Officials with Travel Iowa say the Iowa Tourism Office and the Travel Federation of Iowa presented 12 awards recognizing excellence in the tourism industry during the 2012 Iowa Tourism Conference Thursday night. Among the award recipients, was the Manning Hausbarn/Heritage Park in Manning, which won for having an “Outstanding Niche Marketing Campaign,” and, the Council Bluffs Convention and Visitors Bureau, which picked up the “People’s Choice Award,” during a vote by the conference attendees.

The annual Iowa Tourism Conference brings together more than 250 industry representatives from across the state to network, attend educational sessions and discuss emerging industry trends.

Tourism in Iowa generates more than $7 billion in expenditures, employs 63,400 people statewide and generates $328 million in state taxes. The Iowa Tourism Office is part of the Iowa Economic Development Authority. For more information about Iowa tourism, visit www.traveliowa.com, call 800.345.IOWA or stop at any Iowa Welcome Center.

A new report from a motor club finds teen drivers in Iowa are much more likely to be involved in deadly crashes if they have another teen riding along in the car. Rose White, spokeswoman for Triple-A-Iowa, says the statistics from 2005 to 2010 are startling and emphasize the need for more training and discipline for younger drivers. “The prevalence of risky behaviors generally grew for 16 and 17-year-old drivers as the number of teen passengers increased,” White says. “Among 16 and 17-year-old drivers involved in fatal crashes, it showed the prevalence of speeding increased from 30% to 44% just with another additional passenger in the vehicle.”

The study found the risk of death doubled with two teen passengers and quadrupled with three or more passengers. White says about one-third of all fatal crashes are caused by speeding, but for teen drivers, it’s nearly half. “Drivers aged 16 to 17 are involved in about seven times as many crashes per mile driven compared to drivers in their 40s, 50s or 60s,” she says.

In Iowa, teens between the ages of 14 and 19 have a higher death rate in crashes than any other age group. White urges Iowa parents to get involved in the driving process, especially during the early driving years, and to restrict the number of passengers allowed inside the vehicle. “In 2011, teenage drivers were involved in 21-percent of all crashes while only representing 7.3-percent of the driving population,” White says.

The study found teen drivers were also involved in 25-percent of all nighttime crashes, while in accidents where speeding was a factor, they were involved in 33-percent of all crashes. This is National Teen Driver Safety Week.

(Radio Iowa)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – An index of economic conditions in 10 Midwest and Western states jumped this month after three months of drought-induced doldrums.  The Rural Mainstreet survey of rural bankers rose to 56.6 for October from 48.3 in September. It was the first time since June that the index rose above growth neutral 50.  Survey organizers say any score above 50 on the 100-point scale suggests the economy will grow in the months ahead.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says the effects of the drought are being more than offset by high incomes from high agriculture and energy prices. The survey covers Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.

Police in Clarinda are investigating three recent incidents of theft and or attempted break-ins. Officials say on Thursday, a Clarinda resident reported that her apartment on North 16th Street had been burglarized. Cash and electronic items valued at $1,050 were stolen. The incident, which occurred sometime between Oct. 16th and 17th at the Timber Creek Apartments, remains under investigation.

On Tuesday, Clarinda Police received a report of several padlocks on some storage units at 411 east Page Street having been damaged by someone using bolt cutters. At the time of the report, it had not been determined if anything was missing from the storage units owned by Dick Kline, of Clarinda. Damage to the units and padlocks however, was estimated at $50. The incident, which occurred sometime between Oct. 15th and 16th, remains under investigation.

And, on Sunday, Oct. 14th, employees with Randolph Excavation and Electrical reported to police in Clarinda, that someone stole copper from the business at 716 east Garfield Street. The loss was estimated at $900. The theft is believed to have occurred sometime between Oct. 12th and 14th. It also remains under investigation.

Officials with the Clarinda Police Department said Thursday a man from New Market was arrested on assault and disorderly conduct charges, following an incident that took place at around 4:30-p.m., near the intersection of 15th and Stuart Streets. Authorities say 21-year old Johnny Lee Blake allegedly hit 20-year old Travis Wilson Dunham, of Clarinda, with his fists, causing minor injuries to Dunham. Blake was brought to the Page County Jail and later posted a $325 bond.