Authorities in southwest Iowa say an alcohol sales compliance check Wednesday in Council Bluffs revealed clerks at three out of nine businesses checked sold alcohol to minors. The check was conducted during an undercover operation by members of the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force. The Task Force utilized an 18-year old female and a 19-year old male who attempted to make purchases of alcohol.

Officials say because they sold alcohol to persons of underage, the following persons acting as sales clerks in Council Bluffs were cited: Mindy Jo Johnson, an employee of BadonkaRonks on S. 24th Street; Wendy Hellend, an employee of the Goldmine Lounge, and Hannah E. Wenchell, an employee of the Fiddlin’ Monkey. An employee of a business who sells booze to a minor faces a$500 civil penalty or 14-day license suspension for the first violation or first violation within two-years. The business owner faces a similar fine.

The six Council Bluffs businesses checked who were in compliance with the law and refused to sell alcohol to minors, include: Glory Days; O’Face Bar; Caddy Shack; Rodeo Bar; Salty Dog and 1892 German Bier Haus.

Authorities say the Task Force will continue to conduct these types of undercover operations in the future, to make sure local businesses are in compliance.

Officials with Harlan Municipal Utilities report Ken Weber will takes the reins as HMU CEO on October 1st. Currently a resident of Avoca, but expected to move to Harlan by April 1, 2015, Weber has been involved in a wide variety of utility related construction projects for over 33 years. As the owner of Weber Services since 2000, he has been a consultant to firms such as Phillips 66 Pipeline, Chesapeake Energy, Clipper Windpower, Alltell, Nextel, US Cellular and Verizon in the areas of lease acquisition, permitting and siting of electric transmission lines, gas pipe lines and cellular towers.

Prior to establishing Weber Services, Ken had experience in electric and gas distribution plus overseeing energy efficiency programs while employed at predecessor of MidAmerican Energy. he also spent a year as a Superintendent at the State Center, Iowa Municipal Utility. Weber holds a Masters in Computer Systems management from Creighton University, a BS in Business Administration from Buena Vista University and significant hours of study in Civil Engineering while at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

(KNOD)

Joni Ernst, the Republican candidate for Iowa’s U.S. Senate seat, says President Obama needs to outline the U.S. military strategy for dealing with Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria before congress can consider voting to go to war. “Right now the president has said he does not have a strategy in that region,” Ernst says. “That is very disheartening for all of us that have served in that region. There is absolutely no excuse for not having a strategy in that region. If he would listen to his military advisors, they could better guide him on these particular issues.” Ernst, who is the commander of an Iowa National Guard battalion, did a tour of duty in Iraq in 2003.

“So I have a very set circumstance criteria of when we would need to put boots on ground in a region,” Ernst says, “whether it’s Iraq, whether it’s somewhere else.” If she becomes a senator, Ernst says before she’d vote to go to war, she would need to see intelligence indicating a threat to the interests of the U.S. and its allies, plus she’d need to determine whether the military has the “life support” necessary for the soldiers who would be sent to carry out the mission.

“Do we have a clear objective in that region?” Ernst said. “…What would we be doing as troops on the ground and will the American public be behind those actions?” Ernst suggests congress hasn’t been given enough information from the Obama Administration about the mission against the Islamic State. “We need to know what the strategy is before we can engage overseas,” Ernst says. Ernst made her comments during an interview with Radio Iowa.

The constitution gives presidents the authority to defend the country, but the constitution gives congress sole authority to declare war. Plus, in 1973 congress passed a law that requires a president to consult with congress 60 days after engaging in military action in a foreign country. October 7th will be the 60 day mark after President Obama ordered air strikes to combat the advance of Islamic militants in Iraq.

(Radio Iowa)