DEWITT, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa factory plans to lay off workers, reduce production and delay expansion plans in response to tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration on steel imported from Canada. The Quad-City Times reports that the Black Cat Wear Parts factory in DeWitt has confirmed temporary layoffs of 10 of its 17 production employees this week. Plant Manager Josh Daniel says he hopes to rehire the employees, depending on future negotiations within the trade dispute.

Daniel says the factory has also scaled back about 80 percent of its production capacity. The facility will send around 90 tons (82 metric tons) of monthly steel manufacturing to Canada, where the company is headquartered. He says the tariffs have halted the company’s expansion plan. The DeWitt branch had purchased another location this year.

The Glenwood Police Department reports 41-year old Michael Carver, of Glenwood was arrested Tuesday, for driving While barred, unlawful possession of prescription drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. Carver’s bond was set at $3,300. 

AtlanticFest, presented by First Whitney Bank, will be held Saturday, August 11th, rain or shine. AtlanticFest is an annual festival that serves as a fundraiser for the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. Downtown Atlantic will be filled with fun activities for the whole family to enjoy. Come early and enjoy a pancake breakfast, or start the day off with a run through the Schildberg Recreation Area in the “Annual Road Race,” with chip timing coming back this year. The Annual Tractor Ride will also be taking place, kicking off at the Cass County Fair Grounds at 8-a.m.. There will be crafters from all over Southwest Iowa, as well as some of the best food vendors to help satisfy any appetite. New this year, kids and families can enjoy a Carnival or jump in the bounce houses. The 20th Annual Car Show and Motorcycle Show will be taking place once again this year. And, there’s free entertainment throughout the day.

Pre-Registration for the Car Show, Motorcycle Show, Road Race and Tractor Ride is going on now through July 27th, at noon. Registration for Craft and Food Vendors is happening now through August 1st at noon. If you are interested in being a part of AtlanticFest, please visit www.atlanticiowa.com or call the Chamber at 712-243-3017.

Interviews were held Tuesday at the Cass County Community Center to help determine who will be the 2018 Cass County Fair Queen and King. Seventeen area youth appeared before the judges individually and in group settings, in hopes of being selected. Fair Royalty (King, Queen, Prince and Princess) will be chosen during the Fair on July 26th, beginning at 7:30-p.m., just before the Little Miss and Little Mister contest at 7-p.m.

Pictured are 2018 candidates for the Cass County Fair King and Queen (front row, left to right) Madison Mills, Claire Smith, Nicole Eilts, Katie York and Alyssa Brockob; (second row) Tyler Comes, Haley Becker, Emily Saeugling, Teaguen Sothman, Sidney Aupperle, Myra Rubio and Nathan Behrends; and (third row) Cale Pellett, Mitchell Williamson, Caleb Schmidt, Kaleb Venteicher, and Tate DenBeste. ** Photo by Sue Fischer used with permission.

Among the male candidates, was  Cale Pellett, Mitchell Williamson, Kaleb Venteicher, Cale Schmidt, Nathan Behrends, Tate DenBeste, Teaguen Sothman, and Tyler Comes. Female candidates included Myah Rubio, Madison Mills, Haley Backer, Nicole Eilts, Claire Smith, Katie York, Emily Saeugling, Sidney Aupperle, and Alyssa Brockob. Last year’s Fair Royalty included: Princess – Paige Henderson; Prince – Cody McCreedy; King – Riley Smith, and Queen – Mariah Murphy. The title of Little Miss went to Leah Ohms, and Cooper Anderson was named Little Mister during the 2017 Cass County Fair.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County report a Deputy on patrol in Treynor Tuesday afternoon, arrested a man following a traffic stop. 48-year old Thomas Shawn Johnson, of Stanton, was arrested for Driving While Barred. The report said Johnson was allegedly under the influence of narcotics at the time of his arrest. Tuesday evening, 68-year old Franklin Dean Jensen, of Neola, was arrested in Neola for Driving while barred. His arrest was the result of a deputy being dispatched to 309 Front Street, in Neola for a possible intoxicated many. Dispatch advised a male was on scene who had driven to the location and did not have a driver’s license. Upon arrival, the deputy could see the vehicle parked at the Donovan Oil gas station. As the driver of the vehicle (Jensen) left the area , a traffic stop was initiated.

