April is National Donate Life Month and was established in 2003. Donate Life Month is designed to raise awareness about donation and encourages Americans to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors. Those who have saved lives through the gift of donation are also honored. The Henry County Health Center in Mt. Pleasant is hosting a Donate Life Bake Sale from 9am – 3pm in the hospital cafeteria on Monday, April 7th. Free will donations are accepted through cash, Venmo, and Cash App. All proceeds to the Iowa Donor Network.
West Point Child Care/Holy Trinity Catholic Schools
Holy Trinity Catholic School in West Point, Iowa announced on Friday afternoon the acquisition of Sunshine Child Care in West Point. The expansion enhances Holy Trinity’s Early Childhood offerings by providing additional daycare services for infants and beyond.
Sunshine Child Care will continue to operate under the leadership of current director and owner, Brittni Fuerman. This collaboration, according to Holy Trinity CAO Craig Huebner, enables continuing high quality childcare to area families.
Salem Stub Closing Today
The Salem Stub, located along Highway 218 at Salem will close at 9pm tonight. The closure is the result of the sale of 10 Jet Gas Corporation convenience stores. President of Jet Gas, Larry Bentler said the Salem location no longer aligns with the company operations. The Salem Stub has been an area staple since the 1950’s.
Jet Gas Corporation also has stores in New London, West Point, Houghton, and Bonaparte. For more information on this story, please refer to KILJ.com, News.
Franklin Avenue/Cherry Street Construction 4/7/25
The Henry County Engineer’s Office provided information on temporary traffic adjustments on Franklin Avenue. Starting Monday, April 7th and weather permitting, crews will begin work on sidewalk ramps at the intersection of Franklin Avenue and Cherry Street. This will improve accessibility and pedestrian safely. Updates on project timelines and any changes due to weather conditions will be provided as needed. Residents an contact the Henry County Engineer’s Office with any questions.
Drought Condition Update
Drought conditions persist for most of the state of Iowa. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 79 percent of Iowa is abnormally dry, including 33.6 percent being in moderate drought conditions. That area covers nearly 800,000 Iowans. Currently all of Henry, Jefferson, and Louisa counties are not experiencing drought conditions.
One year ago, 11.5 percent of Iowa was in extreme drought, 33.4 percent was in severe drought, and over 90 percent was abnormally dry.
Donald R. Menke
Donald R. Menke, 86 of Macon, Missouri and formerly of Manning, died Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at his home in Macon, Missouri.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at St. Lawrence Church – St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Schott. Music will be provided by Kathy Halbur and Sherry Loughran. Lector for the Funeral Mass will be Susanne Soppe. Gift Bearers will be Jaci Menke and Elijah Bogoe. Eucharistic Minister will be Pat Soppe. Casket Bearers will be Drew Menke, Jake Menke, Elijah Menke, Jordon Menke, Steve Menke and Mitch Schultes. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll with military honors conducted by the Manning VFW and the Carroll American Legion.
A visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Monday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll with a rosary at 7 p.m. The casket will be moved to St. Lawrence Church on Tuesday morning where additional visitation will be from 9:30-10:15 a.m.
Memorials may be left at the funeral home or the church for a later designation.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Don’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Donald Raymond Menke was born on July 28, 1938 in Houghton, Iowa, the son of Alvin and Anna (Woerdeman) Menke. At the age of 12, the family moved to Harper, Iowa where Don later graduated from St. Elizabeth High School.
Following graduation, Don proudly served in the United States Army for two years until his honorable discharge. On July 10, 1965, he married the love of his life, Betty Cecilia Soppe in Des Moines, Iowa. Together, they raised three children: Jeff, Dennis, and Jean.
Don worked as a hog buyer for Oscar Mayer and later for Excel until his retirement. Even after retiring, he continued to haul livestock until the fall of 2024. In 1991, Don and Betty fulfilled a lifelong dream by purchasing an acreage in Macon, Missouri, where they enjoyed raising livestock together.
A devoted Chicago Cubs and Iowa Hawkeyes Fan, Don found joy in the simple pleasures of life. After Betty’s passing in February of 2008, Don reconnected with his high school classmate Joann Holtkamp at a reunion in June of the same year. The two formed a special bond and enjoyed many trips to the casino and countless card games.
