Iowans are being asked to wear orange one day next week as a way to show support for an effort to stop bullying in schools. Julie Hertzog, director of the Minneapolis-based National Bullying Prevention Center, says Wednesday is what’s being called Unity Day and students in dozens of schools across Iowa are signing on. “It’s a day to unite against bullying,” Hertzog says. “It has a simple call to action of, ‘Make It Orange and Make It End.’ Students around the country and around the world are going to be wearing orange in support of the issue. They can also just write the word ‘unity’ on their hand or on their arm or their notebook.”

She says it’s startling how many young people are impacted by this problem. “One-hundred-sixty-thousand students each day stay home from school for fear of being bullied because they don’t want to go to school, they don’t want to face the situation,” Hertzog says. “When they do that, they’re missing out on the opportunity to learn.” Several high-profile cases involving student suicides in recent years displayed how bullying can take an extreme mental toll on the victim.

“We also hear about students who are exhibiting behavior like cutting, self-injury, of students who become anorexic or bulimic,” Hertzog says. “It’s all done as a result to just being in a lot of pain about being bullied.” One survey found that more than one-million children nationwide were cyber-bullied last year on Facebook alone, an example of how online bullying has grown. Hertzog says cyber-bullying is the modern version of writing on the bathroom wall.

“When we were growing up, bullying was limited to the school or maybe your neighborhood,” she says. “Now, with technology, kids have instant access to spread gossip and rumors and slander and send mean texts. On social media, they can reach an audience in an instant of hundreds, even thousands.” Learn more about the anti-bullying effort at: http://www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm/ 

(Radio Iowa)

w/ Ric Hanson

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A store which will offer goods created in 38 countries without the use of child labor, opens tomorrow (Saturday), in Atlantic. Five churches in the community have teamed-up for the Atlantic Fair Trade Market, which will operate from October 8^th through the 22^nd, at 408 Chestnut Street. The hours of operation are from 10-a.m. to 5-p.m., Monday through Saturday.

On-hand at the Fair Trade Market will be items created from artisans from more than three-dozen countries, obtained through Ten Thousand Villages, one of the largest fair trade organizations in the world. Products made by the various artisans are in good working condition, and are made without the use of child labor. Prices are set by the artisans themselves, and are used to help those persons in third-world countries make a living.

The event was organized by Myra Kail, of Atlantic. A member of the 1^st United Methodist Church, Kail said she was aware of a fair trade movement that’s been around for a while, and was interested in creating a similar market in Atlantic. Over the past six-months, Kail and fellow organizer Michelle Jones planned the event and formed an all-volunteer committee among five churches in the community to handle the details.

Kail said depending on demand, another Fair Trade Market might be held in the Spring of 2012. And, if there’s enough demand, a permanent shop could be established. For more information, call Myra Kail at 712-243-4265.

Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green said this (Friday) morning, that the Atlantic High School was searched today, for any evidence of explosives, and none was found. Green reminds students they will not be allowed to bring book bags, large purses or duffel bags into the building this morning.

The searches, which began Wednesday evening, were in response to a threat written on a bathroom stall at the high school, which warned a bomb would go off today. No arrests have been made in connection with the threat, which was discovered by a student, and reported to the authorities.

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The last person accused of participating in the murder of a Council Bluffs woman earlier this year, was sentenced Thursday to 20-years in prison. 47-year old Clarence Woolsoncroft plead guilty to five charges in connection with the January 14^th murder of 39-year old Tammy Rocha. Wilsoncroft was charged with willful injury causing serious injury with a dangerous weapon, willful injury causing bodily injury, and three misdemeanors. He had faced charges of 1^st degree murder, 1^st degree kidnapping, 1^st degree robbery and conspiracy. He’ll have to serve at least five-years in jail, before he’s eligible for parole.

Last May, a jury found Woolsoncroft guilty of 2^nd degree murder, false imprisonment and willful injury causing serious injury, but that decision was vacated and the judge granted a new trial, in July, after agreeing with the defense attorney’s position that there had been an error in jury instructions, and that prosecutors failed to provide evidence Woolsoncroft knew a knife was used in the crime, or that he knew there was an intent to murder the woman.

Three other people involved in the stabbing of Rocha near a residence in Council Bluffs were sentenced to a total of 82-years in prison. Lisa Reeves plead guilty to 2^nd degree murder, and was sentenced to 50-years in jail. Reeves stabbed Rocha seven times with a knife in front of Reeves’ residence in Council Bluffs, after Rocha stole four rings and a cellphone from her the night before.

Reeves’ father, Bryan Reeves, pleaded guilty to three lesser charges and was sentenced to 30-years in prison. And, Eric Long — Reeves’ boyfriend — was sentenced to two-years in prison, after pleading guilty to being an accessory after the fact.

Governor Branstad is asking the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reconsider its denial of individual disaster assistance to Iowans impacted by Missouri River flooding this summer. FEMA, in early August, rejected Branstad’s request to activate the Individual Assistance program. Pat Hall, with the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division, notes the latest request includes an update on the amount of damage to homes. “We’re still disappointed that we did not get the declaration back in July, but we’re optimistic that we’ll be getting positive news from FEMA,” Hall said. In early July, state officials assessed 361 homes in western Iowa and labeled 41 as destroyed, 86 with major damage and 132 with minor damage. Hall said an assessment in late September increased those numbers.

The update sent to FEMA shows 189 homes were destroyed, 161 with major damage and 416 with minor damage. The floodwaters just recently receded after surrounding many homes since June. Hall hoped the first property damage assessment in July would bring FEMA dollars to flood victims sooner. “A lot of homes were isolated and we were concerned about the individuals who were out of their homes…they were paying their mortgage and paying rent (on temporary housing). So, we though it was the right thing to do,” Hall said. The FEMA Individual Assistance program — for homeowners, renters and businesses — can include grants and low-interest loans to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or other aid programs. Halls said FEMA’s decision on the Governor’s request could come in a matter of a few days or possibly up to three weeks.

(Radio Iowa – on the web at www.radioiowa.com.)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa State Patrol says the driver of a car that crashed into a semitrailer on Interstate 80 in Adair County fell asleep at the wheel. A passenger, 17-year-old Stephanie Pathammavong, of Des Moines, was killed in the Sept. 26 accident. The patrol says the driver, 21-year-old Boby Vangkham, of South Sioux City, Neb., told investigators he was “daydreaming and fell asleep.” Vangkham lost control of the eastbound car, which ended up in the westbound lane and collided with the semi. The accident, which happened shortly before 3 p.m., closed the westbound lanes for several hours.

One person died after they were ejected from a truck that rolled over sometime late Wednesday night or early this morning, southeast of Sidney, in Fremont County. Sheriff’s officials say 56-year old Kim Hatten Polk, of Sidney died at the scene of the crash, which was discovered just after 6-a.m.

An investigation determined Polk was traveling south on 300^th Avenue when the GMC truck he was driving went out of control just south of 215^th Street, entered the east ditch and rolled once before coming to rest.

The Walnut City Council is scheduled to meet this evening. On their agenda is discussion with regard to: the possible installation of a stop light near the Walnut Community School, on Antique City Drive; the possible purchase of commercial property; increased landfill fees at the Pottawattamie County Transfer Station; and, the possible installation of speed bumps.

The Walnut Council will also review and possible act on approving a revised Citizen Complaint form, an annual update of the Walnut Municipal Utility Identity Theft Prevention Program, and various ordinances. Among the ordinances, are those which would amend provisions pertaining to compensation for City Council members and the Mayor, and, no parking zones.

The meeting begins at 5-p.m.