(Radio Iowa) – The latest economic survey of supply managers in Iowa and eight other Midwestern states shows the business barometer falling to its worst January level in 15 years.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the monthly report ranks the region’s economy on a zero-to-100 scale and he says fears about recession are growing. “The overall rating was down from 47.1 last month, December, to 47 this month,” Goss says. “Obviously, neither of those readings are good. They’re both below growth neutral and it’s the lowest January recording that we’ve had since 2008, so it was not a good month.”

The survey’s individual Business Conditions Index for Iowa dropped to 47.0 in January, down from December’s 47.8. Respondents in the nine states were asked to name and rank what they see as the top threats to their business and to the economy in the coming months. “Supply chain disruptions were number one, higher input prices number two, and recession number three,” Goss says. “What was surprising is finding and hiring qualified workers — labor shortages — was not in the top six, so that was a surprise to me.”

Ernie Goss

The survey points to slow, no, or negative growth in the months ahead, Goss says, likely through the second quarter. Looking ahead six months, the survey’s Confidence Index, which gauges economic optimism on a zero-to-100 scale, rose from 23 in December to 25 in January, which is still very weak. “Almost 26% reported workforce reductions, so instead of gaining, we’re reducing the size of the workforce,” Goss says. “The overall region when we look at compared to pre-COVID levels, we’re almost even. We’re down about 6,800 workers in the entire nine-state region from February of 2020.”

Only four of the nine states have rebounded to higher employment levels since the start of the pandemic: Arkansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Iowa’s average inflation-adjusted hourly wage rate fell by 3.7% during 2022.

ATLANTIC, IA (February 1, 2023) – Sweetheart Market 2023 is now accepting preorders. For information and to preorder for Sweetheart Market, visit www.ProduceInTheParkAtlanticIowa.com. Sweetheart Market 2023 will offer in-person shopping as well as pre-ordering. Pre-order is available through Thursday, February 9. Shoppers can pick up preorders and shop in person at Sweetheart Market on Saturday, February 11 from noon to 3:00 PM at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA (805 W. 10th St. Atlantic, IA 50022).

Pre-ordering is an excellent option for customers who want to plan on a particular food item—such as Valentines cookies—as well as customers who are short on time to shop at the market. Some vendors, such as Miss NiNi’s Fine Desserts, will only be offering pre-ordered products.

Sweetheart Market is held the Saturday before Valentine’s Day, so shoppers can pick up Valentine’s Day themed sweets, baked goods, and gifts, in addition to farmers market favorites premium local produce, meats, jams, seasonal candles, crafts, art, jewelry, and bath and body products. Furthermore, the Nishna Valley Family YMCA will be offering free activities for kids during the market (no entry fee). Additionally, Pim’s Thai food truck will be in the parking lot selling Thai Food—a customer favorite.

Frosting Inc.’s Heart Cookie Cakes are now available to pre-order for Sweetheart Market

Sweetheart Market vendors confirmed as of February 1 include Smudge, Bridgewater Farm, Brun Ko Farm, Miss NiNi’s Fine Desserts, Noble Provisions, The Kringle Man, DezaRae Farm Soaps, Ter-Bear Honey, Johnna Joy Designs, Midwest Candles by Brit, Wud Bi Tek, Creekside Crystals and Crafts, Frosting Inc., Spirits of the Faire, Sweet Sisters Vegan, Donna’s Jewelry, Unicorn Clouds, Studio Samantha, Sugar Mamma Cookie Co., Imagine at Zellmer Century Farm, Silver Valley Craft Corner, and Pim’s Thai Food Truck.

Produce in the Park continues to accept vendor applications to Sweetheart Market and Spring Celebration Market (April 6). For more information visit produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com or contact Market Manager Brigham Hoegh at produceintheparkatlanticiowa@gmail.com or 712-249-5870.

Sweetheart Market is sponsored by the Atlantic Community Promotion Commission, Cass County Tourism, First Whitney Bank and Trust, Cass Health, Gregg Young Automotive of Atlantic, and the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. For the latest information on Christmas Market, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/) or sign up for the Produce in the Park newsletter at www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com.

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is strongly advising residents of the County – especially those in the rural areas – to keep their homes, cars and outbuildings locked. Authorities say Deputies responded Tuesday to the active burglary of an outbuilding in the area of the 1400 block of 900th St.

The subject was observed by the homeowner and was believed to be armed. Shelby County Deputies and other agencies assisted with trying to locate the subject with no success. Due to this being an ongoing investigation no further information is being released at this time.

