Southwest Iowa’s Ringgold County was one of two Counties in the state to have recorded the lowest number of child abuse cases last year. Worth County, in northern Iowa also had a low number of cases. Both reported 38. Statewide, the number of Iowa children who were abused or neglected declined last year, reversing two years of increases. The Iowa Department of Human Services released its annual report on child abuse today (Tuesday) and spokesman Roger Munns says abuse cases were down nearly seven-percent (7%) from 2010. “We can’t make too much of this,” Munns says. “Obviously the numbers are going in the right direction, but there are a lot of factors involved and the numbers have waffled back and forth for the last decade or so.” The primary reason for the decline in child abuse cases, according to Munns, is the state’s improved economy.

“It’s pretty well known when families are under financial stress, there’s more stress in every area of their lives including their kids,” Munns says. “So when economic conditions improve, some of that stress is removed.” The number of children in Iowa who were subjected to either a “founded” abuse or a less serious “confirmed” abuse last year was 11,747. Around 79-percent of all abuses were cases of neglect. “Neglect can mean a lot of things. Many times it’s the caretaker or parents who’s capacities are compromised by drug or alcohol abuse,” Munns says. “But, there are other examples too. There are cases where mom or dad goes to the casino and leaves the kid in the car…somebody finds them and no harm is done, but the kid was placed in harm’s way.” Ten-percent of abuses were physical, while four-percent were sexual — similar to past years. Slightly more than half of all abused children, 51-percent, were age five or under. Munns says Iowa’s numbers continue to be consistent with national trends.

“We send out social workers to do assessments on abuse and two-thirds of the time there is a finding of ‘no finding.’ This is comparable to what we see nationally as well,” Munns says. Polk County, Iowa’s most heavily populated county, recorded the most child abuse cases in 2011 with 4,147. That was followed by Scott County (2,194), Linn County (2,016), Black Hawk County (1,613) and Woodbury County (1,244).

(Pat Curtis/Radio Iowa)

The Atlantic Police Department reports 54-year old Devin McDermott, of Atlantic, was arrested Monday. McDermott was booked into the Cass County Jail on a charge of Criminal Trespassing.

A former teacher with the Anita School District scheduled to appear in court Thursday, will answer to charges he sexually exploited a minor female. 65-year old William Glenn Foulkes, of Anita,  has a 1-p.m. appearance set to take place in Cass County District Court March 22^nd. 

William Glenn Foulkes

Foulkes, a former long-time Math teacher at the Anita High School, and Anita Elementary School, was arrested last Thursday (March 15^th), on a felony warrant for Sexual Exploitation by a School Employee, and 49-Aggravated Misdemeanor counts of Sexual Exploitation by a School Employee.

Foulkes served the Anita Community School District from 1969, until his resignation in November, 2010. A complaint filed with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office said “On several occasions between August 1st 2009, and Nov. 11, 2010, Foulkes engaged in sexual conduct with a minor female while teaching the student in a math program. During these tutoring sessions, Foulkes would at times, kiss the minor female student on the cheek, mouth and breasts. These incidents occurred at the Anita Elementary School, Foulkes’ residence, and Lake Anita State Park. The Sheriff says on every occasion, Foulkes was acting in a teaching capacity and was employed by the CAM School District.”

Foulkes posted a $50,000 bond following his arrest. As a condition of his release, he was ordered to have no contact with his alleged victim.

The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) says a public meeting will be held Tuesday, April 3rd, in Council Bluffs, to discuss the Council Bluffs Interstate System (CBIS) segment 3 project impacts. Segment 3, on Interstate 80, begins at Indian Creek and proceeds east to east of Madison Avenue. On I-29, segment 3 begins south of the U.S. 275/Iowa 92 interchange and continues north to the east system interchange. The meeting will be held in rooms K and L of the Mid-America Center at One Arena Way in Council Bluffs. No formal presentation will be made. Iowa DOT staff will be available anytime between 5 and 7 p.m. to individually discuss the project. 

General information about the project is available from John Carns, CBIS project coordinator, Iowa Department of Transportation, 2210 E. Seventh St., Atlantic, Iowa 50022, telephone 712-243-3355 or 800-289-4368, or email john.carns@dot.iowa.gov. Visit the Iowa DOT’s project-related public involvement event website at www.iowadot.gov/pim for information about scheduled public meetings and hearings, and opportunities to offer input to the Iowa DOT during the development of certain projects.