2022 Small Business of the Year Brad Holtkamp Automotive

By Allison Jacobs · Friday, May 6th, 2022 at 6:04 pm CDT

Mount Pleasant — We have been hearing from our Small Business of the Year Finalists all week, and today the 2022 Small business of the year has been announced.

Congratulations to your 2022 Small Business of the Year, Brad Holtkamp Automotive.

Each year, we celebrate the importance of small business during Small Business Week, and one deserving company is designated as the Small Business of the Year at the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Small Business Awards luncheon.

Earlier this week we were lucky enough to visit with Brad and Mary Holtkamp and they shared how they began Brad Holtkamp Automotive 26 years ago.

Marty Joseph Brown

By Allison Jacobs · Friday, May 6th, 2022 at 6:02 pm CDT

MOUNT PLEASANT- Marty Joseph Brown, 66, of Mount Pleasant, passed away on Thursday, May 5, 2022, following a brief battle with cancer.

Marty was born on December 5, 1955, in Iowa Falls, Iowa, the son of Darrell “Brownie” and Mary (Smith) Brown. Marty graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 1974. He was united in marriage to Donna McDonald on October 27, 1974. To this union, Marty and Donna were blessed with three children, Monica Rene, Trevor Layne, and Christopher Allen.

Marty worked part-time at Hy-Vee while in high school. After graduation he worked full time at Hy-Vee in the meat department alongside his dad for 16 years. Marty then went to Colonial Bread Co. as a route driver. He ran a route for Anderson Erickson Dairy Co. for a short time before returning to Colonial Bread Co., which later became Sara Lee Bread Co., where Marty became supervisor. In 2004, he went to work for Wilson Distributors Service where he continued working until his passing.

Marty was an avid Iowa Hawkeye and St. Louis Cardinal fan. He enjoyed working in the yard, fishing, and golfing with his boys. Marty thoroughly enjoyed spending time with his six grandchildren. He loved his “Papa Fridays” with his three older grandkids. He loved that his three youngest grandbabies called him “Poppy.” Marty had a contagious laugh and was “easy to entertain.”

Marty is survived by his wife Donna, daughter Monica (Jimmy) Mueller, son Chris (Cherie) Brown; six grandchildren Brea, Will, Josh Mueller and Adelynn, Maggie, Emarann Brown; his mother Mary Brown, all of Mount Pleasant; sister Becky (Brian) Zickefoose of What Cheer; two brothers Michael (Kristi) Brown of Comfort, Texas, and Scott (Julie) Brown of Cummings, Georgia.

He was preceded in death by his father “Brownie,” his son Trevor and his parents-in-law Joe and Ruth McDonald.

A visitation will be held from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel. A time of sharing will begin at 3:00 pm. There will be no formal service.  Inurnment will be at a later date in the St. Alphonsus Cemetery. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established to help with Marty’s medical expenses. Checks can be made payable to Donna Brown and mailed to 505 N Lee Street, Mount Pleasant.  www.powellfuneralhomes.com

Iowa Air Pollutants Down From Past

By Allison Jacobs · Friday, May 6th, 2022 at 11:17 am CDT

It’s spring. That time of year when temperatures warm, mushrooms pop up and the outdoors beckon. Visit our parks and count on better air quality. Air pollutants are down, according to Iowa DNR’s emissions inventories. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide have decreased the most—down by nearly 90 and more than 70 percent. The DNR is looking out for Iowans’ health. The annual emissions inventory tallies reports from facilities that emit pollutants. Tracking air pollutants helps DNR ensure Iowa companies comply with pollution regulations designed to protect public health and the environment.

If you want to dig into the data, emission reports, and modeling and monitoring data are available on the air quality webpages. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency summarizes long-term air quality data across the U.S. And, just published, the American Lung Association’s State of the Air report shows Iowa has clean air. Find out more about air quality trends in Iowa and your neighborhood. Or, explore a few ways you can help keep Iowa’s air healthy. 

Air quality awareness week is May 2 – 6.

Your Life Iowa: Mental Health Awareness Month

By Allison Jacobs · Friday, May 6th, 2022 at 11:14 am CDT

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and The Iowa Departments of Public Health and Human Services are urging Iowans to prioritize their mental health. After the last two years of pandemic living, many people are realizing that stress, isolation, and uncertainty have taken a toll on their well-being. The state of Iowa is launching a multi-platform, multi-audience suicide prevention messaging campaign. The campaign targets Iowa youth as well as adults who are influential in the lives of young Iowans. Messages will run on platforms frequently used by a younger demographic, including TikTok and Snapchat; and placed on broadcast television and social media sites with an older audience demographic. The call to action for both campaigns is to reach out to Your Life Iowa. Your Life Iowa provides free, 24/7 support available for anyone dealing with mental health concerns, thoughts of suicide, substance use, problem alcohol use, or problem gambling. You can reach Your Life Iowa by calling 855-581-8111, or by visiting yourlifeiowa.org.

Area Utility Phone Scam

By Allison Jacobs · Friday, May 6th, 2022 at 11:13 am CDT

Access Energy Cooperative would like to alert the public to scam telephone calls that are occurring. Access Energy has received reports that community members have been receiving telemarketing calls self-identifying as “the utility” and requesting over the phone payment before utilities are shut off. Access Energy would like to make the public aware of these scams and inform the public that utility companies, including Access Energy and the Mount Pleasant Municipal Utilities, will not call you and ask for your information. If you receive a call alerting you to pay over the phone before your utilities are shut off, please decline to respond, and remember to never give personal information over the telephone.

Mount Pleasant Community School District Site Committee Meeting Agenda

By Allison Jacobs · Thursday, May 5th, 2022 at 4:40 pm CDT

The Mount Pleasant Board of Education SITE COMMITTEE will meet at 4:30 PM on Thursday, May 5, 2022, to review/discuss:

  1. 2021-2022 Buildings and Grounds Projects
  2. Public Hearing Information for HVAC Retro-commissioning Phase 1
  3. R & M Multi-Services Contract
  4. Master Planning Update
    1. Traffic Study Update
    2. HS Line Locates and Survey
  5. Pre-k Playground Update

The meeting is open to the public and patrons are welcome.

Mount Pleasant Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting, 05/10/22

By Allison Jacobs · Thursday, May 5th, 2022 at 4:39 pm CDT

The Mount Pleasant Planning and Zoning Commission will meet on May 10, 2022,
at 5:30 p.m. in Mount Pleasant City Hall, 307 E Monroe St., in the large conference
room.
AGENDA:
1. Call to order
2. Approve minutes from the April 12, 2022 meeting
3. Make recommendation to city council and board of adjustment on Middle School
Parking Lot Site Plan.
4. Open forum
5. Adjourn

Burlington House Fire Considered Suspicious

By Allison Jacobs · Thursday, May 5th, 2022 at 11:20 am CDT

Yesterday about 2 p.m. the Burlington Fire Department responded to a reported house fire at 243 S. 7th Street in Burlington. The two-story wood frame home was showing smoke, and flames were located inside when police and firefighters arrived on the scene. The fire spread into the wall and up to the attic but was able to be contained and extinguished just before 4:30 pm. The property was vacant at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported. The house is considered a total loss due to fire and water damage. The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Burlington Police and Fire Departments and is considered suspicious. If anyone has any information regarding this fire, please call Crime Stoppers at 319-753-6835.