Two people were arrested and two others were cited following the execution of a search warrant at a Keosauqua residence over the holiday weekend.
According to the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office, deputies executed a search warrant at approximately 5:15 p.m. on Sunday, July 5, at a residence in the 800 block of North 4th Street in Keosauqua. The Iowa State Patrol and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the investigation.
George Cornell, 32, was arrested and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, First Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Jeremy Viccari, 35, was arrested and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Third Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, First Offense.
Authorities also issued summonses to Emily Viccari, 39, and Abigail Barkenhagen, 32, both on Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charges.
The Sheriff’s Office says George Cornell and Jeremy Viccari remain in custody awaiting their initial court appearances.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Mount Pleasant has received nearly 24 inches of rain so far in 2026, over 3 inches above the year-to-date average of just over 20.5 inches.
June was by far the wettest month of the year, with 10.58 inches of rainfall. April saw 5.47 inches, May brought 2.10 inches, and July has recorded 1.17 inches through the first 11 days of the month.
The latest rainfall report shows 0.22 – 1.7 inches fell on Friday, July 10 depending on your location. The southeastern part of Henry County received much more rain than the northern half of the county.
Officially, KILJ reports .8 inches of rain at the studio in the last 24 hours. And overall, Mount Pleasant remains well ahead of its normal rainfall total for this point in the year.
Law enforcement officers from Henry County and neighboring counties are spending Thursday morning, July 10th, sharpening their knowledge of Iowa law.
The Henry County Attorney’s Office, in partnership with the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, is hosting a free legal update and training session at the Henry County Sheriff’s Office. The training runs from 8 a.m. until noon and covers Iowa laws and legislative changes that took effect July 1.
Thirty-one officers have registered for the training. County Attorney Becky Wilson says the session is especially valuable for newer officers while also serving as an important refresher for experienced law enforcement personnel. The goal is to ensure officers understand current laws and can conduct traffic stops and other enforcement actions within the requirements of Iowa law.
The training comes as the Henry County Attorney’s Office is seeing a significant increase in its workload. Wilson reported that last year, between May and July of 2025, the office handled 51 active cases and conducted 44 court hearings. During that same period in 2026, those numbers have more than doubled, with 114 active cases and 104 hearings.
Wilson says providing ongoing training at no cost is a valuable investment for local agencies, helping officers stay current on legal changes while supporting effective law enforcement throughout Henry County and the surrounding area. She plans to hold more trainings in the future.
A growing log jam at the Oakland Mills Dam on the Skunk River has Henry County officials discussing both immediate and long-term solutions.
During his department head report at the July 2 meeting of the Henry County Board of Supervisors, Conservation Director Caleb Waters said debris has continued to accumulate at the dam, creating a situation that county employees cannot safely address.
Waters told supervisors removing the debris with county staff would present significant liability and safety concerns. While hiring a specialized barge company is considered the safest short-term option, he said the cost is substantial and shouldn’t have to come entirely from the Conservation Department’s budget.
Waters suggested the county consider sharing the expense among departments, noting that debris removed from bridges by the Secondary Roads Department can eventually make its way downstream to the dam.
County Engineer Jake Hotchkiss responded that his department is required by law to prevent debris from accumulating at county bridges to protect the structures. He emphasized that whenever crews can safely pull debris to shore and burn it, they do so.
Hotchkiss said the department is not intentionally sending debris downstream and agreed that a broader conversation involving multiple departments would be appropriate.
Looking beyond the immediate cleanup, Waters encouraged the Board of Supervisors to pursue a permanent solution. He suggested working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study the possibility of constructing a wing dam or jetty that could redirect the river’s flow and reduce future debris buildup at the dam.
Waters shared his thoughts that investing in a long-term engineering solution would ultimately be a better use of taxpayer dollars than repeatedly paying for costly debris removal year after year. The supervisors took no action during the meeting but indicated the discussion will continue to address the log jam at the Oakland Mills Dam.
Douglas L. Conner, 64, of Salem passed away on Friday, July 3, 2026, at the Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in West Burlington.
Doug was born on April 4, 1962, in Mount Pleasant, the son of Edgar “Mort” and Phyllis (Lant) Conner. Doug was united in marriage to Belinda Spurgeon, they later divorced. Doug later married Diana Weinreich. He worked at Lomont Molding of Mount Pleasant until his health failed.
He is survived by his wife, Diana, of 29 years, and his children, Whitney (Chris) Amburn, Cody Conner, and his stepson, Trent Gorrell, 10 grandchildren, his brother, Don (Danna) Conner, his sisters, Debra Conner (Mike Myles) and Diane (Kevin) Dunsmore.
Doug was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Sarah Leanne Conner and a granddaughter, Gracelyn Rose Amburn.
According to his wishes cremation has been entrusted to the care of Murphy Funeral Home of Mount Pleasant and no services will be held at this time. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.murphyfuneralandmonuments.com.
The Murphy Funeral Home of Mount Pleasant is honored to serve the family with love, comfort and dignity as we celebrate the life of Doug.
The Henry County Board of Supervisors is continuing discussions with the Henry County Historic Preservation Commission after delaying action on the commission’s traditional $11,000 annual allocation for Fiscal Year 2026.
After the board postponed approving the funding resolution at the end of June, Commission Chair Joel Garretson and several commission members addressed the supervisors during the July 2nd meeting to explain the commission’s work and how county funding is used.
The commission, comprised of unpaid volunteers, is one of the most active and oldest in Iowa at about 32 years (since 1994), oversees 28 National Register historic sites, maintains historic markers, publishes local history books, conducts required public meetings and training, and submits requisite annual reports to the county and state for certification status compliance.
