OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Bankers expect economic activity to remain slow in rural parts of 10 Western and Plains states over the next few months. The region’s economic index declined again in December to 41.5 from November’s 43.7. Any score below 50 on one of the survey’s indexes suggests that factor will decline.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the monthly survey of rural bankers released Thursday. He says the current low energy and crop prices are slowing the economy. The strong U.S. dollar and a slower pace of manufacturing are also factors. The bankers aren’t very optimistic. The confidence index remained in negative territory even though it improved slightly to 39.8 in December from November’s 38.9.

Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

Police in Council Bluffs are warning area residents about a new scam that’s going around. The scam begins with motorists finding notes left on their vehicles that are in parking lots. The note says a guy named “Dave” saw the vehicle hit and damage his vehicle. “Dave” then instructs the person to contact him within the hour or he will notify police. The note also states “Dave” took photos of the person’s vehicle and license plates.

When drivers call “Dave,” he asks them to pay a certain amount of money to “keep insurance out of it”.  Police say in no instance was damage found on the potential victim’s vehicle, and no proof of an accident was ever given by “Dave.” Authorities say  this is a scam.

If you ARE in an accident in Council Bluffs, call the non-emergency dispatch number at (712)-328-5737, and file a report with police.

December 25th is a week from tomorrow and for many Iowans, it just wouldn’t be Christmas without a blanket of white covering everything outside. Meteorologist Rod Donavon, at the National Weather Service, says if you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, you -may- be in luck, but there will be a lot of ups and downs over the coming week.  Donavon says, “In general, we’re going to be warming back up after this little cool-down that we’re going to have for the next several days until at least Saturday.”

The first day of winter is December 22nd, that’s next Tuesday, and seasonally-appropriate weather may be arriving almost immediately. “Really, the thing we’re watching for next week is a big storm system that will be coming out of the southwest and likely will impact at least portions of the Central Plains either on the 23rd or 24th,” he says. Many tens of thousands of Iowans have travel plans for next week’s holidays and rain versus ice versus snow will make a big difference for them.

“Exact timing and how much cold air we get wrapped into this, we’ll see if we can produce some snow across Iowa but right now, it’s really uncertain.” While much of Iowa will see high temperatures only in the 20s and 30s today, some areas may see highs near 50 by Sunday, with the shift back to very cold weather and potential snow arriving by the middle of next week.

(Radio Iowa)

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Two people were arrested this week on drug charges, in Creston. Authorities say early this (Thursday) morning, 18-year old Tyler Lee Ray, of Afton, was arrested at 806 Laurel Street, in Creston. He was charged with Driving While Suspended, Possession of Stolen Property, Possession of a Concealed Weapon, Possession of Marijunana, and Illegal Possession of Prescription Pills. Ray was being held in the Union County Jail while awaiting a bond hearing.

Wednesday evening, Creston Police arrested 40-year old Amber Skeen, of Creston, on a Union County warrant for three counts of Prohibited Acts – Schedule 1, 2 or 3 Controlled Substance, and Tampering with Records. Skeen was being held in the Ringgold County Jail on $50,000 bond.

Also arrested Wednesday in Creston, was 20-year old Kami Hilton, of Creston, who was charged with Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. Hilton was being held in the Ringgold County Jail on $300 bond.

Creston Police report also, a theft and incident of vandalism. Officials say a resident reported Wednesday someone stole a red 8-inch notebook tablet from either her vehicle or residence in the 900 block of W. Mills Street. The incident happened sometime between 7-am and 10-pm Monday. The loss was estimated at $80.

And, a Davenport man reported to police Wednesday, that sometime between 11:30-p.m. Tuesday and 9-a.m. Wednesday, someone vandalized his vehicle parked at 124 N. Elm Street, in Creston. The loss was estimated at $250.

A 2001 graduate of the Villisca High School has been named as the next Chief of Police in Red Oak. 33-year old Justin Rhamy, a native of Villisca, will take over in February for Chief Drue Powers, who is retiring. The Daily NonPareil reports Rhamy’s career in law enforcement began in school, when he job shadowed a Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office deputy.

