Author: Allison Jacobs

Record Temperatures in Southeast Iowa Over the Weekend

By Allison Jacobs · Monday, March 23rd, 2026 at 5:52 am CDT

Mount Pleasant set a new record high temperature Saturday, reaching 88 degrees and breaking a mark that had stood for nearly nine decades.

According to climate data from the National Weather Service, the previous record for March 21st in Mount Pleasant was 87 degrees, set back in 1938. Saturday’s temperature edged past that record by one degree.

The unusually warm weather was part of a broader early spring heat wave across eastern Iowa. Several nearby communities also experienced near-record or record-breaking temperatures as southerly winds pushed warm air into the region.

Forecasters say while temperatures will cool somewhat in the coming days, the stretch of warmth is a reminder of how variable March weather can be in the Midwest.

Nancy A. Conrad – Pending

By Allison Jacobs · Sunday, March 22nd, 2026 at 6:11 pm CDT

Nancy A. Conrad, 92, of Mt. Pleasant, formerly of New London, died Friday evening, March 20, at Soldiers and Sailors Park Place, Mt. Pleasant.

Arrangements are pending at Elliott Chapel, New London.

Marlene Kay Jones Wright

By Allison Jacobs · Sunday, March 22nd, 2026 at 6:08 pm CDT

Marlene Kay Jones Wright, 87, of Mt. Pleasant, formerly of Danville, died Friday, March 20, 2026, at her home, after a short illness.

She was born March 23, 1938, at a farmhouse west of Crawfordsville, Iowa, to Ernest “Pat” and Alyce Partha Gillespie Jones. She attended grade school and junior high in Crawfordsville, and when her father bought a farm in Olds, she graduated from Olds High School.

She attended Delta Airline Tech School in Kansas City, and worked for Delta in Shreveport, Louisiana where she met her husband.  She married Terrill “Terry” Wright on May 29, 1958, at the Swedesburg Lutheran Church, Swedesburg, Iowa, and Terry passed away November 22, 2024.

For 35 years Marlene was head of the hot lunch program at Danville Community Schools where she was also scorekeeper and ticket taker at ball games as well as working part time for Kirlins Hallmark Store at Westland Mall. She was a former member of the Winfield Presbyterian Church, was a member of the New London Presbyterian Church where she was a custodian. She loved volunteering, delivering Meals on Wheels; was a faithful member of the General Federation of Women’s Club, where she served as president; was a Girl Scout Leader, and softball coach in New London. She loved to travel especially to see her sons wherever they lived and the GFWC trips to Alaska.  She treasured every pet she ever had.

Survivors include daughter Tammy (Greg) Smith of Burlington; and sons Patrick Wright of Biloxi, Mississippi and Jeffrey Wright of Rapid City, South Dakota; four grandchildren; Zachary, Jared, Jenna, and Emily, and her “precious angels” her great-grandchildren Ali, Gia, and Wells. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

Services will be held on Friday, March 27, at 2pm at Elliott Chapel, New London, with Reverend David Mixon officiating. The family will receive friends from 1-2 pm and burial will be at the Cambrian Welsh Cemetery, rural Columbus Junction, immediately following the service.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for the Danville Community School Hot Lunch Program and Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice.

Elliott Chapel, New London, is assisting the family and online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department Confirms Missing Woman Found Deceased

By Allison Jacobs · Sunday, March 22nd, 2026 at 5:47 pm CDT

Authorities say a missing Vedic City woman has been found deceased.
Seventy-five-year-old Mary Anne Falk was located Saturday at approximately 11:00 a.m. Officials say her family has been notified.
An autopsy has been scheduled with the State of Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny.
Authorities are thanking community members who assisted in the search efforts.
No further details are being released at this time.

