A long-time Atlantic employer has announced plans to lay-off employees. Officials with Owner Revolution, Incorporated (ORI) told their employees Thursday about the expected reduction in its workforce, and in a Press Release Friday (Today) said  “A number of employees of ORI at its location in Atlantic…will experience layoffs, as a result of unforeseen business conditions due to a cancellation of its contract with a major customer.” According to some employees, the customer is YETI coolers.

ORI said in its news release, that they consider the layoffs to be permanent, and that “As part of the corporate reorganization, ORI will continue operation of its manufacturing facilities by maintaining its other customers and by obtaining additional contracts or new business.” They went on to say that “If these efforts are successful, some ORI employees may be maintained or recalled to work. However, because the success of such efforts are entirely unknown at this time, ORI has informed employees who are laid off that they should not count on being recalled to employment.”

In addition, the company said “Temporary layoffs that were previously announced on March 30th will now become permanent. Additional layoffs [were] expected to begin around April 21st (Today/Friday). The layoffs may come in stages, depending on the need for workers as the cancelled customer contract is completed. Layoffs are most likely to occur before June 30, 2017, but may be sooner or later, again depending upon the business need to maintain its workers as the full impact of the contract cancellation and the resulting corporate reorganization becomes known.”

Company officials stressed that the layoffs affect The Plastic Professionals in Atlantic, only, which produces a wide variety of rotationally molded plastic products serving the needs of many industries and customers. ORI’s other operations, including Schafer Systems, Connect-A-Dock, and Schafer Solutions, are not affected.

ORI has facilities in both Adair and Atlantic, with a combined manufacturing and office space of over 300,000 square feet. ORI was founded in 1986 and became an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) company in 1999.

The Audubon County Sheriff Todd Johnson reports his office has received numerous calls from citizens reporting they have received a phone call or had a recording left on their phone from someone claiming to be from the IRS. Johnson says with new technology, the scammers can use their number as the IRS or even the Department of Treasury.

The scam has been around for years but Johnson says it seems to be hitting Audubon County more frequently. The callers claim to be from the IRS and threaten to take legal action. Sheriff Todd Johnson would like to remind citizens that the IRS does not call to demand immediate payment over the phone, nor will the agency call about taxes without first mailing a bill.

Also, never give any personal or financial information.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports that at around 10:30-a.m. today (Friday) officers with the Clarinda Police Department and deputies from the Page County Sheriff’s Department, executed a felony fugitive from justice warrant from the State of Florida. 35-year old Liberty Joy Holland, of Clarinda, was subsequently arrested in the 200 block of N. 19th St.

Holland was wanted on an outstanding felony warrant from the Osceola County, Florida, for failing to appear for arraignment connected to the alleged assault and battery of a law enforcement officer.

Holland is currently in custody at the Page County Jail and is being held without bond, pending extradition to Florida.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of a Red Oak man for Domestic Assault Friday morning. At 11:45am Officers arrested 53-year-old Robert Wade Abraham of Red Oak at 6th and Maple Streets in Red Oak.  Abraham was charged with Domestic Assault 2nd Offense and taken to the Montgomery County Jail. He is being held on no bond pending an appearance before a Magistrate.

The top government lawyers from 19 states, including Iowa, are telling President Donald Trump and the Republican leaders of Congress not to cut federal money for drug treatment programs. A group of Democratic state attorneys general sent a letter Friday to federal officials saying the government “cannot abandon this commitment to our communities.” It’s the latest of several actions from Democratic attorneys general objecting to Trump policies.

In this case, it’s a pre-emptive argument that comes as Trump says Republican lawmakers are closing in on an agreement on how to replace former President Barack Obama’s health insurance overhaul. It’s not clear what any new plan would mean for drug treatment, which has become a major issue amid an epidemic of addiction to opioid drugs.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) – Workers have had to move 24,000 items from a library in a small city in western Iowa before beginning a $350,000 renovation on the building.
Le Mars library director, Shirley Taylor, tells the Sioux City Journal that library staff and volunteers from various city departments helped move the items from its downtown building to a temporary home across the street.

The library closed earlier this month to allow staff to prepare to move its inventory to the Eagles Club building across the street. It’ll serve as the temporary library until late fall. The Eagles Club is scheduled to open for business as the town’s library on May 1st. Taylor says the library renovation will include a new entrance and shelves as well as a redesign of the building’s interior.