More area news from Ric Hanson.

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A monthly survey of bankers suggests a weakening economy lies ahead for rural parts of 10 Midwestern and Western states. The Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index for March sank to 43.6, its lowest level since February 2010. Last month’s figure was 46.4.

Creighton University economics Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says “the stronger U.S. dollar is undermining the farm and energy sectors by weakening agricultural exports, crop prices, livestock prices and energy prices.” The index ranges from 0 to 100. Any score above 50 suggests growth while a score below 50 suggests decline.

Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a wrong-way driver has died after her truck ran into a van on U.S. Highway 20 in northwest Iowa. The accident occurred a little before 10:30 a.m. Wednesday on the westbound lanes on the bridge over Interstate 29 in Sioux City. Sioux City police say in a news release that the 84-year-old Sioux City woman was driving alone when she entered the wrong lanes in South Sioux City, Nebraska, and headed east.

Her truck struck a van driven by a South Sioux City woman. The woman and her passenger, a child, were taken to a Sioux City hospital for treatment. The woman driving the truck died at the scene. Her name hasn’t been released.

An electronics recycling trailer will be coming to Atlantic in May. The Council Wednesday night approved closing the north end of Chestnut Street from 2nd to the depot at 102 Chestnut, on May 9th, from 8-a.m. to 4-p.m., for the purpose of dropping-off your electronic waste, all at no cost to residents. Councilman Chris Jimerson explained what types of items will be accepted.

That includes: Televisions; Monitors; Hard drives; printers; laptops; vcr/dvd players; keyboards; speakers; circuit boards; cell phones; cables; e-scrap; small appliances and microwaves. Mayor Dave Jones said the cost of the trailer is being picked up by the City and County.

He says the City’s CPC [Community Promotion Commission] and Cass County Board of Supervisors have agreed to chip-in $3,000 each to cover the cost. If the event is a huge success, Jones says businesses can step forward in the future and help promote and cover the costs.

When full, the semi trailer will be hauled away to an electronics recycler.

The City of Atlantic’s Yard Waste site hours will be changing, beginning this Saturday. City Administrator John Lund says the site will be open on Tuesday’s and Thursdays, from Noon until 8-p.m., Saturday’s, from 9am-5pm, and Sunday’s, from 1-until 5-pm. Citizens may bring their grass clippings, leaves and branches and garden plants or similar items, to the site.

Lund says residents should not leave their yard waste bags at the site once they dump their biodegradable refuse. The site, which is currently monitored by someone on location, will no longer be manned in the near future. Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones reported cameras will be installed soon to keep track of who enters the site and what is dumped there.

Jones says there will be two cameras. One to take a picture of vehicle license plates, another positioned to view activity in the dumping area. That way, if someone leaves illegal materials at the site, police can match up the vehicle’s license plate with the registered owner. The site will be open seven days per week from dawn to dusk, once the cameras are in place and operational.

Jones said regardless of who is driving a vehicle entering the yard waste site, if there is illegal dumping, the owner of the vehicle will be cited. The cameras will cost $9,185, plus $1,200 for the cellular data. Jones says the cost will be paid for in savings from wages from having the site be manned, and in repairs needed to the trailer currently on-site for the person who watches over it. It’s not clear when the cameras will be operational, but Police Chief Steve Green said with the Council’s blessing, he will order them and get them installed as soon as possible.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two men from Cass County were cited on alcohol charges Wednesday evening following a traffic stop on Highway 71. Authorities say 31-year old Travis Lee Sandbothe, and 27-year old Aaron Andrew Macias, both of Atlantic, were cited at around 6:50-p.m., for Possession of an open container of alcohol as a passenger.

A traffic stop early this (Thursday) morning on Villisca, resulted in a citation for 37-year old Benjamen Leroy Kirsch, of Villisca. Officials say Kirsch was cited at around 1-a.m., for Driving While Suspended, and Speeding. His 1998 Chevy Blazer was towed. Kirsch was released after receiving the citations.

And, at around 2:45-a.m. (Thursday), deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office stopped a car on 260th Street. Upon investigation, 23-year old Danielle Lynette Archer, of Nodaway, was arrested for Driving While Revoked. Archer was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond. Her 2004 Chrysler Sebring was towed from the scene.

In other news out of Montgomery County, Red Oak Police arrested 18-year old Luis Ibarra Rodriguez, of Red Oak, Wednesday, on a charge of Theft in the 5th degree (Shoplifting), for an incident that occurred at the Dollar General Store, in Red Oak. Rodriguez was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

Police in Red Oak say only minor injuries were reported following two separate accidents, Wednesday. The first happened at around 3:40-p.m., in the 500 block of north 3rd Street. An officer was flagged down by a person who said he’d seen a blue vehicle traveling at high speeds around the downtown “Square” area, in Red Oak. A few moments later, another citizen informed the officer the suspect vehicle had been involved in an accident on the other side of the square.

The investigating officer found a blue, 2005 Chevy Cobalt that had gone out of control on the corner of east Reed and north 3rd Streets, and struck a legally parked 2008 Chevy Trailblazer. The car, which was driven by 16-year old Jared Alan Best, of Red Oak, left a 36-foot long skid-mark  on the road, indicating it had been traveling at a rate of speed in excess of the posted 20-mile per hour limit. A passenger in the car, 12-year old Jordan Holiday, of Red Oak, was checked out by rescue personnel before being transported by his family to the Montgomery County Hospital. His injuries were believed to be minor. Best was cited by police for careless driving. Damage from the accident amounted to $4,300.

The second accident happened at around 4:55-p.m., at the intersection of Broadway and Cherry Streets, in Red Oak. Officials say a 67-year old Margaret Hardy, of Red Oak, was reaching down to pick up a cellphone she dropped, when her 2013 Ford Escape hit a 1996 Ford Ranger pickup, driven by 42-year old David Butler, of Red Oak. Neither driver was injured. Damage from the mishap amounted to $4,000. Hardy was issued a warning for Following too Closely.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A bill that would allow non-essential workers to take unpaid time off to participate in Iowa’s presidential caucuses has received approval in the Senate. The Senate voted 26-24 yesterday along party lines. It now heads to the House, where it is unlikely to advance. The legislation would allow a person in Iowa to take up to four hours off to attend the caucuses.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Senate has passed a bill that would ban people in Iowa from buying powdered alcohol. The Senate voted 48-2 yesterday in support of the legislation. It now heads to the House.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An 18-year-old man who was pinned beneath a car is hospitalized in Des Moines. The Des Moines Register reports that Zachary Ray became trapped Tuesday afternoon in a driveway as he was trying to fix something under the car. He was trapped from his head down to his midsection. Police officers were unable to lift the car enough to free him, but he was rescued after firefighters arrived and deployed jacks.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Police say they have arrested a man in connection with a string of cigarette thefts throughout Des Moines. The Register reports 47-year-old Randal Caswell of Des Moines was arrested early Wednesday morning. Caswell remained in Polk County Jail without bond on Wednesday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Republican-controlled Iowa House has approved a bill that would change the arbitration process for teachers and other school employees in the state. Under the proposal, which passed in a 56-41 vote Wednesday, an arbitrator would have more flexibility in determining final contract terms. Debate over the bill started Tuesday afternoon and concluded Wednesday morning, after an overnight break.

Currently, if a district cannot reach a labor agreement with teachers or school employees, an arbitrator must choose between two final offers on items like raises. The bill would allow the arbitrator to set a number in the middle.  Republicans say the change would help districts manage their budgets, while Democrats say it would worsen teacher compensation and educational attainment.

The bill is not expected to advance in the Democratic-majority Senate.