Law enforcement runs in the family. Rhamy’s brother, Josh, is currently a sergeant with the Des Moines Police Department, and his uncle, Russ Gray, is an Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputy. Justin Rhamy joined Villisca Rescue in 2000 and eventually became the emergency medical service chief.

Rhamy spent four years with Red Oak police before a four-year stint with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. He rejoined the Red Oak force in February of 2013. As Chief, Rhamy said he’ll work to ensure officers build relationships with the community – including the general public, businesses and schools.

He lives in Red Oak with his wife of five years, Sydney, and their 4-year-old son, Owen. Rhamy will take over as acting chief on Feb. 6, while Powers uses his remaining vacation. The new chief will take over formally on Feb. 25th.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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City leaders in Atlantic are continuing efforts to bring high-speed, fiber optic internet service to businesses in the community, in an effort to retain those businesses and bring more businesses to town. City Administrator John Lund, Wednesday, brought the City Council up-to-date on talks with internet vendors Mediacom, Century-Link and Marne Elk Horn Telephone Company. Lund said he and Mayor Dave Jones met with Mediacom officials on Tuesday.

He said the representative will put together some numbers on how much it would cost to bring fiber-optic service to Atlantic. Using those numbers, Lund will work with a consultant who will, in-turn, work with an engineer who has handled a vast majority of the municipal internet projects in Iowa. They hope to sit down with the Council to discuss the matter before the end of this month.

Lund says the consultant will help to determine the lowest cost option, “While at the same time making sure that such a critical service for our major industries is being met.” Mayor Dave Jones said last month they met with representatives from Century Link On Monday, they met with Marne-Elk Horn representatives, and Unity Point the week before that.

Jones said there are four different options, but the consultant will help to determine if the City’s current infrastructure and support a fiber optic system, or if it becomes a utility unto itself, the investment would cost millions of dollars. He said they’re trying to get something accomplished to help business and industry, but at the same time “Not bankrupt the City with it.”

Efforts to bring fiber optic internet service in Atlantic began in earnest after a bond referendum for City Hall renovations failed during a vote on Nov. 3rd. Local businessman Jim Tyler suggested the $100,000 that was already set aside for a part of the project be used instead to get the ball rolling on fiber optic lines for businesses, schools, the County and more.

The Library Director for the Atlantic Public Library made a presentation, Wednesday night before the City Council, with regard to Fiscal Year 2015 progress at the library, usage of materials, programs, and more. Natalie Struecker, who has held the position of Director for the past six-months, said the same statistical information (circulation, collection sizes, how many people use the computers and Wi-Fi, and much more) must be provided to the State Library of Iowa, and is also provided to the local Library Board.

Struecker said nationwide, 91-percent of people said libraries were important to their communities, even if they don’t use those facilities very often. 81-percent of those surveyed agreed public libraries provide many, valuable services that would otherwise not be affordable on an individual basis.

She said library users in Atlantic saved over $1-million dollars, just by checking out the facilities’ physical materials. There were 74,000 items (Physical and digital) that were checked-out. There were also nearly 35,000 visits to the library in the last Fiscal Year, with about 13,000 of those being computer sessions. There were also 2,600 Wi-Fi users.

Locally, Struecker said a community survey conducted at the library last Fall garnered 54 responses, with a majority of those respondent/users indicating they checked-out materials and/or used the library’s computers. E-books and downloadable audio books comprise most of the on-line usage at the library. She said there are also many online services people may not be aware of, that are available at the Atlantic Public Library.

There are genealogical and newspaper archive services, practice test-based services for ACT, SAT’s and more. Animated picture books for kids, a language learning program and program that lumps together several databases used for research on health, children’s issues and much, much more. She said at the end of the Fiscal Year in June, the library had a collection of 32,925 books, access to more than 20,000 E-books, and 2,700 audio books in the library. There also almost 2,200 DVD’s and VHS tapes.

Ninety-One different children’s programs were offered at the library last year. The library was open 2,574 hours last year. In October, the library started to increase its hours of operation.

Police in Red Oak arrested a woman on a Simple Assault charge, Wednesday night. 18-year old Isabella Dealanea Lewis, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at a residence in the 100 block of Oak Street, just before 8-p.m. She was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $300 cash bond.