The Department of Public Safety reminds motorists to plan for safe holiday travel. Law enforcement officials suggest you monitor weather and road conditions, drive defensively (as holiday travel can present challenges), and eliminate distractions while driving including the use of mobile devices. Keep a flashlight, extra clothing, and blankets in your vehicle.
Holiday Garbage Pick Up Schedule Change
Wemiga Waste has posted their Thanksgiving trash pick up schedule for the KILJ listening area, as no routes will be run on Thursday, November 28th. City of Mt. Pleasant, if your pickup day is Thanksgiving Thursday, it will be moved to Friday, November 29th. Birmingham, Stockport, Hillsboro and Houghton residents, your garbage and recycling will run on Friday 11/29/24. City of Oakville and South Wapello, your trash pickup will also be on Friday.
November – Lung Cancer Awareness Month
Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States and the leading cause of death among cancer diagnosis. Every November doctors raise awareness about lung cancer and how to prevent it.
Doctors say the leading cause of cancer is smoking and secondhand smoke for cigarettes and the use of vape and THC products are just as likely to cause cancer and should be avoided.
Anything that you inhale and that can cause inflammation to the lungs will affect the lung tissue and increase your risk for lung disease and cancer.
Holiday Food Waste
The United States Ecology Center estimates a 25 percent increase in waste delivered to landfills between Thanksgiving and New Year’s – including both food and non-food waste. The Center estimates that uneaten food waste amounts to millions of dollars: in 2023, an estimated 312 million pounds of food was wasted from Thanksgiving meals alone. Not only is the food itself wasted, but the waste of the seed, land, labor, water, energy and transportation required to grow and produce the food.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in Henry County offers tips to prevent food waste. Plan ahead, purchase only what is needed, store food properly, share and freeze leftovers, and compost food scraps.
James H. Bresnahan
James Harry “Breezy” Bresnahan, 70, of Mt. Pleasant and formerly of Monmouth, IL, went home to the Lord on Thursday, November 21, 2024 at the Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in West Burlington, IA.
Jim was born June 19, 1954 in Monmouth, IL. He was the son of Henry and Kathleen (Daniels) Bresnahan. He was raised and attended school in Monmouth. He married Sheri Hamilton Thompson in 1982 in Monmouth. They renewed their vows on June 15, 1990.
Jim was a mechanic at farm implement dealerships. He also worked for the janitorial services of the Wal-Mart store in Mt. Pleasant.
Jim learned his abilities as a mechanic by watching his Dad in the garage. A man of many interests, Breezy enjoyed attending swap meets, flea markets and car shows. His love of cars was evident as he was a meticulous auto detailer, specializing in pin striping cars. He enjoyed attending drag races. In his earlier years, Jim was an avid Harley Davidson motorcycle rider. He enjoyed fishing. Breezy loved to mow his lawn, and was very particular in the way it had to be mowed. Beyond all of his interests, his favorite by far was being with his grandchildren. He loved his family very much, and will be dearly missed by them.
Those thankful for sharing in Jim’s life include his wife Sheri of Mt. Pleasant; 2 children – Nicole Bresnahan (Bobby Lewis) of Quincy, IL and Heidi Farrell (Anthony) of Missouri; his siblings – Vickie Hager of Monmouth, IL, Kyle Bresnahan (Opal) of Monmouth, Theresa Bresnahan of Monmouth and Joseph Bresnahan of Galesburg, IL; 4 grandchildren – Kenny Miller (Jasmine), Makenzie Johnson (Dylan), Michael Bresnahan-Lester (Jake) and Ashlyn Bresnahan; and 1 great granddaughter – Oakley Spiker.
Jim’s parents precede him in death.
A Celebration of Life for Jim will be held on Saturday, December 14th from 12 Noon to 4PM at the First Assembly of God, 109 West South Street, Mount Pleasant. Cremation rites have been entrusted to the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 North Main Street, Mt. Pleasant.
Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the family. Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfh.com
Geraldine S. Ford
Geraldine S. Ford, 86, of Mt. Pleasant, died Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at Southeast Regional Medical Center Hospice House in West Burlington.
A service to celebrate Geraldine’s life will be held at a later date with inurnment in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant. The Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 North Main Street, Mt. Pleasant, is assisting Geraldine’s family with the arrangements.
Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfh.com
Ann Morehouse
Ann Morehouse, 86 of Mt. Pleasant, died Friday, November 22, 2024 at Savannah Heights in Mt. Pleasant.
Visitation and funeral service for Ann are tentatively planned for Friday, November 29 at the First United Methodist Church, 309 North Main Street, Mount Pleasant. Burial will be in the Oakland Mills Cemetery, rural Mt. Pleasant.
The Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 North Main Street, Mt. Pleasant, is assisting Ann’s family with the arrangements.
Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfh.com
Jerry L. “Snuffy” Smith
Jerry L. “Snuffy” Smith, 80, of Trenton passed away on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington.
Jerry was born on December 27, 1943, in Henry County the son of Elmer and Hazel (Gholson) Smith. He graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in the class of 1962. He went on to join the Army Reserves from 1967 until 1972. He was a part of the Trenton Angels. Jerry started his working years as a carpenter with Melvin Smith Construction, then on to Consumer Builders and retired in 2008 from the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in Middletown. Jerry was united in marriage to Sue Miller on November 24, 1990. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, feeding the birds and riding in his side by side. He had a knowledge of all kinds of trees and was a master gardener who spent hours in the garden and was known for his salsa. After he retired, he enjoyed the winters in Arizona.
Those thankful for sharing in Jerry’s life include his wife, Sue, and his children, Jason (Debbie) Smith of Mt. Pleasant, Doug (Diana) Smith of Mt. Pleasant, his grandchildren, Kelsey (Eli) DeWitt, Kirsten (Tucker) Johnson, Kenna (Aaron) Bodenham, Emma Smith and Abby Smith, his great grandchildren, Trice and Blakely DeWitt, his stepchildren, Jason (Rebecca) Miller of Brookeland, Texas and Jesse (Tara) Miller of Ankeny and his step grandchildren, Jacob Miller, Nathan Miller and Paige Miller, Zachary Root, Jacob Root and Joshua Root and his step great grandchildren, Lexi and Lawrence Root.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents and one son, Scott Smith.
Graveside Services will be held on Monday, November 25, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at the Green Mound Cemetery, rural Trenton with Pastor Jeffrey A. McPheron officiating. The family will receive friends on Sunday, November 24, 2024, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Murphy Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant. Memorials may be directed to the Green Mound Cemetery Association or towards a tree to be planted in Trenton Park in his memory.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jerry L. Smith, please visit our floral store.