(Radio Iowa) – The April unemployment rate dropped to 2.8% compared to 2.9% in March. Iowa Workforce Development director, Beth Townsend, says there were no major ups or downs in the month.

“Overall not a bad report, our labor force participation rate went down slightly again, We think that’s primarily due to retirements and then earlier in the year I think the decrease has been related to people going back to school,” Townsend says. Townsend says the economy shows signs of easing with several industries inching back from huge hiring sprees earlier in the year. “The job market is tightening in the sense that we did shed some jobs in April and it looks like employers are not hiring at the same rate that they were earlier in the year so that’s concerning,” she says.

Townsend says there appears to be some concern about the national economy. “You get the sense that everybody’s kind of waiting to see what happens,” she says, “there just seems to be, you know we’re not seeing big movements in hiring, we’re not seeing big layoffs either so that’s good….you know we’re in an election year and maybe that’s what’s going on,” Townsend says.

The number of unemployed Iowans decreased by 15-hundred to 47-thousand-200 in April. Workers at the Tyson pork plant in Perry are slated to lose their jobs in June, and Townsend says they are holding a job fair there today. She says they are trying to find the workers new jobs that are close. “And that’s kind of you know where we’ve been focusing our efforts is connecting and with employers in the Polk and Dallas County area,’ Townsend says. “Right now there are 165 job openings in Perry itself. Dallas County has about 1,100 job openings. Overall, Polk County has over 12,000 job openings, but we’re doing our level best to connect folks with manufacturers.” The Perry plant has some 1,300 workers.

(Radio Iowa) – New sculptures are being added to the River City Sculptures on Parade display this week in downtown Mason City. It’s the 12th year of the program as artists from across the country are in town, installing their works on pedestals throughout the nearly two-mile route that winds through downtown. Sculptures on Parade director Mary Markwalter says 20 new sculptures are being installed this week. “It’s a really pretty walk, very diverse,” Markwalter says. “The artists came in for it, it was really nice, we have a lot of artists here for this install.”

Photos by Bob Fisher, KRIB

Markwalter says a key milestone of one-million dollars was recently reached with sculptures that have been purchased from the displays. She says one of the latest purchases will be placed along the city’s new trail system. “This year we had someone buy one of the sculptures that had come in, it was the little reindeer that was by Principal, and it is going on the city right-of-way on the new path that is along the old Scrip Road,” she says. “We’re kind of starting to spread out through the city, too, which I like to see that.”

One of the artists that’s new to this year’s display is Garth Hite from Wichita, Kansas. He says he’s enjoyed seeing the sculptures, the architecture and MacNider Art Museum being a big part of the community. Hite was asked him why art displays like the Sculptures on Parade are important to a community.

“It gives people a chance to think about the sculpture and what the artist was thinking about,” Hite says, “and just how people are so different, and just enjoying the beauty of each person’s interpretation of living in the living world.” Hite says he’s impressed with Mason City’s extensive display.

“They’ve had several sculptures and it’s good for all the artists out there to be able to show their work and just keep a living doing that,” he says. Maps will be available for this year’s display once the sculptures are all in place.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – An Atlantic City Councilman is offering citizens in the Ward he represents, to meet him and discuss issues of concern to them. 4th Ward Councilman Sean Sarsfield said at Wednesday’s Atlantic City Council meeting, he wants to meet with his constituents on June 4^th, from 6-until 7:30-p.m., at The Venue, in downtown Atlantic.

Councilperson Elaine Otte added…

Atlantic Councilman Dana Halder reported Wednesday, the Community Protection Committee met Wednesday afternoon, prior to the Council meeting, and will forward a recommendation to the Council, with regard to citizen use of fireworks in July.

On a similar note, the Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, passed an order for a Special Fireworks display on private property at 1303 Maple Street on July 16^th, should the Atlantic Trojan Softball Team host the regional Softball Final, and win the game. The request was made by local fireworks specialist Dan Vargason.

And, with regard to a City-sponsored fireworks display, Councilperson Emily McDermott said those plans are still being finalized, with the idea to hold them around Labor Day once again. Last year’s 4^th of July fireworks program was reschedule to Sept. 2^nd, due to inclement weather. The Council last year had discussed moving the event to later in the Summer, so as to not draw attention away from popular events, such as those held in Exira, which also offers a parade.

Councilman Halder said the Community Protection Committee reviewed and discussed allowing side-by-side (off-road/Utility) vehicles on City streets in Atlantic.

In other business, the Council approved a recommendation from the Planning & Zoning Commission, to vacate a Phantom Right-Of-Way (ROW) that begins at the corner of W. 4^th and Laurel Streets, going westbound and terminating at the Phantom Railroad ROW. The Council ordered City Administrator John Lund to proceed with having the City Attorney prepare a public notice with regard to vacating the alley, turning it over to Rob Stamp, who would like to have access to his property to the north, and would do so by cutting the curb in the vacated area, pouring a driveway, and maintaining it as another entrance.

The Atlantic City Council then passed the 3^rd and final reading of an amended ordinance that changes vendor fees and dates, as they pertain to the July 23 RAGBRAI®  event in Atlantic.