Red Ribbon Week Through 10/31/25

Red Ribbon Week began on Thursday this week and is observed through Friday, October 31st. This nationwide campaign promotes healthy, drug-free lifestyles and encourages students to make positive choices. This year’s theme is:

“Life is a Puzzle, Solve it Drug-Free.”

  • History: The event started in 1985 in honor of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who was killed by drug traffickers.

To support this important message, the New London School District is hosting a school-wide food drive to benefit the local Food Pantry. This is an opportunity for students to practice kindness and generosity by donating non-perishable food items to help families in our community.

The Mt. Pleasant Middle School has a list of theme days to bring attention to Red Ribbon Week:

MONDAY, OCT. 27 – RHYME WITH OUT REASON

TUESDAY, OCT. 28 – TOURIST DAY – WEAR A TROPICAL SHIRT

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29 – USA DAY (RED, WHITE AND BLUE)

THURSDAY, OCT 30 – WHITE LIES (WHITE SHIRT WITH A LIE)

FRIDAY, OCT 31 – PJ DAY (RELAX & WEAR YOUR PJ’S)

 

HCSO – Debris on Hwy 218 – Friday

The Henry County Sheriff’s Department responded to reports of debris on the roadway on Friday (October 24, 2025) near the intersection of Highway 218 and Iowa Avenue just north of Mt. Pleasant.  An investigation determined a State of Iowa DOT semi-truck was traveling northbound on Highway 218 when a mounted directional arrow sign broke off the trailer and landed on the roadway. Several vehicles struck the sign with minor damage reported from each. No injuries were reported.

 

MTPCSD Special Session Meeting – Monday 10/27/25

Mt. Pleasant Community School District School Board will meet in Special Session on Monday, October 27, 2025, at 6pm.  The meeting will take place in the High School Media Center, 2104 S. Grand Avenue.  Items on the agenda include consideration to accept a bid for the PEO Memorial Building Demolition and a work session item including Iowa House District #87 Representative Jeff Shipley.  This meeting is open to the public.  To view the meeting agenda, please refer to MTPCSD.org/board.

 

National Prescription Drug Takeback Day

Area Law Enforcement agencies will have their doors open today as part of the DEA National Prescription Drug Takeback Day.  The Henry County Sheriff’s Office at 800 S. Grand Avenue will have the lobby open from 10am – 2pm for citizens to dispose of unneeded medications – no needles or liquids will be accepted.  The HCSO reminds everyone that if you can’t make it to the office today, there is a prescription drug take back drop box available in the lobby 24/7.  Visit DEATakeBack.com for area collection sites.

Ruth Mae Piper

Ruth Mae Piper, 95, of New London, died Friday, October 24, 2025, at New London Specialty Care. She was born November 1, 1929, in Dallas City, Illinois, to Harry Prescott and Esther Alma Muenzenmaier Martin. On June 3, 1951, she married Charles Edward Piper at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, and he died September 25, 1993.

Ruth was a 1948 graduate of Dallas City High School and a 1949 graduate of Burlington Beauty Academy. She worked as a nurse’s aide for over 40 years, retiring from Park Place in Mt. Pleasant. She was a member of the New London Presbyterian Church, was an avid gardener, loved flowers, yard work and antiques.

Ruth is survived by two daughters, Pam (Reggie) Williamson of New London and Jane (Greg) Hoel of Benton, Wisconsin; daughter-in-law Gerry Piper MacKaben; ten grandchildren, Staci Moore, Jess Williamson, Brittony Cummings, Piper Williamson, Nicole Maloney; Justin, Daniel, Michael, Samuel and Kurtis Edwards; twenty great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; one brother Lester Martin of Burlington and one sister Maxine Conn of Nauvoo, Illinois. Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her son Hal Piper; one great-granddaughter Nora Moore; and two brothers Harold and Robert Martin.

According to her wishes, her body will be cremated, and a celebration of her life will be held at a later date.

A memorial has been established for the New London Fire and Rescue.

Elliott Chapel, New London, is assisting the family and online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com

Norma Rodgers

Norma Rodgers, 93 years old, passed away on Friday, October 17, 2025, at Park Place, Mount Pleasant Iowa. She was born on June 19, 1932, in rural Henry County, Iowa, on a farm near Swedesburg to Guy and Wilma Eubank. She attended school for seven years at Crawford Country School west of Olds, and graduated from Olds High School in 1950. On September 9, 1951, she married Cleo Rodgers at Finley Chapel. They made their home on the family farm between Olds and Winfield where they raised their children together until Cleo’s death in 1969 when she moved into Olds. Norma kept busy helping to run their dairy farm where she had a large garden. She would can and freeze much of her garden produce. She also made crab apple jelly every year. One of her specialties was making homemade fudge and divinity at Christmas time. She taught Sunday school, led youth group, coached her daughter’s softball teams, and supported her family in the many sports and activities they participated in. She enjoyed traveling with family and friends and did missions work in Louisiana, Oklahoma and Kentucky.

She was a member of Finley Chapel where she belonged to UMW, their women’s group.

Norma was an excellent seamstress, making most of her children’s clothes when they were younger and assisted her nieces in sewing their wedding attire. Most recently, until she was no longer able, she sewed hundreds of school bags for Missions Ingathering. Those bags may still be in use today in another part of the world.

She was a talented artist, mostly doing sketches, but she was also successful when she tried her hand at painting.

She was also a skilled typist assisting her nephews with term papers, typing them on an old standard typewriter. Her typing skills were put to good use following Cleo’s death as she worked as a secretary in the Alumni Office at IWC and later as a transcriptionist at HCHC. Following her retirement, she lived with her sister, Alice Hawbaker in Tucson, Arizona, for a few years before returning to Iowa and living in Swedesburg and more recently Mount Pleasant.

She is survived by her son Dave (Joan) Rodgers rural Mount Pleasant, and daughters Kathy (Randy) Seberg, Mount Pleasant, Carol (Dennis) Hulseberg, Wellman, Robin (Scott) Fisher, New London and Tracy Rodgers, Des Moines. Also, her grandchildren Tyler (Angie) Rodgers, Craig (Jess) Rodgers, Aimee (Greg) Shepherd, Kim Seberg, Nathan (Jenny) Seberg, Emma (Brett) Dwyer, Ada Hulseberg, Andres (Andrea) Alvarez, Normita (Ty) Watson, and Mateo Alvarez and 18 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, grandson Justin Rodgers, great grandson Christian Seberg and her sisters Mary Boal and Alice Hawbaker.

Funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 20, 2025, at Finley United Methodist Church. Pastor Lindsey Ford will officiate. Burial will be in the Finley Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday, October 19, 2025, from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Olson-Yoder-Funeral Home and Crematory where the family will greet friends from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. A memorial fund has been established for the Finley Cemetery. Condolences may be made at www.olsonyoderfh.com

Arraignment Set for Mt. Pleasant Man on Drug-Related Charges

19-year-old Gavin King of Mt. Pleasant was arrested on four drug-related charges in September, and his arraignment hearing has been set for November 4th in the Henry County Courthouse.  Records show a joint investigation between the Mt. Pleasant Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, Iowa State Patrol Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force enabled them to intercept a narcotics shipment addressed to King at his Mt. Pleasant residence.   A search warrant was executed, and law enforcement found the package included THC vape devices, marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, drug paraphernalia, packaging material, firearms and scales. King’s initial appearance was on September 12th, and he was released on a $20,000 bond.

Authorities arrested Gavin King on two felony counts of controlled substance violation, and two counts of failure to affix drug tax stamp, class D felonies.