You’re invited to join the Iowa Department on Aging in Creston on Oct. 25th, for the next session in their 2017 Dialogue on Aging Series. The topic for the event is “Technology in Aging: Improving the Quality of Life and Care for Older Adults” and will include thought-provoking presentations by speakers representing the University of Iowa Barbara and Richard Csomay Center for Gerontological Excellence and the Iowa State University Gerontology Program/Human Development and Family Studies Department.

Lunch is included and will feature the recognition of Iowa’s centenarians – those who will be 100 years or older by Dec. 31, 2017. Cost is $25 per person. The event is sponsored by AARP Iowa, University of Iowa Barbara and Richard Csomay Center for Gerontological Excellence, and Iowa State University Gerontology Program

Iowa’s Attorney General has reached an agreement with a Boise, Idaho business that will change the way the company markets its products. A-G spokesman Geoff Greenwood says the mailing from a company known as “Need-A-Lead” caught their attention. “That’s titled Government Benefit Supplement Policy. It looks like an official type of government mailing. Unfortunately for the company, they sent it to an investigator who works for our consumer protection division — he received it at home and brought it to the office and we opened a case,” Greenwood explains.

They alleged the way the letter presented the product was a violation of Iowa’s Consumer Fraud Act.”Regardless of the merits of the product — and in this case it’s selling death benefit insurance or funeral insurance — the product may be legitimate, but the way it’s being marketed is something we alleged is deceptive,” Greenwood says.

He says the mailing could make someone take action in the mistaken belief it is a letter from the government. “The front of the letter says 2017 benefit information for Iowan citizens only, second notice, time sensitive, and it just appears to have the look and feel of a government mailing,” according to Greenwood. “We don’t have a problem with legitimate marketing. What we have a problem with is when a company makes it look like it’s coming from the government when it’s not.”

The mailing sought the recipient’s phone number and age, and spouse’s age to see if they would qualify for what it described as a “free service.” He says you look into such mailings before taking any action. Greenwood says you should call if you have any questions about whether the letter comes from a particular agency and find out if they actually sent it. He says it’s likely they will tell you they didn’t send out the letter. Greenwood says they believe the issue has been settled.

He says they’ve reached what’s called an “Assurance of Voluntary Compliance” so the company will not longer market its services in this way. “We believe it’s a successful agreement in that the company is changing its marketing techniques.”

Greenwood says some 26-thousand Iowans may have gotten the letter late last year. The agreement also required Need-A-Lead and its owner to pay 15-hundred dollars to support future consumer fraud enforcement efforts.

(Radio Iowa)

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say they arrested an Iowa City man who told officers he shot paintballs at a boy who trespassed on the man’s property. Court records say 47-year-old Anthony Williams has been charged with burglary.  Johnson County Court records say Williams is defending himself. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 5.

The boy told officers Friday afternoon that Williams had pounded on his trailer doors and windows around 1 a.m., demanding the boy open a door. The boy says Williams shot paintballs at him when he opened the door and then shot more after Williams entered the trailer.

Williams denies entering the trailer but says he fired the paintballs in retaliation because the boy had gone onto Williams’ property.

JESUP, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say an Oelwein man suspected of several crimes in northeast Iowa has been accused of stealing more than $13,000 from Cub and Boy Scouts who operated a food booth during Jesup Farmers Days.

Jesup police say 21-year-old Jason Cole is charged with theft and burglary. He’s suspected of breaking into the food booth early on July 9 and taking money the Scouts had raised serving meals. His attorney in a Fayette County case didn’t immediately respond to a message left Tuesday by The Associated Press.

Cole also has been accused of burglarizing a church in Oelwein and of several break-ins in Bremer County.

The Creston Police Department today (Tuesday), said a resident of the 300 block of N. Jarvis Street in Creston reported early this morning, that sometime between 4:30-p.m. Monday and 1:30-a.m. today (Monday), her Maroon 1987 Chrysler New Yorker bearing the license plate BFX 888, was stolen while it was parked at her residence.

No arrests have been made.