More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – An August survey suggests there will be little or no economic growth over the next three months in a nine-state region of the Midwest and Plains. A report issued Tuesday says the overall Mid-American Business Conditions Index dropped to 49.6, compared with 50.6 in July.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and South Dakota companies reported growth last month, but businesses in Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota and Oklahoma reported less economic activity. The survey results from supply managers are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests economic growth. A score below that suggests decline.

The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Police in Creston say a Creston man was arrested Monday evening for Disorderly Conduct and Assault with Bodily Fluids. 29-year old Casey White was taken into custody at around 6:30-p.m. and brought to the Ringgold County Jail, where he was being held on $5,000 bond.

And Creston Police are investigating the theft of about 150-to 200 2-by-4 pieces of lumber from the Fareway parking lot, in Creston. The incident happened sometime between Sunday and 6-a.m. Monday. The loss was estimated at $400.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Three people were injured after a semi was rear-ended by another semi Monday night on Interstate 80 in Pottawattamie County. The Iowa State Patrol says a 2005 Freightliner driven by 29-year old Mohamed Said Mohamed, of Fort Morgan, CO., was traveling east on I-80 west of the Avoca exit at around 10-p.m., when he slowed considerably due to the driver’s side door having come open.

When the rig slowed, it was hit from behind by 2013 Volvo Semi, driven by 26-year old Daniel Matthew Marks, of Omaha. The Volvo sustained heavy front end damage and came to rest in the median. The Freightliner came to rest on the right shoulder of the Interstate, a short distance away.

The drivers of both semis, who were wearing their seat belts, were transported to Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan by Walnut and Avoca Rescue crews. A passenger in the semi driven by Mohamed, 48-year old Javier Angel Pacheco, of El Paso, TX, was transported to the hospital by law enforcement. Pacheco was not wearing his seat belt.

Authorities in Montgomery County say a teenager who was a passenger in a vehicle that was involved in a collision, suffered minor injuries Monday evening, in Red Oak. The accident happened at around 5:40-p.m. at the intersection of N. 2nd and E. Maple Streets.

Officials say a car driven by 16-year old Lyndon Bright, of Red Oak, was traveling west on E. Maple, when it was struck on the passenger side by a car traveling south on N. 2nd Street. The other vehicle was driven by 79-year old Carol Watt, of Red Oak.

A passenger in Bright’s vehicle, 14-year old Hanna Smith, of Red Oak, was transported to the hospital later in the evening by her mother, after complaining about back pain that doctors diagnosed as back spasms.

No citations were issued. Damage from the crash amounted to $3,600.

Sheriff’s Officials in Pottawattamie County took a report about a stolen motorcycle Monday afternoon. Chief Deputy John Reynolds says the 2014 Harley Davidson FLS Softtail Slim with custom orange paint and pinstriping was taken from 41000 block of Frank Kearney Road in Oakland, sometime between 1 and 4:40-p.m.  The cycle, which also has a custom exhaust and foot pads, is valued at $20,000.

Anyone with information about the location of the cycle, is asked to contact the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office or your local authorities.

Pictures of the stolen motorcycle

Cass County Treasurer Tracey J. Marshall reminds property owners in Cass County, that it’s time for your first-half tax payments on real estate and mobile homes. You can go online to pay your taxes at www.iowatreasurers.org, mail your payment, or stop by the Treasurer’s Office at the courthouse in Atlantic.

The deadline for payments without penalty is Wednesday September 30, 2015. Payments with a postmark will be accepted without penalty.

The Office of Iowa Republican. Senator Joni Ernst’s says representatives from the Senator’s office will be available to meet with the public this week during several stops in area counties. Her staffers will serve as a resource in dealing with the federal government. Senator Ernst herself will not be available during the traveling office visits. Her office staff can help you with problems or questions about eligibility involving issues like Social Security, Medicare, veterans benefits or military affairs, passports, immigration issues, and other federal programs.

Today (Tuesday, September 1st), Ernst’s Office Stops include:

Union County, 9:00 am – 10:00 am; LEC Conference Room – Union County Courthouse in Creston.

Audubon County, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm; Audubon Public Library in Audubon.

Ringgold County, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm at the  City Hall Council Chambers in Mt. Ayr.

Shelby County, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm; at the Harlan Public Library in Harlan.

Harrison County, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm; Missouri Valley Public Library in Mo. Valley.

Wednesday, September 2nd:

Adams County, 9:30 am – 10:30 am at the Corning Public Library, in Corning.

Montgomery County, 11:15 am – 12:15 pm at the ISU Extension Office in Red Oak.

Cass County, 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm at the Atlantic Public Library in Atlantic.

Pottawattamie County, 3:15 pm – 4:15 pm at the Avoca Public Library in Avoca.

Thursday, September 3rd:

Taylor County, 9:00 am – 10:00 am at the Bedford Public Library in Bedford.

Page County, 10:45 am – 11:45 am in the Large Meeting Room at the Clarinda Public Library, in Clarinda.

Fremont County, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm at the Hamburg City Hall in Hamburg.

Mills County, 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm at the Glenwood Senior Center in Glenwood.

Riverdale, IL – A three-month manhunt for a shooting suspect from Des Moines has ended with the fugitive’s arrest in Riverdale, IL. A team of law enforcement officers led by U.S. Marshals arrested 29-year old James Matthew Butler, Jr., around 2:40 p.m. Thursday. Butler was wanted by the Des Moines Police Department on three counts of attempted murder in connection with the May 27th shooting of a 33-year old woman and a 36-year old man.

Butler is also accused of shooting at a third individual who was not injured. At the time of the alleged shooting, Butler was on federal pre-trial release. He was awaiting trial in the Southern District of Iowa on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm. A federal arrest warrant was issued for Butler on May 28th.

James Butler, Jr.

On Thursday, acting on information from Polk County Crime Stoppers and the U.S. Marshals Southern Iowa Fugitive Task Force in Des Moines, U.S. Marshals in the Northern District of Illinois – assisted by their task force – observed a man matching Butler’s description in a vehicle with several other individuals in Riverdale.

As the vehicle neared the area of 140th and School St., Deputies conducted a felony traffic stop of the vehicle. The man believed to be Butler attempted to give Deputies a false identity. Deputies were able to confirm Butler’s identity and arrested him without incident. Butler is being held at the federal Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago where he is awaiting extradition back to the Southern District of Iowa.