A film that documents the dangers faced by one of the busiest fire fighting units in America will be showing in theaters across Iowa this month (April), including here in Atlantic. “BURN” follows Detroit’s Engine Company 50 as they battle both fires and city hall. John Jensen, a Des Moines firefighter who helped organize screenings of the film in a dozen Iowa cities, says Detroit has one of the highest arson rates in the world. “The economic downturn has left all these houses and buildings (in Detroit) abandoned and there’s people just going around setting them on fire,” Jensen says. “They have 500 structure fires a month.”

The firefighters in Detroit are put at an even greater risk due to a lack of funding and broken down equipment. Jensen film saw “BURN” while attending a conference in Phoenix. “It was very inspiring to me because, in the movie, one of the (firefighters) is injured in a wall collapse and he becomes paralyzed. They follow him through his rehab,” Jensen said. “It hit me right in the heart.”

Tickets to see “BURN” at theatres in Iowa are $15. A portion of the profits from the film will go the Leary Firefighters Foundation, an organization founded by actor Dennis Leary which purchases new equipment for firefighters. The film will be shown in Atlantic on April 24^th and 25^th, beginning at 7:30-p.m.

(Radio Iowa)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A monthly economic survey index for nine Midwest and Plains states jumped last month, suggesting improving economic growth for the region over the next three to six months.  The Mid-America Business Conditions index hit 58.2 in March, compared with 53.1 in February and 53.2 in January.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he credits the index jump to “the strongest new-orders growth in two years.”  The survey of business leaders and supply managers uses a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth while a score below 50 suggests decline for that factor.

The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

A public hearing is set to take place during the City Council meeting Wednesday evening in Atlantic, with regard to the issuance of a maximum of $7.28-million dollars in Sewer Revenue Bonds. City Administrator Doug Harris has previously reported to the Council, that current interest rates makes it beneficial to issue the bonds, rather than draw down the remaining $6.6-million from the State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) to finance the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The total amount of the issue is $7.28-million, according to Harris, because the City is required to establish a sinking fund which provides bond holders with some additional security, and, it will ultimately be used to pay off the final payments. Harris estimates a savings to the City of $23,500 per year for the first 17-years of the bond maturity structure, for an overall savings of $391,177.  The Council will consider a resolution to enter into a SRF agreement for the bonds, following the public hearing.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, will hold a public hearing as well, on the plans, specifications, estimated cost and form of contract for the Parks and Recreation Department’s Maintenance and office facility. As we reported last Friday, the Parks and Rec Board on Thursday, approved a base bid and alternate additions for the project, from Iron Specialties, of Atlantic, for $291,362. If the bid is approved by the Council following the public hearing, the project would be paid for using 2012 Bond proceeds.

The Council will also act on a resolution approving the contract and bonds for Dostals Construction Company, with regard to the Sunnyside Tennis Court reconstruction project, in the amount of $295,000. The revised start date for the project is May 1st, with completion expected by no later than July 31st. If the project is not finished, the contractor would be subject damages amounting to $500 per calendar day. The Council will also act on resolutions: approving the contract and bonds amounting to $227,538 for a sanitary sewer relining project; and the 2013 Street Improvement project, which amounts to slightly more than $1.75-million.

Prior to adjournment, the Council will enter into a closed session, as allowed by the Code of Iowa, Chapter 21.5 (i), which pertains to personnel and/or legal matters. The Atlantic City Council meeting begins at 5:30-p.m., Wednesday, at City Hall.