The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports an Atlantic man was arrested earlier this month following an accident. 30-year old Aaron Lee Latus was arrested August 9^th on charges which include Serious Injury by Vehicle, Reckless Driving, and Leaving the Scene of an Accident. According to court records, the incident which led to his arrest took place on June 6^th. Latus posted a $5,000 bond on August 10^th. His arraignment on the charges will take place September 12^th, with a jury trial set for November 15^th.

The Sheriff’s office reports also, 18-year old James Aloysius Maschka, of Council Bluffs, was arrested August 21^st, for 3^rd degree burglary, theft in the 5^th degree, and 5^th degree criminal mischief. On that same day, 20-year old Jace Reed Catlett, of Sidney, was arrested on a charge of Serious Assault.

w/ Ric Hanson

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MOORHEAD, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a 52-year-old western Iowa man has been killed in a tractor accident. The Monona County Sheriff’s Office said Monday that David Moorhead was driving a tractor and hauling hay south of the town of Moorhead around 8 p.m. Friday when the tractor overturned in a ditch, pinning him beneath it. Moorhead was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident is being investigated.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Authorities in Montgomery County are investigating several burglaries which occurred Monday afternoon near Red Oak. The thefts took place in an area west of Chautauqua Park. According to Red Oak Police, officers were called to the 1300 block of North 6th Street at around 2:40-p.m., to investigate several vehicle burglaries. Officers were also called to 608 East Oak Street, to investigate a garage break in, where two vehicles had been burglarized.

In each instance, the vehicles were unlocked, with no sign of forced entry. As of this (Tuesday) morning, at least eight theft victims have been identified. The investigation is on-going, and no dollar estimate is available for the property reported stolen.

Anyone with information about Monday’s burglaries is asked to call Red Oak Police at 623-6500 or the Montgomery County Crimestoppers at 800-432-1001.

ADEL, Iowa (AP) – A Dallas County-owned care facility for the disabled has been fined $7,500 for failures connected to the death of a resident.The facility in Adel is often called the county home. State inspectors say a resident who had a history of choking on food was given crackers and left unsupervised on May 7. About 15 minutes later, another resident reported to staff that the resident with the crackers appeared to be choking. The resident was pronounced dead later at a hospital.

The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals fined the facility $7,500 for failing to adequately supervise residents. The state report does not identify the deceased resident.

An official with the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) will address the Cass County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday morning. Tom Bouska, with the regional DHS office is scheduled to speak to the board with regard to changes to the DHS’ services.

The changes to be announced are coming on the heels of word 37 Iowa Workforce Development Offices would be closing by month’s end, including the office here in Atlantic. According to Carol Morgan of the IowaWORKS Business Relations office in Council Bluffs, the department’s office in Harlan was closed Friday. Five more offices in Atlantic, Glenwood, Red Oak, Shenandoah, and Clarinda are set to be closed tomorrow (Wednesday). Morgan will be responsible for meeting the needs of businesses and potential employers in Southwest Iowa, including the Harlan, Atlantic, Glenwood, Shenandoah, and Clarinda areas. The Red Oak area will be serviced by business marketing specialist Marsha Wilson.

The state will continue to have Southwest IowaWORKS Regional Integrated offices located at Council Bluffs and Creston with office hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For access to services from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, job seekers and businesses can call 1-866-239-0843. The Council Bluffs Center can be reached at (712) 242-2131 and the Creston Center can be reached at (641) 782-2119.

In other business, the Cass County Board of Supervisors Wednesday, will set the date for a public hearing on the proposed redistricting and representing plan of the Temporary Cass County Redistricting Commission. The Board will also review bids taken by the Iowa DOT and award contracts for, two bridge replacement projects. The bridges are located over Turkey and Seven-Mile Creeks, on 620^th Street and Victoria Road, respectively. The Supervisors will also review the bids and award contracts for Hot Melt Asphalt and Portland Cement Concrete patching on certain county roads, and approve a quote for a new excavator to be used for ditch cleaning.

The Supervisor’s meeting begins at 9-a.m. at the courthouse, in Atlantic.

Iowa is participating in a nationwide program started by Google which partners with several business groups to offer free web development along with related tools and training to small businesses. The director of the small business development center at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Sue Pitts, says many small companies need some help setting up effective websites. Pitts says when they do have websites, they may not be using them.
You can have your brother’s sister’s brother put up a page that you never ever look at,” Pitts says,”so I think some people think they have a website but they might not. Or if a business is in existence, they may have had a website six years ago that they haven’t really looked at.”

Pitts says more people are using the web to search for what they need, and then doing business on-line. Pitt says “if you’re not found online you might not be found at all, you might be just passed over.” She says she walks down the street in her neighborhood after the Yellow Pages are delivered they are in the recycle bins at almost every house.

Pitts says many customers make up their minds about what to buy before ever stepping into a storefront. She says the good news for businesses is that it’s getting easier and less expensive to build an effective web presence. The governor’s office says six out of 10 Iowa small businesses are without a website. Business owners can learn more about the Google program during workshops planned at several locations around the state next month.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa’s newest hunting season opens later this week following months of heated debate about the use of lead shot and the killing of mourning doves. Iowa’s new dove hunting season will run from September 1 through November 9. Experienced dove hunters, like Scott Gritters of Guttenberg, are excited they won’t have to travel out of state to test their skills. Gritters, a DNR fisheries biologist, says dove hunting is a relaxing, yet challenging sport.

“They’re very sporty and acrobatic. It takes a good shot to get ’em,” Gritters said. The dove season is expected to attract around 20,000 resident hunters, including many who have never before hunted doves. Gritters says it can be frustrating for beginners. He suggests practicing with clay targets. “I think those people who are really good at shooting teal, which is a very fast duck…I think those people will have a better chance at (shooting doves),” Gritters said. “But hunting is like anything, you’ll be better if you practice.” Doves are most active in the morning and evening and tend to flock near water and low-standing or harvested crops. Hunters can wear camouflage, but are not allowed to use live decoys or bird calls. Gritters says doves are not only a challenge to shoot, but good to eat.

“I’m really looking forward to cooking the first batch up. They are an awesome eating bird,” Gritters said. “We usually just wrap ’em in bacon on the grill.” Iowa is now one of 41 states to allow dove hunting. Hunters are being allowed to use lead shot this season, despite protests from some individuals who’ve raised environmental concerns. The Iowa Legislature is expected to debate a ban on lead shot before the 2012 dove hunting season.
For more information, surf to:  www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/MigratoryGameBirds/MourningDoves.aspx

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – While destructive storms have battered crops in some parts of Iowa, crops in other parts of the state are beginning to show stress from a lack of rainfall. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey released the weekly Iowa crop report Monday, saying some areas in southeast Iowa have received less than an inch of rain since June 30.

Topsoil moisture is rated 52 percent short or very short and subsoil moisture is rated 48 percent short or very short. Corn is rated at 15 percent poor or very poor, 26 percent fair and 59 percent good or excellent. Soybeans are reported at 12 percent poor or very poor, 24 percent fair and 64 percent good or excellent. Northey says the condition of crops is concerning as the fall harvest approaches.