Don is survived by his children: Jeff (Donna) Menke of Mitchellville, Dennis (Michelle) Menke of Ankeny and Jean (Brad) Werner of Sac City; his cherished grandchildren: Jordon (Sophia) Werner, Drew Menke, Jaci (Elijah) Menke, Elijah Menke, and Jake Menke; step-grandchildren: Tammy (Nathan) Peters and Jason Werner; his dear friend, Joann Holtkamp of Donellson; his sisters: Eileen Clarahan of Marion and Mary Ann (Allan) Bohr of Columbia, Missouri; his sisters-in-law: Jean Soppe of Papillion, Nebraska and Cheryl (Alan) Schultes of Dedham; his brothers-in-law: Don (Susanne) Soppe of McFarland, Wisconsin and Dr. Mike (Pat) Soppe of Carroll; as well as other extended relatives and many friends.
Don was preceded in death by his beloved with of 42 years, Betty Menke; his parents, Alvin and Anna Menke; his sister, Jane; brother Victor; brothers-in-law, Paul Clarahan and Charlie Clarahan; and his parents-in-law, Andrew and Marie Soppe.
Don’s life was marked by love, hard work, a deep appreciation for family and friendship. He will be dearly missed by all who loved him.
Deceased Individual in April 1st Vehicle Fire Identified – HCSD
The Henry County Sheriff’s Department has identified the victim found in a burning vehicle on Tuesday, April 1st near Oakland Mills.
Upon investigation, the deceased individual has been identified by the Iowa Office of State Medical Examiner as Aaron Ballalatak, 48, of Mount Pleasant, Iowa. The investigation revealed the driver was having a medical issue, which led to losing control of the vehicle. The vehicle left the roadway, striking a utility pole and subsequently caught fire. A cause of death has not been determined and/or released at this time.
On April 1st, 2025, at approximately 11:20 p.m., the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received an E911 call from an unidentified individual reporting a medical issue. The call was mapped to the 1600-grid of Oakland Mills Road. Upon arrival in the area, a vehicle was in the southern ditch fully engulfed in flames. The fire was extinguished, and an investigation began.
Larry Palmer
Larry Palmer, 85 of Mount Pleasant passed away Thursday, April 3, 2025, at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington.
Larry was born July 7, 1939, in Keota, Iowa. The son of Allen and Lovina (Shafer) Palmer. He graduated from Keota High School and Coe College in Cedar Rapids. Larry served in the United States Navy from 1958 to 1962. While in the Navy he was united in marriage to Sara Ann Monaghan on January 27, 1962, in Montrose, Scotland. Larry returned back to Cedar Rapids, Iowa after the Navy. He worked several jobs, but mainly at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids in the computer department for 26 years, before retiring in 1998. During that time, he also officiated football and basketball games. After his retirement he drove bus for the Cedar Rapids School System. They started wintering in Florida in 2006. Sara passed away in 2015. He later married his classmate Frieda Dill in 2017. Together they made their home in Mt. Pleasant. Most recently living at Addington Place of Mt. Pleasant. Larry enjoyed golfing, being on the computer, spending time in Cancun and Florida, was an avid Hawkeye fan and spending time with family and friends. He was a member of the Eagles #2272, Moose Lodge #304 and Elks Lodge #251
He is survived by his wife Frieda of Mt. Pleasant; a son, Thomas (Nancy) Palmer of Estero, Florida; a daughter, Angela (Richard) Hach of Montezuma; two grandchildren, Cara (Brendan) Kelly and Joshua Palmer and a great granddaughter, Collins Monaghan Kelly. He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Sara and a brother Eugene Palmer.
Celebration of Life Service will be 11:00 am on Monday, April 7, 2025, at the Powell Funeral Home in Keota. Visitation will be Monday from 10:00 am until service time at the funeral home. Burial will be at the Keota Cemetery with military rites. A memorial fund has been established for the Home Health and Hospice House in West Burlington. Messages and tributes may be directed to www.powellfuneralhomes.com.
