(Radio Iowa) – Iowa State University economist Peter Orazem says while there have been gains, the number of Iowans who are working continues to lag pre-pandemic levels. “If you look at Iowans under the age of 45, labor force participation rates actually went up. It’s Iowans over 45 where labor force participation rates went down and they really went down for people over 55,” Orazem says. “…We don’t think that they’re coming back and so that’s going to be holding back the Iowa economy in terms of its ability to make up for for its lost labor.”

Iowa had one of the oldest labor forces in the country prior to the pandemic and Orazem says it appears many who opted to retire in the past 18 months are not going to return to the workforce.  “We’re lagging the rest of the U.S. in terms of recovery of employment and that’s holding back, actually, the Iowa economy,” Orazem says.” Ten days ago, the Iowa Workforce Development agency announced the state had added back all the jobs that were lost due to the pandemic.

Orazem says the total number of employed Iowans still remains about one percent below pre-pandemic levels — and the labor participation rate is about two percent below what it was in February of 2020. “We’ve had three straight quarters of negative Gross State Product, which would meet the classic definition of a recession,” Orazem says. Orazem made his comments during a weekend appearance on “Iowa Press” on Iowa P-B-S.

(Leon, Iowa) – UPDATE by Iowa DCI:  On Saturday, November 26, 2022 at 4:28-p.m., the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a burnt vehicle with a deceased subject, nearby, in a field 3-to 4-miles east of Leon IA. The Decatur County Sheriff’s Office requested additional assistance from Iowa DCI, State Patrol and DNR. Neither the vehicle or the victim could be immediately identified. The Decatur County Sheriff’s Office has contacted surrounding area agencies inquiring about any missing person reports.

This case remains under investigation and is pending autopsy results. Law enforcement does not suspect any nefarious activity at this time. Further information will be released as it becomes available.

(Sioux City, Iowa) – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa reports a man from northwest Iowa, 46-year-old Justin Haubrich, of Milford, was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.

Haubrich pled guilty June 28, 2022, in federal court in Sioux City. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that from May 2018 through January 2019, Haubrich was involved in a conspiracy that distributed at least 2500 grams of methamphetamine. Haubrich was supplied methamphetamine from sources in Denison and Council Bluffs for further distribution in Northwest Iowa. During a traffic stop in January 2019, Haubrich was found in possession of a .45 caliber handgun and was known to keep and store firearms during his drug trafficking activities.

Haubrich was sentenced to 108 months’ imprisonment and must serve a term of three years supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Haubrich remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal system.

(Henry County, Iowa) – Two people died and three others were hurt, during a single vehicle rollover accident Saturday afternoon southeast of New London, in southeast Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2014 Chrysler Town & Country van was traveling west on Highway 34 at around 4:10-p.m., when for reasons unknown, the vehicle went off the road to the south, at mile marker 246 (Racine Avenue).

The vehicle crossed the east lanes of traffic and entered the south ditch, where it struck a parked truck, and then rolled onto its side and came to rest. Two of passengers, 50-year-old Sherry L. Reid, of Stockport, Iowa, and 73-year-old Judith M. Ellis, of Ollie, Iowa, died in the crash. The driver, 48-year-old Sean M. Reid, of Stockton, and two other passengers, 55-year-old Carol R. Johnson, of Fairfield, and 48-year-old Tammi L. Ellis, of Ollie, were injured.

Sean Reid and Carol Johnson were transported by helicopter to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Tammi Ellis went by Henry County Ambulance to the SE Iowa Regional Medical Center, in West Burlington.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Three people were injured during a single-vehicle rollover accident early this (Saturday) morning, in Mills County. The Iowa State Patrol says the crash happened on I29 northbound at around 4:30-a.m., when the driver of a 2003 Ford SUV, 28-year-old Iri Mendez Degante, of Omaha, fell asleep at the wheel near mile marker 32.

The SUV entered the east ditch. Degante over-corrected, sending the vehicle onto the traveled portion of the road. It slid across the road and into the median before rolling over several times and coming to rest on its top.