In addition to locking your property, residents are advised to utilize security lights and cameras, if available. If you see anything suspicious, please call the Sheriff’s Office right away.

The Harlan Police Department is reporting five arrests took place from January 8th through the 17th. Two arrests occurred on January 8, 2023:

• 34-year-old Omar Barquero Flores, of Harlan, was arrested following a call for service. Flores was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with public intoxication. And,
• 33-year-old Andrew Michael Bierl, of Omaha, NE, was arrested following a call for service. Bierl was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with trespassing.

On the 10th of January, 40-year-old Kera Dlynn Bomer, of Harlan, was arrested on an active Shelby County warrant. Bomer was transported to the Shelby County Jail. The following day (Jan. 11), 30-year-old Jeremiah Joseph Rosemeier, of Hopkins, MO, was arrested following a traffic stop. Rosemeier was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with prohibited acts penalties, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

On January 17, 2023, 53-year-old Mark Allen Boardman, of Portsmouth, was arrested following a call for service. Boardman was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with public intoxication.

The H-PD said also, there were five accidents reported from January 4th through the 30th, but none resulted in any injuries.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Officials with the Council Bluffs Police Department, today (Wednesday), said three people allegedly involved in the January 8, 2023 death of a 19-year old male, face charges of Murder in 1st Degree and Robbery charges. Four other suspects are wanted on outstanding felony warrants. All of the suspects are from Council Bluffs.

Three taken into custody are 20-years old. They include:

Treianna Hudson – IN CUSTODY

Keshawn Houtz-Mayfield – In Custody

Traavon Thomas – In Custody

• Keshawn Houtz-Mayfield
• Traavon Thomas and
• Treianna Hudson

The following suspects are wanted by Police:

• Dontre Hudson, 20 years old
• Trebor Carman, 19 years old
• Suspect #6: Angelina Michaelson, 20 years old
• Suspect #7: Devin Adkins, 30 years old

Charges for all: Murder 1st and Robbery 1st.

Dontre Hudson – WANTED

Trebor Carman – WANTED

Authorities say at around 5:51-p.m. on January 8th, officers were called to an apartment complex at 209 South 4th Street in Council Bluffs to investigate a call of shots fired. Officers arrived and after a short time they found the victim, Tucker Dobberstine (19 years old, of Fremont NE) who had suffered a gunshot wound to the chest laying on the floor of Apt. #6. Initial witness information said that after the shots, several people ran from the building wearing rubber gloves and masks. At this time the Criminal Investigations Division and Forensic Team were called to the scene.

After an exhaustive investigation, detectives found that all of the listed suspects worked together to plan and commit a robbery of the victim as he was delivering drugs to them. Four of the suspects met the victim in the apartment and during the armed robbery shots were fired causing the death of the victim. These suspects then left the apartment and jumped into an awaiting vehicle that was occupied by two other suspects. The apartment tenant was not present during the incident, but it is alleged that she had prior knowledge of the planned robbery.

Detectives applied for and conducted several search warrants of the apartment, phones, social media and other electronic devices to gather information on this incident. With the information gathered it was determined that all 7 suspects would be charged with Murder in the 1st Degree and Robbery in the 1st Degree for their involvement in this incident.

Iowa Criminal Code 707.2 states that a person commits Murder in the 1st degree when the person kills another while participating in a forcible felony.

If you have any information regarding the location of the remaining suspects, please contact your local law enforcement agency.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A man from Nebraska was sentenced Tuesday (1/31/23) in Council Bluffs U-S District Court, to serve a little more than 8-years in prison. 42-year-old Ryan Daniel Linehan, of Omaha, was ordered to serve 100 months in prison following his plea of guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. After he is released from prison, Linehan will serve three years of supervised release.

On February 5, 2021, law enforcement encountered Linehan at work, operating an excavator. When notified officers were there to arrest him on an outstanding warrant, Linehan barricaded himself in the excavator, in possession of a loaded Ruger handgun, which led to a nine-hour standoff. In Linehan’s truck, officers also located a loaded Hi-Point handgun.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department, United States Marshal Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A man from Henderson, Iowa, 39-year-old Garret Allen Horgdal, was sentenced Tuesday, January 31, 2023, to 84 months in prison following his plea of guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. After he is released from prison, Horgdal will serve three years of supervised release.

