Authorities in southwest Iowa say an alcohol sales compliance check Wednesday in Council Bluffs revealed clerks at three out of nine businesses checked sold alcohol to minors. The check was conducted during an undercover operation by members of the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force. The Task Force utilized an 18-year old female and a 19-year old male who attempted to make purchases of alcohol.

Officials say because they sold alcohol to persons of underage, the following persons acting as sales clerks in Council Bluffs were cited: Mindy Jo Johnson, an employee of BadonkaRonks on S. 24th Street; Wendy Hellend, an employee of the Goldmine Lounge, and Hannah E. Wenchell, an employee of the Fiddlin’ Monkey. An employee of a business who sells booze to a minor faces a$500 civil penalty or 14-day license suspension for the first violation or first violation within two-years. The business owner faces a similar fine.

The six Council Bluffs businesses checked who were in compliance with the law and refused to sell alcohol to minors, include: Glory Days; O’Face Bar; Caddy Shack; Rodeo Bar; Salty Dog and 1892 German Bier Haus.

Authorities say the Task Force will continue to conduct these types of undercover operations in the future, to make sure local businesses are in compliance.

Iowa farm history comes to life this weekend during the 32nd annual Carstens Farm Days. During the event which takes place south of Shelby, there’ll be thrashing, a saw mill, food and crafters, a quilt show, along with tractors and Ag equipment on display, as well as historic farm memorabilia.

Steam engines will power antique threshing machines, antique machinery, a parade, crafts, and entertainment. Over two hundred restored antique tractors will be on display. The original Carstens farm buildings will be open for tours. The buildings will be alive with demonstrations that will bring back memories for older visitors and teach valuable history lessons to young people.

To start Farm Days off right, a pancake breakfast is planned at 6:30 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday. The proceeds from the pancake breakfast go to the Shelby Volunteer Fire Department. The fire department volunteers will also serve lunch both days. Various non-profit local groups will be offering refreshments and delicious desserts all weekend. On Saturday beginning at 5:30 p.m. enjoy Staley’s Chicken for a delicious dinner. Proceeds from the dinner will go toward on-going maintenance at Carstens 1880 Farmstead.

Beginning at 6 p.m. Tamie Hall and Band will entertain visitors on the front lawn of the farmhouse. Caterpillar tractors and equipment and related brands will be the featured line this year. All Cat tractors & equipment owners are invited to bring their exhibits to display throughout the weekend. Horsepower-testing, sawmill operations and field demonstrations will occupy tractor exhibitors all day.

Nearly 250 pieces of vintage equipment were on display during the 2013 Farm Days show. Visitors will enjoy watching most of the restored tractors as they go through the parade each afternoon at 2 p.m. A quilt made especially for the 2014 Carstens Farm Days show will be raffled on Sunday evening. Raffle tickets can be purchased at area businesses. The quilt is now on display at the Shelby County State Bank in Shelby. Foggy Mountain Cloggers will perform on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. on the farm’s main stage. On Sunday afternoon at 12:30 p.m., the Country Kickers America will entertain both young and old farmstead visitors alike.

Various music acts will add to the fun and folksy atmosphere of Farm Days. Admission is $5 per day for everyone nine years and older.

(KNOD)

Officials with Harlan Municipal Utilities report Ken Weber will takes the reins as HMU CEO on October 1st. Currently a resident of Avoca, but expected to move to Harlan by April 1, 2015, Weber has been involved in a wide variety of utility related construction projects for over 33 years. As the owner of Weber Services since 2000, he has been a consultant to firms such as Phillips 66 Pipeline, Chesapeake Energy, Clipper Windpower, Alltell, Nextel, US Cellular and Verizon in the areas of lease acquisition, permitting and siting of electric transmission lines, gas pipe lines and cellular towers.

Prior to establishing Weber Services, Ken had experience in electric and gas distribution plus overseeing energy efficiency programs while employed at predecessor of MidAmerican Energy. he also spent a year as a Superintendent at the State Center, Iowa Municipal Utility. Weber holds a Masters in Computer Systems management from Creighton University, a BS in Business Administration from Buena Vista University and significant hours of study in Civil Engineering while at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

(KNOD)

Many Iowa corn and soybean producers are discouraged going into the fall harvest as commodity prices have dropped significantly from a year ago. Ag economist Michael Langemeier says farmers need to look at every option to counter those lower prices, including their crop insurance policies.  “I would really encourage producers to take a close look at the revenue policies,” Langemeier says. “Those policies can protect against a lower yield but also lower prices. If prices drop substantially from the spring to the fall in a particular year, you’re protected on the low end from that.”

