Author: Hayden Douglas

Staples, the office supply store located at 3200 E. Agency Street, Suite 140, will officially close its doors on January 2. Store Manager Micah Jackson of Burlington confirmed the closure on Wednesday. 

Jackson says staff have already begun marking down inventory, including office chairs, demo items, and products brought out from back storage. In addition to closeout pricing, customers can expect coupon deals to be added into the mix. Beginning next week, shoppers visiting the store will receive coupon flyers as part of the final sale push. 

He encourages customers to stop by and take advantage of the discounts while they last. 

According to Jackson, the decision to close the Burlington location was not tied to store performance. Instead, the store’s lease was put up for bid. 

There is speculation that a Five Below specialty discount retailer may move into the space, but neither the corporation nor local officials have confirmed those plans. 

Staples first opened in the area in 1997 at its former location on 104 W. Agency Road in West Burlington. 

Henry County Public Health, in partnership with River Hills Community Health Center, is offering free HIV and STI screenings on Friday, November 21, 2025. 

The event, part of the Testing That Travels outreach and prevention services, will run from 2 to 4 p.m. at Henry County Public Health, located at 106 North Jackson Street, Suite 103, in Mount Pleasant. 

These screenings are confidential and available at no cost to the public. Organizers say the goal is to make testing more accessible and to encourage routine sexual health checkups as part of overall wellness. 

For more information, contact Henry County Public Health or River Hills Community Health Center. 

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, food safety experts are reminding everyone not to underestimate the time it takes to properly thaw a turkey. Larger birds can take nearly a week to thaw using safe, approved methods—and with the holiday coming up next week, now is the time to plan ahead.

The USDA recommends three safe ways to thaw your Thanksgiving turkey:

1. Refrigerator Thawing
Place the turkey, still in its original wrapper, in the refrigerator—set at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below. A good rule of thumb: allow 24 hours of thawing time for every 4 to 5 pounds of turkey. That means an average-sized bird will need several days to thaw completely. Once it’s thawed, the turkey can safely remain in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days before cooking.

2. Cold Water Thawing
If the turkey is still frozen and time is running short, you can submerge the wrapped bird in cold water. Be sure to change the water every 30 minutes to keep it safe. This method is faster but still takes about 30 minutes per pound. Turkeys thawed this way must be cooked immediately.

3. Microwave Thawing
For smaller turkeys, the microwave is an option. Check your microwave’s owner’s manual for the correct settings and timing. As with cold water thawing, a turkey thawed in the microwave should be cooked right away.

Taking the time to thaw your turkey properly is one of the easiest ways to ensure a safe and delicious Thanksgiving meal.

https://cfaes.osu.edu/features/three-ways-safely-thaw-turkey?

The Holy Trinity Catholic Schools Educational Foundation has announced the creation of a new endowed scholarship aimed at supporting future educators. The Holy Trinity Catholic Schools Educational Field Scholarship will be awarded annually to a graduating Holy Trinity senior who plans to pursue a degree in education.

The $100,000 endowed scholarship was gifted by an anonymous benefactor. Recipients will be selected based on financial need, academic ability, and promise for success in the education field. Award amounts will vary depending on the interest earned and the number of recipients chosen each year. The Foundation anticipates that this year’s award will be approximately $4,500.

Thomas Gendron, Director of Development for the Holy Trinity Catholic Schools Educational Foundation, said the new scholarship fills an important need. “This is an opportunity for a student who wishes to serve in an educational-related profession. We offer scholarship opportunities to several fields, but this is the first time, to my knowledge, that we will help students who wish to go into the real world doing one of God’s chosen professions—teaching.”

Foundation President Justin Pieper praised the collaborative effort behind the endowment. “Tom did a phenomenal job educating our benefactor on options and guiding the benefactor through the process of setting up an endowment, which was done through the North Lee County Community Foundation,” Pieper said.

Foundation leaders say the new scholarship aligns perfectly with their mission. Providing financial support to Holy Trinity students remains the cornerstone of the Foundation’s work and a major focus of its fundraising efforts.

Individuals interested in establishing a scholarship, planning a future gift, or learning more about planned giving may contact Thomas Gendron at (319) 470-3194 or tom.gendron@holytrinityschools.org

The 25th Annual T.T.T. Tour of Homes will take place on Sunday, November 23, 2025, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., offering a festive afternoon of décor, design, and community tradition. This year’s tour highlights four beautifully decorated Mount Pleasant homes, along with the Revival Salon & Sanctuary.

Featured locations include:

• Warren & Vickie Larson
  612 E. Monroe Street, Mount Pleasant

• Blaine Rodgers
  611 E. Washington Street, Mount Pleasant

• Seth & Grace Bennett
  501 E. Henry Street, Mount Pleasant

• Gary & Deb Rodgers
  1608 Deer Run Lane, Mount Pleasant

• Revival Salon & Sanctuary
  300 E. Washington Street, Mount Pleasant

Tickets purchased in advance are $15 and are available from any T.T.T. Chapter DD member or at Brown’s Shoe Fit Co. On Sunday, November 23rd, tickets will be $20 at the door.

Organizers encourage the community to come out and enjoy this milestone event, celebrating 25 years of showcasing local homes and supporting the mission of T.T.T.