Author: Allison Jacobs

On April 1st, 2025, at approximately 11:20 p.m., the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received an 911 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. A deceased individual was located inside the vehicle. No names will be released until identification is determined and families are notified.

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Henry County Emergency Medical Services Ambulance and the Mount Pleasant Fire Department.

KILJ will bring you updated information as it becomes available.

National Vietnam War Veterans Day is celebrated on March 29^th to honor the millions of Americans who served in the Vietnam War.

March 29, 1973: Two months after the signing of the Vietnam peace agreement, the last United States troops left South Vietnam as Hanoi freed many of the remaining American prisoners of war held in North Vietnam. America’s direct eight-year intervention in the Vietnam War was at an end. In 2012, President Obama signed a proclamation designating March 29^th as the annual observance.  In 2017, President Trump signed the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act, which officially made March 29^th National Vietnam War Veterans Day.

The Mt. Pleasant VFW is hosting a free will dinner at the Veteran’s Hall, 300 W. Monroe Street.  Doors open at 6pm and a program is planned.

It was a throwdown showdown at Southeastern Community College in Burlington, for area high school students on Friday, March 28^th.  Students competed in welding, construction, auto tech and CAD. Congratulations to the Mt. Pleasant High School Auto Tech Team of Boden Lehman, Aaron Moler, Tucker French, and Tegan Willey! They placed 1st in the SCC Southeast Iowa Skills Throwdown! High School auto tech students used the advanced facilities at the college to show off their skills in the 2025 Southeast Iowa Skills Throwdown.

The Iowa Department of Transportation announced that Mediapolis Road, immediately west of the Highway 61 intersection, will close on Monday, March 31^st.  This road closure is in conjunction with the Highway 61 construction project.  Iowa DOT says the road should reopen by early Fall.

The City Compost Site, Southwest of Saunders Park at the end of Yocum Lane &  Hoaglan Drive will open on Wednesday, April 2^nd.  The Compost site will be open on Wednesdays from 1-6 and Saturdays 8-5 throughout the summer months and weather permitting.  Trash stickers are no longer needed to drop off compost.  For more information, call 319-385-1480.