The Henry County Engineers Office has announced a road closure beginning Monday, May 12th. The construction project is slated for Old Hwy 34 from Benton Avenue west to Lockridge (Jefferson County).
The road will be closed to through traffic. The project will consist of removing the existing road top and placing a lift of rock/sealcoat.
Questions can be answered at 319-385-0762.
Mt. Pleasant Community School District School Board will meet in regular session at 6pm on Monday, May 12th. The meeting is held in the Media Center of the Mt. Pleasant High School, 2104 S. Grand Avenue. Items on the agenda include end of the school year activities and approval to adopt a middle school English/Language Arts Curriculum.
The New London City Council will meet in regular session at 6pm on Monday, May 12th in the city office at 112 W. Main Street. This meeting is open to the public.
The Henry County Public Health Board will meet on Wednesday, May 14th at 12:30pm. This meeting is open to the public.
The Henry County Board of Supervisors will meet on Thursday, May 15th at 9am at the Courthouse. This meeting is open to the public.
The Mt. Pleasant Community School District School Board Special Election to fill the vacant seat will be held Tuesday, May 13. Voting is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Alphonsus Manning Hall, 607 S. Jackson Street in Mt. Pleasant. Early voting will close at 4:30pm on Monday, May 12th,.
Candidates to fill the seat, Todd Liechty and Mark Overberg, both stress the importance of transparency, communication, and student-focused leadership as top priorities for their campaigns.
The Iowa Department of Transportation reports 75 deaths on Iowa Roadways so far this year. The is an increase of 6 deaths since last Friday. The DOT advises situational awareness while driving and offers these tips as we head toward the summer months:
President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation of the first National Mother’s Day just before the start of World War I in 1914. Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May and is a Day to honor mothers with messages and flowers. The white carnation was first established as the emblem for Mother’s Day. This year, the moon is aligning with Mother’s Day, May 11th. The May full moon is known as the Flower Moon, among other names, because spring is when plants start blooming. This year, by chance, the flower moon shines brightly for Mother’s Day on Sunday.
Henry County 4-H and area libraries are teaming up to host summer camps. The camps are free and designed for elementary-aged students. Themes for the summer camps are “Dive into live under the sea” and “Venture into the wild” with fun, hands-on STEM activities. Contact the New London HJ Nugen Library, the Winfield Public Library, and the Salem Crew Library to register!
Martha Jane Smith Francy, 92, of New London, died Thursday, May 8, 2025 at her home, surrounded by her family. She was born June 8, 1932 in Mt. Pleasant to Harry O. and Cecilia Marie Riley Smith. She graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1950. On September 8, 1951 she married Dale William Francy at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Mt. Pleasant. He died October 4, 2015.
Fresh out of high school Martha went to work for Roger Galer as a secretary. She worked at the Farm Credit Union and the Farm Services Agency in Mt. Pleasant for many years, all the while raising six boys and helping her husband on the farm.
She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Daughters of Isabella in West Point; Henry County Historical Society; Henry County Cattlemen’s Association; and Farm Bureau. Following retirement, she was on the FSA County Committee.
She enjoyed camping; travelling; history; being on the farm; raising cattle; gardening; flowers; and socializing with family and friends. She and her husband received Cattlemen of the Year Award in 2005.
Survivors include six sons, William of Mt. Pleasant, Edward (Darlene) of New London, Larry (Gwen) of New London, David of Mt. Pleasant, Jerry (Diane) of Salem, and Michael of Mt. Pleasant; fourteen grandchildren, Nathan Francy, Amy Gilbertson, Philip Francy, Matthew Francy, Kristin Mayberry, Samantha Hawkins, Kyle Francy, Molly Francy, Brent Holtkamp, Amanda Keck, Brianne Dunkelberger, Jordan Francy, Ryan Francy and Will Francy; seventeen great-grandchildren, Aubrey, Connor, Natalie, Alexis, Olivia, Lillian, Skylar, Mahala, Grace, Dale, Kayden, Andrew, Adelyn, Norah, Jasper, Blaine and Bennett; sister-in Law Darlene Smith of Mt. Pleasant; and nieces and nephews.
Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her granddaughter Jeannette Francy; daughter-in-law Wendy Francy; and siblings Harriett Halliwill, William R. Smith, Catherine Virginia Smith, H. Eugene Smith, Mary Cecilia Merrell, and Jack Smith.
The funeral service for Mrs. Francy will be held at 10:30 AM, Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in West Point with Father Dan Dorau officiating. Burial will follow at Bethany Cemetery, rural New London. Visitation will begin at noon Monday, May 12, at Elliott Chapel, New London. The family will greet friends from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Memorials have been established to the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Bethany Cemetery. Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.
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The Lee County Narcotics Task Force reports the arrest of a Keokuk man on felony and misdemeanor drug charges.
Chad Alan Riddle, age 42, of Keokuk is charged with: Possession of methamphetamine 3rd offense, a class D felony; Possession of a controlled substance 3rd offense, a class D felony; and Possession of drug paraphernalia, a simple misdemeanor.
The charges came after a traffic stop that was conducted by the Keokuk Police Department where Riddle was found to be in possession of narcotics.
The Lee County Narcotics Task Force were assisted by the Keokuk Police Department and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office K-9.
The defendant in this case is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The Lee County Narcotics Task Force is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Justice and the funds administered by the Iowa Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy.
