More older Iowans are choosing to remain in the workforce well into their retirement years. A recent study found Iowans 55 and older account for nearly 20-percent of the total employed population in Iowa. Terry Hornbuckle, with the Iowa Department on Aging, says the economic downturn in 2007 and 2008 hit many retirees hard.

“Particularly, the newly retiring baby-boomers,” Hornbuckle says. “Their savings were cut in half and they’re choosing to stay (in the workforce) at least until they’re 70.” Although it’s against the law for employers to discriminate based on age, Hornbuckle says there are still businesses that reject older, qualified workers.

“There’s a sense in the community, with older workers, that you won’t recover your training costs or they’re not productive. Research dispels that…those are myths and stereotypes,” Hornbuckle says. This week is designated as National Employ Older Workers Week. Hornbuckle says older Iowans can bring a host of skills to any workplace – including experience and dependability.

“This age group probably has 20 good years of productive employment in their life, if not more,” Hornbuckle said. “And our society is aging much more healthfully, so (they’re) in better health and are capable of working much longer.” Iowa is among the top five states in the country for the percentage of residents who are 65 and older.

The Iowa Department of Transportation has announced the eastbound Interstate 480 to northbound I-29 bridge in Council Bluffs will close Wednesday and Thursday to make repairs.

Northbound I-29 traffic will be routed around the construction zone by traveling south on I-29, exiting at 9th Avenue (exit 53A), and traveling north on I-29. Motorists will want to allow some extra time in the morning hours to travel on this detour.

The roadway should be reopened to traffic by Friday, Sept. 28, weather permitting.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey posted speed limits and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles and wear seat belts.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Authorities are investigating a shooting in Cedar Rapids that killed a 19-year-old woman. Police say Latasha Roundtree of Cedar Rapids died at a hospital early yesterday morning several hours after the shooting around 10 p.m. Saturday. The shooting happened near Interstate 380 on 16th Avenue.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A state push to bring felony charges against noncitizens who voted in recent Iowa elections could run into two key roadblocks: local prosecutors who do not want to pursue cases and jurors who may find no criminal intent. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation announced Thursday that three Council Bluffs residents – a couple from Canada and a Mexican citizen living legally in the U.S. – were charged with election misconduct.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa man will spend at least five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing methamphetamine in the northwest corner of the state. Federal prosecutors say 48-year-old Esmelin Belloso-Valle pleaded guilty last week to selling meth and conspiring with others to sell it.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa lawyer will be unable to work for 30 days because of problems with her record-keeping and the way she handled payments from her clients. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the Iowa Supreme Court suspended Sara Kersenbrock’s license. Kersenbrock had been accused of mishandling payments from clients and failing to deposit retainer payments into a client trust account.

The Audubon City Council will have a full agenda in front of them when they meet Monday evening. Most of the resolutions they will act on approving, pertain to the issuance of $620,000 in General Obligation Capital Loan Notes, Series 2012-A. The resolutions include: appointing a paying agent, note registrar, and transfer agent, and approving agreements with those same persons or entities; Approval of Tax Exemption and Continuing Disclosure Certificates; and Approving and authorizing a form of loan agreement and issuance of Capital Loan Notes, and the levying of a tax to pay for the notes.

On a related note, resolutions will be acted on, that pertain to the issuance of $965,000 in G-O Refunding Capital Loan Notes, Series 2012-B. In other business, the Audubon City Council will act on a Resolution approving the Road Use Tax Report. Their meeting begins at 7-p.m. Monday, in the Audubon City Hall.

Members of the Nishna Valley Trails organization will hold a public meeting Monday evening, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, in Atlantic. During the event, which begins at 6-p.m., the group will hear a report on conversations with railroad officials with regard to development of the T-Bone and other recreational trails in Atlantic and Cass County, a review of recent events, other updates on trail development efforts, and plan for future activities. For more information, contact Ed or Myra Kail at 712-243-4265.

EDNA IRENE BALCH, of Atlantic, died Sun., Sept. 23rd, at the Heritage House in Atlantic. Funeral services for EDNA BALCH will be held 10-a.m. Thu., Sept. 27th, at the Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.

An open visitation will be held at the funeral home on Mon. (9/24) & Wed. (9/26), from 8am-to 5:30-p.m. Condolences may be left to the family at roland@iowatelecom.net

Burial will be in the Athelstan Cemetery, east of Bedford.

EDNA BALCH is survived by:

Her children – Linda Balch, Nancy Balch, Mike and wife, Joey [Jahsee), all of Atlantic; Margaret (Rick) Norman, of Stevensville, MT; Randy Balch & special friend Roxie Stuit, of Clive.

Her sister – Mary Smith, of NE.

7 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

A northwest Iowa man facing four felony charges is scheduled to be arraigned Monday, in Cass County District Court. According to online court records, formal charges will be read in the case against 38-year old Timothy Leigh Russell, of Cherokee. Russell is expected to enter a plea to the felony charges of Attempted Murder, Willful Injury causing serious injury, Willful Injury causing bodily injury, and Going Armed with intent. The charges stem from an incident which occurred on September 3^rd, during which Russell allegedly attacked a man in Atlantic during an altercation early that same morning.

Atlantic Police Lt. Dave Erickson told KJAN News the altercation took place at around 1:50-a.m. in the 1200 block of Elm Street, where a man was attacked with a shop tool or tools. The unidentified victim was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital before being transported to a hospital in Omaha for surgery.

Russell was being held in the Cass County Jail on $100,000 cash bond. A pre-trial conference in his case is scheduled to take place October 15^th, with trial set for November 6^th. A separate trial on a Simple Misdemeanor charge of Public Intoxication is set to take place January 8^th at 9-a.m. in Cass County District Court. The charge stems from the same incident which occurred on Sept. 3^rd.