More than a quarter of the Iowa business owners who took part in a new survey plan to boost employment between the months of July and September. The third quarter Manpower Employment Outlook Survey found 27-percent of Iowa companies expect to add workers, while just six-percent anticipate a decrease in staffing levels. Manpower spokesperson Karen Miller says the result is a “Net Employment Outlook” of 21-percent. “That’s a really solid number. It’s the same as it was in Q2, so everything looks pretty optimistic for Iowa,” Miller said. The Net Employment Outlook is down slightly from a 24-percent outlook one year ago. Many of the recent Manpower surveys have listed Iowa as one of the best states in the nation for job opportunities. For that reason, Miller is encouraging Iowa employers to bolster their employee retention plans.

“As the unemployment numbers drop and hiring expectations increase, that means competition for top talent will be heating up,” Miller said. “So, if you’re looking for a job, now is a great time to find a job. If you’re an employer, you’re going to want to make sure you have plans in place to retain your top talent or risk losing them to your competition.” The Q3 2013 Manpower survey found job prospects are especially good in Iowa’s capital city.  “Des Moines is expected to be the best metro in the U.S. for job opportunities,” Miller said. In Des Moines, 28-percent of the employers surveyed plan to add workers in the third quarter, while just two-percent anticipate layoffs.

Of the more than 18,000 employers Manpower surveyed in the United States, 22-percent expect to add to their workforces, while six-percent expect a decline in their payrolls between July and September.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DAYTON, Iowa (AP) — A memorial service has been scheduled for a 15-year-old Iowa girl who was missing for weeks before her body was discovered in a river. Palmer and Swank Funeral Homes says a service for Kathlynn Shepard will be held Thursday at 1 p.m. inside the Southeast Webster-Grand Middle School gymnasium in Boxholm. The service is open to the public.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City talk show host is running for U.S. Senate. Republican Samuel Clovis announced his candidacy yesterday at a Holiday Inn conference center in Sioux City. He’s running for a Senate seat being vacated by retiring five-term Democratic U.S. Senator Tom Harkin. Clovis, who describes himself as conservative, is a former fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force and hosts a radio show on KSCJ-AM.

WAVERLY, Iowa (AP) — A northeast Iowa man has been accused of stealing checks from an elderly woman who hired him. The Bremer County Sheriff’s Office said yesterday that 55-year-old Michael Opperud of Tripoli, Iowa stole up to $18,000 from an elderly Waverly woman between April and June of this year.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State has named golfer Scott Fernandez as the school’s male athlete of the year. Fernandez was a first-team All-Big 12 selection this spring, and he earned second-team All-American honors from Golfweek magazine. Fernandez finished the year ranked 18th nationally after breaking the school’s single-season stroke mark.

No injuries were reported following an unusual accident Friday evening in Page County. According to the Sheriff’s Department, a 2008 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by 47-year old Curtis Carlson, of Clarinda, was traveling south on O Avenue, when a turkey buzzard pecking at some roadkill near the center of the road, flew up off the road in front of the cycle. Carlson lost control of the machine near the intersection with 190th Street, causing it to crash into the east ditch. The machine sustained $8,000 damage during the incident that occurred at around 5:50-p.m., Friday.

Another area County will be taking part in the Relay for Life in the coming days. Last Friday, the event was held in Shelby County. In Audubon County, the Relay for Life will occur Friday, from 6- to 9-p.m., at the AudubonCityPark. 

According to event organizer Anna Elmquist, cancer survivors will be recognized during a ceremony that starts at 6:15-p.m. Those who have survived cancer are being encouraged to show up early, to get registered. Elmquist says Two Palms Grilling will be providing food from 4:30-to 9:00-p.m. In addition, there’ll be an auction, entertainment and luminaries to light-up the Audubon City Park, in honor those who have survived cancer, and those who lost their battle.

Luminaries are available the night of the event or by contacting Kelly Christiansen at the Audubon State Bank. Persons planning on attending should bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on. Elmquist says all proceeds from the Audubon County Relay for Life will be directed to the American Cancer Society. Last year, donations amounted to about $28,000. This year’s goal is $32,000.  

Elmquist said they will also be hosting a “Traveling the Trail against Cancer” bike run, on June 22^nd. It’s a park-to-park event, that begins in Hamlin and ends in Brayton with a pancake breakfast. Registration in Hamlin is from 6:30- to 7:15-a.m., with the race getting underway at 7:30-a.m.

(12-pm News)

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report three arrests over the past few days. Early this (Monday) morning, 45-year old John Merrill Meyers, of Glenwood, was arrested on a charge of Domestic Abuse. His bond was set at $1,000. On Saturday, deputies arrested 18-year old Van Paul Evans, of Omaha, on a charge of Unlawful Possession of prescription medication. His bond was also set at $1,000. And, last Friday, Mills County authorities arrested 60-year old Patrick Obrine Walsh, of Pacific Junction, on a Mills County warrant for Theft in the 2nd degree. His bond was set at $5,000.

(12-p.m. News)