(DES MOINES) – Gov. Terry Branstad today (Tuesday) ordered all flags in Iowa be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Wednesday, March 30th, 2016 and sunrise to sunset on Friday, April 1st, to honor Des Moines Police Officers Susan Farrell and Carlos Puente-Morales, who were killed in the line of duty in the early morning hours of March 26th.  Officer Farrell will be laid to rest on Wednesday, March 30 and Officer Puente-Morales, Friday, April 1st.

The governor’s directive applies to all U.S. and state flags under the control of the state.  Flags will be at half-staff on the state Capitol building and on flag displays in the Capitol complex, and upon all public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout the state.

Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports a central Iowa man was arrested Monday night on a Union County warrant for Probation Violation. 31-year old Mitchell Kenneth Venteicher, of Boone, was taken into custody at the Union County Law Enforcement Center.  Venteicher was being held in the Union County Jail on $5,000.00 bond.

And, a resident of Arispee reported Monday evening, that while his semi was parked in Lorimor, someone stole a tire, chain and padlock.  The loss was estimated at $635.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Construction crews have unearthed fossilized coral reefs and animals at the University of Iowa. Cedar Rapids television station KGAN reports that the fossils recently were found during work on the Seaman’s Center Annex on the university campus in Iowa City.

Experts say the marine fossils reflect life and nature of what was a shallow sea 385 million years ago that became what now is Iowa. Geologist Ryan Clark says “there’s probably half a dozen or more different animals fossilized in this particular rock.”  Some of the fossil samples will be used for research at the university’s Paleontology Depository.

The Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund recently brought back Zach McCool to the Atlantic area over spring break.  Trevor’s mom/spokesperson Melanie Petty says while Zach was here, he held a pitching clinic for pitchers in the 4th through 7th grade.  Trevor was a left handed pitcher and played first base from little league through high school.  Petty says the fund is pleased to have helped with the pitching clinic again this year.

Plans are in full swing for the 8th Annual TFred Memorial Golf Tournament which will be held on Saturday, August 13th.  This is the only fundraiser to raise money to give back to the community in Trevor’s honor.  Follow the event through the media and on Facebook for updates throughout the year on what they are doing and how you can help.

Grant Petty is shown presenting the check to Zach along with two of the sessions participants.

(Chamber issued correction for date of the event)

Coca-Cola Days, presented by Atlantic Bottling Company, will be held September 23rd and 24th in Downtown Atlantic. The event is the second biggest collector’s show in the United States and includes a tailgate barbeque open to the public, a Show Swap & Sell, “Discover Atlantic Raffle” and many more activities for all ages. This year’s feature theme is “Coca-Cola- The Right Choice.”

Coca Cola days’ committee chair, Dolly Bergmann says “The theme is created by a volunteer committee each year.” “Coca-Cola – The Right Choice,” was chosen according to Bergmann, because they wanted to tie into the election season. T-Shirts for the 2016 Coca-Cola Days Celebration will feature the theme, “Coca-Cola – The Right Choice”

The event will feature Bottles and Cans on Parade this year, a continuation of last year’s Bottles on Parade. Participating businesses will receive a 4-foot tall plastic Coca-Cola bottle or can to decorate highlighting their business, recognizing civic organizations or highlighting local artists in the community. The bottles will be displayed 2 weeks prior and 2 weeks after Coca-Cola Days and be voted on by the community. The winners will take home AtlantiCash.

The event will encourage Atlantic Residents and Coca-Cola Collectors to stop into businesses to vote on their favorite bottle.  The activity has three confirmed sponsors, including: Atlantic Coca-Cola Center & Museum, Cappel’s Ace Hardware and China Buffett. Sponsorships are still available for Chamber members interested in supporting the Coca-Cola Days event in 2016.“

For more information on Coca-Cola Days or a full list of activities, please visit www.cocacoladays.com, call the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017 or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com.

Nearly half of all disabled Iowa adults are working. Only two other states have a higher percentage of their disabled citizens in the workforce. Heather Link is the human resources manager at Owner Revolution in Atlantic and Adair. She says companies like hers in rural Iowa are finding it more difficult to find employees with “a good work ethic.”

“What we have found with employing people with disabilities…is they tend to have a much higher work ethic because they want to be there,” Link says. “They have better listening skills. They’re more trainable due to their desire to succeed and, overall, they are more content with their work.” Her company has used federal and state grants to help make workplace accommodations for disabled employees.

“It’s really a great opportunity for businesses to take advantage of the underutilized, but awesome workforce there is in people with disabilities,” Link says. Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds says with nearly “full employment” in Iowa, it’s important to help physically or mentally disabled youth transition into the workforce.

“We believe that every Iowan can learn and every Iowan can work and every Iowan can have, most importantly, a rewarding career,” Reynolds says. Nearly 47 percent of adult Iowans who have a disability were employed in 2014. Officials estimate about 12-and-a-half percent of all Americans have some sort of disability, but only a third of them had a job.

(Radio Iowa)

The Creston Police Department reports two people were arrested on drug charges, Monday night. 46-year old Misty McKinney, and 21-year old Jameson Cox, both of Creston, were arrested at an apartment in the 400 block of N. Oak Street in Creston, at around 10:35-p.m. McKinney was charged with Possession of drug paraphernalia, Possession of a Controlled Substance. She was also charged with Providing False Information. Cox faces charges that include Possession of drug paraphernalia and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Cox was being held in the Union County Jail, while McKinney was being held in the Ringgold County Jail. Their bonds were set at $1,000, each.

And, a Creston business — Eby’s Auto – reported to police Monday evening, that someone had taken a Dealer license plate from one of the vehicles in their sales lot. The plate number is D2477-033. The loss was estimated at $25.