DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Eastern Iowa Community Colleges is revamping its nursing program after a wave of resignations from staffers alleging the college overworked faculty, didn’t invest in new equipment and ignored teachers trying to make improvements. The nursing program is the college’s largest career program with more than 300 students, offered at all three campuses in Clinton, Muscatine and Scott, the Quad-City Times reported . Former staffers said their resignations are a sign the nursing program is in jeopardy, pointing to a recent internal review highlighting their complaints. Nicole Tucker resigned Aug. 1, the day EICC announced to students it had hired a new nursing program director.

Instructors often worked seven days a week, pleaded for new or even functioning equipment, saying students were learning on broken or outdated devices, Tucker said. But she said the requests denied or treated as low-priority “resulting in stonewalling of any hope of program improvement or forward movement.” “Health care is ever-evolving. It is constantly changing, so our ability to educate must continue to evolve,” Tucker said. “We have a strong duty to help develop their critical thinking and enhance their practical learning experience, prepare them to care for patients after graduation, but we can’t do it with imaginative role play.”

But the college said the staff turnover is normal and that the program is in good health. The program is fully accredited, fully enrolled and fully staffed, producing 63 registered nurses and 30 licenses practical nursing graduates this past year, according to the college. College officials said they completed a review of the nursing program, prompting some of the changes. College officials said they plan to spend $28,000 on new equipment, such as simulation software. They also said they’re shifting its curriculum to better match expectations from partners and employers.

“There is no question that change is happening at the Eastern Iowa Community Colleges,” said Joan Kindle, vice chancellor for education and training. “And these changes, all focused on the needs of our communities and the success of our students, are bringing a great deal of excitement and enthusiasm to our programs.”

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Fire investigators say a fire that threatened residents of a Cedar Rapids apartment was intentionally set. The Cedar Rapids Fire Department says in a statement that the fire early Wednesday morning was started when someone poured flammable liquid in the stairwell between the first and second floors of the three-story building and lit it.

The fire trapped several residents on the upper floors. Two people were rescued from the third floor by police officers using a ladder. Two other people jumped from upper floor windows onto cushions set up by firefighters. Three people were taken to a hospital for minor injuries.

Officials say the fire was relegated mainly to the stairwell, but there was smoke damage throughout the building. Authorities are asking the public for any information about the fire.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports that as the result of a narcotics investigation, a search warrant was executed at 112 S. 4th Street in Red Oak at around 10:30-a.m. Sunday, and three people were taken into custody.

• 71-year old Shyrel Lea St.Clair, of Red Oak, was charged with: Delivery of Methamphetamine, a Class-C Felony; Possession of Meth with the Intent to Deliver, a Class-C Felony, and Gathering where illegal drugs are used, a Class-D Felony. Her bond was set at $50,000.
• 59-year old Vicki Susan Huber, and 44-year old James Reed Mitroff II, both of Red Oak, were charged with Gathering where illegal drugs are used, both Class-D Felonies. Their bonds were set at $5,000 each.

A single-vehicle accident at around 12:15-a.m. today (Sunday), claimed the life of a Hamilton County man. The Iowa State Patrol reports 52-year old Monte M. Dilliner, of Stanhope, was riding a 2002 Kawasaki motorcycle eastbound on Highway 175 in Webster County, when the cycle drifted off the road and onto the right shoulder.

When Dilliner lost control of the machine, it rolled over and ejected him.  The man came to rest on the north shoulder of the road. He was pronounced dead the scene.

The Red Oak Police Department reports a 4-vehicle accident on Friday afternoon. At 4:40pm the accident was reported in the 1200 block of Highland Avenue. After investigation it was determined that a 2018 Ford F-150 Supercrew Pickup driven by 49-year-old Douglas Klimek of Red Oak was southbound on Highland when the truck was struck by a 2000 Chevy Blazer driven by 88-year-old Pauline Louise Walker of Red Oak. Walker was backing into the roadway from a parking spot when the accident occurred. The impact caused the Blazer to then collide with a 2003 Chevy Malibu and 1992 Ford Ranger that were parked. Pauline Walker was taken by Red Oak EMS to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital to be treated for suspected minor injuries.

Damage to Klimek’s pickup was estimated at $20,000. Damage to the Blazer was estimated at $4,500. The Malibu sustained $1,000 and the Ranger $300 damage. The F-150 was privately towed form the scene. All of the remaining vehicles involved were able to be driven.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the accident.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A Davenport woman accused of pouring rubbing alcohol on her 2-year-old disabled child and threatening to kill the toddler while live streaming the incident on social media will face charges in court next month. The Quad-City Times reports that 29-year-old Darshanda McNeal will be arraigned Sept. 6 on a misdemeanor charge of child endangerment after she waived her preliminary hearing Thursday.

McNeal remains jailed on $5,000 bond. Davenport police were sent to McNeal’s home Aug. 9 for a report of a person abusing and threatening to kill the child. Police say she was live streaming the incident on Facebook using her cellphone. Officers were able to intervene and the child was taken to a local hospital as precaution. Police say the child did not suffer any physical injuries.

ST. LUCAS, Iowa (AP) — A man has died after a tractor he was driving in northeastern Iowa rolled over on him. Television station KCRG reports that the incident happened Thursday afternoon northeast of St. Lucas.

The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office says 68-year-old Linus Joseph Kuennen, of Fort Atkinson, died after his tractor rolled and he was pinned underneath it. Kuennen was pronounced dead at the scene. It was not clear what caused the tractor to roll.