DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a man convicted of robbery has walked away from the state work release center in Des Moines. The Iowa Corrections Department said in a news release Tuesday that 67-year-old Clarence Willis left the Fort Des Moines Residential Facility at 5:15 p.m. Monday. The department says Willis was transferred to the facility on Feb. 28.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A national report has found that Iowa is lagging behind much of the U.S. in foreign language instruction for K-12 students. The Des Moines Register reports the study was conducted by the American Councils for International Education and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. It says slightly more than 15 percent of Iowa’s K-12 students were enrolled in a foreign language course for the 2014-15 academic year. Iowa ranked 35th out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia for foreign language instruction.

Jason Noble is president of the Iowa World Language Association. He says larger school districts can typically offer more foreign language options, which creates a rural-urban divide. In Iowa, teacher shortages and budget issues have forced some districts to cut programs in recent years.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections said today (Tuesday), at at approximately 6:28-p.m. Wednesday, July 19th,  a staff member at the Clarinda Correctional Facility was assaulted by Kelby Klicker, an inmate at the facility. The staff member was assessed at the local community hospital, received treatment, and was then released.

Authorities say Klicker is serving time for burglary, assault on peace officer & others, eluding, and OWI out of Wapello County.  His sentence began on May 15th, 2017.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety, which includes the Division of Administrative Services, Investigative Operations Division and Division of the Iowa State Patrol, is scheduled for an on-site assessment as part of a voluntary program to achieve accreditation by verifying it meets internationally recognized professional law enforcement standards.

Administered by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., (C.A.L.E.A.), the accreditation program requires agencies to comply with state-of-the art standards in four basic areas: policy and procedures, administration, operations, and support services.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the public are invited to offer comments through a public information call-in session Monday, July 31, 2017, between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM.  Interested parties should call (515) 314-9898 to participate.  Telephone comments are limited to ten minutes, and must address the agency’s ability to comply with C.A.L.E.A.’s standards.  To obtain more information about C.A.L.E.A. you may visit their website at www.calea.org.

After the call-in session there will be a Public Hearing Session beginning at 4:30 p.m. in the Public Meeting room located at the Oran Pape State Office Building, located at 215 East 7th Street Des Moines, 50319. If you wish Information about C.A.L.E.A.’s standards, you may contact Department of Public Safety Accreditation Managers Director Charis Paulson, 515-725-6277 or Major Todd Misel, 515-725-6286.

Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s ability to meet standards for accreditation may send them to:  Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., (C.A.L.E.A.), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia, 20155 or www.calea.org.

The driver of an SUV was injured and subsequently cited for careless driving, following a collision Monday afternoon, in Pottawattamie County. Sheriff’s officials say 82-year old Carolyn Loring, of Oakland, suffered minor injuries in the accident that happened at around 3-p.m., two-miles west of Oakland on Highway 6.

Loring was traveling east in a 2010 GMC Terrain, when he vehicle hit a westbound 2000 Ford Ranger pickup that was pulling a small trailer. The pickup was driven by 43-year old Max Nelson, of Omaha. Following the collision, Loring’s SUV rolled over and came to rest on the driver’s side, trapping the woman inside until she could be freed by mechanical means. She was then transported to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Nelson was not hurt in the crash.

AMES, Iowa – July 25, 2017 – The Iowa Department of Transportation is conducting a planning study of Interstate 80. The study is being developed and released through a series of technical reports that identify the existing condition of I-80, the way the system is performing, short- and long-term issues, and strategies to improve the route. Each report will be accessible online as it becomes available on the Iowa DOT’s I-80 Planning Study website at: www.iowadot.gov/interstatestudy.

The second online meeting is now available to view on the website. To view the meeting, navigate to https://iowadot.gov/interstatestudy/public-meetings, or select the “PUBLIC MEETINGS” tab on the home page, and then select “Meeting 2.” The meeting was recorded allowing persons to view it anytime and will be available on the website throughout the duration of the planning study. Three new technical reports have been included on the website, these include:

Truck Accommodations.
Diversion Strategy (Evaluation of Viability of Alternate Route Improvements).
Automated Corridors.

The Iowa DOT is asking interested parties to take a few minutes to view the online public meeting and review the information on the website. The website also offers a way for those interested to receive future emails or text messages regarding the study. Use the “STAY CONNECTED” link on the I-80 Planning Study website to subscribe.

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.