Officials with the Iowa Department of Transportation are reminding campaigners of the statutory and regulatory requirements applicable to the placement of political campaign signs in the state. A section of the Iowa DOT’s website is devoted to answering the most frequently asked questions about legal posting of such signs – www.iowadot.gov/iowaroadsigns/pol_sign_info.html

Iowa DOT spokeswoman Dena Gray-Fisher says “We realize that most sign violations are the result of efforts of ardent campaign supporters who are unfamiliar with the laws. Therefore, the Iowa DOT has prepared information to be used as a guide for political candidates, party chairs, campaign workers and election officials, to help them become acquainted with the laws before this year’s signs are posted.”

The Iowa DOT is urging individuals to visit the website or speak to their political headquarters to insure campaign signs are properly placed and to avoid having signs removed from the public right of way.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report a Villisca man, 21-year-old Steven Lee Fitzwater, was arrested late Monday night on a Possession of Marijuana charge. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,300 bond.

The arrest of one person on a warrant late Monday night in Shenandoah, led to the arrest of another person who was also wanted on a warrant, and now faces drug charges. According to Shenandoah Police, 19-year-old Jaylenne Shepherd, of Shenandoah, was taken into custody on a warrant out of Page County for OWI first offense. At the same time, officers located and arrested 19-year-old Kevyn Koschack, of Shenandoah. He was wanted on a Page County warrant for burglary in the third degree. Both arrests occurred at around 11-p.m., in the 600 block of West Thomas Street.

In addition to the burglary warrant, Koschack also faces Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charges. He was being held in the Page County Jail on $5,000 bond. Shepherd was unable to post $1,000 bond and was also being held in the Page County Jail.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A monthly survey suggests that the continuing drought and lessening export demand for U.S. products are among the drains on the economy in nine Midwest and Plains.  A report released Tuesday says August’s Mid-America Business Conditions Index remained below growth neutral for a second month. It rose to 49.7 from 48.7 in July. June’s figure was 57.2.

The survey of business leaders and supply managers uses a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Any score above 50 suggests growth while a score below 50 suggests decline for that factor.  Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says supply managers remain pessimistic about future economic conditions. The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.