IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s executive branch is getting a grim gift from a company that has long made uniforms for meatpacking workers: a free supply of 500 body bags. Dickson Industries is donating the body bags as the state prepares for a worst-case scenario in which the coronavirus or another health emergency would overwhelm hospitals and medical examiners.

The Des Moines-based company makes garments and products for the food processing, medical and other industries, including coats and insulated jackets for meatpacking workers. A state spokesman says the body bags will be kept in a state stockpile, just like 500 ventilators the state is purchasing.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of two men on burglary and other charges. Officials say Justin Parker and James Cox were taken into custody following a traffic stop near  183rd and Kale Avenue, at around 9:10-p.m. Saturday. During an investigation, a large amount of property was located in the vehicle. The property contained identification information linking the items to persons other than Parker and Cox. Authorities made contact with the property owners, who confirmed that items in the suspect’s vehicle had been stolen. Parker and Cox were charged with Theft 2^nd Degree, Burglary 3^rd Degree, Criminal Mischief 2^nd Degree, and Possession of Burglary Tools.

At around 1:35-a.m last Friday, the Adams County Sheriff’s K9 Unit conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Highways 48 and 148. Kimberly Thompson, of Corning, was subsequently placed under arrest for Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense. And, at around 11-p.m. Thursday, Dinah Blanche Reese, of Corning, was arrested for Dependent Adult Abuse, as well as Interference with Official Acts.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new survey of business leaders released Wednesday suggests the economy has begun to recover as businesses reopened in the past month in nine Midwest and Plains states. But Creighton University economist Ernie Goss said the region’s economy remains weaker than before the coronavirus outbreak began. And business leaders expect the economy to continue improving over the next six months. The region’s overall index jumped into positive territory at 50.3 in June from May’s 43.5. Any score above 50 suggests growth, while scores below 50 suggest decline.

The monthly survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

(Radio Iowa) – Waterloo police are investigating vandalism at one of the city’s oldest cemeteries. Nearly 50 headstones were defaced or toppled at the historic Elmwood Cemetery sometime late Monday night or early Tuesday morning. Officials with the Elmwood Cemetery Association estimate damage at more than 10-thousand dollars ($10,000). Much of the vandalism was done in the oldest section of the cemetery.

One of the markers damaged was at the grave of Black Hawk County pioneers George W. and Mary Melrose Hanna. In 1845, they built the first house in what would later become the City of Waterloo. It will likely be weeks before the damage is repaired. No arrests have been made.

The Griswold School Board, Tuesday afternoon, took advantage of historically low interest rates and saved a good chunk of change. Superintendent Dave Henrichs told KJAN News he and the District’s Financial Advisor reviewed bids for the bonds at Noon, Tuesday. He says were due (at noon) to potentially refinancing $1.8-million worth of sales tax bonds that were issued in 2012, to repair some of the parking lot areas, re-do the track and improving athletic lighting.

Henrichs says they received two bids from different banks. The low bid was a 1.09% average interest rate from Rolling Hills Bank and Trust. The Board accepted the bid. Their action means the bonds will be refinanced, saving the District $138,544 interest over the life of the bond, and it will save $25,000 in fees associated with the bond, for a total savings of $173,000. He said while it saves the District money in the long-run, it does not affect the taxpayers, because it’s a sales tax based upon all sales in the State of Iowa, and not property taxes.

The current bond with UMB Bank will be paid-off through the refinanced bonds. Henrichs said also, Tuesday was the last day for long-time Griswold School District Secretary/Board Treasurer Nancy Taylor.

(Taylor has served the District for more than 30-years, and officially retired at the end of June.)

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Police in Creston say a man from there reported Tuesday night, that sometime between January 30th and June 30th, someone took all four of the tires that were on his vehicle. The incident happened while the vehicle was parked at the Southwestern Community College’s Automotive Department. The loss was estimated at $600.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Police in Red Oak this (Wednesday) morning, assisted by Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies, arrested a man on drug and other charges. 27-year old Randall Wesley Butts, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 1:30-a.m. in the 600 block of E. Hammond Street, on charges that include: Interference with Official Acts; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Butts was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – A man who ran a meth distribution ring in eastern Iowa will spend 25 years in prison. Forty-eight-year-old Brian Ausborn of Fort Dodge admitted he worked with other individuals over a two-year period from 2013 to 2014 to make multiple trips to purchase large quantities of methamphetamine that were then redistributed in the Dubuque area. His admission came after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He had previously been convicted of felony drug charges in Black Hawk, Polk, and Calhoun counties.