Western Iowa Tech Community College in Denison will be offering a Moped Safety Class on Saturday September 17, 2011 from 8:30am to 2:30pm. The course is designed for people age 14 or 15 who wish to obtain a moped license. It is an approved course of training in the skills required by the Iowa Department of Transportation prior to obtaining a moped license. To register, call WITCC at (712) 263-3419.

* Press release

The US Post office is considering closing more than 3,600 post offices throughout the US.

Several offices in southwest Iowa are on the list of offices that might be closed. They include locations in Brayton, Cumberland, Kimballton, and Lewis.

It is important to note that just because a post office is on the list, it does not necessarily mean it will close.

This past January, about 1,400 post offices were considered for potential closings. Two-hundred-eighty offices have officially been closed, but of those 200 passed their reviews and will remain open.

A rear end accident Saturday on interstate 80 in Adair County Saturday led to two children suffering possible injuries.

At about 1:30 Saturday afternoon, 1997 Chevrolet Suburban driven by 56-year-old Mark Patterson of Tama was traveling westbound on interstate 80. A 2009 Chevrolet Impreza driven by 53-year-old Peggy Hobus of Avoca was traveling just behind Patterson.

As Hobus was driving, she turned to looked in towards the back of her vehicle in response to a passenger opening a back door of her vehicle. When she turned back she saw Patterson slowing down in response to traffic that was slowing down in front of him.

Hobus then rear-ended Patterson’s vehicle.

Injured in the incident were two children in Hobus’s vehicle. They are both 12 years-old and were transported by Stuart rescue to the Adair County Memorial Hospital for unknown injuries.

Hobus was cited for failure to stop within the assured clear distance. Approximate damage from the incident amounted to about $5,000 each for Hobus’s and Patterson’s vehicle.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey is encouraging livestock farmers who have experienced death loss due to the extreme high temperatures over the past few to contact their local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office. Livestock losses due to extreme temperatures and other weather events may be eligible to receive assistance through the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP).

Producers only have 30 days from when the loss was discovered to file a notice of loss, so it is important that they start the process in a timely manner. If the farmers qualify for the program they will be eligible to receive 75 percent of the value of the livestock lost.

You can reach the local USDA office in Atlantic at (712) 243-2107. For other locations visit USDA.gov.