(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Business Council’s second-quarter Economic Outlook Survey shows great optimism among some of the state’s largest businesses. I-B-C executive director, Joe Murphy, says the survey continues a trend. He says it is the fourth straight survey where they have a positive trend. The report measures member expectations for sales, capital spending, and employment for the next six months. The answers are scored on a 100-point scale and the latest overall outlook index is 67.  “When you look at all of our indications, all of our sub-reports, everything is looking very, very strong,” according to Murphy. “Iowans continue to get vaccinated, people are coming back to work, businesses across the entire state are booming –whether that’s the large businesses we represent at the Iowa business council represent — or even small and mid-sized businesses as well. Things are going really well.”

Murphy says one key is that Iowa didn’t take the drastic measures during the pandemic that some other states took. “I think the fact that our state did not issue a mandatory shutdown was extremely positive. We’re seeing the results of that good decision-making being played out right now in the economy,” Murphy says. “The fact again that we projecting such a high-level of optimism in Iowa’s economic output represents that good timing. And I think other states, whether it be our neighbors, or other states across the country — those that did issue those shutdown orders are certainly not bouncing back as quickly as Iowa has.”

The optimism comes with continued concern about finding enough employees. “The workforce situation in Iowa has never been more acute. I think the fact that businesses are opening up and have been open for some time is good news. The fact that people in their personal lives are more engaging in the economy right now is exasperating this situation,” Murphy says. He says they will continue pushing to get more workers. “We need every single body that we possibly can to be employed. Iowa has had a consistent issue with that,” Murphy says. “We have a very low unemployment rate and a very high labor participation rate — which are very good things — but the fact is, we just need more people in this state. And so we need to encourage folks to come into the workplace, and then encourage people to come to Iowa to live and make a career.”

To see more of the Economic Outlook Survey — go to www.iowabusinesscouncil.org.

The CAM School Board will meet in a regular session Monday evening. The meeting starts at 6:30-p.m. in the CAM High School Superintendent’s Office. Discussion/Action items on their agenda include:

• FY2020 Audit Review (approve clearing inactive Activity accounts).
• Approval of Student Handbooks.
• ISAB Legislative Priorities.
• Approve: Out-of-State Trip – Football Camp; 500 Series Board Policies; Wellness Policy 507.9.
• Approve a request for transfer of funds from Activity Fund to General Fund.
• Approval of: Activity Fund Fundraisers; Disposal of excess vehicles; a School Resource Office (SRO) agreement; athletic Training Service, and approval of Sharing Agreements with Nodaway Valley.
• A Facility Update.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports two men were arrested Saturday. Authorities say 38-year-old Matthew Sherman Olson turned himself into the Page County Sheriff’ s Office. Olson was wanted on an active warrant. His bond cash-only bond was set at $1,000. And, 22-year-old John Edward Hyler was arrested Saturday for Eluding a Peace Officer, and Reckless Driving. His cash or surety bond was set $4,300.

Matthew Olson

John Hyler

A high speed chase of a motorcycle by authorities in Page County Saturday morning resulted the arrest of a man from Nebraska. Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports that around 9:55-a.m., officers with the Clarinda Police Department and deputies from the Page County Sheriff’s Department were involved in a high-speed vehicle pursuit that began at 12th & Washington Streets.

The chase began when a Clarinda Police Officer attempted to stop a 1992 Kawasaki motorcycle for failure to obey a stop sign. The driver of the motorcycle led officers on a high-speed chase through the east and south area of Clarinda.

The cycle was abandoned in the 100 block of N. 12th St., where the operator, 22-year old John Edward Hyler, of Norfolk, NE.,   fled on foot into a residence.  Hyler was apprehended a short time later. He was being held in the Page County Jail on two counts of eluding law enforcement vehicles and numerous traffic violations.

Reports have been forwarded to Page County Attorney’s Office for formal charging decisions.