that brings out bogus roofers and tree-removal companies, explaining that any paperwork that’s signed could be construed as a contract.

“Even if they just say, ‘Well, this will just kind of get us started to check out your roof,’ ” he said. “In some cases, we’ve had complaints where people say, ‘Well, now suddenly they’re (the contractor) saying it’s a contract’ – and in some cases, it actually is a contract. So, at that point, then people have a headache on their hands to try and straighten out.”

He also reminded people that it is, after all, their house – so if they don’t like where the sales pitch is going, they always can take a step back and close the door.

More information is online at bbb.org.

(Iowa News Service)

Police in Clarinda report there has been yet another escape from the Clarinda Academy. Officials said early this (Monday) morning, two white males left the facility on foot. One was wearing a white tee shirt. If located, do not approach the individuals. Instead, notify police immediately.

On May 23rd, three students escaped from the Clarinda Academy. They were captured and returned to the facility less than two-hours later.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

WESLEY, Iowa (AP) — Heavy rain fell on parts of north-central Iowa Sunday and several tornadoes were reported as storms moved across the mostly rural part of the state. The National Weather Service says tornadoes were reported in Kossuth, Worth and Cerro Gordo counties yesterday afternoon, but there wasn’t any damage reported immediately from those tornadoes. Forecasters warn that western and central Iowa may see severe thunderstorms overnight into Monday.

EXIRA, Iowa (AP) — Officials in western Iowa have set a nearly century-old elementary school on fire as they look to save money and offer training. About 100 firefighters from a dozen departments turned up yesterday in Exira to participate in the controlled burn. Most of the large brick building’s interior was burned within two hours. The building is located near the center of Exira, a small town about 60 miles west of Des Moines.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Cedar Falls police are investigating a shooting that left a 21-year-old man dead. Police say gunshots were reported around 1:30 a.m. yesterday. When officers arrived, they found Norman Gant of Waterloo laying in the yard with a fatal gunshot wound.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Tom Pernice Junior birdied the second hole of a playoff with Doug Garwood on Sunday to win the Champions Tour’s Principal Charity Classic. Pernice won for the third time on the 50-and-over tour, closing with a 3-under 69 to match Garwood at 12-under 204 at Wakonda Club.