One-quarter of the businesses in the state have plans to hire more employees, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey released today (Tuesday). Manpower spokesperson Karen Miller says the survey covers employers’ staffing plans for the months of April, May and June. Twenty-five-percent of the companies interviewed plan to hire more workers. “We had another 70-percent that expect to maintain their current staffing levels,” Miller says. “So, we’re looking at a solid 95-percent of employers that are maintaining their workforces or adding.”

Just three-percent of the companies surveyed indicated they’ll decrease staff levels in the months ahead. The last survey conducted by Manpower, released back in December, found 21-percent of Iowa businesses planned to add workers between January and March.  “First quarter was good, but second quarter is looking fantastic for those job seekers out there,” Miller says.

Another report released last week also indicated Iowa employers are optimistic about boosting their workforces. The Iowa Business Council survey found 55-percent of the CEOs of the state’s largest businesses anticipate hiring more employees over the next six months, while 40-percent expect “no change” in employment levels.

(Radio Iowa)

A business in Creston has reported to police some stole a lawn and garden tractor sometime over the course of the past week. Agrivision at 801 W. Taylor Street reported Monday afternoon, that a John Deere L-120 lawn and garden tractor was stolen sometime between March 3rd and 9th. The loss was estimated at $1,500.

The 7:07-a.m. report w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Atlantic Kiwanis Organization has agreed to pay for the installation of playground equipment near the Little League ballpark. Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring said the group asked the City to play a role in the process. The Kiwanis want the City to maintain the playground equipment. Herring said the answer to that is “…of course, yes.” A rubber matting will be laid down as a cushion to prevent injury if a child should fall near the equipment.

The group will give the Parks and Rec Department money that’s been raised. Herring will then order the equipment and the Department will oversee its installation. The Parks and Rec Board approved the proposal as presented.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Des Moines Water Works board has scheduled a vote on whether to sue three northern Iowa counties, alleging that they are responsible for the high nitrate levels in rivers the utility uses for water. The board’s meeting agenda for Tuesday afternoon indicates a closed session to discussion potential litigation. The board is expected to publicly vote to sue Calhoun, Buena Vista and Sac counties.

In January it sent a notice of intent to sue, which is part of a procedure outlined in the federal Clean Water Act. The counties oversee 10 drainage districts north of Des Moines that help move water from fields. The lawsuit will claim the drainage districts are the same as city wastewater treatment plants and should be regulated.

The Atlantic Parks and Rec Board Monday evening, approved an engineering services contract with Snyder and Associates for the layout and surveying of a land at the Schildberg Recreation Area, for the Buck Creek Dog Park project. Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring and Assistant Director Seth Staashelm spent time with Mayor Dave Jones, City Administrator John Lund and City Clerk Deb Field, discussing options for funding the project from Local Option Tax and Hotel-Motel Tax revenue.

Snyders will prepare a plan drawing for the proposed dog park fencing, and bid documents with sufficient detail to obtain competitive quotes within about two-weeks. Their fee for the service is $850. Herring said in discussions with the County Engineer with regard to moving the now closed Buck Creek Bridge to another location nearby, he’s learned the move – which will not likely take place for at least five to 10-years – will not affect the size of Dog Park.

The Parks Board also approved a contract with Snyder’s for the Sunnyside Park Shelter Replacement Project, which includes a topographic survey of the area in preparation for a site plan, a detailed grading and paving plan for the shelter pad and access drive, and bid documents. The cost of the service is $2,850.

In other business, a local troop of Girl Scout Cadets has approached the City with a service project to eliminate second-hand smoke at the Sunnyside Park Kiddie Korral and other areas of the park. Herring told the Troop that the City of Atlantic, last year, rejected efforts to establish an ordinance banning smoking in the Parks, because of the legalities involved.

In a meeting with the Cadette Troop, Herring suggested they find a way to appeal to smokers’ sense of decency and courtesy. He said the Parks Board would be willing to post a sign about the dangers of smoking if the Cadettes come up with a catchy slogan to make their point without being overbearing.

The kids came up with three slogans, which the Assistant Parks Director Seth Staashelm suggested be combined into one. The slogan suggested was “Kids in the park like to breathe clean air, Be aware of your surroundings. Please don’t smoke around the playgrounds.” Once the signs and design are created by the Troop, they will need to make a presentation before the Parks Board, which includes a sample design for the signs. It’s unclear how soon signs may be put in-place, because the concept is still in its formulative stages.