Langemeier says there are several new programs being offered that help to protect a farmer’s bottom line, including price loss coverage, or P-L-C.  “Agriculture risk coverage is more of a revenue type program,” he says, “and the PLC, really what it comes down to from a producer’s standpoint is, how low do you think prices really are going to go?”

Langemeier says other new programs include Agriculture Revenue Coverage and other supplemental coverage options. Some predict farm income will drop more than 12-percent from last year.

(Radio Iowa)

Joni Ernst, the Republican candidate for Iowa’s U.S. Senate seat, says President Obama needs to outline the U.S. military strategy for dealing with Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria before congress can consider voting to go to war. “Right now the president has said he does not have a strategy in that region,” Ernst says. “That is very disheartening for all of us that have served in that region. There is absolutely no excuse for not having a strategy in that region. If he would listen to his military advisors, they could better guide him on these particular issues.” Ernst, who is the commander of an Iowa National Guard battalion, did a tour of duty in Iraq in 2003.

“So I have a very set circumstance criteria of when we would need to put boots on ground in a region,” Ernst says, “whether it’s Iraq, whether it’s somewhere else.” If she becomes a senator, Ernst says before she’d vote to go to war, she would need to see intelligence indicating a threat to the interests of the U.S. and its allies, plus she’d need to determine whether the military has the “life support” necessary for the soldiers who would be sent to carry out the mission.

“Do we have a clear objective in that region?” Ernst said. “…What would we be doing as troops on the ground and will the American public be behind those actions?” Ernst suggests congress hasn’t been given enough information from the Obama Administration about the mission against the Islamic State. “We need to know what the strategy is before we can engage overseas,” Ernst says. Ernst made her comments during an interview with Radio Iowa.

The constitution gives presidents the authority to defend the country, but the constitution gives congress sole authority to declare war. Plus, in 1973 congress passed a law that requires a president to consult with congress 60 days after engaging in military action in a foreign country. October 7th will be the 60 day mark after President Obama ordered air strikes to combat the advance of Islamic militants in Iraq.

(Radio Iowa)

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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After nearly 30-minutes of discussion and obvious uncertainty over how a tax abatement would be carried out, the Atlantic City Council Wednesday approved by a vote of 5-to1, the third and final reading of an ordinance designating the 2014 Urban Revitalization Area. Councilpersons Cord, Hartkoph, Halder, Somers and Hayes voted yes. Councilman Chris Jimerson voted against the motion, while Councilperson Lori Stuart was absent from the proceedings.

City Administrator Doug Harris and Mayor Dave Jones were at odds over what the City’s legal position is, with regard to tax abatement’s being retroactive to Jan. 1st, 2014, for building permits obtained on and after that date. Harris said the issue isn’t the ordinance itself, but its implementation. Harris said the there is a different understanding between the key players involved the abatement decision: Bob Josten (The City’s Legal Counsel), City Attorney Dave Wiederstein, and County Assessor Brenda Nelson.

Attorney Bob Jostens’ legal opinion in the matter, was that abatement’s cannot be retroactive, but Jones said the County Assessor would make that determination, and the Council would have to approve each abatement request made following an assessment. Harris said the City would be opening a “Can of worms.” He asked the Mayor how does the City determine the increase in value of properties where building permits were issued after Jan. 1st, 2014. Jones said it’s based on “luck.”

Harris said the Attorney’s say the City can’t abate value created prior to Sept. 3rd, 2014…the date the Ordinance was approved. Jones said if a building permit was issued in 2013, the property owner would not qualify for abatement in 2014. He said if the were issued the permit in 2014, then “They got lucky…that’s the best way you can put it.”

According to the City of Atlantic’s Urban Revitalization Plan, a person making improvements on an existing home located south of 14th street, will be able to apply for a 100-percent tax abatement of the added value up to $75,000. For new homes built south of 14th Street the first $75,000 of tax value would be abated for a period of five years. Those with residences north of 14th Street, both new construction or rehabilitation, will get 100-percent of that taxable value abated over a period of five years. Duplexes will also be eligible for tax abatement’s under the ordinance. Commercial construction is the same throughout the entire city based on a sliding scale up to the first $250,000 in value. It starts out at 80-percent of the value, then 70-percent, 60, 50 and finally 40-percent.

In other business, the Council approved the second reading of an Ordinance amending the City’s Code of Ordinances by making a slight language change in the section pertaining to Speed Regulations. A motion was then made and seconded to waive the third reading and approve the Ordinance as amended. The vote was all-in-favor.

The Council also approved a change order between the City and AAA Budget Environment, for the mitigation and disposal of additional asbestos materials on the property located at 611 Linn Street. The change order amounts to $1,554. City Administrator Doug Harris said the last months heavy rains slowed down progress on street projects, but work is expected to resume on those projects next week, where it hasn’t already begun.