The Iowa Workforce Development agency is reporting the state’s unemployment rate rose to 4.6 percent in September from 4.5 percent in August. IWD spokesperson Kerry Koonce isn’t surprised.
“You’re seeing transition between summer and fall employment, so we’ll frequently see a little bit of bump this time of year,” Koonce says.

The U.S. unemployment rate dropped to 5.9 percent in September compared to 6.1 percent in August. The number of unemployed Iowans increased to 77,900 in September from 76,500 in August. There are roughly 3,000 more unemployed Iowans compared to a year ago. Koonce says there was also an increase in the total number of working Iowans. “It jumped from 1,626,400 (in August) up to 1,629,700 (in September),” Koonce says. “That’s 33,000 higher than it was this time last year, so that’s still very strong improvement for the economy.”

Iowa’s construction sector added 1,600 jobs in September, following an “unexpected” loss of 1,200 jobs in August. Construction has added jobs in five of the last six months. Education and health services also added 1,300 jobs last month.  “We did see some losses in trade and transportation (-1,000 jobs), with most of that in the transportation area,” Koonce says. “We also saw losses in leisure and hospitality (-1,600), which does tend to trend down this time of year.”

Employment in Iowa’s construction, health care, and finance sectors are at or near record levels, according to Koonce. Manufacturing trimmed 100 jobs last month, marking the fourth straight month that sector has cut employment in Iowa. “We saw large growth (in manufacturing) last year, so that’s just kind of leveling off,” Koonce says.

Compared to one year ago, there are around 400 fewer jobs in Iowa’s manufacturing sector.

(Radio Iowa)

Atlantic Police report two arrests. On Monday, 38-year old Mandy Bolin, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Failure to Appear in court. And, last Friday, 48-year old Daniel Green, of The Dalles, OR., was arrested for 5th degree Theft (shoplifting).

Both were booked into the Cass County Jail.

ROCKWELL CITY, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa man who wouldn’t pull over for police while racing to get his pregnant wife to a hospital has been charged with speeding. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that 41-year-old Ben Kohnen also is charged with failing to yield to an emergency vehicle.

Last Tuesday Kohnen refused to halt for pursuing officers as he sped from his home in Pomeroy toward a hospital in Fort Dodge so his wife, Rachel, could safely deliver their fourth child. Officers eventually deployed stop sticks that punctured one of his vehicle’s tires, so Kohnen stopped.

When officers realized Rachel Kohnen was in labor, they took her to the hospital while her husband stayed to talk to other officers. Tiny Hazel Kohnen was born about an hour later, after her dad arrived.

The Exira-Elk Horn/Kimballton School Board Monday, held a public hearing at high school in Elk Horn, on a Resolution for the sale of land associated with the former elementary school in Exira. During the Exira-EHK School Board meeting last month, the Board agreed to sell the property for $5,000 by area resident Marvin Jorgenson. Superintendent Dean Schnoes said the hearing was merely a formality.

He said because the price tag for the property was $5,000, Iowa Code requires the open meeting.)
There were no objections and only one question on the matter from a district patron on how the sale would benefit the community. Schnoes said the Board wanted to make sure the land would benefit the community when it agreed to sell the land last month. He said a representative of the group still plans to use the land for a retirement home/assisted living facility, and/or a medical facility.

Following the public hearing, the Board approved a Resolution to sell the land, along with the Quit Claim Deed. In other business, the Exira-EHK School Board approved a contract for Pre-School Para-educator Catherine Menter, and a contract with the Atlantic Community School District with regard to the Cass County Educational Opportunity Center (CCEOC).

Schnoes said there are currently no students from the district attending the Center, but it’s available for any student that may fall behind that allows them to get the help they need.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.9MB)

Subscribe: RSS

An ATV accident Monday afternoon in Shelby County has claimed the life of a 79-year old man, near Earling. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office said Charles Mumm, of Earling, died at the scene of the crash near 2222 Dogwood Road, at around 5:30-p.m.

Mumm was found in a field near the residence, with the ATV nearby. An investigation determined he lost control of the machine in the field due to large washout ruts and possibly mechanical failure.

Dunlap Fire and Rescue responded to the scene, along the Shelby County Medical Examiner.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.3MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Two adults and a juvenile were arrested late Monday night in Red Oak, for “Breach of Peace.” According to Red Oak Police, 32-year old Melissa Marie Rinabarger, 19-year-old Brandon Michael Borgmyer, and 16-year-old Tyler Austin Sowers, all of Red Oak, were arrested in the 2000 Block of North 8th Street.

Rinabarger and Borgmyer were being held in the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on $300 cash bond, while Sowers was released to his parents.

The Atlantic Parks and Recreations Departments Board of Directors wants to get the ball rolling on hiring an assistant to Parks Director Roger Herring. Herring’s five-year contract with the City expires in May, 2016. In September, Herring asked the Board to start looking for someone to succeed him. He said the assistant would learn the Operations aspect of the department, which would allow Herring to work on other, important aspects of the job, such as grant-writing.

Herring said contrary to rumors, a candidate has not been singled-out for the position. He says while he has people in mind, “It’s not a done deal,” and the position is open to the public. The final say on hiring is with the Parks Board. There currently no timeline in-place for hiring the assistant, a fact Parks and Rec Board members Charlene Bean pointed out needs to be corrected quickly.

She said they need to have someone on board as soon as possible. Beane said “There are too many things that are pending…[several] projects that need a force behind them. Grants that need to be written. If we’ve got money to hire somebody, I think we ought to do it ASAP.” Herring said he can “Work with anything,” as far as a timeline is concerned. Board President Stuart Dusenberry said they should have someone in place by no later than the end of May, 2015, so that person can become familiarized with the busy summer activities and responsibilities.

If the Board chooses to have someone in the assistant director’s position by January 1st, they will have to amend their current budget, which Interim City Administrator John Lund said could be taken up during an upcoming City Council work session. Afterward, if the Council is comfortable with the numbers presented during the meeting, the Parks Board can assemble a job description and present before the Council during a regular meeting prior to the end of the year.

Lund said his “Gut reactions is ….the money will be there,” and based on the response of the Personnel and Finance Committee, thinks the chances are the Council will favor the idea to amend the budget and move forward.

A woman from Nebraska was arrested early this (Tuesday) morning on a drug charge, in Fremont County. The Sheriff’s Office says 51-year old Pamela Leners, of Omaha, was arrested in Sidney, following a narcotics investigation. Leners faces a Delivery of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine charge. She was being held in the Fremont County Jail on $50,000 bond.