Authorities in Union County say the Afton Police Department received a report Wednesday afternoon from two, 10-year old girls, who claim they were confronted by a 50- to 60-year old white male. The incident took place on East Grand Street just west of the East Union School Campus and near the City of Afton REC Fields.  Several East Union After School Daycare staff members observed the confrontation and helped to get the girls to safety on the school campus.

Authorities say the person of interest connection with the incident, had brown eyes, and some brown hair, but was mostly bald on top. He was driving a Green Jeep or Chevy Blazer type 4×4 vehicle with a spare tire on the back. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Afton Police Chief John Coulter at 641-347-5255, or local law enforcement. The Afton Police Department is following up on other leads.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Strong farm income helped Nebraska and Iowa record an increase in median income last year while nationally median income declined 1.3 percent and most states saw their median income shrink. A new Census report released today (Thursday), said Nebraska’s median income grew 1.1 percent to $50,296 in 2011. Iowa’s median income grew 0.1 percent to $49,427.

Only 13 states and the District of Columbia recorded an increase in median income between 2010 and 2011. Vermont led the nation with a 4.1 percent increase. The University of Nebraska at Omaha’s David Drozd says the strength of agriculture has helped Nebraska and Iowa withstand the economic uncertainty of the past few years, and it’s a factor in these income figures.  The relatively low unemployment rate in both states also helped boost income.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Four out of five senior citizens in Iowa are taking medications, but a study finds many of them don’t understand how the drugs may affect their abilities, especially to drive. Rose White, at Triple-A-Iowa, says the motor club is launching a website that allows you to input whatever meds you’re taking to learn about their impact.  “RoadwiseRX provides details on the common side effects of prescription and over-the-counter medications,” White says. “The free online tool generates personalized feedback on how medications or herbal supplements and foods, and their interactions with each other, can impact safety behind the wheel.”

Even if you’ve taken a drug for some time, White says you may not be aware of how it may affect your senses, particularly if multiple meds are involved. “Our research shows that more than 80-percent of drivers age 65 and older regularly take medications, yet only half have talked to a medical professional about the possible safety issues and side effects related to driving,” White says. “With this tool, we hope they’ll use it, input the information, print the results and share it with their doctor.”

Certain antidepressants have been shown to increase crash risk by up to 41-percent. Ingredients like diphenhydramine, found in over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines, can have the same effect on driving as being above the legal limit for blood-alcohol levels. “In most states, including Nebraska and Iowa, a motorist can be charged for driving under the influence of drugs, which includes prescription and over-the-counter medications,” White says. “For that reason, it’s important to know and understand the side effects of any medications being consumed before you operate a motor vehicle.”

It’s estimated that by 2020, just eight years from now, nearly one in six people will be 65 or older — and most of them will still be licensed to drive.

(Radio Iowa)

This is National Farm Safety Week as experts look to try and cut down on the over 300 farm-related deaths that happen each year.Iowa State University extension safety specialist Charles Schwab, farming ranks as one of the most hazardous occupations. “The agricultural industry, as a whole, has a much higher death rate than any other industry, and higher than the whole average, nine times higher, than all the other industries combined. So it’s a huge number of fatalities that we deal with in our population,” Schwab says.

Tractor roll overs account for the most farm deaths, and Schwab says they can be prevented if tractors have roll over protection or ROPS. “The phrase in Iowa which is very viable is we haven’t had a fatality from a roll-over with a tractor with ROPs and all of them have been with tractors without ROPs, and so a good life insurance policy is get the ROPs on the tractor,” according to Schwab. La Vonne Galles is the coordinator for Agri-Safe of Plymouth County, a division of the Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars. Galles says many times farm accidents occur because of fatigue, so she tells farmers to “take a break” from the busy harvest season.

“The main thing is just be careful, to think before we do anything, and try not to be, you know, so tired. I guess if we can take rest breaks and we can go at a pace that is conducive for good, safe, conduct, then that’s what I think we should be doing,” Galles says. She is worried the summer drought may present a new hazard on the farm in the form of aflatoxin mold in grain. “Yeah, its a respiratory issue of course and so that dust or mold that gets into our respiratory track. If we can avoid that by just using a mask, you know I think that is really important,” Galles says. “Think of that first before we enter into those grain bins, or even any close area that has the grain.” Galles warns that combines, grain trucks, wagons, and grain bins can often times be a playground for children, and she reminds farmers to always know the whereabouts of their children before moving equipment.

(Radio Iowa)

The owner of a bed and breakfast business in Atlantic is set to meet with City officials today at 10-a.m., to request more time to meet an October 1^stdeadline to complete repairs on the exterior of his business, which is on the National Register of Historic places.

S.F. Martin House property owner Roger Steffens faces fines if he doesn’t complete work on his property by Oct. 1st. (Ric Hanson-photo)

Roger Steffens, owner of the S.F. Martin House at 5^th and Poplar Streets, told the Council Wednesday evening, he has taken, and continues to take, steps to complete the restoration of the structure in a historically correct manner, but rushing to complete them by the October 1^st deadline would result in a less than aesthetically pleasing appearance. Steffens said he wants 2-more years to complete the job. The building has been an eye sore in Atlantic, especially on the east side, for nearly 15-years, while the inside is pristine. Steffens said he received a letter from City officials  saying he would be fined $250 every month after October 1^st, if the work is not completed according to City Code, by the deadline.

