Drought conditions in Iowa showed some improvement from last week to this week. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 79 percent of the state is abnormally dry. Last week nearly 73 percent of Iowa was in moderate drought.
Conditions are less severe than they were at this time a year ago when over 20 percent of Iowa was in extreme drought and 56.4 percent was in severe drought.
Currently, Henry, Jefferson, and Washington counties are not experiencing drought conditions.
A case of bird flu has been detected in a commercial flock in Buena Vista County.
This is Iowa’s sixth case of the bird flu detected amongst domestic birds this year.
Governor Kim Reynolds has declared a disaster proclamation for Buena Vista County, effective through April 13th.
This proclamation allows state resources from Iowa Homeland Security, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and other agencies to assist with tracking and monitoring, rapid detection, containment, disposal, and disinfection. The proclamation also waives regulatory provisions related to commercial vehicles responding to affected sites.
The recent HPAI detections in birds do not present an immediate public health concern, and it remains safe to eat poultry products. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian
Multiple Southeast Iowa Fire Departments were dispatched yesterday for grass/field fires, the storm that blew through last night caused some trouble with downs power lines, tree, and sign damage.
According to police reports, the high winds from last night downed some wires, a sign and tree debris at Iris and Monroe Streets. The Henry County Sheriff’s Office reports that there were power outages on Nature Center Road and downed power lines at Freedom Avenue at Oakland Mills Road and on Salem Road in Hillsboro. The Winfield Police Department responded to reports of wind damage in the 2500 block of 130th Street and in the 600 block of W. Highway 78.
The Mt. Pleasant and New London Fire Departments were on scene for a field fire in the 2900 block of Lexington Avenue early Friday afternoon and Mt. Pleasant Fire was called to the 2100 block of 235th Street later on Friday afternoon for a field fire. The New London Fire Department also dealt with a grass fire on 160th Street. In Wayland, the Wayland Fire Department was out with a field fire in the 1700 block of 335th Street. The Winfield Fire Department investigated a fire in the 300 block of N. Oak Street last night.
Mary Dianne Brokken Beghtol, 80, of Fairfield, Iowa was called home on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at the Jefferson County Health Center with her loving family by her side. Funeral services celebrating her life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the Cranston Family Funeral Home in Fairfield, IA with Pastor John Wilbur officiating. Burial will be in the Union Cemetery immediately following. A visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at the Cranston Family Funeral Home in Fairfield with the family present to greet friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Memorial contributions in Dianne’s honor may be directed to the MegaVoice International or www.bibleleague.org. Friends may leave online condolences at www.cranstonfamilyfuneralhome.com
Leon Leroy “Leo” Wilson, 90, of Birkwood Village in Fort Madison, formally of Donnellson, passed away Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 10:57 a.m. at the Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in Fort Madison.
He was born January 12, 1935, in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, to Leonard and Evelyn Peterson Wilson. On June 13, 1954, he married Yvonne Klingler of Donnellson.
He started school in West Point, Iowa, at the public school in the park, and then another two years in Aransas and back to Donnellson for his remaining years working road construction with his father. He became a partner in the business with his brother and father in 1956, until he took ownership of the company in 1970 until his retirement in 1991. In 1976 he owned and operated the Wilson Stone Quarry in Donnellson.
He enjoyed fixing up old farm tractors and construction equipment, purchasing farms and cleaning them up for resale, as well as watching NASCAR races, Iowa Hawkeyes and western movies. He also loved hunting mushrooms.
Loe was a member of St. Pauls United Church of Christ Church in Donnellson. He was a fifty year plus member of the George Washington Masonic Lodge AF&AM #137. He was a Scottish Right 32nd degree Mason of the K.A.A.B.A. Shriners Temple.
Leon was a man of his word and handshake just like his father.
Survivors include his wife: Yvonne of seventy years and nine months marriage; two sons: Fred (friend Donna) Wilson of Fort Madison, Jeff (Sallie Pikrone) Wilson of Donnellson; brother: Carroll (Vi) Wilson of Fort Madison; sister: Barbara (Wilson) Frow of Amarillo, Texas; four grandchildren: Michael Wilson of Argyle, Iowa, Joshua Wilson of Athens, Alabama, Kyle (Amy) Pikrone of Dover, Tennessee and Kaylie (Sammie) Alibasic of Chicago, Illinois. Also surviving are his sister-in-law: Janet (Klingler) Hodge and brother-in-law: Robert Klingler and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Leon was preceded in death by his parents; son: Douglas Alan Wilson and brothers-in-law: Bill Frow and Fred Hodge.
Per Leon’s wishes, cremation has been entrusted to the crematory of Schmitz Funeral Home in Donnellson, with no formal services or visitations at this time.
A private family burial will be held at a later date at Evangelical Cemetery near Donnellson.
Memorials have been established in his memory for the Shriners Childrens Hospital and can be mailed to Schmitz Funeral Home in Donnellson at P.O. Box 56 Donnellson, Iowa 52625.
Schmitz Funeral Home of Donnellson is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com
We can see snow, rain, high winds, and possibly warm temps all in the same week! Receive severe weather information by signing up for alerts according to Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
Alert Iowa is the State of Iowa’s official emergency notification system. Through Alert Iowa, state and local officials can utilize a single, statewide notification system that provides local control of how and when to disseminate emergency and public safety messages to residents. Alert Iowa is available in 92 counties, including Henry, Lee, and all counties in the KILJ listening area. Sign up now to receive free alerts via text message, email, and/or voice message. Go to alert.iowa.gov
We will lose an hour of sleep and analog clocks – if you still have them, will have to be changed this weekend with the start of Daylight Saving Time. On Sunday at 2 a.m., clocks will spring forward one hour. Daylight Saving Time will run through November 2nd.
The sun, in Mt. Pleasant, will go from setting at 6:05 p.m. on Saturday, to setting at 7:06 p.m. on Sunday.
People are also reminded to use this time to check batteries in smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and weather radios.
