Traffic Stop Leads to Multiple Drug Charges in Burlington

By Kadie Johannson · Wednesday, February 18th, 2026 at 8:03 am CDT

The Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office reports a Burlington woman has been arrested on multiple drug charges following a traffic stop Monday night.

According to Sheriff Kevin Glendening, deputies stopped a vehicle around 9:17 p.m. on February 16th at Osborn Street and Linden Street for an equipment violation.

During the stop, a deputy K-9 conducted an open-air sniff of the vehicle and alerted to the presence of narcotics.

A search of the vehicle reportedly uncovered marijuana, methamphetamine, clonazepam pills, and drug paraphernalia in the area where the front seat passenger had been sitting.

Authorities identified the passenger as Addison Ann Trickler, 26, of Burlington. She was taken into custody and charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance, failure to affix a drug tax stamp, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Trickler was transported to the Des Moines County Correctional Center.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Shots-Fired Incident in Burlington Leads to Arrest

By Kadie Johannson · Wednesday, February 18th, 2026 at 7:58 am CDT

The Burlington Police Department has made an arrest following a shots-fired incident Tuesday morning.

According to a February 17th press release, officers responded at approximately 10:39 a.m. to a report of shots fired in the 1400 block of South Street. While officers were en route, dispatch advised that the suspect, later identified as Kamron Elmore, had left the area in a minivan.

A short time later, officers located the vehicle near the intersection of Central Avenue and Market Street. A search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of a firearm.

Elmore was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Des Moines County Jail.

He is charged with Reckless Use of a Firearm and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. Authorities say the incident was isolated and there is no ongoing threat to the public. A charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

 

Kyler Rugg

By Kadie Johannson · Tuesday, February 17th, 2026 at 11:21 am CDT

Kyler Rugg, 17, of Wayland, passed from this life on Friday, February 13, 2026, at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. A visitation will be held Friday, February 20, 2026, from 3 – 8 PM at the WACO High School gymnasium. Following visitation, cremation will take place and a celebration of his life will be held Saturday, May 23, 2026, from 1- 4 PM at the Eichelberger Main Office at 408 N. Way Drive, Wayland. A general memorial fund has been established. The Beatty Peterseim Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Kyler was born on July 9, 2008, in Washington, the son of Aaron and Dawn (Stauffer) Rugg. He was a senior at WACO High School, where he was very active in FFA (which he loved) and had played on the football team. Kyler owned and operated his own lawn care business, Rugg’s Lawn Care and Snow Removal, and worked for C & M Plumbing in Mt. Pleasant. He enjoyed fishing, tractors, singing 90’s country songs and giving hugs. He will be remembered for this quote: “Every day is a great day, but not everybody sees the great in that day.”

Survivors include his parents, Aaron and Dawn of Wayland; two brothers Karsen and Kolten; his girlfriend Sammy Helfrich of Brighton; their soon to be born son Benjamin Kyler James; his maternal grandparents: Jimmy and Gina Stauffer of Wayland, paternal grandparents Merle and Sherri Rugg of Wayland, maternal great-grandparents Curt and Janice Eddy of Wayland, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Preceding Kyler in death were his maternal great-grandparents Edwin and Louise Stauffer, and paternal great-grandparents Doc and Helen Rugg and Dick and Frances Morrow.

Local Guide: Running for County Office in Henry County

By Kadie Johannson · Tuesday, February 17th, 2026 at 6:51 am CDT

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 Offers Cancer Survivorship 101 Program

By Kadie Johannson · Tuesday, February 17th, 2026 at 6:20 am CDT

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

HCHC Soldiers & Sailors Board Meeting Agenda for Wednesday, 2/18/26

By Kadie Johannson · Tuesday, February 17th, 2026 at 6:15 am CDT

The Henry County Health Center Soldiers and Sailors Board of Trustees will meet Wednesday morning, February 18, 2026 at 7:30 a.m. in the HCHC Board Room.

The meeting will begin with a public hearing on the proposed action to approve the county tax budget for the health center.

Trustees will then move into their consent agenda, which includes approval of minutes from previous meetings and committees, along with the administrative memo and EMS report.

Under old business, the board will consider approval of the county tax budget, review financial and capital updates, receive a GRH update, and consider audit approval.

A hospital inspection discussion will take place, led by Trustee Joel Prottsman.

The board will also enter into executive conference in closed session pursuant to Iowa Code Chapter 21.5 to discuss strategic objectives, quality, and legal matters.

In new business, trustees will consider recommending and approving a new board member, approving over-budget capital expenditures, and reviewing operations from 2021-2025.

The meeting is open to the public, except for the closed session portion.

The next Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, 2026.

Salvatore “Sam” Baxter

By Kadie Johannson · Monday, February 16th, 2026 at 3:21 pm CDT

Salvatore “Sam” Mattia Baxter of Fort Madison died peacefully surrounded by his loving family on February 12, 2026, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Sam was born October 16, 1949 in Fort Madison, Iowa to Joseph Baxter of Fort Madison and Francesca Anna (DeGennaro) Baxter of Naples, Italy. Sam was a 1967 graduate of Aquinas High School. Upon graduation, Sam spent five years on the continent of Australia and loved to recount his time working on shrimp boats, bauxite mining, brick-making, and as a Honda motorcycle mechanic. Upon moving back to the United States he worked on everything from barges on the Mississippi River to locomotive engines at BNSF shops in Burlington, Iowa. Sam first married Jill Bentley, and they later divorced. On July 17, 1999, he married Linda Denning Hunold at St. Boniface in Farmington, Iowa. He retired in 2015 from BNSF as a railroad conductor.

Sam was curious, quick with a joke or a pun, and loved to tell stories to anyone who would listen. Fun loving at heart, he was always whipping up paper airplanes, word games, potato guns, or trebuchets for his grandchildren—who he adored and enthusiastically recounted stories about. A true Renaissance man, Sam could be found tinkering with his car or a home project, making jewelry, debating philosophy, or devouring historical programs. He was a talented guitar player and cartoonist. To say that Sam was a good cook would be an understatement and he passed that love of cooking on to his children.

Sam is survived by his loving wife of 26 years, as well as his children: Danielle (Ramy) Henin of Marion, Iowa and Benjamin (Emily) Baxter of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; sister: Rosie (James) Helling of San Antonio, Texas, and sister: Teresa Roth of San Antonio, Texas. Sam was a “second dad” to Ben (Tracey Griser) Hunold of Farmington, Iowa, Sarah (Andrew) Stephens of Apple Valley, Minnesota, and Jennifer Hunold (Jake Winiski) of Troy, New York. He delighted in spending time with and hearing stories about his 11 grandchildren.

A visitation will begin at 12:00 noon on Monday, February 23, 2026, at Schmitz Funeral Home in Donnellson, where the family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 pm.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at Schmitz Funeral Home in Donnellson with Father Dan Dorau officiating.

Burial will be at St. John’s Cemetery in Houghton, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. John’s Cemetery in Houghton, Iowa, The Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra (SEISO), or The Michael J. Fox Foundation.

Schmitz Funeral Home of Donnellson is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com.

Armed Standoff in Fort Madison Ends with Suspect in Custody

By Kadie Johannson · Monday, February 16th, 2026 at 2:11 pm CDT

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.