Officials in the state’s Workforce Development agency today (Tuesday) are touting their work to set up an “access point system” to replace the 37 Workforce Development offices that are closing. On Monday Governor Branstad told reporters he’s confident he’ll beat a lawsuit challenging his decision to close those offices. The agency at the center of the controversy issued a news release today touting the convenience of having “Virtual Access Points,” or, “VAPS.” Spokesperson Kerry Koonce says the access points are set up in places like libraries, schools and National Guard Armories, and offer more than you can get by just logging in on your own computer.

Koonce says you can do a lot of things by accessing the website, but you can’t do the assessment testing on the website as it can’t be programmed that way. She says they have a live chat setup with staff available from eight a-m until eight p-m Monday through Friday and 10 a-m to two p-m on Saturday on the access points, while the regular offices close at 4:30. Koonce says the access points have more resources available.

She says there are pieces within the labor market information that she says are difficult to pull up in the web, while it is broken down better in the resource room. And she says you can call the 800 number to get access to a workforce professional. Koonce says the access points don’t take any special equipment.

Koonce says they can put the information onto a computer that is already open to the public at a location, or bring in a Workforce office computer. She says they will use computers from the offices that’re being closed, so there won’t be any cost involved. Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds says she and the governor recently visited Denison and saw the value of the new system first-hand. “The (Denison) superintendent was there and he just opened up the high school with some evening hours,” Reynolds says.

Koonce says you can still apply for a job, or file for unemployment on the Workforce Development website, but the 135 access points will offer the expanded services. In southwest Iowa, VAPS will be located at libraries in Harlan, Atlantic, Sidney, Tabor, and Red Oak. Other locations include Southwestern Community College in Red Oak, the Taylor County Neighborhood Center, and Taylor County Veteran’s Affairs office, both in Bedford, and at the Montgomery County Veteran’s Affairs Office in Red Oak. Iowa Workforce Development Offices in Atlantic, Glenwood, Red Oak, Shenandoah and Clarinda are set to close tomorrow (Wednesday). The IWD office in Harlan closed last Friday.

The Board of Supervisors in Adair County will discuss a redistricting & representing plan during their meeting Wednesday morning, in Greenfield. The meeting begins at 9-a.m. with discussion about redistricting set for 9:15. The Adair County Supervisors will also set the date for a Public Hearing and first reading of an ordinance on the matter.

In other business, the Board will receive and discuss correspondence with regard to Taylor Site number one, which pertains to a proposed large hog confinement facility. On August 20^th, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources denied a request to build a 5,000 head hog confinement in Adair County. The DNR said an evaluation of the proposal indicated it failed to meet the requirements necessary for approval. The Adair County Board of Supervisors recommended the DNR deny the construction permit because of problems with the application and community opposition. The operator, Twin Lakes Environmental Services LLC, a manure management company based in Rockwell City, had 14 days to appeal the decision.

The Adair County Supervisors will also discuss a petition for waiver or variance pertaining to the sanitary landfill, and set the date for a public hearing on the 1^st reading of an ordinance on the Local Option Sales Tax, as it pertains to the City of Stuart. Other topics for discussion, include a Cass County Hospital Involuntary, and West Central Mental Health, contracts.

A five-year old Atlantic boy suffered minor injuries when the bicycle he was riding was hit by a car Monday evening, at 9^th and Mulberry Streets. According to the Atlantic Police Department, a vehicle driven by Burton Conn, of Lewis, was traveling west on 9^th Street and approaching Pine, when Curtis Meurer, of Atlantic, drove his bike out of a driveway at 904 East 9^th, and attempted to cross the street. Officials say the boy failed to yield the right of way, and was struck by the car. The accident happened at around 5:45-p.m. Meurer was taken to the Cass County Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

And, no injuries were reported following an accident Monday morning at 8^th and Maple Streets in Atlantic. Officials say Heidi Smith, of Griswold, was cited for Failure to Yield upon entering a roadway, and for no proof of financial liability. According to the police department, a vehicle driven by Rosemarie Jones, of Atlantic, was traveling south in the 700 block of Maple Street and approaching the intersection, when Smith pulled away from the stop sign as she was headed west, and the vehicles collided. The accident happened at around 8:30-a.m. Damage from the crash amounted to $16,000.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an accident which took place Monday. Officials say a 1997 Ford Taurus driven by 26-year old Robert Krisinger, of Atlantic, was traveling west on the Marne Road, when it went out of control. The car entered the north ditch and hit a farm drive.

No injuries were reported, but the car was totaled in the crash.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports an Atlantic man was arrested earlier this month following an accident. 30-year old Aaron Lee Latus was arrested August 9^th on charges which include Serious Injury by Vehicle, Reckless Driving, and Leaving the Scene of an Accident. According to court records, the incident which led to his arrest took place on June 6^th. Latus posted a $5,000 bond on August 10^th. His arraignment on the charges will take place September 12^th, with a jury trial set for November 15^th.

The Sheriff’s office reports also, 18-year old James Aloysius Maschka, of Council Bluffs, was arrested August 21^st, for 3^rd degree burglary, theft in the 5^th degree, and 5^th degree criminal mischief. On that same day, 20-year old Jace Reed Catlett, of Sidney, was arrested on a charge of Serious Assault.

w/ Ric Hanson

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MOORHEAD, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a 52-year-old western Iowa man has been killed in a tractor accident. The Monona County Sheriff’s Office said Monday that David Moorhead was driving a tractor and hauling hay south of the town of Moorhead around 8 p.m. Friday when the tractor overturned in a ditch, pinning him beneath it. Moorhead was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident is being investigated.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Authorities in Montgomery County are investigating several burglaries which occurred Monday afternoon near Red Oak. The thefts took place in an area west of Chautauqua Park. According to Red Oak Police, officers were called to the 1300 block of North 6th Street at around 2:40-p.m., to investigate several vehicle burglaries. Officers were also called to 608 East Oak Street, to investigate a garage break in, where two vehicles had been burglarized.

In each instance, the vehicles were unlocked, with no sign of forced entry. As of this (Tuesday) morning, at least eight theft victims have been identified. The investigation is on-going, and no dollar estimate is available for the property reported stolen.

Anyone with information about Monday’s burglaries is asked to call Red Oak Police at 623-6500 or the Montgomery County Crimestoppers at 800-432-1001.

ADEL, Iowa (AP) – A Dallas County-owned care facility for the disabled has been fined $7,500 for failures connected to the death of a resident.The facility in Adel is often called the county home. State inspectors say a resident who had a history of choking on food was given crackers and left unsupervised on May 7. About 15 minutes later, another resident reported to staff that the resident with the crackers appeared to be choking. The resident was pronounced dead later at a hospital.

The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals fined the facility $7,500 for failing to adequately supervise residents. The state report does not identify the deceased resident.