A couple from Creston were arrested on assault charges Monday evening. The Creston P-D says 34-year old Nick Ward and 35-year old Rebecca Ann Ward, both of Creston, faces charges of Domestic Abuse Assault. Both were being held in Jail without bond, with Nick Ward being housed in the Union County Jail, and Rebecca Ward in the Ringgold County Jail.

And 37-year old Gerald Lynn Lawrence, Jr. of Des Moines, was arrested Monday afternoon at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. The man was wanted on two Union County warrants for Failure to Appear in court. He remains in the jail without bond, pending an appearance before the magistrate.

Getting press releases and other information about crimes and incidents from the Clarinda Police Department has come to an end. In a note to the media and public this (Tuesday) morning, Chief Keith Brothers said “Effective today (March 3, 2015) at 3:00 p.m., the records office at the Clarinda Police Department will close and cease normal operations until further notice and will not be staffed by an administrative assistant/records clerk to the police chief.”

Brothers said also “The department has had an administrative assistant/records clerk to the police chief since November of 1976, either in a full time or part time capacity and this position has served the police chief and the department well. The department’s ability to maintain accurate records and disseminate reports, etc. in a timely manner will most certainly be negatively affected.”

The chief said he accepts “Total responsibility and accountability for the problems that will result as I have been forewarned of in my recent consultations with the Iowa Police Chief’s Association concerning
administrative assistant/records clerks and their importance to departments of our size and population served.”

Most of the CEOs of Iowa’s largest companies are expecting improved sales and steady or slightly higher employment levels over the next six months. The Iowa Business Council (IBC) has released its first quarter Economic Outlook Survey and executive director Elliott Smith says it’s not much different than the surveys conducted in 2014. “That’s a good thing. Our numbers have been fairly steady now for the last two, three, almost four quarters…not moving significantly up or down and we’re in solid, positive sentiment territory,” Smith says.

The IBC’s first quarter Overall Economic Outlook Survey Index was 65 – the same as last quarter and three points ahead of this time last year. The index uses a 100 point scale, with a score over 50 considered “positive sentiment.” Around 80-percent of the CEOs surveyed expect higher sales over the next six months. They’re also optimistic about adding workers.  “From our responses this quarter, we had 95-percent of our employers either indicating they’re going to maintain existing employment levels or add to (their workforces) with new hires. Only five-percent (expect) lower employment activity,” Smith says.

Specifically, 55-percent of the CEOs anticipate hiring more employees over the next six months, while 40-percent expect “no change” in employment levels.

(Radio Iowa)