The gates to Sunnyside Park in Atlantic will be opened to vehicle traffic, effective 4-p.m. Friday (March 13th). The gates were closed January 5th for the Winter season, but with this week’s warm weather and no snow in the forecast, Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring said during Monday’s meeting of the Parks and Rec Board, that the timing was right to re-open the gates.

The Parks and Rec Board Monday, approved Herring’s 2015 Summer Recreation Program recommendations, with very little change from last year. Herring recommended, and the Board approved: Continuing with the Men’s Slow Pitch Softball program, and sponsoring a tournament at the end of the year as a fundraiser. Other goals for the program include adding concessions to bring in more revenue for facility improvements; Herring also recommended the Swim Team registration fees remain unchanged from last year. A Tri-State Conference meeting will be held March 22nd to determine the schedules.

Youth Summer Tennis fees will remain unchanged from last year. Parks and Rec Board President Stuart Dusenberry told the Board, Monday, that the tennis team is now in the Western Iowa Junior League, which includes Audubon, Carroll, Denison and Atlantic. Dusenberry mentioned also, the tennis program received a $400 grant to help cover expenses for the half-dozen or dozen kids who will participate in the program. Sunnyside Pool will open for the Summer on Memorial Day weekend and close the day before the 2015-16 School year begins, in Atlantic. Admission fees are unchanged from last year, with daily fees for those 12 and over $4.00, children 3-11 will be admitted for $3.  Season passes are also unchanged.

In addition to approving the Summer Rec Program plans, the Parks and Rec Board, Monday, approved continuing a partnership with the Nishna Valley YMCA in Atlantic for this Summer. The cost of their services is unchanged from last year, at $5,140.

A member of the Thurman Volunteer Fire Department who had responded to the scene of a grass fire Monday afternoon, was arrested on a Child Endangerment charge. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Department says 28-year old Christopher David Thurman, of Thurman, was taken into custody at around 4:50-p.m. and held without bond on the aggravated misdemeanor charge.

Authorities say deputies received a call at around 2:50-p.m. Monday, with regard to a possible child left alone at a residence in Thurman. Deputies discovered a 16-month old boy in the home, and learned from a concerned citizen, that the father was seen leaving the area in a fire truck. Neighbors heard the child screaming inside the home and notified authorities.

On  Sunday, 56-year old Edward Allen Umbreit, of Riverton, was arrested on charges of Indecent Exposure, Harassment in the 3rd Degree, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The man was taken into custody after deputies investigated a report of a suspicious man who had been seen in the woods last Friday, north of Riverton. The caller said Umbreit was standing in the woods near the roadway in the 2400 block of 330th Street, nude and allegedly making comments of a sexual nature to the person who reported the incident.

An arrest warrant was executed at Umbreit’s home Sunday, prior to his being taken into custody. He was being held without bond in the Fremont County Jail.

Two people were transported to area hospitals following two separate accidents Monday afternoon, in Fremont County. Sheriff’s officials say one of the accidents occurred at around 2:40-p.m., at the intersection of 120th Street and 310th Avenue, near Randolph. The accident happened as a pickup owned by Miller Building Supply, of Shenandoah, was westbound on 120th and was attempting to turn south onto 310th. When a pickup and trailer driven by 51-year old Monte McConahay, of Randolph, attempted to pass several vehicles stopped behind the turning pickup, both trucks collided, causing the MBS pickup to enter the south ditch.

Tabor Rescue transported the driver of the MBS truck to the Shenandoah Memorial Hospital, for treatment of minor injuries. Neither McConahay nor his passenger were injured in the crash. Both drivers and the passenger were wearing their seat belts.

The second accident happened at around 5:25-p.m. near 220th Street and 230th Avenue, when a pickup driven by 16-year old Anthony Kelsay, of Sidney, went out of control and entered a ditch before hitting a power pole. The mishap occurred when the teen put the vehicle in reverse. Deputies believe a medical condition caused the crash. Kelsay was transported by Percival Rescue to Grape Community Hospital in Hamburg, for treatment of unknown, possible injuries.

Deputies in Montgomery County, Monday night, arrested a Union County man on drug & Criminal Mischief charges. 19-year old Nicholas John Michael Farwell, of Creston, was taken into custody at around 9-p.m. in the 500 block of East 3rd Street, in Villisca. Farwell was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on $1,000 bond. He’s been charged with Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree, Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.