Craig “Doug” Farr

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, April 24th, 2024 at 9:28 am CDT

Craig “Doug” Farr, 55, of Mt. Pleasant passed away on Monday, April 22, 2024, at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospital in West Burlington.

Doug was born on June 17, 1968 in Mt. Pleasant, the son of William H. “Bill” and Linda (Simmons) Farr.  He worked at ContiTech USA, Inc. of Mt. Pleasant.  Doug was an avid outdoorsman.  He enjoyed fishing, disc golf, and hunting and in his younger years he enjoyed trapping.

He is survived by his children, Cody Farr of Keokuk and Taylor Farr of New Mexico, three grandchildren, one great grandchild, his mother Linda Farr,  his brother, Brian (Carol) Farr and his sisters, Lynette “Charley” (Will Lyon) Farr, Tara (Steve) Hillyer and Marla Farr all of Mt. Pleasant.  

Doug was preceded in death by his grandparents, his father and a great niece.

Doug’s family will receive friends from 2 to 6 p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2024, at the Murphy Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant. According to his wishes cremation has been entrusted to the care of Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant. A memorial has been established in his memory.  

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.murphyfuneralandmonuments.com

Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant, is caring for his arrangements.

“You Can’t Have a Rainbow Without a Little Rain” Burge Cemetery Board of Directors Meeting Following Destructive Tornado

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, April 24th, 2024 at 9:27 am CDT
As the popular saying goes, you can’t have a rainbow without a little rain. Southeast Iowa experienced more than just a little rain last Tuesday, when a tornado ripped through Burge Cemetery in New London on April 16th. Leaving nothing but destruction it it’s path. hundreds of headstones were damaged, nearly every tree was shed, and the historic shed, built all the way back in 1921, was completely destroyed.
Jesse Howard, president of Burge Cemetery, has released a statement regarding an upcoming meeting where details and updates will be shared. Below is a copy of the statement, with meeting details provided.
“The Burge Cemetery Board of Directors will be holding a special meeting on Monday, April 29th at 5 pm. The meeting will take place at Elliott Chapel in New London.
We will share details and updates regarding the significant progress we have made in the cleanup process following the devastating tornado that struck our cemetery. We will also provide an update on the plan moving forward.
Additionally, we will discuss the allocation of funds raised through our dedicated fundraising efforts. In 3 days we’ve raised almost half of our goal!!! THANK YOU all for your amazing support!
The funds we raise will be utilized to support the restoration process and ensure that our beloved cemetery regains its former glory.
Your presence and participation in this meeting are highly encouraged as we value your assistance and involvement in this challenging restoration process. Let’s come together as a community to restore and preserve the rich history and beauty of Burge Cemetery.
We look forward to seeing you all at Elliott’s Chapel on Monday, April 29th at 5 pm.”
Sincerely,
Jesse Howard
President, Burge Cemetery
While the storm did significant damage in multiple areas of Southeast Iowa, brighter days are ahead thanks to our wonderful community. Remember, you can’t have rainbow without a little rain.

Fertilizer Spill in Burlington Leads to Investigation from DNR

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, April 24th, 2024 at 9:15 am CDT

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a fertilizer spill in the City of Burlington in Des Moines County.

On April 22, the DNR Field Office in Washington was notified of a liquid fertilizer spill in Burlington. At approximately 5:00 p.m. a truck driven by Jeff Boyer was hauling fertilizer when a 700-gallon plastic tank containing ammonium phosphate fell off near the intersection of West Street and Roosevelt Avenue in Burlington. The driver stopped but left the scene shortly after.

Local authorities responded to the scene. Further investigation revealed an unknown amount of the fertilizer spilled onto the street and continued into a nearby storm sewer which discharges into Hawkeye Creek. DNR staff later observed fertilizer contamination at Hawkeye Creek, which flows through the City of Burlington to the Mississippi River.

City officials are working to capture the creek flow and clean it through the Burlington Wastewater Treatment Plant.

No dead fish have been observed at this time. Samples have been collected. Residents and their pets are encouraged to avoid the area.

DNR is working with the City of Burlington to address the fertilizer impact before entering the Mississippi River. Further enforcement action will be considered when appropriate, and the investigation is ongoing.

