Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce report Young Professionals of Atlantic will host its next Lunch and Learn on Thursday, July 24th . The topic will be on hiring, firing, and employee relations.  Kent Gade, President of Gade Insurance, and Don Johnson, Asst. Administrator of Human Resources at Cass County Health System, will be on-hand to discuss processes and best practices related to handling employee issues in regards to hiring, firing, keeping employees productive, and complying with employer regulations.

The Lunch & Learn will begin at Noon on the 24th, at the Chamber’s Depot Meeting Room. Cost of lunch is $10 for Atlantic Area Chamber Members and $15 for non- members. Any questions, please contact YPA Professional Development Committee Chair Tom Welchans at 712-350-0075 or the Atlantic Chamber. You can also reserve your place at www.atlanticiowa.com or by calling the Chamber.

Iowa home sales decreased by 3.4 percent over the first half of this year compared to the first six months of 2013. That information comes from new data released by the Iowa Association of Realtors (IAR). Sales picked up in the month of June, however, according to IAR President Kathy Miller. “We sold 4,047 homes in June 2014 and 3,905 homes in June 2013. That’s an increase of 3.6 percent,” Miller said. Home prices in Iowa “rose slightly.” The average sale price (rose 1% from June 2013 to June 2014) as opposed to the median sale price.

The median sale price of a home sold in Iowa last month was $145,000. That’s down just one-percent compared to June of 2013 when the median price was $146,500.  “Now’s a great time to take advantage of the affordability in home ownership,” Miller said. “Interest rates are still good.” The report shows the average days on the market for a home sold in Iowa dipped to 81 days, down from 85 days in June 2013.

(Radio Iowa)

Authorities investigating a report of persons tampering with a lawn mower at a residence just outside of Red Oak early this (Wednesday) morning, arrested two men. Bobbie J. Bruce, of Red Oak, and Jason R. Aherns, of Council Bluffs, were taken into custody at around 3:30-a.m. on a charge of Trespassing (a simple misdemeanor).

Bruce and Aherns were brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held pending an appearance before the magistrate. Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputies were assisted by officers with the Red Oak Police Department in handling the incident.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

SAC CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sac City man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for sexually abusing four girls. Thirty-five-year-old Christopher Carnine received was sentenced on two charges of second-degree sexual abuse and two charges of third-degree sexual abuse. Carnine was ordered to serve two 25-year sentences consecutively, while two 10-year sentences will be served at the same time. Carnine must serve 35 years in prison before he is eligible for parole. He must also register as a sex offender.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican David Young has less than $90,000 in the bank for his run in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District. Young’s campaign spokesman says Young had raised just over $110,000 between June 2 and June 30. He has nearly $90,000 in cash. That’s far less than his Democratic opponent Staci Appel, who said last week that she had more than $725,000 on hand. The 3rd District covers much of southwest Iowa, stretching from Des Moines to Council Bluffs.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Council Bluffs has given the green light to a measure that bans residents from purposely feeding wild turkeys. A first offense could result in a warning letter, and subsequent offences could lead to the fine. Growing a garden or flowers that attract the birds would not fall under the category of purposely feeding them. Councilman Nate Watson says feeding wild turkeys causes a nuisance.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad says he has more than $4 million in the bank for his re-election campaign. Branstad raised more than $700,000 during the most recent state fundraising period, which ended yesterday. The Republican faces Democratic state Senator Jack Hatch in the November general election. Hatch’s campaign has not yet released fundraising information.

SAC CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sac City man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for sexually abusing four girls. Court documents show 35-year-old Christopher Carnine received the sentence Monday in Sac County District Court on two charges of second-degree sexual abuse and two charges of third-degree sexual abuse.

The Sioux City Journal reports Carnine was ordered to serve two 25-year sentences consecutively, while two 10-year sentences will be served at the same time. Carnine was accused of performing sex acts with young girls beginning in 2009. Two of the girls were under 12 at the time. He was also accused of inappropriately touching a 16-year-old girl this year.