Degante, and his passengers: 23-year-old Valero Degante-Cruz, and 22-year-old Juan Degante-Cruz, both of Omaha, were injured. They were not wearing seat belts. Iri DeGante and Juan Degante-Cruz, were transported by Silver City Rescue to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs. Valero Degante-Cruz was transported by LifeNet to the Med Center in Omaha.

Mills and Fremont County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted at the scene.

(Anita, Iowa) – A 53-year-old man from Las Vegas, Nevada died early this (Saturday) morning, during a crash north of Anita, on Interstate 80. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2020 Volvo semi was traveling east in the westbound lanes of the Interstate, when the vehicle struck the bridge pillar at Exit 70. The accident happened at around 12:30-a.m.

The unidentified driver who was wearing a seatbelt, died at the scene.

The Patrol was assisted at the crash site, by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, and Cass EMS.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City of Atlantic could become a qualifying site to hold a Bill Reilly Talent Show, with winners moving on to the State Fair Competition. Assistant Parks and Recreation Department Director Jeff Christensen spoke with the Parks and Rec Board about the possibility, and some hurdles that are in the way.

He says the event would be a great way to use the band shell at Sunnyside Park.

Christensen told the Parks Board that the Parks Department “Zombie Run,” held on October 29^th, was a big hit.

Parks Board President Jolene Smith said the Royal Neighbors helped out with the Zombie Run that night, by providing hot apple cider, water, candy and treats.

Emmetsburg, Iowa —The former owner of a shuttered Emmetsburg funeral home will stay out of prison. According to KCCI, Andrew Joyce pleaded guilty to misusing thousands of dollars meant to pre-pay for funeral services. Investigators say Joyce spent the money on operational expenses and for his own personal gain.

By law, Joyce was supposed to put the payments in a trust or use it to buy funeral insurance. Court records show those funds disappeared when the business closed in 2019. Joyce was given a 10-year suspended prison sentence and ordered to two years probation.

(Ringgold County, Iowa) – A single-vehicle, rollover accident Friday evening in Ringgold County, claimed the life of a teenager. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2009 Chevy Trailblazer driven by 15-year-old Abbi Overholser, from Benton, was traveling south on Ringgold County Road P-33, south of Diagonal at around 7-p.m., when the teen swerved to avoid a deer on the road.

When she over-corrected, the SUV went out of control and entered the west ditch, where it rolled over. Overholser was not wearing a seat belt. She was partially ejected and was found partially pinned under the vehicle as it came rest. She died from her injuries at the Ringgold County Hospital. Two juvenile passengers in the vehicle were not injured.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office.

(Radio Iowa) – A fundraiser will be held December 4th to support restoration work at a site in northwest Iowa that’s on the National Register of Historic Places. The Brugjeld Peterson Point Historic Farmstead has a house, barn and other buildings that date back to the 19th century. It’s located east of Wallingford.

Stacie Berg Nelson is a member of the Peterson Point Preservation Foundation, which just signed a three year agreement to manage the farmstead. The group is primarily made up of descendants of the couple who built and moved into the house in 1870. “The generations that branch out from Peder and Gjertrud Brugjeld,” she says. “We are starting from nothing. We’re trying to raise funds so that we can make improvements. There’s a lot of restoration that needs to be done.”

Peterson homestead (Foundation photo)

The historic farmstead will be open from 1 to 1:45 p.m. on the December 4th, then a Scandinavian Christmas Concert will start at 2 p.m. at the nearby Ingham Lake Bible Camp. “We’re going to be offering a silent auction and Scandinavian treats,” Berg Nelson says. Another fundraiser is planned on the afternoon of December 10th.

“We’re going to be offering sleigh rides, Scandanavian treats, folk art demonstrations and offering a little concert with Christmas songs in the parlor and tours of the farm,” she says. “I believe we are going to have the blacksmith shop open as well and we’re going to have the forge up and running and so people can walk by and check it out.” Organizers are hoping to host a snowman competition — if there’s enough snow.

The Brugjeld-Peterson family was among the first Norwegian settlers in Emmet County. Descents owned the farmstead until 1996, when Maynard Peterson donated the site to Emmet County.