Author: Kadie Johannson

With the 2026 general election coming up on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 residents interested in running for county office in Henry County are encouraged to start the process of filing their paperwork.

Several county positions will be on the ballot this year, including:

• County Attorney
• County Treasurer
• County Recorder
• Henry County Board of Supervisors – 1 open seat

Candidates must file nomination papers with the Henry County Auditor’s Office between Monday, March 2nd and Friday, March 20th by 5 p.m. To get on the ballot, candidates need to submit an Affidavit of Candidacy and a Nomination Petition with signatures from eligible voters.

There is no filing fee, but prospective candidates should check with the Auditor’s Office for the required number of signatures and any other qualifications. Nomination forms are available at the Henry County Auditor’s Office or on the Iowa Secretary of State’s website.

Filing early ensures your name appears on the ballot and gives you more time to campaign. The primary election will be held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. Click here for the Iowa Secretary of State’s Candidate’s Guide to the Primary Election June 2, 2026

For more information, contact Henry County Auditor Robin Detrick or Election Coordinator Heidi Shilling at the Henry County Auditor’s Office which is located at the courthouse in Mount Pleasant,100 East Washington Street, Suite 202 or at 319-385-0756.

Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center, West Burlington, will host A Time To Heal Survivorship 101, a nine-week program for cancer survivors. The program will start on Wednesday, March 4, and be held every Wednesday through April 29, from 3-5 p.m. in the conference room in the Family Medicine Clinic (Suite 159) in Mercy Plaza on the West Burlington campus.

This program is geared toward helping cancer survivors adjust to their “new normal” with specially trained facilitators. Participants will share their journey with other cancer survivors and their caregivers, gaining support and fellowship.  Topics include research-based advice on nutrition, exercise, intimacy, and reducing anxiety.

The deadline to reserve your spot in the Survivorship 101 Program is February 25, and can be made by calling the program coordinator at 319-768-4248.

This program is made possible by the Iowa Cancer Consortium and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services with funding from the Great River Health Foundation.

More about Great River Health Cancer Care:

Great River Health offers comprehensive cancer care. The expert team of oncologists, nurses, and support staff treats the whole person – body, mind, and spirit – offering comprehensive care tailored to each individual.

There are many types of cancer treatment, each tailored to the individual needs of the patient. The following services are offered locally at Great River Health:

• Blood-product transfusions: chemotherapy, some types of cancer, and blood disorders may affect blood counts. Some patients need transfusions of whole blood or blood components such as red cells or platelets.
• Bone marrow biopsies: bone marrow sample can confirm anemia, leukemia, and lymphoma.
• Chemotherapy: or “chemo,” is the use of medication to kill rapidly growing cancer cells, slow their growth, and relieve cancer symptoms. There are many types of chemotherapy drugs, and sometimes several drugs are combined. A pharmacist mixes chemotherapy IV drugs in our cancer center. The process of receiving chemotherapy through an IV is called infusion. In some cases, oral chemotherapy drugs are prescribed.
• Immunotherapy: this treatment bolsters a weakened immune system caused by cancer or other diseases.
• Radiation therapy: this treatment helps kill cancer cells confined to one localized area, which is then blasted with radiation to kill the malignancies. This therapy may be enough to treat your cancer by itself, but usually, radiation therapy is combined with chemo and/or surgery.
• Surgery: the first-line treatment for many forms of cancer is the surgical removal of a tumor before the cancer cells have a chance to spread. Usually, surgery is used with other treatment types to destroy any lingering cancer cells and destroy them completely. Biopsies are performed after surgery to stage and type your cancer to provide further diagnostic insight to your oncology team.

To find out more visit www.greatriverhealth.org

The Fort Madison Police Department is reporting that a man is in custody following an armed standoff Sunday evening.

According to a press release issued February 15th, officers were conducting a civil standby at a residence in the 2100 block of Avenue L at approximately 5:10 p.m. when the situation escalated.

Police say Philip Hansen, age 41, entered a back room of the home, produced a handgun, and pointed it at an officer. The officer was able to safely retreat. Hansen then barricaded himself inside a bedroom.

Officers attempted to negotiate Hansen’s peaceful surrender, but authorities say he made verbal threats and refused commands.

Due to the elevated risk, additional agencies responded, including the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Lee County EMS, LeeComm, and the Fort Madison Fire Department. The surrounding block was secured and nearby residences were evacuated as a precaution.