Trial Set for Harper Man After High Speed Chase Ends in Wreck

By Allison Jacobs · Sunday, March 22nd, 2026 at 4:57 pm CDT

The trial for a Harper man who was arrested in early February after a high speed chase ended in a vehicle wreck and arrest has been set.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office arrested 26-year-old Cole Stout of Harper at 4 a.m. on February 4th. According to court documents, allegedly a deputy observed a 2023 Ford F150 travelling southbound at a rate of 97 miles per hour in a 55 mile per hour zone. The deputy activated the lights and siren in the patrol car and attempted to stop Stout. Stout failed to yield and a pursuit began. According to court documents, the deputy observed the vehicle travelling southbound on Kiwi Avenue and later found that the vehicle had rolled onto the driver’s side. Stout was placed under arrest. A search warrant was executed, and he was transported to the Washington County Jail.

Stout was charged with eluding with speeds over 25 miles per hour over the limit, a class D felony, operating while under the influence, a serious misdemeanor, reckless driving, failure to yield to emergency vehicle, open container and failure to maintain control.

A trial date has been set for March 27th at the Washington County Courthouse.

Two Killed in Lee County Crash Saturday

By Allison Jacobs · Sunday, March 22nd, 2026 at 4:51 pm CDT

Two people were killed in a crash in Lee County on Saturday.

A car was driving north on Green Bay Road around 9:30 p.m. when it crossed the center line and went into a ditch, according to the crash report.

Officials said the car hit an embankment, rolled over and stopped in a field.

The 61-year-old driver, of Fort Madison, and a 50-year-old, of Wever, both died in the crash. Officials said the driver wasn’t wearing a seatbelt and that the 50-year-old was.

The names of the two people who died are being withheld.

Mount Pleasant Municipal Utilities Special Open Meeting – March 23rd, 2026

By Allison Jacobs · Friday, March 20th, 2026 at 11:33 am CDT

Board of Trustees:                                                                                                          Special Open Meeting:

Dan McCabe, Chairman                                                                                                   4:00 P.M. Monday

Harvey Ungerman                                                                                                              March 23rd, 2026

Michelle Rosell                                                                                                                   (Mt. Pleasant Municipal Utilities

Michael Tometich                                                                                                                                located at 509 N. Adams St.)

Notice of Public Collective Bargaining Meeting

Pursuant to Iowa Code §§20.17(3), 21.4

 

IBEW Local 55’s submission of its initial collective bargaining proposal to Mount Pleasant Municipal Utilities (MPMU) in accordance with Iowa Code §20.17(3), immediately followed by MPMU’s submission of its initial collective bargaining proposal to IBEW Local 55 in accordance with Iowa Code §20.17(3)

Next Regular Board Meeting: 1:00 p.m. Tuesday April 21st, 2026

Historic Preservation Commission Plans Time Capsule Opening for Fourth of July

By Allison Jacobs · Friday, March 20th, 2026 at 6:05 am CDT

The Henry County Historic Preservation Commission met Wednesday at the Henry County Heritage Center to address a full agenda of updates and ongoing projects.

Members in attendance included Johanna Crawford, Joel Garretson, Cathie McCoy, Jeff McPheron, Judy Rawson, and Pat White. The commission approved both the meeting agenda and January minutes, followed by the treasurer’s report.

Two new commissioners, Cathy McCoy and Nancy Amos, were nominated and approved by the group. Their appointments will now move to the Henry County Board of Supervisors for final approval.

Commission members also received copies of the 2025 Certified Government report and held a brief discussion on its contents. In addition, a first draft of a historic sites book was reviewed, with several suggestions and additions provided by members.

Officer elections for the commission have been postponed until the newly nominated members receive final approval from the Board of Supervisors.

During the meeting, Pat White led a discussion on plans by local organizations to open a time capsule that was placed on the courthouse lawn 50 years ago. The tentative plan is to open the capsule during Mount Pleasant’s Fourth of July celebration. Organizers are currently seeking assistance with opening the capsule.

The next meeting of the Henry County Historic Preservation Commission is scheduled for April 15 at the Henry County Heritage Center.