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Henry County Sheriff’s Office offers back-to-school tips
Sheriff Rich McNamee provides monthly update and department offers safety tips
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
MT. PLEASANT — With students returning to classrooms next week, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office is reminding families to prioritize safety both at home and on the roads.
“Take time this week to discuss back-to-school safety with your children,” the sheriff’s office encouraged the community in a social media post. “We want this to be a fun and safe year.”
Students should practice basic safety habits for walking and biking.
Pedestrians are encouraged to avoid distractions, use sidewalks when available, and walk against traffic if sidewalks are not present. They should always cross streets at intersections and remain alert around driveways and other entrances.
Bicycle riders should wear helmets, ride with the flow of traffic, follow traffic laws, avoid busy roads, and minimize street crossings. Drivers are reminded to watch for children, school buses, and temporary stop signs along their routes.
The sheriff’s office also emphasized online safety for families. Parents should avoid sharing personal information such as school names, teacher names, or location identifiers in photos. According to the Center for Online Safety, sharing this type of information can be dangerous, even if you think you’ve taken precautions.
“Even if you’ve got your privacy locked down to only ‘friends’ on social, any photo or post can be downloaded, shared, edited and used in horrible ways, now or in the future,” the Center for Online Safety states.
Furthermore, attaching certain types of hashtags can further invite issue.
“And please be aware of predator attracting hashtags if you do choose to post those chalkboard photos,” the Child Rescue Coalition website urges.
These types of hashtags generally include words pertaining to baths, naps, swimming, and potty training.
Additionally, the Child Rescue Coalition and Center for Online Safety both recommend checking that children consent to any shared images and still using privacy settings to limit access to trusted family or friends.
On the road, drivers can take several steps to protect students.
Obey school zone speed limits to allow more time to react if a child steps into the street. Stop for buses when the stop arm is extended, follow crossing guard instructions, and use designated drop-off or pickup areas instead of school parking lots. Limiting distractions and keeping mirrors and windshields clean helps drivers spot children more easily.
Alongside these safety reminders, the sheriff’s office provided an update on departmental operations during the county’s monthly department head meeting.
Sheriff Rich McNamee highlighted the Iowa Hands-free law, which went into effect July. Under Iowa Code §321.276A, drivers may not hold a wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle, except in certain emergencies. While driver’s aren’t automatically receiving citation just yet, McNamee says that officials are pulling them over.
“We’re issuing warnings and handing out educational cards that basically say, put your phone down,” he said. “If you can’t use a hands-free device, you have to pull over. The goal is to lower crash rates.”
Since the law’s enactment, the Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau reported more than 2,000 statewide contacts related to hands-free violations, primarily warnings as part of an educational period.
Alongside these safety initiatives, Sheriff McNamee provided an update on departmental operations. The jail has maintained a stable population in the low- to mid-50s and generated $3.878 million in revenue from housing out-of-county inmates through July. Recent staff additions include three new jailers — Unity Hamner, John Haley, and Chloe Collis — and the promotion of Sergeant Tyler Ruby to deputy sheriff. Ruby will begin academy training in September and is expected to join the road patrol in early 2026.
Traffic enforcement remains a focus. Officers are partnering with the Iowa State Patrol on Highway 27 and will conduct a safety equipment checkpoint with Lee County later this month. Deputies continue to educate drivers on the hands-free law to reduce distracted driving and improve safety for all road users.
As families adjust to the back-to-school routine, the sheriff’s office encourages students, parents, and drivers to stay alert, follow safety guidelines, and help ensure a safe start to the school year.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com