To report a release after hours, please call the DNR’s emergency spill line at (515) 725-8694. Quick reporting can help DNR staff identify the cause of an incident. The DNR website has more information about spill reporting requirements.

Mt. Pleasant Municipal Utilities Changing Payment Options Starting June 1st

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, April 24th, 2024 at 9:13 am CDT

Mt. Pleasant Municipal Utilities is partnering with Tyler Technologies to provide an easier way to pay your utility bill. Starting June 1st, they will no longer be accepting card payments over the phone. Instead, they are offering a link on their website to pay bills online. In person card payments will still be accepted, however there will be a fee of 2.35% plus $1.50 per transaction added to the total payment.

There will be a fee of 2.35% plus $1.50 per transaction for online transactions made through a debit or credit card.

To clarify further, there is only a fee for ACH if it is set up through the online payment program through Tyler Technologies. If you set it up with Mt. Pleasant Utilities directly in their office there is no fee.

 

Steve Detrick for Henry County Supervisor

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, April 24th, 2024 at 9:03 am CDT

*Below is a release written and provided by a candidate for the position of Supervisor for Henry County.*

Steve Detrick is pleased to announce his candidacy for the position of Henry County Supervisor. With a deep commitment to integrity, transparency, and effective leadership, Steve aims to be the voice that represents the best interests of the residents in Henry County.

With over 35 years of experience in leadership roles at John Deere, Steve brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. His extensive career in manufacturing, supply management, and marketing has honed his skills and given him a unique perspective on managing resources and budgets successfully. Throughout his career, Steve has had the opportunity to travel extensively, gaining valuable insights from different regions around the world.

Beyond his professional achievements, Steve has also been an active leader in the community. He has served as an assistant Conservation Commissioner for the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District and as a Fence Trustee for Jackson Township. In recent years, Steve has worked as the Finance Chair for the Henry County Republican Committee, contributing to the support of solid candidates and a strong platform.

Steve’s dedication to serving the community is further demonstrated by his consistent attendance at Board of Supervisor meetings, where he has gained valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities faced by the county. He recognizes the importance of practical decision-making, transparency, and accountability in the county’s operations. Steve firmly believes in effective communication from the Board to the taxpayer, ensuring that every voice is heard.

Collaboration and unity are at the heart of Steve’s approach. He understands that by working together, we can achieve great things. Steve is committed to building relationships, fostering partnerships, and representing the interests and concerns of Henry County’s residents. He envisions a brighter future for Henry County, where open communication, abundant opportunities, and a thriving community are the norm.

“I am excited about the opportunity to serve Henry County,” Steve Detrick stated. “Together, we can create an environment where our community flourishes. I am asking for your vote of confidence on November 5th to become your next Henry County Supervisor.”

With Steve Detrick as your Supervisor, you can expect fresh ideas, innovative solutions, and unwavering dedication to improving our community. He will champion initiatives that prioritize the residents, promote workforce expansion, manage budgets effectively, and enhance communication with taxpayers. Steve is committed to ensuring that Henry County remains a proud place we call home.

About Steve Detrick:  Steve and his wife Nancy, resides in Rural Henry County, between Salem and Mt. Pleasant.  With a proven track record in budget management and manpower, Steve brings a wealth of experience to the table.   He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University and dedicated over 35 years of his career to John Deere.

Steve is a leader who is deeply committed to practical decision-making, accountability, transparency, integrity, and effective communication.  His primary goal is to serve and represent the residents of Henry County, working tirelessly to enhance our local governance.

For further information, interviews, or inquiries, please contact: Steve Detrick at detrickstevenb@gmail.com

“Together we can create a better future for the residents of Henry County.” – Steve Detrick

 

Mt. Pleasant City Council Meeting Agenda 04/24

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, April 24th, 2024 at 6:56 am CDT

The Mount Pleasant City Council will meet in Regular Session on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at City Hall, 307 E. Monroe Street, second-floor meeting room at 5:30 p.m.

