Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports on Monday, November 23rd, the Clarinda Police Department and Clarinda E-911 Communications Center will begin Operation Blessing 2015. The community project embodies the spirit of Christmas by helping to make sure every child in Clarinda receives a gift on Christmas day. Retired Police Chief Joe Newton and retired 911 Communications Supervisor Diane Newtown will be managing the program again this year.

Children may be signed up for involvement in the program by calling the Clarinda Police Department at 712-542-2194. A Clarinda E-911 Communications Specialist will take the child’s name, age, sex, and address and two gift requests per child/children. Names of children can be submitted beginning Monday, November 23rd, 2015 and will be accepted through Monday, December 21st 2015.

Cash contributions in c/o of Operation Blessing 2015 can be dropped off at the Clarinda Police Department or mailed to the Clarinda Police Department, 200 South 15th Street, Clarinda, Iowa 51632. Cash contributions will be used by the Clarinda Police Department to purchase gifts for the children. If you wish to purchase a specific gift for a child, please contact the Clarinda Police Department and ask to speak with Joe and Diane Newton to make arrangements to purchase a specific requested gift item(s).

Families will be contacted by the Clarinda Police Department when the gift items are ready to be picked up.

Both lanes of Interstate 80 eastbound in Cass County were reopened this morning at around 7:45 following an accident involving a semi that happened about 1.5-miles west of Adair at around 5:30-a.m. The road was closed for more than two hours while traffic was rerouted south into Anita and then east on G-30.

The semi, hauling non-hazardous materials was blocking both lanes of the interstate while crews worked to remove the wreckage. No serious injuries were reported.

In an update to our earlier reports, one-lane (inside lane) of I-80 eastbound, west of Adair was temporarily re-opened at around 6:50-a.m. after being blocked for nearly 75-minutes following a semi tractor-trailer rollover accident at the 74.4-mile marker. The road was re-opened for a few minutes, but then shut-down again so a wrecker can remove the semi. Officials estimate the interstate will be closed for another 30-minutes. (Until about 7:30).

The accident was reported at around 5:30-a.m. Both lanes of the interstate eastbound are completely blocked. Authorities had been re-routing traffic south into Anita off I-80 at Exit 70 (Anita/Highway 148).

The International semi was hauling paper towels and other, non-hazardous materials. The 42-year old driver from Nebraska was being checked out by medics.

No other details are currently available.

Traffic is backed-up past the Cass-Adair County line early this (Wed.) morning due to a semi tractor-trailer rollover accident about 1.5-miles west of Adair, at around the 74.4 mile marker of Interstate 80 eastbound. The accident was reported at around 5:30-a.m. Both lanes of the interstate eastbound are completely blocked. Authorities were re-routing traffic south into Anita off I-80 at Exit 70 (Anita/Highway 148).  Traffic will then take White Pole Road (G-30) east to Exit 75 past and back onto I-80 eastbound.

The International semi was hauling paper towels and other, non-hazardous materials. The 42-year old driver from Nebraska was being checked out by medics.

No other details are currently available.