Author: Allison Jacobs

It’s Harvest season across the Midwest and Southeast Iowa. Farmer safety on roadways involves both farmers operating equipment and motorists sharing the road.  Farmers should ensure equipment is well-lit, marked with a slow moving vehicle emblem, and kept clean, limiting travel during peak hours and using escort vehicles for large equipment. Motorists should slow down, maintain a safe following distance, never assume the farmer’s intentions before passing, and provide ample space for the large, slow-moving vehicles.

More than 1,100 motor vehicle crashes involving farm equipment occur in Midwest states each year.  The Iowa DOT offers these tips for motorists for driving in areas where farm equipment on the road is common:

• Be alert and always watch for slow-moving vehicles.
• Don’t tailgate.
• Watch for turns. A farmer may use hand signals as well as blinkers. Farm machinery makes wide turns, and often directly into a field, where there is no obvious road.
• Be patient. Don’t assume the equipment operator can move aside to let you pass. The shoulder may not be able to support a heavy farm vehicle.
• Slow down as soon as you see farm equipment.

The Danville City Council will meet in regular session on Monday, September 15^th at 5:15pm in Danville City Hall. At 6:30pm, the Danville City Council will hold a regular joint meeting with Pleasant Grove Township Trustees.  Both meetings are open to the public.

The Henry County Soil & Water Conservation District Commissioners will hold their monthly meeting on Tuesday, September 16^th at 3:30pm.  This meeting will be held at the USDA office, 709 S. Iris Street in Mt. Pleasant.  Items on the agenda include cover crop applications and the watershed report.

The Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) construction contractor  shifted phases on the Highway 61 bridge over Highway 34 on Friday. This will move traffic from the outside lanes to the inside lanes.

Most traffic will continue with little to no change. The primary impact is that the southbound Highway 61 to eastbound Highway 34 movement will be closed until the project is complete. This closure will remain in place until the bridge overlay project is completed in November.

Drivers are encouraged to allow extra travel time and plan alternate routes if they typically use this connection.

The Iowa Health Care Association (IHCA) announced that the Parkview Home in Wayland, Iowa has achieved a “deficiency-free survey”.  This is a rare and commendable achievement that speaks highly of the exceptional care and upholding of the highest standards at Parkview Home.  Congratulations to Executive Director Ron Sernier and the Parkview team!

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports Iowa’s statewide pheasant population is at a 20-year high.  This report comes as the state celebrates the 100^th anniversary of pheasant hunting. While populations vary regionally and locally, a mild winter helped the survival rates for both hens and roosters overall.

Chick survival per hen wasn’t as good as last year, but a larger number of nests made up for it. Statewide, staff reported 1,038 pheasant broods, which is 338 more than in 2024. The DNR annual roadside survey of small game populations covers 225 different 30-mile routes. The 2025 survey counted more pheasants, quail, cottontail rabbits and partridge than last year.

The Mt. Pleasant Community School District School Board will meet in regular session on Monday, September 8^th at 6pm in the High School Media Center, 2104 S. Grand Avenue.  Items on the agenda include an ag ed greenhouse proposal and consideration to approve the proposal for demolition of the PEO Memorial Building.  A complete board agenda can be found at MTPCSD.org/board/meetings.  This meeting is open to the public.

The New London City Council will meet in regular session at 6pm on Monday, September 8^th in the city office, 112 W. Main St.  Items on the agenda include the Pine Street Subdivision Third Addition and a fundraising event for new city park playground equipment.  This meeting is open to the public.