An official with a major employer in Hamburg has confirmed rumors a portion of its factory will close this fall. Teresa Paulsen, with ConAgra Foods said in an e-mail to the media Wednesday evening, the company will close its microwave popcorn facility in Hamburg, this October, and transfer that portion of the operation to the company’s other popcorn facilities. The Hamburg plant produces Orville Redenbacher’s and ACT II microwave popcorn. The move will result in the loss of 95 jobs at the Hamburg plant.

In her e-mail, Paulsen said those employees were notified of the company’s plans in meetings held Wednesday. She said also ConAgra Foods is committed to providing benefits and services that will help employees transition from the company. In the meantime, Paulsen says the bulk popcorn processing and packaging plant will remain open in Hamburg where 45 employees will continue to work.

Chris Whitehair, ConAgra’s vice president of Operations for the Snacks division, said in a written statement they wish the decision was not necessary, “Especially given the challenges the Hamburg community has faced this summer.” He said also that while the people in Hamburg “Have worked hard to maintain normal operations in the midst of historic flooding…” the company needed to find a more efficient and economically viable option to producing its product.

ATLANTIC, Iowa (AP) — Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty says President Barack Obama’s previous job as a community organizer didn’t prepare him for the job. And the Republican presidential candidate says Iowa shouldn’t repeat the mistake of voting for another charismatic politician who lacks experience. That was an obvious reference to Pawlenty’s homestate rival, Michele Bachmann, in the race for the GOP nomination.

Pawlenty lags in polls and has questioned the congresswoman’s experience as he’s sought to derail her in the GOP race. He is telling residents not to repeat the mistakes of 2008, when Obama’s win in Iowa began his pathway to the presidency.

Employees with the Cass County Conservation Service invite the public to join them Thursday morning, for a clean-up effort at the West Nodaway Wildlife Area. AmeriCorps Habitat Specialist Rebekah Karsch says from 9am-until Noon, conservation staff and other volunteers will be working to cut down invasive cedar trees to improve the grassland habitat for pheasants and quail.

Karsch says if you have a chainsaw, and are skilled in operating it, you’re welcome to bring it along. Otherwise, you’ll need gloves, bottled water, a long-sleeved shirt and pants, because you’ll be helping to drag the cut trees off to the side.

The West Nodaway Wildlife Area is located 4-miles south and 2-miles west of Massena, on Victoria Road, in the Edna Township. The public land is available for hunting and picnics.

If you have any questions about the clean-up effort taking place Thursday morning, call Rebekah Karsch at 712-243-3180, extension 134.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports a couple from Corning was arrested Tuesday afternoon on drug charges. 32-year old Jeremy Goodson and 25-year old Dawn Falkoski were taken into custody at around 3:45-p.m. at their residence in Corning.

Goodson and Falkoski each face charges that include Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Manufacturing marijuana, child endangerment and Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp.

The couple was being held this (Wednesday) morning, in the Adams County Jail.

Officials with the City of Council Bluffs say the city remains at a “Alert level 1,” with regard to flooding on the Missouri River. In addition, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has announced that the August release schedule for Gavins Point Dam will be delayed three days. The current release from Gavins Point Dam is 150,000 cfs and is scheduled to be reduced by 5,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) daily, starting on August 18th, and until a 90,000 cfs release rate is achieved.

Bluff’s officials say an individual was ticketed yesterday (Tuesday), for attempting to drive a vehicle on the levee north of the Narrows Park. The city reminds residents that the Missouri River, Indian Creek and Mosquito Creek levees are restricted to authorized personnel only. Authorities meanwhile continue vigilant efforts at monitoring and assessing the conditions of levees in the area. 

According to the USGS, as of 6-a.m today, the Missouri River was at 34.20 feet . That’s down slightly from yesterday at the same time. The current flow is at 169,000 cfs. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers forecasts indicate the Missouri River will slowly recede through period ending August 23, 2011 to 33.5 feet. 

Council Bluffs Public Works employees are working on bid packets for two sanitary sewer collapses at North 27^th Street/Avenue E and South 23rd Street/6^th Avenue. During the next several days Public Works crews will be cleaning tree debris from storm water catch basins throughout the community.

w/ Ric Hanson

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DENISON, Iowa (AP) – A train derailment in west-central Iowa has been blamed on a broken axle. Union Pacific says a loaded coal train headed to Illinois sustained the break about 6:15 p.m. Monday. Two cars derailed. The cars were put back on the tracks early Tuesday morning.

About 600 rail ties damaged in the accident must be replaced. No injuries were reported.

Former Minnesota Governor and Republican presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty will make a stop in Atlantic this afternoon. Pawlenty, who is on a statewide bus tour in advance of Saturday‘s straw poll in Ames, is expected to appear at the Family Table Restaurant, at 12:30-p.m. Pawlenty says the message he’ll convey at today’s town hall meeting is “The Country is in Trouble.”

He says Barack Obama has “had his chance and it’s not working. The Country needs a new direction and a new president.” Pawlenty says he brings to the table experience and results. He says he won’t just deliver speeches on getting the economy back on its feet, he’ll get things done.

Pro-life activists were joined by Pawlenty Tuesday, as they launched a bus tour promoting their conservative agenda. Outside the Iowa Capitol yesterday, Pawlenty touted his record in support of abortion restrictions while governor of Minnesota.

Speaking with KJAN News by phone this morning, Pawlenty said he has an “established record” on the issue, so there’s no need to wonder where he stands. He says he’s strongly pro-life and has advanced the pro-life cause in “historic ways” in Minnesota, proposing and putting into law, a woman’s right to know positive alternatives to abortion legislation, and more. He says the abortion rate in Minnesota is at an historic low, with some 30-to 40-percent decreases in abortion. Pawlenty says while he’s proud of his achievements on the issue, he says there’s still more to accomplish in establishing a “culture of life.”

Some early polls have Texas Governor Rick Perry — who will not be participating in the Iowa straw poll — gaining momentum as a presidential hopeful, even though he has not officially announced his candidacy. Those same early polls don’t list Pawlenty as a contender in the race. He says early polls are not a good predictor of the final outcome, and the Ames straw poll is a chance to show improvement in his standing, and momentum heading into the caucuses.

Pawlenty says President Obama’s poll numbers are way down, he can be beat and will be defeated. One of the key issues Pawlenty will address is how to get the economy moving again. He says his campaign is ready and able to accomplish the task. The details of his plan are on his website, at www.timpawlenty.com.

Other Republican presidential hopefuls who’ve made stops in Atlantic over the past week include former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachman.

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