The Rotary clubs of Mount Pleasant announce tickets are on sale now for their 69th Annual Rotary BBQ. Always held the first Thursday in June, this year’s BBQ will be on Thursday, June 6 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Wright Family Pavilion at McMillan Park on the Old Threshers grounds.
The delicious pork chop or turkey tenderloin meal is $15 which includes coleslaw, baked potato, roll, and ice cream. A child portion of pork chop is available for $7. Tickets are sold in advance and can be purchased at Two Rivers Bank & Trust, 5 Star Community Credit Union, or from any Mount Pleasant Rotarian.
The funds raised at the annual BBQ support Rotary’s mission in our communities locally and globally through service, leadership, and financial assistance to local organizations and scholarships for local students. Whether that’s promoting literacy by gifting every Henry County 4th grade student a dictionary, sponsoring local blood drives and immunization efforts to fight disease, or protecting the environment by adopting a local highway.
More About Rotary
The Rotary clubs of Mount Pleasant have dedicated their time, talent, and treasures to our community and around the world by following the Rotary motto “service above self” since 1921. Become a Rotarian and make a difference. Join the Mount Pleasant Noon Rotary Club every Wednesday at noon at the Mount Pleasant Pizza Ranch or the Mount Pleasant Evening Rotary Club on the first and third Monday of the month at 6:00 p.m. at Central Park Coffee Company in downtown Mount Pleasant.
For more information about Rotary, to become a member, or to purchase tickets to the June 6 BBQ please contact Kadie Johannson at 319-721-2729 or any Mount Pleasant Rotarian.
Sherrie Pfeiffer, 81, of Mt. Pleasant, died unexpectedly on Friday, May 10, 2024 at her residence.
Sherrie was born January 31, 1943 in Mt. Pleasant. She was the daughter of Williard Hinchman and Ruth Marguerite (Kerker) Douglas. She attended St. Alphonsus School through the 8th grade and completed her education by graduating from Mt. Pleasant High School in the class of 1961. On December 14, 1961 at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Sherrie was united in marriage to Luther Michael “Lou” Pfeiffer.
Sherrie began her working career at the Dream Drive-In restaurant in Mt. Pleasant. She then became a meat cutter at Dave’s Super Valu and then a cashier at Beaver’s Jack & Jill Market. For many years, Sherrie worked on the assembly line of the former Motorola and later Celestica Radio Companies until they closed their Mt. Pleasant operations. She had also worked for the former Continental Telephone Company in Mt. Pleasant and as a secretary for the Elgar Law Office.
Sherrie was a lifelong member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, where she was a faithful member of the Choir. She volunteered at the Henry County Health Center at the front desk and escorted people to the various departments of the hospital. She was very adept in crocheting, specializing in prayer shawls and “beanies” for cancer patients to cover the loss of hair. Sherrie held a seldom-hidden fondness for Dairy Queen.
Those thankful for sharing in Sherrie’s life include her husband of 62 years, Lou of Mt. Pleasant; her children – Karrie (Brian) Laskay of Fishers, Indiana, Scott (Deanna) Pfeiffer of Mt. Union, IA, Nick (Janey Baylor) Pfeiffer of Mt. Pleasant and Heath Pfeiffer of Mt. Pleasant; a brother, Jack (Connie) Douglas of Bremerton, WA; 9 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren, and was expecting the birth of her ninth great grandchild.
Her parents and a sister and her husband, Kathryn & Roy Wiseman, precede Sherrie in death.
A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Monday, May 13 at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, 607 S. Jackson Street, Mt. Pleasant. Father Dominick Nguyen will celebrate the mass. Burial will be in the St. Alphonsus Cemetery. Visitation will be 9-11 AM on Monday at the church.
Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the family for a charity to be named later. The Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 N. Main St., Mt. Pleasant, is caring for Sherrie and her family. Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfh.com.
National Military Appreciation Month falls in May each year. Congress made this designation in 1999, to raise awareness and encourage appreciation for those who serve or who have served in the United States Armed Forces. It serves as a reminder of the contributions made by service members and their families and takes us into Memorial Day. You can find more information and news at www.military.com.