After more than two hours of negotiations, a search warrant was obtained. The Lee County Special Response Team and the Iowa State Patrol Tactical Team deployed less-lethal chemical agents inside the residence. Hansen then surrendered without further incident. He was transported to the Lee County Jail and charged with Assault on a Peace Officer While Displaying a Dangerous Weapon.

Authorities say there is no ongoing threat to the public. As always, Hansen is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Burlington Fire Department responded to a structure fire Sunday morning in Burlington.

At approximately 10:30 a.m. on February 15th, crews were dispatched to 1510 Smith Street. Firefighters arrived within four minutes and reported flames visible from the first floor extending into the second story of the two-story single-family home.

The residence, owned by Arya Enterprises, was insured at the time of the fire. Six children, ranging in age from two to eighteen years old, were inside the home when the fire broke out. All occupants were able to escape safely. Officials say the home was equipped with working smoke alarms.

The residence has been deemed uninhabitable, and damage estimates are still being assessed.

Assisting at the scene were the West Burlington Fire Department, Burlington Police Department, Alliant Energy, the American Red Cross, and Des Moines County Communications.

No injuries to civilians or firefighters were reported.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Any additional updates will be released by the Fire Marshal as they become available.

Today marks the birthday of one of the most important public safety tools in the United States — 9-1-1.

On February 16th, 1968, the first-ever 9-1-1 call was placed in Haleyville, Alabama, launching what would become the nation’s universal emergency number. The three-digit system was created to provide fast, simple access to emergency services through a single, easy-to-remember number.

The idea for a nationwide emergency number began taking shape in the late 1950s. In 1967, a presidential commission recommended establishing one single number for reporting emergencies, rather than separate numbers for police, fire, and medical assistance. Shortly after, AT&T announced that 9-1-1 would become the standard emergency code across the country.

The number was chosen because it was short, easy to dial, and had never been used as an area code or service number. Over the decades, 9-1-1 service expanded rapidly. By the end of the 20th century, the vast majority of the U.S. population had access to either basic or Enhanced 9-1-1 service, which allows dispatchers to see a caller’s phone number and location.

Here at home, 9-1-1 calls in Henry County are handled by the Henry County Dispatch Center, located within the Henry County Sheriff’s Office. The center is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Dispatchers serve as the critical link between the public and emergency responders, coordinating law enforcement, fire, and medical services throughout the county. Agencies dispatched include the Sheriff’s Office, the Mount Pleasant Police Department, New London Police Department, Wayland Police Department, and Winfield Police Department.

Fire and first responder agencies dispatched through the center include departments in Hillsboro, Mount Pleasant, Mount Union, New London, Trenton, Olds, Salem, Wayland, and Winfield, along with Henry County EMS.

Officials remind residents to call 9-1-1 only for emergencies — situations involving immediate danger to life, health, or property.

When calling 9-1-1:

• Stay calm and speak clearly.
• Give your exact location, including address, apartment number, or nearby landmarks.
• Explain what is happening and answer the dispatcher’s questions.
• Do not hang up until instructed to do so.

Even if you call from a cell phone, location information is not always exact, so clearly stating where you are is critical.

As 9-1-1 marks another year of service, it remains a vital lifeline connecting Henry County residents and people across the nation to help when they need it most.

Emergency officials have released new details regarding Saturday morning’s pipeline explosion and fire in rural Washington County.

According to Washington County Emergency Management, the Washington County Communications Center received multiple 9-1-1 calls at approximately 10:50 a.m. on February 14th reporting an explosion and large fire in the 2000 block of 325th Street.

The Washington Fire Department established Incident Command, with assistance from additional fire and EMS mutual aid agencies. Officials later confirmed the fire involved an underground pipeline owned and operated by Mid-America Pipeline Company, a subsidiary of Enterprise Products Partners L.P.

Emergency responders and the company’s pipeline personnel worked together to secure the affected section of pipeline and extinguish secondary fires, including flames that had spread across the nearby Skunk River. Authorities report the fire was contained with no injuries and no damage to residential structures. The incident was declared under control at approximately 12:57 p.m.

Officials say there is no active threat to the public. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, and no additional details are being released at this time to protect the integrity of that investigation.

The response involved multiple agencies, including the Iowa State Patrol, area fire departments, county conservation and public works personnel, and local ambulance services.

Emergency Management officials also thanked Hy-Vee and Jersey Mike’s Subs in Washington for providing support to first responders during the incident.

Updates will be shared as more information becomes available.