Carnine must serve 35 years in prison before he is eligible for parole. He must also register as a sex offende

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Officials say an Iowa man who escaped from a work release facility in the past has escaped again. The state Department of Corrections says Cletus Armell was placed on escape status Monday after he failed to return to the Sioux City work release facility from an appointment.

Records show Armell escaped from a residential work release center in Sioux City in 2012. He was captured a short time later and charged with an additional offense. Department spokesman Fred Scaletta says Armell was returned to prison after his 2012 escape. He was transferred to work release in November. He is serving a 15-year sentence for armed robbery.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Council Bluffs has given the green light to a measure that bans residents from purposely feeding wild turkeys. The City Council unanimously approved a second reading Monday on an ordinance that bans turkey feeding. The council waived a third and final reading, which means it will be in effect soon.

The Daily Nonpareil reports a first offense could result in a warning letter, and subsequent offenses could lead to the fine. Growing a garden or flowers that attract the birds would not fall under the category of purposely feeding them.

Councilman Nate Watson says feeding wild turkeys causes a nuisance.

Police in Lenox are warning area residents about a fundraising scam. Authorities say they have been notified a local resident recently received a phone call from someone claiming to be raising funds for the Lenox Fire Department. Officials stress “The Lenox Fire Department IS NOT soliciting donations via the telephone.”

The Police Department say if you receive or have received a call like that, you should  contact Lenox Police. If you have caller ID, and the number appears, write that information down so authorities can get to the bottom of this scam.

The Lenox P-D wants to make clear that the local Fire Department IS currently conducting a door to door fund raising campaign. It involves current members of the fire department ONLY. If you have any doubts as to the validity of someone claiming to be from the fire department, please ask for identification or contact the Lenox City Hall.

Above all, remember, NEVER give out credit card or bank account information over the phone to someone who has called you, claiming to need that information for any purpose.

The American Red Cross urges eligible blood donors to roll up a sleeve and give to help prevent a summer blood shortage. The Red Cross is seeing fewer appointments at its blood donation centers and blood drives this summer than what is needed to ensure blood and platelets continue to be available for patients.

During the summer months of June, July and August, on average, about two fewer donors make an appointment to give blood at each Red Cross blood drive than what patients need. Today (Tuesday), the American Red Cross is hosting a blood drive in Elk Horn.

The drive takes place from 11:30am-5:30pm at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. If you are able, make sure you donate blood today because you never know whose life you may save tomorrow. The need is constant. The gratification is instant. Give blood.

The Shelby County Supervisors approved a new telephone system for the Shelby County Courthouse. In a meeting this (Tuesday) morning, Shelby County Assessor Tony Buman explained that a committee made up of himself, Treasurer Carolyn Blum and Recorder Linda Fahn, worked on going out for bids for the new telephone system. He called the current courthouse telephone system is outdated and most of the parts can not be ordered if something goes wrong. The committee received bids from Farmer’s Mutual Cooperative Telephone Company (FMCTC), Mytel and Off Kilter Media.

Buman said “We looked at all three of them. We looked at some of the systems provided by them. We looked at the costing and so on. And our recommendation is unanimous to go with Farmer’s Mutual. Not only are they are current provider, they offer a product that does not upgrading to a network system which would be a little bit more complex in running. It was also the least pricing of all three proposals as well.”

Buman added, the bids were not exactly alike which is why there was a discrepancy in the amount per company. The bid from FMCTC was for $15,080.37. The Supervisors approved the bid with a vote of 2-0 with board member Roger Schmitz having to abstain due to being a member of the FMCTC board. One talking point was an emergency button service in every room of the courthouse which would tie into the new phone system.

The Supervisors agreed they needed more information on what would need to be installed at the courthouse before making a decision on the matter. In other business, the Shelby County Board of Supervisors approved a disaster declaration for the county presented by Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)