On March 8, 2022, a Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputy stopped Horgdal and found him in possession of three loaded firearms. Horgdal was prohibited from possessing any firearms because of his prior felony convictions and his drug use.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, Mills County Sheriff’s Department, and Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement investigated the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – Officials with the U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa report 24-year-old Christopher Logan Meadows, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced Tuesday (January 31, 2023), to 37 months in prison following his plea of guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. After he is released from prison, Meadows will serve three years of supervised release.

On January 17, 2022, law enforcement was called to Harrah’s Casino and encountered Meadows. Meadows ran from officers and threw something on the roof of a car wash, which was later located and identified as a Glock .45 caliber handgun. Meadows was prohibited from possessing firearms because he is a felon and was a drug user.

The Council Bluffs Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case, which is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

(Radio Iowa) – Republicans on the House Education Committee have voted to require Iowa’s three public universities to explain terms and concepts used in courses taken by students who plan to be teachers. Republican Representative Skyler Wheeler of Hull says if the bill is approved by both the House and Senate, the report would be due at the end of this month. “I could see why they don’t want to talk to us about what anti-racist and anti-oppressive teaching and learning is,” Wheeler said as he read other phrases in the bill aloud. “…Equitable science teaching — I’m actually very curious to know what that is.”

The bill also calls for a new legislative committee to be established this summer to review the reports from the Colleges of Education at Iowa, Iowa State and U-N-I. Democrats opposed the bill. Representative Mary Madison of West Des Moines says the bill is hostile toward teachers. “It’s hard to recruit people who will stay because just as a teacher, it’s like you don’t believe (and suspect): ‘They must be up to something,'” Madison said. Representative Art Staid of Cedar Rapids accused Republicans of going on a witch hunt. “There was a guy by the name of McCarthy that did similar things and looked into everything everywhere,” Staid said, referring to televised hearings U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy led in the 1950s to question people he accused of being communists. “…Is this the road we’re going to continue to go down?”

Representative Steven Holt, a Republican from Denison, says college students complain to him they’re being indoctrinated with liberal concepts. “Can’t wait to hear the definition of compulsory sexuality and how that is used in an educational setting. Can’t wait,” Holt said. “Not a witch hunt, just interested.”

In 2021, Holt and other Republicans accused the dean of the University of Iowa Dental School of suppressing comments from conservative students in a group email about diversity training. The dean publicly apologized and retired a year earlier than planned.

(Radio Iowa) – A Delhi church is supporting the Amish community following a deadly crash last week that left four members dead. Pastor Keith Pitts of the Delhi United Methodist Church, says he was notified of the accident right away. “Over the course of the two few days, I received multiple calls from people in Delaware County in the community, saying, ‘Pastor, what can we do? How can we help? ‘,” Pitts says. Twenty-two-year-old Ervin Borntreger of Delhi died in the crash on Highway 20 in Grundy County, along with his one-year-old son Marlin Borntreger. Two other family members, two-year-old Rebecca Borntreger and four-year-old Emma Borntreger, also died, while nine other passengers were injured. Pitts was a friend of Ervin Borntreger and says he went to the head of the Amish community to see what they could do to help.

“They’d been inundated with food and all kinds of other things they can they told me that even though they wouldn’t come out and actually say it, they can definitely use some financial support and help. And so they had gotten permission for our church to do some fundraising,” he says. They raised more than five-thousand dollars in less than 24 hours. Pitts says he attended the wake on Monday and met with the family, letting them know that help was coming their way – and they’re very grateful.

“They’re all doing fine. They’re all recovering. But obviously, this is a pretty traumatic, has a pretty traumatic impact on the Amish community and on our community here,” Pitt says. “It’s eye-opening, you know, about how fragile life is.” Pitts says as of Tuesday, one person still remained in the hospital, but everyone else had been released – including Ervin’s wife, who was able to make it to her husband’s wake. He says the church hired Ervin when they needed new windows put in. “He was just a very, very kind man, you know, for 22 years old. He’s a very mature man, a man deeply rooted in his faith and his cultural beliefs, but very committed to working hard, and just being kind to everyone, and being a friend to everyone. I’m gonna miss him a lot,” Pitts says. Donations have been coming in from all over the state. Pitts says that the outpouring of love has been heartwarming to witness. He says it is important to continue the support.

“The most important thing we can do is pray for these families and just pray for their homes and, in their healing, both physically and emotionally. This is a huge, huge tragedy, and no parent should have to outlive their child, especially so young,” he says. Pitts says there are several ways you help out the family. Monetary donations can be made at the Delhi United Methodist Church, Heritage Bank in Delhi, and the Delhi Thrift Store.

There is also a Go Fund Me page at: https://gofund.me/508e9175