OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The economy remains sluggish in rural areas of 10 Western and Plains states. The monthly survey of rural bankers released Thursday shows the overall remains in negative territory even though it increased slightly. The index increased to 40.9 in May from April’s 38.2.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, who oversees the survey, says weak grain prices and farm values continue to weigh on the economy in rural areas. On the survey indexes any score below 50 suggests that factor will decline. The farm equipment sales index remained exceptionally weak at 10.7 in May, just below April’s 11.1. Farmers are delaying major purchases because of the environment.

Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

Sheriff’s deputies in Page County, today (Thursday), arrested 37-year old Kimberly Ann Briggs, of Clarinda. Briggs was arrested at the Page County Courthouse in the District Court room, on a Page County Warrant for Probation Violation. The warrant stems from an original Page County Case.

Briggs was in the court room and had been involved in a court case prior to being arrested. She was being held in the Page County Jail on $2000 bond.

Kimberly Ann Briggs

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach-Montgomery County will host a workshop on Tax Increment Financing (TIF) next month. The session takes place June 7th, from 6- to 9-p.m., at the Montgomery County Extension office, located at 400 Bridge Street, in Red Oak.

Cindy Kendall, extension program specialist, Office of State and Local Government Programs will provide the educational opportunity for anyone interested in learning what the economic development tool TIF is, and how it can be used by communities.

Urban Revitalization and Urban Renewal laws have existed for many years and changed as legislation added players and regulation. The June 7th session is for the layperson wanting to get a better understanding of these economic tools as they stand today and potential impacts for tomorrow. Included in the discussion: What is in the toolbox; A brief history of the Urban Revitalization and Urban Renewal laws, and the make-up of an Urban Renewal plan and report. Kendall will also provide some “buyer beware” guidance about the influence of the 2013 Property Tax Relief laws for community leaders to consider as they make decisions regarding good uses of TIF.

A light meal will be provided and there is no cost for this session, which is open to anyone interested. Please RSVP by June 3rd to the Extension office at 623-2592, so that adequate space and food can be arranged.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The latest U.S. Census estimates show Iowa’s largest cities gained in population and that the Des Moines suburb of Ankeny is among the fastest growing cities in the country. The estimates released Thursday showed Des Moines ranked 104th nationally with a 2015 population of 210,330. That was an increase of 621 from 2014 and 6,897 more than recorded in the 2010 census.

Other Iowa cities also showed small population gains, with Cedar Rapids’ population estimated at 130,405, Davenport at 102,582, Sioux City at 82,821, Iowa City at 74,220, Waterloo at 68,460, Ames at 65,060, West Des Moines at 64,113 and Council Bluffs at 62,597 and Dubuque at 58,799.

Ankeny, located just north of Des Moines, grew by 6.5 percent to 56,764, making it the third-fastest growing city in the country.

The Atlantic Public Library is starting a new, online magazine service beginning June 1^st, called “Flipster.” Library Director Natalie Struecker explained to the City Council Wednesday evening, that the service is available to anyone with a library card. She said some of the 27 magazines are ones they already have in print, others are not.

Natalie said if you already have an online subscription to a magazine the library will have available, you can cancel it, because you’ll be able to access it for free. There’s no limit to the service and, there’s an App available for Android and Apple devices, but you’ll need to go to the online page first to check it out and then access it through the App.

Among the magazines that’ll be available is: Bicycling; Bon Appetit; Consumer Reports; Country Living; Good Housekeeping; Popular Science; Runner’s World; Women’s Health, and the Yoga Journal, to name just a few.

For more information on Flipster and other programs or activities available at the Atlantic Public Library, call them at 712-243-5466.