AGENDA

  1. Roll Call.
  2. Consent Agenda: To the Public — All items with an asterisk (*) are routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion and a roll call of the Councilmembers. There will be no separate discussion of items unless the Mayor, a Councilmember or citizen so request, in which event the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and will be considered in its normal sequence on the Agenda.
  3. Receive & file communications. Megan Brincks, Executive Director, United Way of Southeast Iowa
  4. Approve agenda.

*5. Approve minutes of previous meetings.

*6. Approve payment of bills.

*7. Receive report of Officers.

  1. Old Business-
    1. 5:30 p.m. Public Hearing on proposed 2024/2025 Budget.
    2. Resolution authorizing adoption of the 2024-2025 Budget for the City of Mount Pleasant and authorizing its filing.
    3. Resolution authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to sign Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy (RISE) agreement for the construction of H Eugene Way.
    4. Authorize Mayor to sign Nuisance Property and Abandoned Building Remediation Assistance Loan Program Agreement for IWU old gymnasium.
    5. Authorize the Mayor to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission to complete open building/zoning projects for the City of Mount Pleasant.
    6. Designate the State as temporary electrical permit inspector.

 

  1. g) Renewal of a Class F Retail Alcohol License for Veterans Club of Henry County Iowa, at 300 W Monroe Street.
  1. New Business-
    1. Approve purchase of software system for the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
    2. Discussion of RAGBRAI events with Mt. Pleasant Chamber and Main Street Mt. Pleasant and approve request for funding and use of City property.
    3. Resolution approving purchase agreement to purchase 304 S Jefferson Street.
    4. Resolution setting Public Hearing on ordinance amendment for Flexible Business Space.
    5. Authorize the City to sign a contract with LL Pelling Co. to chip and seal Cottrel Gym Parking Lot at 310 E Madison Street.
    6. Authorize the City to sign a contract with Norris Asphalt to asphalt a portion of Forest Home Cemetery Road on S Walnut Street.
    7. Authorize the City to sign a contract with Norris Asphalt to asphalt S Harrison Street from Washington Street to Clay Street.
    8. Authorize the City to sign a contract with Norris Asphalt to asphalt S Jackson Street from Washington Street to Clay Street.
    9. Resolution authorizing the appointment of Braden Harp to Fire Department Reserves.
    10. Resolution authorizing the appointment of DeAnn Scott-Harp to Fire Department Reserves.
    11. 5:30 p.m. Public Hearing on appeal of dangerous animal.
    12. Resolution to affirm, modify or reverse dangerous animal.
  2. Public Forum.

I l. Adjourn to meet in regular session on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at 5:30 p.m.

Sports, April 24th

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, April 24th, 2024 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Track and Field

The Keokuk girls’ and boys’ teams hosted their Coed meet last night at Fort Madison High School and the Mt. Pleasant girls’ team continued their team domination, capturing the team title with 154 points, 41 more than second-place Keokuk, while Clark County claimed first place on the boys’ side with 116 points. 

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team won six events and finished in second place in four more events last night. Alex Scott picked up the win in the 400-meter dash with a time of 1 minute and 4 seconds. Linzy Striegel won the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1 minute and 14 seconds. The team of Courtney Raub, Kynlee White, Bailey Jalas, and Andi Scott took first in the 4×100 meter relay. Kiyah Sanders jumped in for Scott and helped the 4×200 meter relay team capture the gold with a time of 1 minute and 50 seconds. The 800 sprint medley team of Sanders, White, Jalas, and Raub won with a time of 1 minute and 57 seconds. Lastly, Savannah Slobodnik tossed the discus 113 feet and 7 inches to win the event. 

The Central Lee girls’ team totaled 26 points as Allison Gruntmeier led the charge for the Hawks with a second place finish in the high jump with a leap of 4 feet and 10 inches.

On the boys’ side, Fort Madison took second place with Mt. Pleasant grabbing third place with 100 points. Avin Truong had a nice meet for the Panthers with a first place finish in the long jump with a leap of 21 feet and 11 inches and a second place time of 11.14 seconds in the 100-meter dash. Harmon Ensminger won the shot put with a heave of 43 feet and 11.25 inches. Jude Dykstra grabbed second in the 800-meter run and the team of Max Sloat, Jahmal Dodson, Payton Walker, and Jordan Lane captured second in the 4×200 meter relay. 