Commission members noted the county allocation has remained at $11,000 for 21 years—about 57 cents per Henry County resident—and said they believed this year’s request would be “business as usual.”
“If there was an issue, why did no one contact us?” Garretson asked, adding the commission would have gladly met with supervisors before the end of the fiscal year to address any concerns.
The commission also explained the funding supports significant preservation grants for local restoration projects, including substantial work involving the DAR monument, the Henry County Heritage Trust Museum’s Iowa Wesleyan archives, and the Oakland Mills K-Line Flag Stop.
Discussion also focused on questions about county bookkeeping, with commission members saying they believe confusion over multiple county accounts led to uncertainty about available funds. They said all required invoices had been submitted and questioned why concerns had not been raised sooner.
Garretson reiterated the importance of preserving historic information, not only because Henry County is a big consumer of its own rich history, but also attracting visitors to Henry County from all over the state and country as our popular heritage tourism market in southeast Iowa continues to grow.
Board Chairman Chad White said the supervisors never intended to eliminate or defund the Historic Preservation Commission, but agreed more discussion is needed before moving forward.
The board and commission will meet again to determine next steps. Meanwhile, the board’s approved Fiscal Year 2027 budget does include another $11,000 allocation for the Historic Preservation Commission.
Garretson also said work will continue on the commission’s newest Henry County history book. While the publication was intended to coincide with America’s 250th anniversary, the funding delay could postpone its release.
As communities across the country celebrate America’s 250th birthday this Fourth of July weekend, Henry County has taken a remarkable step back in time.
Volunteers, assisted by Wilbert Vault Works of Burlington, recently unearthed the Henry County Bicentennial Time Capsule, which had remained sealed underground for nearly 50 years. The capsule was originally buried in 1976 as part of the nation’s Bicentennial celebration and was intended to be opened during the country’s 250th anniversary.
The project traces its roots to the Henry County Bicentennial Commission, formed in 1973 under the leadership of Helen Virden. During the three years leading up to the Bicentennial, Henry County became the first county in the nation to be designated a Bicentennial County. Every school in the county earned Bicentennial School status, twelve communities received Bicentennial Community recognition, Iowa Wesleyan College was designated a Bicentennial College, and KILJ Radio became Iowa’s first designated Bicentennial Radio Station for its extensive coverage of local Bicentennial activities.
The time capsule was dedicated on November 11, 1976, as a gift from Weir-Cookes Funeral Home and filled with contributions from residents, businesses, churches, schools, and organizations throughout Henry County.
When the vault was opened Friday, volunteers discovered a remarkable snapshot of everyday life in 1976. Among the first items removed were the American, Iowa and Bicentennial flags that had flown over Mount Pleasant’s Fourth of July celebration that year.
The capsule also contained a city parking meter, a Motorola two-way radio, a Princess-style telephone, glass pop bottles, phonograph records, local newspapers, a 1976 telephone directory and Mount Pleasant city directory, along with memorabilia from schools, churches, civic organizations and businesses across the county.
The collection offers a unique look at what life was like in Henry County a half-century ago, preserving not only important moments in the county’s history but also the ordinary items that defined everyday life during the 1970s.
The contents of the time capsule will be displayed at the Mount Pleasant Public Library in the coming weeks.
Organizers also announced that a new time capsule, using a vault donated by local Mount Pleasant funeral homes, will be buried in the same location. Many of the original items will be reburied alongside memorabilia from 2026, with instructions directing future generations to open the capsule during America’s tricentennial celebration in 2076.
Hear more moments from the time capsule vault excavation, contents unveiling, and the thoughts from members of the Mount Pleasant community by listening to this Sunday’s Focus program here:
Historians of Henry County (L to R): Judy Rawson, Pat White, Joel Garretson, and Jeff McPheron
Motorists traveling across southeast Iowa this Fourth of July weekend can expect to see more law enforcement on area highways and local roads as agencies participate in a statewide traffic enforcement campaign aimed at reducing crashes and impaired driving.
The Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau is partnering with law enforcement agencies across the state for a high-visibility enforcement effort running through Sunday. The campaign is designed to discourage impaired driving, speeding, distracted driving, and other dangerous behaviors during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.
The effort comes after eight people were killed in traffic crashes during last year’s Fourth of July holiday period. The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau says while many Iowans celebrate responsibly, preventing impaired driving is a community effort, and increased enforcement is intended to help keep everyone safe on the roads.
The extra patrols are already producing results across southeast Iowa.
In Washington County Friday evening, deputies arrested an 18-year-old Wayland man after receiving reports of a pickup truck that had entered the ditch twice near Kalona. The driver was charged with Operating While Intoxicated, failure to maintain control, leaving the scene of an accident, and possession of alcohol while under the legal age. An 18-year-old passenger was also cited for possession of alcohol under the legal age.
Earlier Friday afternoon, the Iowa State Patrol stopped a vehicle on Highway 218 near Riverside. A 34-year-old New York man was arrested on charges including possession of marijuana, reckless driving, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Troopers also issued citations for excessive speed and driving without a valid license.
Authorities also responded to several other incidents involving intoxicated individuals Friday, including a disorderly conduct call in Riverside and a domestic assault investigation in Washington in which alcohol was reported to be a factor.
As holiday celebrations continue, law enforcement agencies across southeast Iowa are reminding drivers to celebrate responsibly. If your plans include alcohol, designate a sober driver, use a rideshare or taxi, or make arrangements to stay where you are. Officials say the goal of the holiday enforcement campaign isn’t just writing tickets—it’s making sure everyone gets home safely.