A man was transferred from Harrison County to the authority of a Pottawattamie County Deputy Tuesday night. 50-year old Jack Tacner, of Magnolia,  was wanted on a Pott. County warrant for Failure to Appear. He was transported to the Pott. County Jail and turned over the Corrections staff. And, Tuesday morning, an inmate at the Pottawattamie County Jail was presented with a warrant for Violation of Probation. 24-year old Devon Seth Hunt, of Council Bluffs, was read the warrant and then returned to his cell.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say a business owner shot and killed a burglar in southern Des Moines. Sgt. Paul Parizek says the man was loading items from Kraft 5 Star Muffler into a stolen truck Wednesday morning when the repair shop owner arrived for work. The man confronted the owner instead of fleeing. Parizek says it looks like a “stand your ground” case, but a decision on any charges will come from the Polk County attorney’s office.

The Iowa law says people don’t have to retreat before using deadly force if they think their lives are being threatened. The names of those involved haven’t been released.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Court records say a mistrial was declared before testimony began in a Davenport murder trial. The Quad-City Times reports that a judge Tuesday granted a motion from the lawyer for Tremayne Thomas. Thomas has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse in the May 30, 2017, death of 35-year-old Brandon Brooks. Brooks’ body was found burning near a Davenport street.

The request for a mistrial cited a comment made during jury selection, but the online court records don’t detail what was said by whom. Police say they believe Thomas was an accomplice of Brooks in a January burglary. Police say a search of Thomas’ home turned up blood evidence against him.

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff from sunrise on Thursday, July 12, 2018, to sunset on Friday, July 13, 2018, in honor and remembrance of former Iowa Governor Robert D. Ray. He passed away on Sunday, July 8, 2018, at the age of 89. “Governor Ray’s legacy lives on in the millions of people that he impacted as a tremendous statesman for Iowa and our nation,” Gov. Reynolds said. “His civility, courage and common-sense governing set a high standard for those who followed. May our prayers and thoughts bring peace to First Lady Billie Ray, her daughters and family at this time.”

Flags will be at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex. Flags will also be half-staff on all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

(9-a.m. News)

More details are being released about a three-vehicle crash on Monday night in Webster County near Badger that killed a Humboldt man and seriously injured a Fort Dodge woman. Reportedly, a 2006 Land Rover driven by 24-year-old Aisha Ismail of Fort Dodge was traveling westbound on Webster County Road C-56 when she started to pass a 2008 Chevrolet Silverardo pickup truck and car trailer operated by 51-year-old Michael Heuck of Spencer. As Ismail was passing the Heuck pickup, she collided head-on with an eastbound Dodge Neon driven by David Fliehe of Humboldt.

The collision caused the Ismael Land Rover to be pushed into the driver’s side of the Heuck trailer. The Fliehe car ended up in the south ditch. The Ismael vehicle rolled onto its side and then ended up on its top in the south ditch. The Heuck pickup remained on the road and was able to stop without further problems. Fliehe was pronounced dead at the accident scene. Ismail was airlifted to a Des Moines hospital for treatment of her injuries. Heuck escaped injury.

(Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, today (Wednesday), approved a request for permission to hold a Bible Reading Marathon on the courthouse block grounds. The event takes place Saturday, July 21st, beginning at 10-a.m., and is similar to the past two-years, except that it will be held one-day only, instead of two. It’s estimated to take two-hours for multiple individuals to read different sections of the Bible at the same time.

Supervisors Mark Wedemeyer expressed concern that another group, such as Atheists, for example, might also request a similar event espousing their beliefs, but it was pointed out by Board Chair Gaylord Schelling and organizer Renee Watson, that the event has been held the past two years in Cass County without issue. Watson said Governor Kim Reynolds passed a proclamation recognizing the state-wide event late last month, and that there have been no problems with any Bible Reading events in Iowa’s 99 counties.

In other business, the Supervisors approved a wage adjustment for Rich Hansen, assistant to County Engineer Charles Bechtold. His salary will be adjusted from about $62,239 to $63,000.