Continuing population declines are impacting Iowa’s smaller communities in many ways — including fire departments. Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNees is president of the Iowa Firefighters Association. McNees says firefighter recruitment and retention are big challenges facing the state’s smaller towns. “Recruitment is difficult,” said McNees, “not only for the size of the community I’m from, still getting someone to volunteer their time. It is a big commitment to go get your Firefighter I and Firefighter II (qualifications), and do all the hazmat that goes with it, then not to mention all the EMS they do here, too. So, finding people, and with the population the way it’s trending rural Iowa, it makes it even tougher.”

McNees says one factor hindering recruitment is that most firefighters are volunteers and must juggle responding to fire or medical calls with their regular jobs. “That makes it harder to find people who will want to respond during the day,” said McNees. “And, it really makes it a problem for them — that’s why you see a lot of automatic aid calls, when you see two or three departments handling calls at one time.” At the same time, McNees says having employees respond to fire calls is tough on employers.

“Any employer who allows a person to be on the fire department or rescue squad, is really doing quite a bit for their community, as well, if they’re allowing that to happen, because it is taking somebody off of their production line, or out of their office,” he says. “It could put a hard press on a business.” So, why become a firefighter? In addition to giving back to their communities, McNees says volunteer firefighters have a chance to impact people’s lives, as you’re dealing with people in their most dire time of need.

“It is so rewarding,” he says. “We do it to help people — that’s why a majority of people are on here. There’s a love of man that we share. You get so fulfilled from that that you don’t mind volunteering to do it. It becomes a way of life and an expectation you have. I have not done anything volunteer-wise that’s been as rewarding over the years as being a firefighter.” McNees recently attended a ceremony in Essex, in which nine of the department’s firefighters were honored for 25-plus years of service.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Business leaders from Des Moines and four other Midwestern cities have announced the launch of a regional economic initiative. The Tuesday kick-off event was held at the Greater Des Moines Partnership to announce the Heartland Civic Collaborative, a coalition of metro areas made up of Des Moines, Kansas City, Omaha and St. Louis that will work to strengthen the region’s economic competitiveness.

Members of the group said they would work together to lobby federal officials and seek funding for projects that help the region’s long-term growth. Other goals include improving interstate transportation, supporting entrepreneurs, and increasing the number of biotech and science organizations in each state.

The Harlan Police Department has released a report on recent arrests and incidents. Officials say on Saturday (Jan. 16), 53-year old Robin Andersen, of Avoca, was taken into custody following a traffic stop. Andersen was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. She was also cited for failure to have a valid driver’s license and speed.

On Sunday, 20-year old Jaykob Lewis, of Avoca, was taken into custody when officers were called to Myrtue Medical Center emergency room for a patient that was out of control. Once Lewis was cleared by the hospital, Lewis was taken to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with public intoxication.

There were also two, non-injury accidents, in Harlan. Officials say on Monday, a 2003 Kenworth semi driven by Fred Ash, of Harlan, was backing into the lined parking area in the Harlan Hy-Vee parking lot, facing north, when he accidentally backed into the driver’s side door of a legally parked 2008 Buick, owned by Julie Leahle, of Walnut. The car sustained $8,000 damage, while damage to the semi was estimated at just $500.

And, a Harlan man was cited following an accident Saturday at 10th and Durant Streets. Officials say vehicles driven by Ronald Moon, of Harlan, and Rhonda Nordby, of Logan, collided at the intersection when Moon’s 2004 Ford struck the driver’s side door of Nordby’s 2015 Ford. Damage from the collision amounted to $8,000. Moon was cited for Failure to Obey a Stop or Yield sign.

Officials with the Ben Carson for President 2016 Campaign in Alexandria, Virginia issued a statement today (Tuesday) with regard to an accident that took place on Interstate 80 in Cass County (IA). The statement said “Earlier today in Iowa, a van transporting three campaign volunteers and a Carson campaign employee hit a patch of ice and flipped on its side where it was struck by another vehicle. Three of the passengers, including the campaign staffer driving, are currently being checked out at Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic.”

The campaign said also, “One volunteer is being transported to the trauma center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. Dr. Carson has spoken with the family of the volunteer being transported to Omaha, as well as the attending physician.”

The accident happened near exit 54 at around 9:30-a.m. Numerous emergency personnel from Atlantic, Marne, Elk Horn and Walnut, as well as and law enforcement responded to the scene. Both eastbound lanes of the interstate were blocked for a time.

According to statement, “Dr. Carson has cancelled all remaining campaign events today and will be traveling to Omaha this afternoon to be with the family during this difficult time. Dr. Carson is asking people to join him in prayer for all the individuals and families involved.”

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports as the result of a traffic stop Sunday, two men were arrested on drug charges. 18-year old Collin Christian Baker, and 19-year old Logan Roger Dean Nielsen, both of Atlantic, were taken into custody on charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana (a Class- D Felony) and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (a Simple Misdemeanor). Baker was also charged with OWI 1st Offense (a Serious Misdemeanor). Both men were taken to the Cass County Jail. Baker was released later that day on $6,300 bond; Nielsen was released the following day on $5,300 bond.

Today (Tuesday), 51-year old Jeffrey Leon Lillard, of Wiota, was booked into the Cass County Jail on a Sheriff’s Office charge for Domestic Abuse Assault. Lillard was released afterward on his own recognizance.

38-year old Adrian Duane Hansen, of Atlantic, was arrested Sunday, on charges of Domestic Abuse Assault, False Imprisonment, and Obstruction of Emergency Communications. Hansen was booked into the Cass County Jail and was released the following day on $2,300 bond.

On Saturday, deputies in Cass County arrested 21-year old Shawn Alexander Jensen, of Walnut, on a Cass County Sheriff’s Office warrant for OWI 1st Offense. Jensen was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.

Two people were hurt during a single-vehicle accident this (Tuesday) morning, in Montgomery County. Sheriff’s officials say a 1998 Chevy Cavalier driven by 16-year old Francisco Rohner, of Red Oak, had just pulled into a private driveway on the east side of the Red Oak High School, and approaching the circle drive area, intending to turn right. When the teen braked to negotiate the turn, the car began sliding toward the grassy area of the circle drive on the snow covered road. The vehicle collided with a metal post that was filled with concrete.

The impact caused the car’s airbags to deploy. Rohner, and his passenger, 14-year old Thomas Bentley, of Red Oak, suffered minor/possible injuries and were transported to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital by Red Oak Rescue and EMS. The car was considered to be a total loss. No citations were issued.