The Central Lee boys’ team earned 40.5 points with Grant Myhre racing to a first-place time of 53.97 seconds in the 400-meter dash. 

The Central Lee girls’ team will compete tomorrow, April 25th, at Wapello. 

The Mt. Pleasant boys’ and girls’ teams will participate in a meet tomorrow at Pella.

The New London boys’ and girls’ teams celebrated their senior night last night but it was the Mediapolis boys’ and girls’ teams that took the crown with the boys scoring 184 points and the girls taking 160 points. 

The Mediapolis boys’ team won six relays last night: the 4×100, 4×200, 4×400, 800 medley, 4×110 shuttle hurdle, and the 1600 medley. Owen Schmidgall grabbed first in the 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes and 3 seconds, Grady Gunn won the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 16.07 seconds and Chet Mohr soared to the height of 5 feet and 8 inches to win the high jump.

Danville’s 117 points was good enough for second place as Ayden Doyle dominated for the Bears, finishing in first place in the 100, 200, and 400-meter dashes. Isaac Shinn paced himself for a first place time of 10 minutes and 43 seconds in the 3200. Jackson Shacklett won the 1600-meter run with a time of 4 minutes and 39 seconds. Lastly, the 4×800 meter relay team earned first place.

West Burlington grabbed 70 points with Logan Hamma’s first place finish in the 400-meter hurdles leading the charge. New London finished with 49 points as London Franklin took the long jump with a leap of 20 feet and 4 inches.

On the girls’ side, Maylen Zaugg won the 400-meter hurdles, Byrn Wright grabbed first in the 3,000-meter run, Avery Crear won the high jump, and the 4×100 meter shuttle hurdle team grabbed first place for the Bulldogs.

Danville finished in second place with 142 points despite winning eight events. Jaeda Molle raced to a first-place time of 27.09 seconds in the 200-meter dash. Macie Wagner won the 400-meter dash. Alaina Gourley took the 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes and 39 seconds. Kenna Furnald leapt to the gold in the long jump with a distance of 16 feet and 2 inches. Taegan Frazier heaved the shot 32 feet and 11.25 inches to win the event. 

West Burlington earned 111 points as Ady Lamm won the 100-meter dash. Kaitlyn Kipp took the 1500-meter run, and Faith Gibb earned gold in the 100-meter hurdles. 

The WACO boys’ and girls’ teams will host the Ekstrand Relays tomorrow with Danville, Mediapolis, Winfield-Mt. Union, New London, and the Central Lee boys’ team all attending. 

The Van Buren County girls’ and boys’ teams will travel to Cardinal on Friday, April 26th, for a meet. 

Drake Relays

High school competition for the 114th running of the Drake Relays begins tomorrow, April 25th, and runs through Saturday, April 27th. Here’s a look at our local athletes competing tomorrow. 

Solomon Zaugg of Mediapolis will compete in the 3200 meter run and the trio of Avin Truong of Mt. Pleasant, Winfield-Mt. Union’s Cam Buffington, and Keshawn Wyldon of Burlington will battle it out in the long jump. Lastly, Kylee Hill of Burlington will toss the shot put.

High School Soccer

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ team will travel to Hillcrest Academy on Friday, April 26th, while the girls’ team will face off against Pella Christian on Saturday, April 27th, at 10 am on the road. 

The Mediapolis boys’ team netted two second half goals to narrowly escape with the home victory against WACO last night 2-1. The Mediapolis girls’ team had no such luck, falling to Burlington 4-0. The Bulldogs will face off against Central Lee tomorrow, April 25th, at home with the girls playing first at 5 pm.

The WACO boys’ team will travel to Wapello on Friday. 

The offense showed up early for the Mt. Pleasant boys’ team as their three first half goals led to a 4-2 victory against Keokuk last night. Dylan White and Jonah Zimmer each collected two goals in the win. Mt. Pleasant will compete against Washington tomorrow with the girls’ team traveling to Washington and the boys’ team hosting the Demons.

The Central Lee girls’ team picked up the win last night 3-1 with all of their goals coming in the second half. 

The Danville boys’ team will host Wapello tomorrow.