Steffens said also, he received a letter from the City saying work must be completed on one specific side of the structure. City Administrator Doug Harris acknowledged the City sent Steffens a letter in May, saying work needed to be done on the west side of the building, but sent a corrected letter on April 30^th to say it was the east side that needed the most attention immediately. Steffens said he only received two letters from the City, one in May the other in August. Harris produced a copy of the letter sent in April, but Steffens claims he never received it. Steffens said he will need more time to “Do the work the right way,” and that he’s already spent “Tens of thousands of dollars” on the on-going project, but he’s not willing to do the job hap-hazardly.

Atlantic City Councilman Shawn Shouse says it’s not the type of work being done that is the problem, it is all about the amount of time it is taking to get it done. Shouse said by Steffens’ own admission, he is taking too long. He says that’s what the council feels, as well. Steffens thinks he’s being singled-out by the City, but Shouse said that’s not the case. Shouse said the City has sent out notices to other property owner’s who are not in compliance with the Code.

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening, adopted a revised Ordinance pertaining to Private Wells. The new ordinance says “No person shall install a private drinking or non-drinking water well within city limits, unless a determination has been made by the City Administrator that it is a “closed-loop system,” or that the well is located greater than 1,000-feet from where an area of contamination exists. The Iowa DNR has identified the City’s old street garage site at 211 Commerce, and sites at 1408 East 7th, and 100 West 2nd Street, as contaminated sites, under Iowa law.

The Council also set 5:30-p.m. October 3^rd, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall, as the time, date and place for a public hearing on the disposal of certain real estate at 400 Hickory Street. City Street Department Superintendent Derald Andersen provided the Council with an update on departmental activities and progress during the meeting.

Andersen said the street crews are still doing some asphalt patching, and will try to seal coat some of the roads next week. He says some of the roads haven’t been seal coated in nearly 10-years. City Administrator Doug Harris and Andersen agreed, that over one-third of the 55-miles worth of roads in the City have been repaired over the past 10-years or so, and the work continues, as part of the City’s Capital Improvements Plan. Andersen said also, it’s about that time of year to prepare the City’s Christmas lights for display.

He says crews will begin the process of preparing for the Grand Lighting ceremony that takes place in December, on October 1^st. Three men in bucket trucks will spend 27 days decorating the trees on Chestnut Street, weather permitting. That includes all the garlands and other decorations. In other news from the Council meeting, Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones set Wednesday, October 31^st from 5:30-to 7:30-p.m., as the date and times for Halloween Trick or Treating in Atlantic.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

The Cass County Democratic Party officially opened its Election Headquarters at 511 Chestnut Street in Atlantic, Tuesday, with 32 voters attending its Open House. Sherry Toelle, Cass County Democratic Party Chairperson, says former Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge was the keynote speaker at the event, acting as a surrogate for President Obama as well as speaking from her twenty years of experience in the political arena. Toelle says Judge stated the Democrats running for Statehouse seats were some of the best candidates that she has seen in years.

She expressed the need for a large voter turnout this election as it is the most important election of this generation, citing controversial issues such as Medicare and Social Security stability, voter suppression issues across the nation, and health care coverage for all citizens. In addition, John Rose, candidate for Iowa House District #21, running against Jack Drake, spoke of his slate of issues, including education, educational funding, property tax reform, infrastructure, and Obamacare’s expansion of Medicaid funding for the states.Rose cited concerns that the current Governor has expressed negativity toward the Medicaid expansion, despite increased federal funding for the program.

The Cass County Democratic Party’s Headquarters is open 7 days a week.

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports General Election ballots have been delivered to the Auditor’s office. Requests for Absentee ballots (those cast prior to ‘election day’ by mail or at Auditor’s office) may be sent or brought to the County Auditor’s office. First day to vote in the auditor’s office is Thursday, September 27th, 2012 and the last day to vote in the auditor’s office is Monday, November 5th, 2012. Absentee ballots may be requested by mail or may be voted at the Cass County Auditor’s Office during normal business hours. In addition to regular office hours, the office of Cass County Auditor will be open Saturday, October 27, 2012 from 8 AM thru 5 PM and Saturday, November 3, 2012 from 9 AM thru 5 PM.

Sunderman notes that this year, Cass County will have two Satellite Voting Stations, to provide in-person absentee voting at places other than the courthouse. At the satellite voting station you must mark the absentee ballot and leave it with the officials similar to the process used at the courthouse. You cannot take the ballot home with you. The two satellite stations, the two days, the two times and the ballots available will be: at The MASSENA PUBLIC LIBRARY on October 15th, 2012 from 2:00 p.m. thru 8:00 p.m., and ballots that will be available are those for Edna Township, Victoria Township, Massena Township, City of Massena, Union Township and the City of Cumberland; the other Satellite station is at the GRISWOLD COMMUNITY BUILDING,on October 17th, 2012 from 2:00 p.m. thru 8:00 p.m. and ballots that will be available, are those for Pleasant Township, Noble Township, City of Griswold, Bear Grove Township, Cass Township and the City of Lewis

In order to vote in Iowa a person must be registered in the person’s current county of residence, under the person’s present name, and at the person’s current address. Registration forms are available at the county auditor’s office, many State of Iowa service offices and on the Secretary of State’s web site: sos.state.ia.us The county election commissioner recommends that persons not currently registered or who have moved since last registering and are planning to vote in the November General Election pre-register in the office of the County Auditor as soon as possible. You may register or re-register and vote absentee on the same day.

You may also update your registration as you update your address for your driver’s license. Since your Iowa driver’s license is often used as official identification, it’s important that the data shown is accurate. Iowa law requires residents to notify the Department of Transportation within 30 days of an address change. The easiest method of changing your address is to visit an Iowa driver’s license station. In Cass County that station is in the Cass County Treasurer’s office.

For additional information, call the Cass County Auditor’s office at 712-243-4570.