Jon Lowell Cook, 84, of Ft. Dodge, died on Friday, April 19, 2024, in Burlington.
A celebration of life will be held on May 18, 2024, from 1-4 PM, at Manning Hall next to St. Alphonsus Church in Mt. Pleasant.
Jon was born October 24, 1939, in Ft. Dodge to Archie and Myrtle Cook. He graduated from St. Edmond Catholic School and went on to attend Wayne State College.
He was a teacher (37 years) and Coach (cross-country, track, football, basketball) for the Mt. Pleasant School District. Mr. Cook was Mt. Pleasant’s first cross-country coach.
He is survived by his wife, Helen, five children and fourteen grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Jon’s honor may be directed to the cross country teams at St. Edmond Catholic School, 2220 4th Avenue North, Ft. Dodge, IA 50501.
Condolences may be left directly to the family by visiting www.IowaCremation.com under Obituaries.
It’s as predictable as May flowers – from border to border, the Wildlife Baby Season has arrived in Iowa. From now until at least mid-June, DNR field offices across the state will be inundated with hundreds of phone calls and scores of deliveries regarding “orphaned wildlife.”
Most calls begin with something like, “We were walking in the park when . . .,” or “I looked out my window and saw. . .” In nearly every instance, the scenario ends with something [or several somethings] being rescued from their mother.
During a typical season, the species will range all the way from baby robins and squirrels to spindly-legged white-tailed fawns. At this time of the year it is not at all uncommon for biologists to discover that complete litters of baby raccoons, foxes, or even skunks have mysteriously appeared on their doorsteps.
Why this happens is no real mystery. From fuzzy yellow ducklings to tiny baby bunnies, nothing appears more cute and cuddly than a wildlife baby. But in reality, most of the wildlife reported to DNR field offices is not really orphaned at all. And while the people who attempt to “rescue” these babies have the best of intentions, they are in fact dooming the very creatures they intend to help.
The babies of most wildlife species leave their nests or dens well in advance of being able to care for themselves. Although broods or litters may become widely scattered during this fledgling period, they still remain under the direct care and feeding of their parents.
For many songbirds, the transition to independence comes quickly and may take as little as four or five days. For other species such as Canada geese, kestrels, or great horned owls, the young and parents may stay in contact for weeks — even months.
At the beginning of the fledgling period, young birds appear clumsy, dull-witted, and vulnerable. The reason for this is because they really are clumsy, dull-witted, and vulnerable. But as the education process continues, the survivors smarten up fast, while slow learners quickly fade from the scene. Most birds have less than a 20 percent chance of surviving their first year. While this seems unfortunate or cruel, this is a normal occurrence in nature. In the real out-of-doors, it’s just the way things are.
Most mammals employ a slightly different strategy when it comes to caring for their adolescents. Since most mammals are largely nocturnal, the mother usually finds a safe daytime hideout for her young while she sleeps or looks for food. Consequently, it is perfectly normal for the young to be alone or unattended during the daylight hours.
Nevertheless, whenever a newborn fawn or a nest full of baby cottontails or raccoons is discovered by a human, it quite often is assumed that the animals are orphaned. The youngster’s fate is usually sealed when it is promptly “rescued from the wild.”
Many wildlife babies die soon after capture from the stress of being handled, talked to, and placed into the unfamiliar surroundings of a slick sided cardboard box. Should the animal have the misfortune of surviving this trauma, they often succumb more slowly to starvation from improper nourishment, pneumonia, or other human caused sicknesses.
Whether they are adults or young, all species of wildlife have highly specific needs for survival. “Rescuing a baby from its mother” not only shows bad judgment, it also is illegal.
Observing wildlife in its natural habitat is always a unique privilege. Taking a good photo or two provides an even more lasting memory. But once you’ve done that, let well enough alone. Leave wildlife babies where they belong — in the wild.
A list of wildlife rehabilitators is available online at http://www.iowadnr.gov/Conservation/Iowas-Wildlife.
Media Contact: Karen Kinkead, Wildlife Diversity Program Coordinator, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 712-330-8461.
