The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent arrests. On Wednesday, deputies arrested 22-year old Rocky James Runyon, of Hastings, for Probation Violation. His bond was set at $5,000. That same day 29-year old Brandon Scot Feller, of Hastings, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts. Bond was set at $300. And, on Tuesday, Mills County deputies arrested 34-year old William Randel Cody, of Malvern, for Driving While Revoked. His bond was set at $2,000.

And, a Glenwood man was injured during an accident early Wednesday afternoon. Officials say Donald Hall was transported to a hospital in Council Bluffs, after his 2000 Dodge was struck from behind by a 1999 semi. Officials say Hall was traveling west on Highway 34 at around 12:25-p.m, and had begun to slow down when a grain hauler truck entered the highway from a farm drive.

Another vehicle in front of Hall also began to slow for the grain hauler truck. The semi, driven by Clifton Kopischke, of Mankato, MN,  was behind Hall and saw the vehicles in front of him begin to slow. Kopischke said he reached down, but could not get semi slowed because the trailer he was hauling was empty. Following the collision, both vehicles pulled off onto the shoulder of Highway 34.

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.