High School Tennis

In a rematch of the opening match of the season, the Mt. Pleasant boys’ repeated history by taking down Davis County 7-2. Lou Schimmelpfennig blanked his singles opponent 8-0, while Zach Johnson and Gavin Ross won their matches 8-3, and Phoenix Watson and Sawyer Fulton took their matchups 8-4. Dane Cook and Johnson teamed up for a thriller in doubles competition, eking out a 9-7 victory. Ross and Fulton picked up the last win of the night 8-2 in their doubles match.  

The girls’ team made the trip to Fairfield for a make-up meet against Maharishi last night and fell 7-2. Jana Isanta battled back to score the final 7 of 8 games to win her singles match 8-5. The team of Isanta and Ellie Situmeang combined for an 8-5 win in their doubles match. The Panthers will take on Fairfield tomorrow, April 25th, with the boys on the road and the girls at home.

High School Golf

Winfield-Mt. Union will host Lone Tree tomorrow, April 25th. 

WACO will travel to Wapello for a meet tomorrow.

The Mt. Pleasant boys’ team traveled to Oskaloosa yesterday to compete in a tournament with the Panthers finishing in 13th place with a team score of 367, while Washington took the crown, scoring a 304. Roman Roth finished second in the field with an 18-hole score of 71. Reece Coffman was the top golfer for the Panthers, shooting an 82 (+12), which was 20th for the course. The boys’ team will participate in the Mohawk Classic tomorrow, April 25th, while the girls’ team will host their invitational on Friday, April 26th.

Central Lee will host WACO on Friday. 

Mediapolis took on Van Buren County last night and the girls’ meet ended in a forfeit with Olivia Hines shooting a 46 for the Bulldogs. The boys’ team edged past the Warriors 163 to 176. Ben Wolter shot a 36 to lead the charge for the Bulldogs. Mediapolis will hit the road to take on Holy Trinity Catholic on Friday. 

Southeastern Community College

SCC baseball will travel to face off against Kirkwood Community College today in a doubleheader.

The SCC softball team will travel to Carl Sandburg College today for a doubleheader. 

This Day in Sports History

1956 – AL umpire Frank Umont is the first to wear glasses in a regular season game. 

1963 – Future Basketball Hall of Fame point guard Bob Cousy plays his last NBA game for Boston as the Celtics beat the LA Lakers, 112-109, in Game 6 for their 5th straight NBA Championship.

1981 – Bill Shoemaker wins his 8,000th race, 2,000 more than any other jockey at the time.

2024 Iowa High School Track and Field State Qualifying Meet Sites and Assignments

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, April 24th, 2024 at 12:54 am CDT

Prep Track and Field- The Iowa High School Athletic association (IHSAA) and Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) released the sites and assignments for the coed state qualifying track meets scheduled to take place on Thursday, May 9th. Here’s where our local teams are going.

Tickets will go on sale at 9 am on May 6th. Just follow this link: https://www.iahsaa.org/tickets/

Class 1A

Sigourney will be the place to be for the Southeast Iowa Super Conference with over half of the 14 teams coming from the conference. Here’s all 14 schools: Columbus Community, Danville, Highland, Hillcrest Academy, Keota, Lone Tree, Montezuma, New London, North Mahaska, Pekin, Sigourney, WACO, Wapello, and Winfield-Mt. Union.

Class 2A

Mediapolis, West Burlington, Van Buren County, and Central Lee will all be making the trip west to Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont where they will face off against eight other teams: Albia, Cardinal, Centerville, Central Decatur, Chariton, EBF, Interstate 35, and Mid-Prairie.

Class 3A

Mount Pleasant will be the host for seven other teams, including four Southeast Conference rivals: Assumption, Clear Creek-Amana, Davis County, Fairfield, Fort Madison, Keokuk, and Washington.

Class 4A

Burlington will make the trip to Iowa City, City High for their state qualifying meet with Davenport Central, Iowa City High, Iowa City West, Muscatine, Pleasant Valley, Prairie, and Waterloo East all jockeying for a spot in the state meet.

There will be no more than 24 qualifiers for any event as the 2024 Iowa State Track and Field Championships will begin on May 16th and run through the 18th at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.