Police in Glenwood say one person was taken into custody following an investigation Monday into a suspicious persons report. Authorities said 25-year-old Kenneth Hartwell (residence not listed) was charged with 4th-degree theft, 3rd-degree criminal mischief, and driving under suspension, after officers responded to a call about a person tampering with campers in the 200 block of Valley Street, in Glenwood. During their investigation, officers located and items allegedly stolen from the campers. Hartwell was transported to the Mills County Jail.

A new report shows few Iowa employers are expecting to add jobs over the last three months of the year. The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey for the fourth quarter of 2012 yielded a net employment outlook of just 10-percent. Karen Miller is spokeswoman for Manpower in Des Moines. “For the fourth quarter of this year, we’re looking at 20-percent of the companies that we surveyed are planning on increasing (employment) while 10-percent are planning on decreasing. So we have a net employment outlook of 10-percent,” Miller said. Another 68-percent of Iowa employers surveyed expect to maintain their current staffing levels, while two-percent are uncertain.

Iowa employers’ hiring plans are much weaker when compared to the third quarter survey. “We had a very robust third quarter outlook,” Miller said. “The net employment outlook for the third quarter was 24-percent.” The Manpower survey mirrors a report released last week by the Iowa Business Council – showing the CEOs of Iowa’s largest companies anticipate a slowdown in sales, capital spending and employment in the coming six months. Miller suspects many business owners are taking a “wait and see” approach.

“I think employers are being really cautious because of the pending elections, health care, global economic issues and fluctuation and the (drought),” Miller said. “We’ve had a myriad of factors that have impacted the fourth quarter number.” Manpower surveyed more than 18,000 employers across the U.S. The overall national report shows 17-percent expect to add to their workforces and 9-percent expect a decline in payrolls – for a fourth quarter net employment outlook of 11-percent.

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with the Cass County Democratic Party say a Grand Opening of its Election Headquarters will be held next Tuesday, September 18th. The event, and fundraiser for Iowa House Candidate John Rose, will feature former Iowa Lt. Governor Patty Judge, as the keynote speaker. Rose, who is running against Republican Jack Drake from Griswold, for House District 21, will also speak at the event, which runs from 5-to 6:30-p.m., Sept. 18th, at the Democratic Party headquarters. Snacks and refreshments will be served. The public is invited to attend. For more information, call Sherry Toelle, at 712-243-4861.

Two Nebraska residents were injured Monday on Interstate 29 near Crescent, when a van ran out of gas and was hit from behind. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2002 Ford Windstar van driven by 32-year old Brylona Moreland, of Omaha, was traveling south on I-29 at around 6:10-p.m., when the vehicle’s gas tank ran dry. The van came to rest on the traveled portion of the interstate, and was hit from behind by a 2007 Pontiac G-6, driven by 27-year old Christopher Buser, of Bellevue, NE.

Following the impact, both vehicles came to rest in the west ditch. Moreland, and a passenger in the van, 34-year old Terrell Jones, of Omaha, were transported to Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha. Neither was wearing a seat belt. Buser suffered minor injuries, but refused medical treatment at the scene. Officials say several traffic citations were issued to Moreland.

COUNTIES: HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT AND PAGE

339 PM CDT MON SEP 10 2012

RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 7 PM CDT TUESDAY FOR EXTREME FIRE DANGER. THIS REPLACES THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH WHICH HAD BEEN ISSUED PREVIOUSLY. A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW…OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS…LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY…AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

COUNTIES: CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-CASS-DALLAS-POLK-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD

324 PM CDT MON SEP 10 2012

A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 9 PM CDT TUESDAY FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS.. THIS REPLACES THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY ISSUED.

SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH…WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED. IN ADDITION, THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY  WILL DROP TO 15 TO 25 PERCENT IN THE AFTERNOON. FIELD CROPS ARE NEARLY CURED AND HAVE BECOME HIGHLY COMBUSTIBLE. IN COMBINATION WITH THE FORECAST CONDITIONS TUESDAY…THIS WOULD LEAD TO RAPID FIRE GROWTH. IN ADDITION…THE DRYING OF GRASSES IS WELL AHEAD OF SCHEDULE DUE TO THE HOT AND DRY CONDITIONS THIS SUMMER.

IF A FIRE STARTS TUESDAY AFTERNOON…RAPID FIRE GROWTH WOULD BE POSSIBLE AND IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTAIN. A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW…OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS…LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY…AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

A good-sized crowd turned out for Monday morning’s meeting in Atlantic of ISU Extension officials, to hear what the Extension Service is offering for the future, and to offer opinions on the direction the Service is taking.

Cathann Kress, ISU Extension & Outreach Vice President

Appearing at the meeting held in the Cass County Community Center, was Cathann Kress, ISU Extension and Outreach vice president, and Terry Maloy, Iowa Association of County Extension Councils executive director. Kress told the audience and Extension Council members about four trends currently guiding the work of the Extension and Outreach service. The first was “Economic Development.” She said their economic development programming is focused on actions to help Iowa’s economy grow and prosper, in addition to enhancing the health of communities, and growing businesses. She said it’s also focusing on the future careers of young people.

Kress said the second “signature issue” area the are focusing on, is “Health and Well being,” in alliance with Governor Branstad’s Healthier State Initiative. The third signature issue, according to Kress, is “Food and the environment.” She says that focuses on “Local actions to produce a safe, sustainable, accessible and affordable food supply.” Kress said the fourth “Signature Issue” they’re focusing on at ISU Extension, is K-through 12 Youth Outreach, through STEM (or Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. While STEM jobs are expected to grow by 16% this decade in Iowa, ACT test scores in 2009 indicated 50% of Iowa students were not ready for college-level mathematics study, while only 37% were ready for college-level work in the field of Science. ISU Extension has been recognized by the Governor’s Office, as one of the vital STEM “hubs,” tasked with increasing student preparedness for entering the STEM sectors. Kress said their goal is to “Get young people excited about learning, and discovering new career choices,” including those in the High Tech Sector in Iowa, with the idea being to encourage them to remain in the State and “Pursue an education beyond high school, and build skills that will continue to improve our communities across the State.”

Afterward, during the Q&A session, Kress was asked about how the Extension can help young people become aware of what goes on in manufacturing facilities, and why so-called “Middle skilled” workers are so desperately needed to fill those jobs. Kress said the manufacturers have brought that to their attention, and they are working to overcome the stereotype of high-tech jobs are merely those that belong to “rocket scientists,” or chemists.  She says they’re trying to make sure that they build into their programming hands-on experience for young people, to create opportunities for high school internships and early years in college.

A program which will be incorporated into the STEM hub, is called “Into the Field,” which is intended to create shorter “excursions” into the workforce, which instead of a whole semester-long ordeal, would be for a week or so, to see first-hand what it’s like to work in manufacturing, and what skills and education are needed. She says they’re also looking at creating “Destination  Science” web page, where educators, 4-H volunteers, boy scout leaders and others, can come and let it be known what their interests are, with the idea being to provide points of reference for manufacturing and campus visits. She also said there are opportunities to model some programs after what the World Food Prize organization is doing with the Youth Institute, which gives young people an opportunity to solve problems.