Neighborhoods and partners throughout Red Oak and Montgomery County are invited to join over 38 million people in over 16,000 communities from all 50 States, US Territories, Canada, and Military Bases worldwide, next Tuesday, August 1st, for National Night Out.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes public safety-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our communities safer, better places to live and work.  From 6-until 8-p.m., neighbors throughout Red Oak and Montgomery County (and across the nation) are asked to lock their doors, turn on porch and yard lights and spend the evening with officials at Fountain Square, in Red Oak.

National Project Coordinator/Founder Matt Peskin said, “This is a night for America to stand together and promote awareness, safety, and neighborhood unity.” The event is nationally sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), Dietz and Watson, ADT, King’s Hawaiian, Associa, Ring and co-sponsored locally, by the Red Oak Police Department, Red Oak Fire Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Montgomery County Emergency Management.    

There will be lots of free food and fun.  Planned for the evening are kid’s games with many prizes, water fights/dunk tank, a coloring contest (get your entry form now and turn in).  Fantastic stands with sno-cones, popcorn, candy, etc. While this will be a Public Safety event the theme this year will be Safety of the Public, with that will be numerous exhibits and promotions:  bicycle helmet giveaways, farm and agriculture safety, school bus safety, internet, phone, Dig Safe and distracted driving presentations.

Authorities say they plan on having participation from LifeNet Helicopter, MCMH Mobile Clinic, Iowa Army National Guard, BNSF Police and Public Safety Unit, and many other partners. Numerous law enforcement, fire, ems, first responders and court officers – that serve Red Oak/Montgomery County will be on hand.  Meet and greet and photo opportunities with our local public safety personnel and their vehicles.  Plan on attending and registering for adult and children give-aways.

The night’s event literally has something for everyone and they need your help and attendance to make it a success.  Your participation at Fountain Square Park in Rd Oak August 1st, from 6-until 8-p.m., will show your support for public safety and the ongoing need for safety of our community!

Questions may be directed to Chief Justin Rhamy with the Red Oak Police Department.

Officials with the Atlantic Food Pantry say they are in need of donations of money and/or grocery items, because their funds and shelves are running low. The Atlantic Food Pantry was started in March, 1982, by the Ministerial Association and Church Women United. It has relied solely on cash and food items donated from the community. In the beginning, the Pantry helped 170 individuals/families per year. The Pantry now serves an average of 15-25 individuals/families per week with a limitation of one visit per month for senior citizens and one visit every other month for all others unless they have an emergency and a referral from someone who is aware of their problem.

For years, area farmers donated beef, pork and deer meat, as well as eggs to be distributed to those who visited the pantry. In 2011, an FDA inspector came to the pantry and immediate changes were enforced. Meat products could not be accepted unless they had the FDA inspection seal. Any broken eggs in a carton required the entire carton to be thrown away. Due to those changes, each year the expenses have increased as the number of individuals/families served also increased. Pantry officials say they receive weekly donations from the Atlantic Walmart. Most of their donations include chicken, produce, and some bakery items. And, while that is helpful, there is never a guarantee as to what will be received.

Since it began, the Pantry has rarely requested monetary donations due to the lack of funds, but at the current rate, the Pantry cash account will be extremely low by the end of summer.  Grocery items we could use are cereal, canned meat and other canned food items, toilet tissue and soap. Anything citizens and businesses can donate, will be greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions, you may contact Atlantic Food Pantry Treasurer, Florence Burrows at 243-1363 or Ken Burkhart at 243-1820.

State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald is asking Iowa’s governor to ensure Iowa taxpayers don’t foot the bill for the judgment the former communications director for Republicans in the Iowa Senate won from a jury last week. “We do have a tight budget and now we have this $2.2 million for those scoundrels up in the Republican senate to pay,” Fitzgerald said.

A jury awarded the money to Kirsten Anderson who filed a lawsuit charging her complaints about sexual harassment were disregarded and she was fired from her job on the Senate Republican Caucus Staff for complaining. Anderson’s bosses say she was fired for poor work and nothing else. Fitzgerald says testimony in the trial brought appalling behavior to light and he says Governor Kim Reynolds immediately should have insisted on changes in the legislature. “She is the leader of this state. She’s the leader of the Republican Party,” Fitzgerald says. “She should have demanded a change….that we have professional operation in every area of state government.”

Reynolds told reporters last week she has a “zero tolerance policy” when it comes to sexual harassment in the state agencies she oversees, but Reynolds says she has no control over personnel policies in the legislature, which is a separate branch of state government. Senate Republicans will meet privately this Friday. One Republican senator has publicly called for Senate Republican Leader Bill Dix to step down from his leadership post. The second-ranking Republican in the state senate has issued a statement supporting Dix.

(Radio Iowa)

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (July 25, 2017) — Thousands of people have responded to the emergency call for blood and platelet donations issued by the American Red Cross in early July, but the organization says there continues to be a critical summer blood shortage. Eligible donors of all types are urgently needed.

After issuing the emergency call, the Red Cross has experienced a 30 percent increase in blood donation appointments through mid-July. About half of the appointments were scheduled by donors using the free Blood Donor App or at redcrossblood.org. Despite this improvement, blood products are still being distributed to hospitals as fast as donations are coming in, so more donations are needed to meet patient needs and replenish the blood supply.    

Nearly 61,000 fewer blood donations than needed were given through the Red Cross in May and June, prompting the emergency call for donations in early July. The shortfall was the equivalent of the Red Cross not receiving any blood donations for more than four days.

To schedule an appointment to donate, use the Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to help reduce the time it takes to donate.

As a special thank you, those who come out to give blood or platelets with the Red Cross July 26 through Aug. 31 will be emailed a $5 Target eGiftCard™.

Police in Creston report the arrest late Monday afternoon, of 31-year old John Vanscoy, of Creston. Vanscoy was arrested near the intersection of Sumner/New York Streets on a charge of Driving While Barred. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a $2,000 bond.