The Southwest Iowa Association of Realtors says over the last year, home sales have increased eight percent in Southwest Iowa, and to continue reaching that goal, the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) and the Iowa Association of Realtors (IAR), have partnered with the Southwest Iowa lenders and Realtors to promote The Meaning of Homeownership Contest. The effort among lenders and Realtors is to show Iowans their support for homeownership and the importance of keeping homeownership on the rise.

The social media contest consists of Iowa mortgage lenders and Realtors® asking their clients what homeownership truly means to them. Participants will redefine homeownership by writing a short phrase or word on a memo board and snapping a photo for entry. The contestant with the most votes in the Facebook contest will win a $1,500 gift card. Council Bluffs area residents are encouraged to visit a participating contest location for their chance to win. A full list of current contest locations is available at Foursquare.com/IowaFinance http://www.foursquare.com/iowafinance.

Contest entries will be voted on by the public July 2-15 at Facebook.com/IowaFinance<http://www.facebook.com/iowafinance>. The entry with the most votes will receive a $1,500 gift card and the lender and Realtors or real estate agent with the most combined votes will each receive a $2,500 community betterment grant. More information about the contest is located at IowaFinanceAuthority.gov/Contest<http://www.iowafinanceauthority.gov/Contest>.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Department is asking for your help in locating a man suspected of robbing a bank Monday morning, in Hamburg. At around 9:25-a.m., an approximately 30-year old black male entered the Great Western Bank in Hamburg, approached the teller, and demanded a plastic bag be filled with money. No weapon was displayed during the incident.

The suspect, who was described as being anywhere from 5-feet 6-inches to five-feet 8-inches tall, had a dark complexion, and was wearing: a white visor, aviator-style sunglasses…a white t-shirt…blue jeans, and white tennis shoes. He is believed to have left the scene with an undetermined amount of cash.

It’s thought he may have gotten away in a dark green, mid-90’s model 4-door Cadillac, with a tan vinyl top. The vehicle was last seen turning south on Interstate 29 at the Hamburg exit, shortly after the incident took place. Anyone with information about the incident, is asked to call the Fremont County Crimestoppers hotline, at 1-800-432-9240. You can remain anonymous, and still be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

(12:40-p.m. News)

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education is scheduled to meet Wednesday evening at the High School. During their 7:30-p.m. session, the Board will hear special presentations from Kipp Harris, with Brocker, Karns & Karns Insurance, with regard to Workman’s Comp Insurance, and, Jerry Purdy, with Design Alliance, who will provide an update on the Atlantic Middle School Project.

The Board will also act on approving General- and Special-Education Contracts, additional contracts and/or Letters of Assignment, Volunteer coaching positions, and resignations. In other business, the Atlantic School Board will act on approving: Registration fees for 2012-2013; Approval of fuel bids; Administrators’/Supervisor/Central Office Staff contracts for 2012-2013; A resolution for banking services and other matters.

The Board will discuss during their meeting, the 2012-2013 Technology spending plan, and review the District’s Insurance coverage. The meeting takes place in the Atlantic High School Media Center.

One person was injured in a semi rollover accident on Interstate 80 Saturday morning, in Pottawattamie County. The Iowa State Patrol say 35-year old Isaac Johnson, of Washington, GA, was attempting to re-enter the interstate off the rest area near mile marker 32 (about 2-miles west of the Shelby exit) at around 8:20-a.m., when the 2012 semi he was driving got to far off the right and slipped onto the shoulder. 

Johnson told deputies that as he was leaving the rest area, he was checking his mirrors and the semi was sucked off the shoulder and rolled on its side. The co-driver Darrell Henry, age and location was not given, was trapped inside the sleeper section of the semi. Henry was extricated by mechanical means before being transported by Life-Net Helicopter to the Creighton University Medical Center with what were described as incapacitating injuries. Johnson was uninjured in the crash. 

The truck, registered to USA Truck Inc., out of Burns Harbor, IN was totaled in the crash, with the damage estimated at $80,000.

An Atlantic teen was injured during a single-vehicle rollover accident northwest of Atlantic, this (Tuesday) morning.

Ford Ranger with extensive cab damage following rollover accident

The Iowa State Patrol reports 18-year old Branden M. Ballinger was traveling west on Highway 83 (the Marne Road) just before 10-a.m., when he lost control of the 1999 Ford Ranger pickup he was driving. Officials say the young man was putting a drink in a cup holder when the accident occurred.  When the truck drifted onto the shoulder, Ballinger overcorrected, sending the vehicle into the south ditch, where it rolled and came to rest on its wheels. The accident happened about one-quarter of a mile northwest of Glacier Road. Ballinger was transported by Medivac Ambulance to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, for treatment of minor injuries, which included shoulder pain.