Author: Kadie Johannson

The Mount Pleasant City Council approved a contract for the Winfield Avenue 2026 Street and Trail Project during a special session Monday, May 4, 2026, at City Hall.

The City Engineer reported the winning bid came in about 16% below the original estimate, with two bids submitted. The project includes both street improvements and a trail component, with the trail portion estimated at approximately $478,000.

The total project bid was awarded to Jones Contracting Corp. at $2,475,777. The county is expected to take on about $551,000 in responsibility for the project. The resolution to award the contract was approved unanimously, with a motion by Councilmember Engberg and a second by McWilliams.

Before work begins, the Iowa Department of Transportation must give final approval. Once that happens, the city will move forward with the contractor to get the project underway and completed as soon as possible this summer.

The council is scheduled to meet next in regular session on May 13, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. The Community Development Committee will meet at 8 am at Central Park Coffee Company in downtown Mount Pleasant on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

Des Moines County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested a Burlington man Thursday after a suspicious persons call led to drug-related charges.

Authorities say deputies were called to the 13000 of Tama Road on April 30 for reports of individuals walking around a residence. Upon arrival, they made contact with Justin Lee Seager, 51.

During the interaction, deputies say they found marijuana and a drug pipe on Seager’s person, leading to his arrest for possession of a controlled substance, third or subsequent offense, along with possession of drug paraphernalia.

While at the Des Moines County Correctional Center, deputies say Seager attempted to conceal a bag of methamphetamine in the back seat of the transport vehicle. As a result, he faces an additional drug possession charge.

Seager remains in custody at the Des Moines County Correctional Center.

Officials remind the public that a criminal charge is an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Fairfield Police are investigating a case of widespread vehicle vandalism that led to one arrest Thursday.

Officers responded April 30th to reports of a man acting erratically near Court Street and Briggs Avenue, allegedly slashing tires and damaging vehicles with a large knife.

Police located the suspect, who was taken into custody for disorderly conduct. During the arrest, officers recovered a 12-inch butcher knife. Authorities say the man also made threats against officers, leading to an additional charge of first-degree harassment.

Investigators have identified around 17 victims, with total damage estimated between 5- and 8-thousand dollars.

Brian Ray Johnson, 55, of Fairfield faces charges including criminal mischief in the second degree, a Class D felony. He is being held at the Jefferson County Correctional Facility on bond.

The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Fairfield Police Department.

Authorities remind the public that all charges are accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The Henry County Board of Supervisors tackled a wide range of issues during their meeting Thursday, April 30, including staffing updates, budget planning, and future energy regulations.

County Attorney Becky Wilson reported her office is nearing full staffing, with several recent hires filling key roles. Officials expect the office to be fully staffed by early May, improving overall operations. New hires include Deputy Assistant County Attorney Terri Quartucci at an annual salary of $100,000 starting May 6, Assistant County Attorney Ed Harvey at $97,000 who began April 24, and Office Manager Kelly Patterson at $45,000. Cheynne Patterson has started as Victim Witness Coordinator at $45,000, and an administrative assistant is set to begin May 4 at $65,000 annually.

Supervisors also reviewed progress on the fiscal year 2026–2027 budget, which was approved following a second public hearing earlier in the week. Supervisor Steve Detrick presented charts and graphs to illustrate how tax dollars are distributed across services such as schools and hospitals. He noted those visuals will help guide future decisions, especially as the county may face potential budget cuts. He also thanked County Treasurer Kellie Sloan and Auditor Robin Detrick for their hard work and assistance on the budget.

In unfinished business, the board began early discussions on possible regulations for battery energy storage systems, data mining operations, and solar energy projects. Officials say more coordination with local partners and energy cooperatives is needed before any ordinances or moratorium decisions are finalized. The county’s current energy moratorium is set to expire July 31, 2026, and supervisors are considering expanding or extending it while working with planning and zoning, the county attorney’s office, and IT staff to develop regulations.

The board also received updates on federal reporting tied to American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) or “Covid” funds. The Recorder’s Office is requesting about $9,000 in remaining funds, while the Auditor’s Office continues required annual reporting for ARPA funds.

In other business, supervisors approved routine items including meeting minutes, financial claims, and liquor license renewals for the Mount Pleasant Moose Lodge and Deerwood Golf and Country Club.

Safety improvements at county facilities were also highlighted following a mid-April incident involving malfunctioning panic buttons at the courthouse. After testing, officials identified and replaced batteries in four devices. The system is now fully operational, reducing emergency response times from 10-15 minutes to under one minute. Moving forward, the county will conduct nightly system checks and quarterly live tests.

Henry County Engineer Jake Hotchkiss reported steady progress on secondary roads as favorable weather allows crews to move quickly on multiple projects. Hotchkiss says several culvert replacements and extensions are currently underway and nearing completion. In addition, contract rock is being delivered and graded across the county, with nearly $500,000 worth expected to be spread within the next two weeks.

This week, crews are hauling rock from the Coppock quarry to service roads in the Wayland area. Work will then shift to the River Products Quarry to address gravel roads in and around Winfield.

Meanwhile, construction on the 235th Street bridge just west of Mount Pleasant is progressing well. Crews are currently pouring pier stems, with bridge beams expected to be installed soon.

In other action, the Board of Supervisors approved a road haul agreement with ITC Midwest as the company continues transmission line construction from Ottumwa to just west of Mount Pleasant.

The Henry County Board of Supervisors will continue discussions on several of these topics in upcoming meetings. Public comments were made and the meeting adjourned.

Two people are in custody following a traffic stop that led to multiple drug charges in Van Buren County. According to the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred around midnight on April 29 when a deputy stopped a vehicle traveling north on Highway 81 for speeding. During a probable cause search of the vehicle, authorities say they located 6.1 grams of marijuana and 31 grams of methamphetamine, along with items consistent with the use and sale of narcotics.

A passenger, Brian Curtis Ayers, 54, of Wayland, Missouri, was arrested and charged with drug tax stamp violation, possession of a controlled substance—methamphetamine (second or subsequent offense), possession of marijuana, possession with intent to deliver, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The driver, Amber Marie Swindler, 41, was also taken into custody and faces charges including possession of methamphetamine (second or subsequent offense), possession of marijuana (second or subsequent offense), and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Both individuals remain in custody.

Authorities remind the public that all charges are accusations, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

A STEM teacher at Harlan Elementary School in Mount Pleasant is asking for donations of everyday household items to support hands-on learning activities planned for the final week of classes, beginning May 18.

Students will be participating in creative building projects, using materials such as cardboard tubes, tissue boxes, plastic containers, ice cream buckets, pipe cleaners, straws, and craft supplies like glitter. Community members who would like to contribute can drop off items directly at Harlan Elementary before the week of May 18, 1001 North Main Street in Mount Pleasant.

The effort aims to give students an engaging and interactive end to the school year while encouraging creativity and problem-solving through STEM learning.