Keota man sentences for meth, guns; Unemployment rises in Jefferson County; Loebsack to tour Fairfield square

Keota man

sentenced for meth, guns

DAVENPORT ? Chad Kindred of Keota, age 34, was sentenced Thursday to 90 months imprisonment for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt.

Chief United States District Judge Robert W. Pratt ordered Kindred to serve five years of supervised release following his imprisonment and to pay $200 to the Crime Victims Fund.

Kindred entered guilty pleas to both charges on Feb. 28.

In the summer of 2009, police began an investigation of a group of individuals responsible for cooking large amounts of methamphetamine at a farm in Wellman.

Police learned Kindred was responsible for obtaining pseudoephedrine pills from a number of individuals and cooking methamphetamine in out-buildings on the farm. Kindred was ultimately responsible for the manufacture of more than 330 grams of actual methamphetamine.

He also carried and used various firearms in furtherance of his drug activity.

The case was investigated by the Washington-Louisa Drug Task Force, Washington County Sheriff?s Office, Keota Police Department and the Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney?s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Unemployment rises in August in Jefferson County

Unemployment in Jefferson County rose from 6.8 percent in July to 7.3 percent in August.

According to Iowa Workforce Development figures, in July, Jefferson County had a labor force of 7,970, with 7,430 employed and 540 unemployed. In August, the county had a labor force of 7,750, with 7,190 employed and 570 unemployed.

The Iowa Workforce Development figures also show an increase in unemployment in Van Buren County from 6.9 percent in July to 7.5 percent in August.

In July, Van Buren County had a labor force of 3,750, with 3,490 employed and 260 unemployed. In August, the county had a labor force of 3,720, with 3,440 employed and 280 unemployed.

Unemployment numbers in nearby Henry County rose from 7.3 percent in July to 7.8 percent in August, and in Washington County, unemployment declined from 4.9 percent in July to 4.8 percent in August.

The county employment numbers are not seasonally adjusted.

Iowa?s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged slightly higher to 6.1 percent in August from 6.0 percent in July, but remained under the year ago rate of 6.2 percent.

The national unemployment rate held steady at 9.1 percent in August. 

September statewide data should be posted today, and local data should be posted Oct. 25 on the Iowa Workforce Development website at wwwiowaworkforce.org.

Loebsack to tour Fairfield square

Congressman Dave Loebsack will tour small businesses around the Fairfield square Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. from the Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce.

?What I hear time and again from small business owners here in Iowa is the same thing I hear from students, parents and educators: We must build and make things here at home again,? said Loebsack. ?I am excited to meet with the owners and employees of these businesses to hear firsthand their ideas for growing our economy.?