w/ Ric Hanson

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Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report a Villisca man, 21-year-old Steven Lee Fitzwater, was arrested late Monday night on a Possession of Marijuana charge. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,300 bond.

The arrest of one person on a warrant late Monday night in Shenandoah, led to the arrest of another person who was also wanted on a warrant, and now faces drug charges. According to Shenandoah Police, 19-year-old Jaylenne Shepherd, of Shenandoah, was taken into custody on a warrant out of Page County for OWI first offense. At the same time, officers located and arrested 19-year-old Kevyn Koschack, of Shenandoah. He was wanted on a Page County warrant for burglary in the third degree. Both arrests occurred at around 11-p.m., in the 600 block of West Thomas Street.

In addition to the burglary warrant, Koschack also faces Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charges. He was being held in the Page County Jail on $5,000 bond. Shepherd was unable to post $1,000 bond and was also being held in the Page County Jail.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A monthly survey suggests that the continuing drought and lessening export demand for U.S. products are among the drains on the economy in nine Midwest and Plains.  A report released Tuesday says August’s Mid-America Business Conditions Index remained below growth neutral for a second month. It rose to 49.7 from 48.7 in July. June’s figure was 57.2.

The survey of business leaders and supply managers uses a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Any score above 50 suggests growth while a score below 50 suggests decline for that factor.  Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says supply managers remain pessimistic about future economic conditions. The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Police in Council Bluffs are on the lookout for a man who robbed a convenience store early this (Monday) morning. Officials say at around 2:15-a.m., a black male wearing a black ski mask, black sweatshirt, black gloves and blue pants, entered Bucky’s store at 1759 Madison Avenue. The man pointed a gun at the clerk and demanded money. The man left with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

The unofficial end of summer is here and fall-like scenery could be arriving earlier than usual this year. Iowa Department of Natural Resources Forester Mark Vitosh says this summer’s drought has stressed some trees, which may speed up the process of leaves changing color. “In parts of central Iowa, I’m already starting to see some fall color, which is an indication those plants are deciding to shut down early and try to adapt to the conditions that are here,” Vitosh says. During a typical year, the fall colors are at their most brilliant in October.

Vitosh says the change in leaf color could climax a few weeks earlier this year. “We actually got a similar response in 2008 with the floods. We had a lot of stress on plants in some of the bottom lands and those trees started to turn color,” Vitosh says. “We may see a similar response this year because in some of the flood plain areas, those soils can be rather sandy and we haven’t had a lot of moisture.” A worst case scenario for fans of fall foliage would be almost no change in color.  “The other thing that happens with a drought, instead of getting fall color, you get a lot of nothing…a lot of brown or yellow or the trees just shut down. So, we may not get the brilliant colors,” Vitosh said.

(Radio Iowa)

More than a dozen hotels in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area are again offering a program that provides a free room to people who are traveling there to undergo cancer treatment. Mike Lefler, a spokesman for the American Cancer Society, says it’s one less expense and one less problem for the patient.  “Once you’re diagnosed with cancer, there are a thousand things that run through your mind,” Lefler says. “One of those things may be where you will stay or how you’re going to drive 50 to 100 miles to and from treatment five days a week for a number of weeks. By utilizing a Guest Room Program like this, people have one less thing to worry about when they are battling cancer.”

He says the program provides free lodging at participating hotels for as long as a patient needs treatment, with a few guidelines. “You have to be driving more than 50 miles one-way to your destination and you have to be in active treatment,” Lefler says. “The other thing is, if you call in and it’s a busy time for the hotels, it’s definitely based on availability.” He says you’re not guaranteed a room but most of the time, they can find a way to accommodate you. Lefler says participating hotels donate the room, free of charge to the patient, while they receive treatment.

“They do it as a community service because most of the hotels, the general managers, the employees have all seen first-hand, whether it’s themselves or family members or friends or loved ones, that have gone through cancer and know how devastating it can be,” he says. “We’re fortunate enough to have many, many partners in the Omaha area that are willing to give free nights of lodging.” Lefler says the service is especially helpful for those who need daily or weekly treatment over of period of months. Learn more about the program by calling your nearest chapter of the American Cancer Society.

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with Iowa Western Community College say the IWCC Department of Economic and Workforce Development and Small Business Development Center, has partnered with the University of Northern Iowa and will participate in the state wide contest “Dream Big Grow Here”. Dream Big Grow Here is a contest for Iowa small business owners and Entrepreneurs created by the UNI MyEntre.Net team. Businesses can win up to $15,000 to help start or grow their businesses. $5,000 will be awarded on November 1st to a small business or start up in Pottawattamie, Shelby, Harrison, Mills, Page, Fremont or Cass County.

The regional winner will go on to a state contest for a chance to win $10,000. The contest offers entrepreneurs an opportunity to upload their business growth ideas and/or start up ideas online at www.DreamBigGrowHere.com from September 10th through the 28th, then encourage customers, friends, family and community members to vote for them from October 1st through October 22nd. The top 5 vote getters from the Southwest Iowa Missouri River Region will than participate in a regional pitch off contest at IWCC in Council Bluffs on November 1st, 2012.

The winner of the Southwest Iowa Missouri River regional contest receives a $5,000 cash award (according to contest rules) and a chance to compete for $10,000 in a live, pitch-off during the statewide EntreFest! Conference in April 2013. The Southwest Iowa Missouri River Region contest begins September 10th. To participate, entrepreneurs are encouraged to visit the website to determine their eligibility OR an informational Dream Big Grow Here sessions that will be held on September 10th at Iowa Western Community College in Looft Hall.

Register for the sessions at dreambiggrowhere.iowabiztalk.com or call 712-325-3350. spitts@iwcc.edu. The contest upload phase begins on September 10th – September 28th when contestants will be able to go to www.dreambiggrowhere.com and fill out the questionnaire/application as well as upload a video, power point or photographs outlining their plans for growth and/or start up. The voting will begin on October 1st through October 22nd.

Contestants can encourage friends, family customers and employees, and fans to vote for them. The top 5 vote winners will be asked to present at the Southwest Iowa Dream Big Grow Here contest on November 1st at IWCC The Winner will be announced at the end of the evening. If you are interested in participating in the contest the Iowa Western Small Business Development Center offers free technical assistance and consulting for business planning, marketing, websites, pitches and more. You’re encouraged you to take advantage of the expertise the SBDC offers to make sure you are fully prepared and ready for the publicity you will gain during the voting phase. The SBDC will also help you prepare to work with social media and digital marketing so you are prepared to get votes during the voting stage. Dream Big Grow Here is sponsored by Iowa Bankers Association, Renew Rural Iowa, ISU Community Vitality Center, Iowa Economic Development Authority, VentureNet, Delta Dental of Iowa and Technology Association of Iowa.

For more information on the Dream Big Grow Here competition and for complete rules, go to www.DreamBig GrowHere.com or contact Sue Pitts at spitts@iwcc.edu. For help in preparing for the contest, contact Sue Pitts at the IWCC SBDC at 712-325-3350 or spitts@iwcc.edu.